I make these cucumber boats when I want something cold and savory that will actually hold me until dinner, and I do not want to turn on the stove. I halve a cucumber, scoop out the seeds, and fill each half with softened cream cheese and canned tuna, then finish both with everything bagel seasoning, coconut aminos, and hot sauce. Start to finish, it takes about 10 minutes.
Scooping out the seeds is the whole trick. It turns each cucumber half into a shallow boat, so the cream cheese and tuna have somewhere to sit instead of sliding off.
The filling is creamy and savory with real heat behind it, and the cucumber underneath stays cold and crisp. Start with a light drizzle of hot sauce and add more once you taste it.
I cut them crosswise into bite-size pieces when I want to set them out as an appetizer.
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💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Minimal prep work
- Ready to eat in about 10 minutes
- Delicious snack with only 2.5 grams of net carbs per serving
- Simple, easy-to-find ingredients
- No cooking required!
➡️ Ingredients
⏲ How to make spicy tuna cucumber boats
This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare Cucumber: Slice your cucumber in half lengthwise then, using a spoon, de-seed both cucumber halves. Blot both sides dry with a paper towel.
- Add Toppings To Cucumber Boats: Spread on softened cream cheese then fill up each side with spoonfuls of tuna. Sprinkle on Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning then drizzle on coconut aminos and hot sauce.
🍴 Net carbs
Per serving, these spicy tuna cucumber boats contain 2.5 grams of net carbs. The recipe, as written, yields 2 servings and 1 serving is equivalent to 1 prepared cucumber boat. Net carbs are calculated by taking total carbs, subtracting fiber, and subtracting sugar alcohols.
The complete nutrition information for this recipe, including the calorie content, total carbs, protein, and fat per serving, can be found in the nutrition label located below the recipe instructions.
👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions
- Cucumber: Celery, bell peppers, or sweet mini peppers can be used in place of cucumbers.
- Cream Cheese: Vegan cream cheese can be used at a 1:1 ratio for traditional cream cheese. You could also use Greek yogurt.
- Tuna: If you don’t like tuna, canned salmon or canned chicken may be substituted.
- Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning: Original Everything Bagel Seasoning with salt can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio, but the dish will taste saltier. You can also choose to make the seasoning at home by following this homemade bagel seasoning recipe (if you do this, I would suggest omitting the added salt).
- Coconut Aminos: Tamari is an excellent substitute for coconut aminos. Liquid aminos or soy sauce are also great alternatives.
- Hot Sauce: You can use Sriracha in place of hot sauce, but note that this substitution will increase the carb content of the recipe slightly. A sprinkle of ground cayenne pepper could also be used.
Keep in mind any changes you make to this recipe will modify the total net carbs.
💬 FAQs
Do I need to use a specific type of canned tuna for this recipe?
No. This dish can be prepared with either chunk light or white albacore, so pick whichever you prefer. Both water-packed tuna and oil-packed tuna will work.
Do I have to peel the cucumber?
You can leave the skin on or peel the cucumber.
Why remove the seeds of the cucumbers?
Using a spoon to remove the seeds will allow the cucumber halves to turn into a “boat” and will allow room for the cucumbers to be stuffed with the remaining ingredients. Without de-seeding, the toppings will not have an easy place to sit on the cucumber halves. You do not need to de-seed them, but, if you don’t, just be aware that the resulting snack will be messier to eat and different than the original recipe intended.
Can these cucumber boats be cut into bite-sized pieces for appetizers?
Of course, these make a great appetizer! I recommend preparing the spicy tuna cucumber boats according to the recipe and then cutting them into bite-size pieces and serving on a tray.
Can I meal prep and store Spicy Tuna Cucumber Boats to eat later?
Yes, but I would be sure to eat them within 1 day. After that timeframe, the cucumbers may become more watery.
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Spicy Tuna Cucumber Boats With Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled if you like
- 1 ½ ounce cream cheese, softened
- 2 ounces canned tuna
- ½ teaspoon Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon coconut aminos
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Slice cucumber in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, de-seed cucumber and then blot both sides dry with a paper towel.
- Spread on softened cream cheese then fill up each side with spoonfuls of tuna. Sprinkle on Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning then drizzle on coconut aminos and hot sauce.
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