Tuna Patties

Tuna patties are a favorite lunch dish in our home! Seasoned with lemon, onion, and cilantro, these are moist in the middle and crispy browned on the inside.

This easy tuna cakes recipe is delicious and so easy to make. Serve them alongside other classic favorites like 7 layer salad or fried cabbage. 

Tuna Patties

Why you’ll love this recipe

📌 Classic timeless flavors that will have you reminiscing to childhood. 

📌 Made with pantry and fridge ingredients you probably already have on hand. 

📌 Easily modified for your personal tastes and palate. 

Ingredients

• Tuna – We used solid white albacore canned tuna for this recipe, but any tuna canned in water will work. 
• Eggs – Large eggs. 
• Yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt. Alternatively you can use sour cream. 
• Lemon – Squeezed for the juice. 
• Cilantro – Fresh cilantro, chopped.  Parsley can be substituted. 
• Breadcrumbs – Plain, unflavored, dry breadcrumbs. 
• Onion – Sweet yellow onion. 
• Peppers – Jalapeno pepper if you like spice, or bell pepper if you prefer no spice. 
• Seasonings – Salt and pepper. 
• Oil – Vegetable oil for cooking. Olive oil is my preference. 
• Sauce – Optional, sriracha, plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and lemon juice. 

Step-by-step directions

⭐ First, in a large bowl mix together tuna, egg, cilantro, onion, yogurt, breadcrumbs, peppers, lemon juice, salt and pepper. 

⭐ Then, shape tuna mixture into patties. 

⭐ Next, heat oil in a large skillet and lightly fry patties until cooked through and browned on each side. 

⭐ Finally, serve with yogurt dip. 

Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions. 

Preparation

Can you make tuna cakes ahead of time?

Yes, these are great when made ahead! I like to make a big batch and keep them in the fridge for easy dinners.  You can enjoy them cold or heat them up in the microwave, toaster oven or air fryer. 

They can even be frozen for longer term storage. 

What kind of peppers should I use?

If you like a hit of spice, add jalapeno pepper, but if not, go ahead and use green bell pepper. Green bell pepper has no heat but it will add moisture and texture to the patties. 

Alternatively, you can substitute an equal amount of diced celery. 

Storage and leftovers

How long will the leftovers keep?

These will last in the refrigerator for 4 – 5 days or longer in the freezer. Make sure to store in a sealed container. 

Can you freeze tuna cakes?

Yes! Allow the patties to cool to about room temperature, then layer them with parchment paper or wax paper in an air tight, freezer safe container. 

Freeze for up to 6 months and defrost in the refrigerator. 

Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions

✅ Try adding smoked paprika or smoked chipotle powder. 

✅ Swap the the jalapeno for green pepper or celery if you want crunch without spice. 

✅ Trade the cilantro for fresh dill to switch up the flavors. 

✅ Make this with canned salmon or canned chicken. 

✅ Serve with your favorite dips like this creamy dill sauce or chunky blue cheese dressing. 

Serving suggestions

These are delicious with a fresh cucumber tomato salad, or corn and tomato salad.  Serve them with a toasted slice of homemade white bread and a raspberry cheesecake cookie for dessert. 

More delicious tuna recipes

• Tuna casserole recipe
• Tuna pasta salad
• Tuna stuffed tomatoes

Other delicious seafood recipes

• Cranberry almond salmon bowls
• Honey mustard salmon recipe
• Shrimp scampi
• Salmon rice bowl
• Easy coconut shrimp
• See all our seafood recipes!

 

Tools we love

• 15″ Cast iron pan – This. Pan. Is. Huge.  Literally massive. I have two and they’re sooooooo amazing.  
• Large Griddle – We use ours for everything from pancakes, to eggs, to chicken breast, and seared steak!

How to Make Tuna Patties