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Home » Recipes » Blackened Tuna Bites with Sweet Pickle Dipping Sauce

Blackened Tuna Bites with Sweet Pickle Dipping Sauce

Published: Oct 31, 2022 · Amy Casey · 20 Comments

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This post may be sponsored and may also contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy for further details.

This Blackened Tuna Bites recipe is super simple to make and tastes extra incredible. Bite-sized pieces of tuna are tossed with a homemade blackened spice blend and quickly sauteed. A cool and creamy sweet pickle sauce is perfect for dipping the flavorful tuna. Serve as an appetizer or entrée.

blackened tuna bite dipped in sauce

why I love blackened tuna bites

The more I cook, the more I realize that I love easy recipes that are packed with unbelievable flavor. And I love to share these types of recipes with you.

These blackened tuna bites are one such recipe. I developed the recipe after a recent text from a friend. She asked if I wanted some freshly caught tuna. Definitely a YES! After picking up 3 pounds of rosy pink and uber fresh fish, it was time to get to work making delicious dishes.

Following a long day cooking for my personal chef clients, I love nothing more than a quick and delish dinner recipe. This blackened tuna recipe is ready in 15 minutes and tastes amazing. A homemade blackened spice blend is tossed with bite-sized pieces of super fresh tuna and quickly sauteed in butter. An easy peasy sweet pickle dipping sauce is a cool accompaniment for the bold flavored tuna.

There is just so much knock your socks off flavor in this recipe. I can’t wait for you to try it!

fresh tuna, lemon, spices, butter, mayo, and sour cream

the ingredients

  • sour cream
  • mayonnaise
  • sweet pickle relish
  • lemon juice
  • fresh tuna
  • paprika
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • dried basil
  • dried oregano
  • dried thyme
  • kosher salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • pepper

Scroll to the recipe below for full quantities of the ingredients.

Paprika, thyme, basil, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and pepper

substitutions and additions

  • Use super fresh tuna. Ahi is my #1 choice. You can also use frozen tuna such as yellowfin.
  • A quick homemade Creole seasoning is made with every day pantry ingredients. A store bought one works too.

what does blackened seasoning taste like?

Blackened seasoning is a blend of common spices. You probably have them all in your cabinet right now. It’s like Cajun or Creole seasoning, but usually not as spicy. Paprika, garlic and onion powders, dried thyme, basil, and oregano, kosher salt, and cayenne and regular pepper are mixed together. The result is a blend with a little bit of heat and earthiness from the herbs.

Try it on steaks, burgers, pork chops and tenderloin, salmon, mahi mahi, tuna, shrimp, scallops, chicken, and lamb chops. I also toss it with roasted or grilled veggies. It’s so versatile.

I double and even triple the recipe to keep some on hand. It’s an easy way to add bold flavor to almost any meat and vegetable.

my cooking videos

the recipe details

This blackened tuna recipe comes together super quick! Perfect for an easy appetizer or dinner.

sour cream, mayo, sweet pickle relish, fresh parsley, lemon
a spice blend for blackening fresh tuna

I start off by combining the sour cream, mayo, sweet pickle relish, fresh parsley and lemon juice for the creamy dipping sauce. Set this aside while prepping and cooking the tuna.

Next combine the blackened seasoning blend. This is where I either add some more cayenne pepper to up the spiciness (my husband is loves his food hot hot hot!) or tone it down a bit for myself.

seasoned blackened tuna bites
sauteing tuna bites

The cubed tuna is tossed with the spices and then sauteed just for a couple minutes. I use salted butter as it adds a richness to the tuna along with a nice crust. The medium rare tuna pieces get a squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and brightness.

I serve the tuna bites on a big platter with a dish of the sweet pickle dipping sauce and lemon wedges. These are so addictively delish!

suggestions and tips

  • Cut the tuna in the same size pieces ~ about 1 inch cubes ~ so it cooks evenly.
  • Tuna is dry and chewy when overcooked. Be sure to sauté it briefly in a hot pan for the best tasting tuna. You want it seared on the outside and still pink on the inside.
  • I like to control the spiciness of the blackened seasoning and mix up a batch with the everyday spices. If you have a favorite packaged brand, by all means use it instead.
platter with seafood bites and sipping sauce

what goes with blackened tuna?

Blackened tuna bites have bold flavor and can be served as an appetizer or main course.

When having blackened tuna bites as a snack or appetizer, I like to use a variety of dipping sauces. My favorites include ~

  • dilly tzatziki
  • fresh basil hummus
  • creamy cilantro lime dressing
  • zesty barbecue sauce

When I looking to make a meal with the tuna bites, I love these side dishes.

  • Toss with my Grown Up Buttered Noodles with Parmesan.
  • Top a salad of chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, slices of cucumber, and slivers of red onion with the seasoned tuna.
  • Add a side of steamed broccoli, asparagus, or green beans and some fluffy rice.
  • Serve over my cauliflower rice pilaf.
tuna bites with dipping sauce

just one more thing

Did you make this blackened tuna bites recipe? I’d love hearing from you if you did! Be sure to leave a comment. Or give this recipe a rating. I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I’ll add the photos to my Insta stories. I love seeing all your creations.

Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes.

blackened tuna on a fork
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tuna bites

Blackened Tuna Bites with Sweet Pickle Dipping Sauce


★★★★★

5 from 10 reviews

  • Author: amycaseycooks
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Description

This Blackened Tuna Bites recipe is super simple to make and tastes extra incredible. Bite-sized pieces of tuna are tossed with a homemade blackened spice blend and quickly sauteed. A cool and creamy sweet pickle sauce is perfect for dipping the flavorful tuna. Serve as an appetizer or entrée.


Ingredients

Units Scale

for the sweet pickle dipping sauce

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

for the tuna bites

  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh tuna, cut in 1 inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Make the dipping sauce. In a small bowl combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, parsley and lemon juice. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the tuna bites. In a medium sized bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, and pepper. Add the tuna and toss to thoroughly coat each piece with the spice blend.
  3. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter begins to foam, add the tuna in a single layer. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. The lesser cooking time is for tuna that will be slightly rare on the inside and the longer cooking time is for more well done tuna.
  4. Remove the tuna from the pan to a platter. Serve with the dipping sauce and lemon wedges.

Notes

  • Use super fresh tuna. Ahi is my #1 choice. You can also use frozen tuna such as yellowfin.
  • Cut the tuna in the same size pieces ~ about 1 inch cubes ~ so it cooks evenly.
  • Tuna is dry and chewy when overcooked. Be sure to sauté it briefly in a hot pan for the best tasting tuna. You want it seared on the outside and still pink on the inside.
  • I like to control the spiciness of the blackened seasoning and mix up a batch with the everyday spices. If you have a favorite packaged brand, by all means use it instead. 
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: appetizer or entrée
  • Method: cook on stove top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
  • Calories: 326
  • Sugar: 3.8 g
  • Sodium: 853 mg
  • Fat: 16.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7.3 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9.8 g
  • Fiber: 1.3 g
  • Protein: 34.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 91 mg

Keywords: blackened tuna, blackened tuna bites, tuna bites, easy appetizer, easy dinner idea, seafood recipe, tuna

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @amycaseycooks on Instagram and hashtag it #amycaseycooks

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Appetizers, Entrees, Recipes, Seafood

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Comments

  1. Kate says

    11.02.2022 at 10:11 am

    This recipe is awesome, I love that you can make an entire main course, with a dipping sauce, in only 15 minutes. I get into a rut with my weeknight dinner routines so these types of recipes are exactly what I need!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.04.2022 at 10:47 am

      Aren’t quick dinner the best?! Thanks for your comment Kate.

      Reply
  2. Amanda Mason says

    11.03.2022 at 7:56 pm

    So good! Loved these tuna bites! The spice flavor was perfectly distributed and the dipping sauce was so good! I made these for a high protein snack for me this week and it was perfect! So filling and delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.04.2022 at 10:46 am

      Great idea Amanda!

      Reply
  3. Jamie says

    11.04.2022 at 8:08 am

    Awesome! These tuna bites look so yummy! Plus the dips that come with it make this dish so enticing and tempting! I totally loved it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.04.2022 at 10:46 am

      That’s awesome Jamie. I love them for an easy happy hour snack.

      Reply
  4. Leslie says

    11.05.2022 at 7:42 pm

    This is such a great idea for an appetizer. Especially with the sweet pickle dipping sauce. This will be a fun recipe for my next get together!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:42 pm

      I love this as an appetizer and an entrée. I hope you enjoy the recipe Leslie.

      Reply
  5. Cathleen says

    11.06.2022 at 10:50 am

    I can’t stop making this!! It is so good, and my husband has been asking for more every time! Thank you so much for this recipe 😉

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:42 pm

      I’m so glad you and your husband enjoy the recipe.

      Reply
  6. Colleen says

    11.06.2022 at 6:12 pm

    This blackened tuna had just the right amount of spice, and the dipping sauce is so good. Don’t skip it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:42 pm

      My thoughts exactly Colleen 🙂

      Reply
  7. Healing Tomato says

    11.06.2022 at 10:40 pm

    Such a wonderful idea for dinner. Looks healthy and easy to make. I love all the aromatic spices you used in it.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:43 pm

      Thanks Healing Tomato!

      Reply
  8. Hayley Dhanecha says

    11.07.2022 at 4:38 am

    This recipe is so good! I loved all the spices and herbs you have used in this recipe. Perfect 15 minute recipe!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:41 pm

      Thanks Hayley! Aren’t 15 minute recipes the best?

      Reply
  9. Anna says

    11.07.2022 at 4:20 pm

    It was delicious! The sauce is tangy, sweet and refreshing, and goes so well with the tuna! Lovely recipe, and super easy to make!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:41 pm

      Thanks Anna! This on is a favorite.

      Reply
  10. Ramona says

    11.08.2022 at 2:38 am

    I love the sound of this recipe and I especially like the sound of sweet pickle dip! I cant wait to try out this recipe, thank you for sharing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy Casey says

      11.13.2022 at 2:40 pm

      The dip is amazing Ramona :).

      Reply

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Welcome to amycaseycooks where I share recipes my personal chef clients love and family favorites made in my tiny Jersey shore kitchen. As you have probably guessed, my name is Amy Casey. My lifelong love of food lead me to my personal chef business as well as sharing my recipes and cooking tips with you. Visit my About page to learn more about my culinary journey. Thanks for stopping by amycaseycooks!

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