Tuna Patties

Name: Easy Tuna Patties
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 (5 oz) cans tuna in water (well-drained and flaked with a fork); 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (I prefer avocado oil mayo); 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 2 teaspoons fresh garlic (minced); 2 large eggs (lightly beaten); 1/2 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped; or cilantro); 4 tablespoons olive oil for frying*

Last updated: May 6, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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These flavorful tuna patties are keto, paleo, and gluten-free. They contain no breadcrumbs - and in fact, you don't even need to add almond flour!

Tuna cakes are easy, affordable, and delicious. And they're ready in just 30 minutes! Feel free to double the recipe - the leftovers are excellent too.

Three tuna patties served on a white plate.

Sometimes the simplest meals are the best. I love cooking (after all, I'm a food blogger). But sometimes you tire of complex recipes and heavy meals and you want something light and easy.

That's why I make these delicious tuna patties for dinner about once a week. They are an excellent option for those nights when you just don't feel like cooking an elaborate meal.

I love making them because they are easy, affordable, and tasty. They are also substantial and filling.

We are a family of four. Two of us love fish, one of us tolerates them, and the Picky Eater won't touch them, with the exception of keto-fried fish. But she loves these tuna cakes!

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Ingredients
Variations
Tuna Patties Instructions
Expert Tip
Recipe FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Storing Leftovers
More Seafood Recipes
Recipe Card

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these tasty patties. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Canned tuna: I use water-packed tuna in this recipe.
Mayonnaise: I prefer mayonnaise made with avocado oil.
Dijon mustard: This traditional French mustard is creamier, thicker, and less vinegary than yellow mustard.
Minced garlic: Mince it yourself, or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Both work.
Eggs: I use large eggs in almost all of my recipes, this one included.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use by half, or the patties could end up too salty.
Chopped parsley: If you don't have fresh parsley, you can use dried parsley instead.
Olive oil for frying: I love cooking with this delicious oil. But if you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead. Another option is to use butter.

Variations

If you like your food spicy, try adding a teaspoon of hot pepper sauce to the mixture or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
It's very tasty to cook these patties in butter! Ghee is another tasty option that I tried and liked.
Chopped scallions are a nice addition - try using just ¼ cup of parsley and adding ¼ cup of finely chopped scallions.
If you don't have fresh parsley or cilantro on hand, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley or ½ teaspoon of ground coriander.
Instead of 2 teaspoons of minced fresh garlic, you can use ½ to 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Tuna Patties Instructions

The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of the steps for making this recipe:

Drain the tuna well, then use a fork to mix together the tuna, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, eggs, kosher salt, black pepper, and parsley. (Photos 1-4).
Cook the patties in olive oil until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately. (Photos 5-6).

A six-photo collage showing the steps for making tuna patties.

Expert Tip

You will use 4 tablespoons of oil for frying, but the tuna cakes will only absorb about half that amount. The reason I use the extra oil is that it promotes even browning of the patties.

Recipe FAQs

Will tuna cakes hold their shape without breadcrumbs?

Yes! Breadcrumbs really aren't necessary. The patties hold together just fine without them. In fact, you don't even need to add almond flour to the mixture. Just make sure the tuna is truly well-drained.

Why do my tuna patties fall apart?

Perhaps your tuna wasn't well-drained, so the mixture was too wet. Or maybe you had relatively large chunks of tuna in the mixture.

It's also important to cook these patties in a nonstick skillet and make sure it's truly nonstick - these pans tend to become quite sticky after a year or so.

What can I add to tuna to make it taste better?

I like to add something creamy such as mayo or sour cream, a flavorful ingredient such as Dijon mustard, and tasty herbs such as garlic and cilantro.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve these tuna cakes with a salad. Here are a few of the salads that go well with these patties:

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

They are also surprisingly good when eaten cold, straight out of the fridge!

Tuna patties served on a white plate with a napkin.

More Seafood Recipes

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