Easy Three-Bean Salad with Tuna & Lemon Herb Dressing

Fresh, colorful, filling, and packed with Mediterranean flavor! This Three-Bean Salad with Tuna combines protein-rich tuna, hearty beans, crunchy vegetables, fresh herbs, and a bright lemon dressing. It’s perfect for lunch, meal prep, picnics, or a light summer dinner.

Ingredients

For the Salad

1 can (5 oz / 142 g) tuna in water or olive oil, drained
1 can (15 oz / 425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz / 425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz / 425 g) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cucumber, diced
½ red bell pepper, diced
¼ small red onion, finely sliced
¼ cup Kalamata olives, sliced, optional
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tbsp fresh dill or fresh mint, chopped
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese, optional

Lemon Herb Dressing

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp honey, optional
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

Prepare the beans:
Drain and rinse the chickpeas, kidney beans, and cannellini beans thoroughly. Let them drain well so the salad doesn’t become watery.
Prepare the vegetables:
Halve the tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
Make the dressing:
Add olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, parsley, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper to a small jar. Shake vigorously until well combined.
Combine the salad:
In a large bowl, add the three beans, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, parsley, and dill or mint.
Add the tuna:
Drain the tuna well and gently flake it into the bowl. Add feta if using.
Dress the salad:
Pour the lemon herb dressing over everything. Gently toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Chill:
Refrigerate for 20–30 minutes before serving. This gives the beans and vegetables time to absorb the lemon-herb flavor.
Taste and adjust:
Add additional lemon juice, salt, pepper, or fresh herbs to taste.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 20–30 minutes
Total Time: About 30–45 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Difficulty: Easy

Serving Suggestions

Serve it:

Over a bed of mixed greens
With whole-grain pita
With cucumber and tomato salad
Alongside grilled chicken or fish
Stuffed into lettuce cups
As a meal-prep lunch straight from the refrigerator

Meal Prep Tip

For the best texture, keep the dressing separate and add it just before eating. The prepared salad can generally be refrigerated for 3–4 days in an airtight container.

Nut Information

This recipe is nut-free as written. If using packaged tuna, beans, feta, olives, mustard, or other prepared ingredients for someone with a serious allergy, check labels for possible cross-contact.

Q&A

Can I use different beans?
Absolutely. Black beans, navy beans, butter beans, or green beans can replace any of the three varieties.

Can I use tuna packed in oil?
Yes. Drain it well. Oil-packed tuna gives the salad a richer Mediterranean flavor.

Can I make it without tuna?
Yes! Simply omit the tuna for a vegetarian three-bean salad, or replace it with boiled eggs, grilled chicken, or extra chickpeas.

Can I add avocado?
Yes. Add diced avocado just before serving so it stays fresh and doesn’t brown.

Is this salad good for meal prep?
Yes. It’s excellent for meal prep because the beans hold up well in the refrigerator. For the freshest vegetables, keep the dressing separate until serving.

Can I make it lower in carbohydrates?
Yes. Reduce the amount of beans and increase tuna, cucumber, leafy greens, tomatoes, and other non-starchy vegetables.

Can I make it ahead for a gathering?
Definitely. Prepare it several hours ahead and refrigerate. Give it a good toss before serving and add a little fresh lemon juice if needed.

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.