Name: Atún a la Mexicana
Prep time: 7 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 onion (diced); 1 jalapeno (finely diced); 1 tomato (diced); 2 cans tuna (drained); 1 tspn salt

Atún a la Mexicana is a tasty and SPICY dish. It's so EASY and ready in 20 minutes with just enough heat to make you want more.

Jump to Recipe Add us as a Google trusted source

Atun a la Mexicana served with saltine crackers on a white plate and topped with sliced avocado.

Atún a la Mexicana hits high marks with me. I’m all about EASY meals loaded with lots of flavor.

This Mexican-Style Tuna recipe is just that. It’s ready in no time flat and packed with deliciousness.

Even the pickiest of eaters in my family like it, but the best part is that it doesn’t break the bank.

Have all your ingredients ready. It comes together in a snap!

More Mexican recipes using canned tuna:
Atun a la Veracruzana, Tortitas de Papa con Atun, Tostadas de Atun

Ingredients

Tuna
Onion
Tomatoes
Jalapeno
Olive Oil
Salt

This Mexican seafood recipe requires very few ingredients.

It’s already a budget-friendly dish, but there are some substitutions to make it completely pantry friendly and more economical.

Such as:

Use 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce instead of fresh tomato.
Use pickled jalapeno instead of fresh jalapeno.
Use 1 teaspoon of onion powder instead of fresh onion. OR, serve with pickled onions.

Diced jalapeno and onion cooking in a metal skillet.

How to Make It

Heat olive oil in a skillet.
Saute onion and jalapeno, stirring constantly.

This will only take 1-2 minutes to cook. Once the onion is translucent, go to the next step.

For those of you who like spicy food, add more jalapeno.

Or, if you’re feeding a lot of people, serve this dish with hot sauce and pickled jalapenos to add more spice.

Jalapeno, onion, and tomatoes cooking in a skillet.

Add the diced tomato to the skillet.
This will only take 3-4 minutes.

Any Mexican recipe that refers to “a la Mexicana” will have this combination of ingredients – jalapeno, onion and tomatoes.

Green, white, and red. The colors of the Mexican flag.

You might also see people use serrano peppers instead of jalapenos as the two chile peppers are interchangeable in recipes.

More Mexican-Style recipes:
Huevos a la Mexicana, Bistec a la Mexicana, Calabacitas a la Mexicana

Tuna and in the other ingredients in a metal skillet.

Drain the canned tuna.
Add the tuna to the skillet.

Cooking this dish will only take 5 minutes from here.

Tuna in water was used in this recipe, but you can also use tuna in oil. Be sure to drain the liquid.

Can you cook canned tuna?
Yes, in this recipe, the tuna is cooked. It works well in several recipes.

A skillet and spatula with cooked Mexican-Style tuna.

Season with salt.
Mix all the ingredients to combine.

You can also add a pinch of oregano and a squeeze of lime juice for some added flavor.

What spices go well with canned tuna?
Thyme, Paprika, oregano , Cumin, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Basil, Cayenne Pepper

How Long Does It Last?

In the fridge, Atun a la Mexicana will last up to 3 days. Freezing this dish is not recommended.

Serve with saltine crackers, on a homemade tostada, or with a handful of chips.

Or make it a complete meal and serve with:
Pasta
Green salad
Mexican white rice
Refried beans

Atun a la Mexicana is a tasty blend of spicy and delicious. It’s a quick dinnertime WINNER!

Hungry for More?

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter for my latest recipes and videos.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!