Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 324 votes

Easy 30-Minute Tuna Patties

Easy to make, affordable, and delicious, these wonderfully crispy tuna patties are the perfect weeknight dinner!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 8 tuna cakes
Calories: 223 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 ounce cans tuna in water I use skipjack tuna
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons fresh garlic minced
  • 2 eggs large, lightly beaten
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped, or cilantro
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil extra-virgin, for frying

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to the "keep warm" setting (170°F).
  2. Drain the tuna thoroughly. It needs to be very dry, as shown in the photo. If too much moisture remains, the patties will fall apart. Place the drained tuna in a medium bowl and flake it with a fork. Make sure no big chunks of tuna remain. It needs to be well-flaked.
  3. Mix in the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, eggs, kosher salt, black pepper, and parsley.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  5. Using a 4-tablespoon scoop or measuring cup, transfer four mounds of the tuna mixture to the hot oil.
  6. Gently flatten the mounds with the back of a fork.
  7. Cook the patties until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Keep the cooked patties in the warm oven while you fry the second batch.
  8. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You will use 4 tablespoons of oil for frying, but the tuna patties will only absorb about half that amount. The nutrition info reflects that.
  • Different canned tuna products can have different textures. It's important to drain the tuna so that it's visibly dry - place it on paper towels to drain if needed. If, despite your efforts, you mix the ingredients and the mixture seems very liquid, add 2-4 tablespoons of breadcrumbs (regular or gluten-free) or (for a low-carb, grain-free version) almond flour.
  • You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. You can also freeze the cooled leftovers in freezer bags.

Nutrition Information

Serving 2patties Calories 223kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 1g (0%) Protein 19g (38%) Fat 15g (23%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Sodium 598mg (25%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8tuna cakes

Amount Per Serving

Calories 223

% Daily Value*

Serving 2patties
Calories 223kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Protein 19g 38%
Fat 15g 23%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 598mg 25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.