The Best Tuna Brands, According to Our Test Kitchen Experts
Updated: Feb. 12, 2021Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Before you fill your grocery cart, find out which tuna brands our Test Kitchen experts love the most. Their top picks might surprise you!
So many of us are trying to incorporate more protein into our diets. Lean meats, legumes and nuts are all a great place to start, but you might be forgetting one healthy source of protein in the aisles at your grocery store: packaged tuna.
Yep! On average, a packet of tuna has about 30% of the protein healthy adults need in a day. And with most tuna brands coming in at under 100 calories per serving, you couldn’t ask for a better way to beef up your lunchtime routine. But we know that canned and packaged tuna can be disappointing. To save you the trouble, our Test Kitchen sampled all the most popular brands to find the tuna options that should be in your shopping cart.
How We Found the Best Tuna Brands
For this sampling, our Test Kitchen put seven tuna brands (including the biggest names) head-to-head in a blind tasting. Our pros didn’t know which brand was which as they sampled each tuna as they came—right out of the package. They judged the tuna according to these criteria:
- Appearance: How does the tuna look? What sort of hue does it have? Does it look appealing?
- Flavor: How does the product taste? Is it too salty? Too fishy? Are there any additional flavors to note?
- Texture: What is the texture of the tuna like? Is it flaky? Is it firm? Too dry? Too wet?
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Tuna Options
After a pretty grueling test, our pros picked four tuna brands as their favorite. These brands are Test Kitchen-approved:
Best Overall Tuna: StarKist Albacore White Tuna in Water
In our testing, albacore tuna (as compared to yellowfin or skipjack) rose to the top. This light flaky tuna from StarKist was our team’s favorite. Inside the pouch, our pros found large chunks of flaky fish.
StarKist albacore was juicy and bright with just the right level of salt. Packed in water, this brand is super healthy—it has 17 grams of protein, 60% of your vitamin 12 for the day and is just 80 calories per package. That’s pretty darn good if you’re trying to eat healthy and want to incorporate a bit more fish into your diet.
Our testing team said that this fish was delicious enough to eat plain but would be just as welcome in any lunchbox. This green salad with white beans and tuna is the perfect place to start.
Best Fancy Tuna: Portofino Albacore Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sea Salt
When you think of canned or packaged tuna, you probably aren’t thinking fancy. But one brand in our taste test had our kitchen squad thinking about pre-packed tuna differently: Portofino.
This Italian brand had testers raving. The addition of extra virgin olive oil and a touch of sea salt gave this albacore a distinctive taste. It was flavorful and had just the right texture—moist but not overly saturated.
Because of the perfect flake of this tuna and the additional fresh flavors of the oil, our Test Kitchen thought this fish was great on its own (this isn’t the brand to buy if you want to make tuna salad). Many of our pros recommended using Portofino albacore to top a Nicoise salad.
Best Non-Albacore Tuna: Good & Gather Chunk Light Tuna in Water
If albacore tuna isn’t for you, snag a pouch or two of Target’s Good & Gather Chunk Light Tuna. This brand was super flaky and had that classic, rich tuna flavor our Test Kitchen was searching for.
This packaged tuna is exactly what you want when it comes to whipping up an easy tuna salad or making tuna burgers at home. Good & Gather wasn’t overly salty which leaves plenty of room for you to jazz this brand up with the herbs and spices you love most.
Best Budget Option: Great Value Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Priced 30% lower than its nearest competitor, Walmart’s Great Value Chunk Light Tuna is our favorite budget tuna brand (and one of our Test Kitchen’s favorites overall).
This tuna was moist and had the perfect level of salt. This fish does have a finer texture than some of the other tuna brands. While this wasn’t every tester’s favorite, these smaller flakes make Great Value tuna the perfect candidate for many tuna recipes like tuna salads and casseroles.
What to Make with Packaged Tuna
In a hurry? Then tuna right out of the pouch works just fine as a quick lunch. It also adds extra protein to green salads for your lunchtime fare.
But don’t stop with lunch! Tuna makes for some great dinners as well. Yep, we’re talking tuna noodle casserole—this time with a modern spin. Or try sheet pan tuna melts, a fresh, herb-filled tuna salad or tuna lettuce wraps.
And don’t forget, these lightweight packages are also ideal for camping. No refrigeration needed and these pouches pack plenty of protein—about 18 grams each.
Herbed Tuna and White Bean Salad
This is a quick and delicious salad that can be made special for guests—or yourself—by grilling fresh tuna steaks instead of using canned. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Tuna Burgers
My family members were so accustomed to typical beef burgers that they were hesitant to try these when I first made them. Any skepticism disappeared after just one bite. —Kim Stoller, Smithville, Ohio
Tarragon Tuna Salad
It's surprising how a few herbs can brighten up tuna salad. Made with reduced-fat mayonnaise, this version gets its zip from mustard. It makes a terrific light lunch or Sunday brunch dish. —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, California
Herbed Tuna Sandwiches
A delightful combination of herbs and reduced-fat cheese makes this simple tuna sandwich a standout. —Marie Connor, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Asparagus Tuna Noodle Casserole
I updated a traditional tuna casserole using fresh asparagus and asparagus soup. This is so different and so delicious. Use frozen asparagus when fresh is not in season. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada (Check out more of our best tuna noodle casserole recipes!)
Comforting Tuna Patties
My grandmother and mother made these tuna patties on Fridays during Lent. I'm not the biggest fan of tuna, but it's perfect in this dish. These patties are even good cold the next day, if there are any leftovers. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
Asparagus Nicoise Salad
I’ve used my Nicoise as an appetizer or a main-dish salad, and it’s a winner every time I put it on the table. Here’s to a colorful, make-ahead salad! —Jan Meyer, St. Paul, Minnesota
Tuna Potato Supper
Tuna lovers will find this to be a real treat. My husband and I enjoy it as a nice change from the ordinary baked potato. Add a salad for a simple lunch or dinner. —Rosella Peters, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan
Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
We tweaked this family-friendly classic to work for the slow cooker. It's easy, wholesome and totally homemade!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Tuna Mushroom Casserole
I love to serve this dressed-up version of a tuna casserole. The green beans add nice texture, color and flavor. The first time I made this dish, my uncle asked for seconds even though tuna casseroles are not usually his favorite. —Jone Furlong, Santa Rosa, California
Tuna Melt on Cornbread
Try a new taste for an open-faced tuna melt-serve it on cornbread! Our Test Kitchen developed this treat that would be great for a quick lunch.
Tuna-Filled Shells
Hot tuna's a hit when you mix it with sizable pasta shells and a cheesy sauce. Dill also complements the fish nicely in this cream comfort food. It's a great change of pace from the traditional tuna casserole. —Connie Staal, Greenbrier, Arkansas
Tuna Noodle Cups
Older kids can get a jump on preparing dinner by stirring up these miniature tuna casseroles. Or serve them for brunch with fresh fruit, a tossed salad and rolls. —Marlene Pugh, Fort McMurray, Alberta
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Families are sure to love the creamy texture and comforting taste of this traditional tuna casserole that goes together in a jiffy. I serve it with a green salad and warm rolls for a nutritious supper. —Ruby Wells, Cynthiana, Kentucky
Crunchy Tuna Wraps
Packed with protein-rich tuna and fresh, crunchy veggies, these colorful wraps have sensational flavor—and they're good for you, too. —Edie Farm, Farmington, New Mexico
Crunchy Tuna Salad with Tomatoes
On a hot summer day, there's nothing more refreshing than this salad. I grow a few tomato plants in my garden and the fresh-picked taste makes the dish even more of a treat. —Diane Selich, Vassar, Michigan
Modern Tuna Casserole
I loved tuna casserole as a kid and found myself craving it as an adult. However, the massive amounts of fat and salt in the traditional recipe were a turnoff healthwise, and it just didn't taste as good as I remembered. I reconfigured the recipe to include more vegetables and the result was delicious. —Rebecca Blanton, St. Helena, California
Tuna Crescent Ring
This is really easy to throw together, and I often use it when I am too tired to fix anything else. —Julia Bivens, Martinsburg, West Virginia
Creamy Tuna-Noodle Casserole
When you need supper fast, this tuna noodle casserole makes a super one-dish meal. Cooked chicken breast works well in place of the tuna. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
In spite of a long list of ingredients, this tuna salad is very quick to prepare. You'll love the fresh flavors. —Renee Nash, Snoqualmie, Washington
Orzo-Tuna Salad with Tomatoes
Stuffed tomatoes provide endless options when you add meat, cheese, rice, veggies – or in this case, orzo. — Jenni Dise, Phoenix, ArizonaCrunchy Tuna Salad with Tomatoes
On a hot summer day, there's nothing more refreshing than this salad. I grow a few tomato plants in my garden and the fresh-picked taste makes the dish even more of a treat. —Diane Selich, Vassar, Michigan
Cilantro-Avocado Tuna Salad Sandwiches
Lime juice and cilantro in tuna salad – who knew? This recipe for avocado tuna salad came to me as a way to have a protein-packed meal with lots of pizzazz. —Heather Waldorf, Black Mountain, North Carolina
Quick Nicoise Salad
Like the French, I pack my classic Nicoise salad with veggies, potatoes, tuna and eggs. Cooking the potatoes and beans together helps the dish come together fast. —Valerie Belley, St. Louis, Missouri
Tuna and White Bean Lettuce Wraps
Say bye-bye to ho-hum tuna salad. Here's a recipe we actually look forward to eating. —Heather Senger, Madison, Wisconsin
Pressure-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole
We tweaked this family-friendly classic to work for the pressure cooker. Go for easy, wholesome and totally homemade!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WisconsinPopular Videos
