A quick and easy finger food appetizer of spicy tuna on a crunchy cucumber crust is perfect for your next gathering.
I like to call this recipe, “Poor Man’s Sushi.” Does that mean you have to be poor to eat it? Or even a man? Haha no, of course not! It’s just a super easy way to serve sushi-like snacks at home, on the cheap.
What Makes This a Great Appetizer?
In my book, an appetizer needs to meet certain criteria in order for me to call it great. I am happy to say this one checks all the boxes!
Quick – A time-consuming may be okay for certain situations, but most likely not.
Easy – If I have to go back and re-read the directions a bunch of times, it’s not easy enough. This one has just 2 steps.
Crowd-pleasing – A majority of the people I may serve this to will be able to enjoy them because these bites are low-carb, gluten-free, and even keto-friendly.
Finger food – No utensils required! Your friends and family can grab these little bad boys in one or two bites.
Tasty – If it isn’t appetizing, none of the above will even matter. AmIrite?
Lastly, let me point out that these spicy tuna cucumber bites are not just a wonderful appetizer for parties and gatherings, they are a satisfying healthy snack, too.
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Fan of cucumbers? Be sure to give my Cucumber and Tomato Salad a try.
Spicy Tuna Cucumber Bites
Ingredients:
8 oz canned tuna
1 large cucumber
¼ cup mayo
2 tbsp Frank’s hot sauce
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper
Optional garnish:
2 sliced green onions
2 tbsp sesame seeds
This recipe is about 8 servings but it can easily be doubled or tripled without adding much more time or effort.
Some other quick appetizers not to be missed:
Stuffed Prosciutto Appetizer Cups
Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers
Greek Salad on a Stick
Strawberry Caprese Skewers
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms
Quick and Easy Appetizer Recipe
The first thing you need to do is open that can of tuna. You guys, I have to tell you how much I love my new can opener! It may sound silly, but this little thing has made my life so much easier. I am angry at myself for using an antiquated hard-to-crank old-fashioned can opener for so many years. If you are looking for an upgrade, give this one a try.
Drain the tuna well. This step is pretty important because you won’t want runny tuna for these little bites.
Wash and dry your cucumber, then cut into bite-sized slices. There’s no need to peel the cucumber for this snack.
In a medium bowl, add your drained tuna, mayo, hot sauce, and garlic powder. My hot sauce of choice is Frank’s Red Hot. It’s got a wonderful kick. Sriracha sauce works well for offering up a nice kick, too. Give that hot sauce an extra shake or two if you want it extra spicy. Season it with salt & pepper, to taste, and stir it until it is well combined.
Set your cucumber slices on a serving platter and top each slice with a small amount of the tuna mixture. If desired, garnish each with some green onions and sesame seeds.
That’s all there is to it! Pretty simple, huh?
Simple to make, these delightful cucumber bites are topped with spicy tuna for a no-cook, low-carb healthy appetizer or snack.

Did you give these spicy tuna cucumber bites a try? Let me know in the comments below or snap a photo and tag @coolbeanliving on Instagram. I’d love to see it!


Spicy Tuna Cucumber Bites
Ingredients
- 8 oz canned tuna drained
- 1 large cucumber
- ¼ cup mayo
- 2 tbsp Frank's hot sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds optional
- 2 sliced green onions optional
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add tuna, mayo, hot sauce, and garlic powder. Season with salt & pepper, as desired; stir to combine.
- Divide the tuna mixture atop the cucumber slices and arrange on a serving platter. Garnish each appetizer bite with sliced green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.