How to turn a couple cans of tuna into dinner.
How to make healthy tuna patties.
Ever had one of those empty-fridge moments?
You know how this happens. You’ve been a little late getting around to the grocery shopping, and when your family asks, “What’s for dinner?” you realize there’s pretty much nothing in the fridge. Maybe a few eggs, a couple of celery stalks, half an onion…certainly not enough to make a meal of.
Fortunately, there’s always a can of tuna in the pantry. And with just that one can of tuna, plus the few stray items in your fridge, you can make a perfectly good dinner that’s easy and delicious.
These Easy Tuna Patties are sort of like hamburgers, except instead of ground beef, they’re made from a mixture of tuna, breadcrumbs, and eggs. Seasoned with onion, celery, mustard, pepper, dill, and Old Bay seasoning, these little patties are so packed with flavor that no one at your dinner table will suspect this is a meal you pretty much made out of nothing. You can serve them on rolls, just like a burger, or by themselves with any green vegetable.
Of course, you don’t have to wait for an empty-fridge emergency to make these. They make a perfectly good easy dinner at any time. You can even make them with other kinds of fish besides tuna, which is handy if you have some leftover baked fish to get rid of. All in all, they’re a very handy recipe to have up your sleeve for any occasion.
Easy Tuna Patties
- Beat eggs and lemon juice in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, Old Bay, tuna, mustard, onion, celery, black pepper and dill. Pour in egg/lemon mixture.
- Shape tuna mixture into about eight 1-inch-thick patties. NOTE: If you have time, it is best to refrigerate patties for at least an hour. This will help them stay together better during frying, however this is not required.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry patties until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
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Easy Tuna Patties
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning
- 4 5 ounce cans albacore tuna, drained
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/8 cup finely diced onion
- 1/4 cup finely diced celery
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dill
- 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Beat eggs and lemon juice in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, Old Bay, tuna, mustard, onion, celery, black pepper and dill. Pour in egg/lemon mixture.
- Shape tuna mixture into about eight 1-inch-thick patties. NOTE: If you have time, it is best to refrigerate patties for at least an hour. This will help them stay together better during frying. However, this is no a required step.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry patties until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Jennifer says
What sides would you pair with this?
Corey says
I actually like to put these on a burger bun with some tarter sauce! If you just served them as is…. maybe your favorite green veggie? I hope you love them!
Kuualohalalani says
I was looking for a new recipe to change up my shoyu tuna patties and your recipe is a hit! I just added some some tofu and it was yummy. Thank you for sharing and posting all the pictures along the way. Mahalo!
phyllis says
I LOVE LOVE tuna fish…made salmon cakes but will try this recipe. Thank you for this and all your other fabulous recipes!!
Corey says
Yay Phyllis! These tuna cakes are much cheaper to make and taste fantastic! I hope you love them!
Lisa Hoggan says
I’m allergic to eggs, is there anything I could use as a replacement for them in this recipe?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Raquel says
If eggs are being used as a binder (to hold meatloaf or burgers together, to hold the breading on foods that are too be fried, or to firm up cookies or pancakes) …
Mix together one heaping Tablespoon of soy flour and 2 Tablespoons water per egg
Use one heaping Tablespoon of flax seed and 3 Tablespoons cold water per egg in sweet recipes. Wait for the mixture to gel before you use it. It’ll add a slightly nutty flavor to the finished recipe.
Velda says
You can use ground flax as a binder. You will needto t mix it with water and let it sit for a bit.
Raquel says
This was the perfect Lenten main dish. I work at a Catholic Church and I wanted to make something different other than fish or catfish. It was a hit! I served it with Sweet Kale Salad (poppy seed dressing), and a side of sliced cucumbers. I did substitute regular mustard because I didn’t have Dijon mustard, and Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning instead of Old Bay’s Seasoning. I will be making this again.
Yvonne says
Great idea .mom used to make but she passed and didn’t get how to make
julie says
this was so good! it tasted like a crab cake not like tuna at all. it was easy to make and filling without any bun. i made italian green beans with it. this receipe is a keeper thanks!
Corey says
So happy you loved it Julie!
Janet says
Is it possible to use mashed potatoes as substitute for bread crumbs?
Tracy says
I make my tuna patties with a similar recipe and use mashed potatoes all the time. What’s great about using them as that it stretches the recipe, especially when I have to feed my family of 5.
Lyn says
I also use mashed potatoes in mine & we don’t hv old bay in S.Africa.
Lillian says
How many calories?
Elizabeth Higgins says
This is literally an easy tuna patties recipe, Corey! And I am glad to have stumbled upon them. They’re a life-saver! I made these recently; I added some bacon bits, which were available at the time, and boy were they so good! Thanks for sharing!
Dina says
Can I freeze these before cooking step??
Don says
Very easy and tasty
Went over very well
Bre Hewitt says
This recipe is fantastic. Would highly recommend.
Seasons01 says
Very good! Very soft inside!
Michelle Chavis says
This recipe was far better than the first one I tried. My family commented that they really tasted good. It had just the right amount of seasoning and they blended together well!
The Ravens Moon says
Love this! I doubled it, substituted crushed townhouse crackers for breadcrumbs,added 4tbs of Dukes mayo, doubled the old Bay and skipped the dill. Served them on buns with a garlic, lemon, horseradish aioli. It was a huge success!! Everyone claimed the leftovers for lunch the next day!!
pamela says
I added a little mayo, chile flakes, fine chopped crockneck squash, smoked garlic spice………………….they were wonderful.
Linda Baze says
Is the nutritional info per patty or per entire recipe?
Corey says
Per patty Linda 🙂
Kat says
Does this recipe make 6 patties? Or more? Thank you.
Corey says
This will make 6 patties
Cheryl Mason says
Would this work with can salmon?
Corey says
Yes! Also with canned crab 🙂
Natalie says
Can theses freeze and if so cooked or uncooked do you thaw out before cooking if uncooked
Corey says
I would freeze them after cooking. And yes, you should thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.
Michele says
Could you reheat this in the microwave after thawing in the fridge?
Erica Luba says
These turned out great! Didn’t have any dill so I substituted with tarragon. Forgot there was no celery so I added a heaping 1/4 teasp of celery seeds. Will definitely make again
Sharon says
Question- for the tuna, is it a 4.5 oz can or 4- 5 oz cans
Corey says
4 cans 🙂
Laurie Herk says
I was looking for a new tuna pattie recipe and found your site. These turned out great! They held together well and were very tasty.
Judi Colonel says
Can you make them ahead & freeze them to fry later?
Laurie says
I loved this recipe. Easy to make and they were delicious. My husband loved them. I put slices of tomatoes on top and just served with a melody of vegtables.
Elizabeth says
I have never tried tuna patties before, but after teying this recipe, I am hooked!! These are sooo good. I will definitely make these a part of my meal repertoire. Thank you!
Nikki says
I used everything but old bay and it’s awesome!
Kathy says
This recipe is a winner & is one of the best I’ve ever had. All family likes this recipe as says the same.
Angie W says
Oh my gosh, this recipe was delicious! I didn’t have celery so I put a little celery seed and extra onion in them. Otherwise, I followed the recipe. They were very flavorful and I can’t wait to make them again!
Nika says
I used kewpie mayo instead of mustard and whatever cheese I had on hand. It was still good💓. Paired it with banana ketchup and mayoinnaise mixture.
Sierra Johnson says
OH MY GOODNESS BEST TUNA PATTIES EVER !! I could eat these everyday LITERALLY. Im writing this review as I’m eating them wishing I’d made more. I don’t even leave reviews so you know its good. I used regular yellow mustard instead of Dijon, some Frank’s hot sauce, and extra stonemill salt free seasoning.
Corey says
Lol. So happy you loved the patties Sierra 🙂
Barbara Green says
Just made this recipe, Have never heard of old bay seasoning. We don’t have it in Australia. What is it please.? I also added I/2 a avocado and some chopped red capsicum.
Corey says
Hi Barbara. It’s an all seasoning for seafood.
janet says
I want to try this -but what is Old bay?? We don’t have it in the UK so need to know what is in it please?
Corey says
It is an all purpose seasoning for seafood. Do you have something like that in the UK?
janet says
Not that I know of – I don’t buy ready made seasonings so I’ve never looked for them. I could add a grate of nutmeg and maybe some chopped capers instead?
Paula says
We love these. I make them larger and oven fry them for tuna burgers!
Sparks says
I make these regularly, love them!
Rhonda Barker says
I’ve made this a few times now and love it I just use whatever bread crumbs I have no italian herbs and they turn out fantastic I also serve them with a Mayo lemon dill dressing just mix together for your own taste
Angie W says
This recipe was wonderful. The whole family loved it. Was wondering though, if you could just use regular tunafish instead of the albacore?
Michael says
Kids wanted to eat it before cooking haha, they said it smelled so good. Great recipe!! I also added chopped Italian green peppers in the mix.
Corey says
I love the idea of adding peppers! Yum!
Diane says
You never answered my last comment. I’ll try this one. This is delicious, and I will be making it again!
Corey says
Sorry about that Diane. Trying to get through all the comments now 🙂 So happy you loved the recipe!
Sandi says
Can you use an air fryer
Corey says
I’ve only made and tested the recipe as written, so I can’t say for sure. Hopefully one of our followers can help that have tried this.
Betty H says
I made 19 little patties with this recipe and boy were they yummy! I didn’t have Dill so I used dried parsley instead. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
Betty H says
I also used regular tuna. Paired it with sautéed asparagus, Turmeric rice and some fresh strawberries yum!
Jeanice says
My favorite! Very good.
Carol says
I made the tuna patties but used potato flakes and added oregano and basil flakes along with the other spices.I did not use dill but will try it next time. it was GREAT. Husband liked it, and it is a keeper at our house for sure. No lemon… Did not have veggie oil so used olive oil.Can’t wait to make again YUMMY YUMMY!