Easy Tuna Burgers (Patties)
Delicious Best Ever Tuna Burgers. A fast and easy canned tuna recipe, nobody will even miss the meat. These Tuna Patties are the perfect dinner recipe your whole family will love.
I started making these Tuna Patties when the kids were little and I still make them. My kids and even the Italian love them, they are quick and easy to put together, perfect for lunch or dinner. When I need something quick and meatless I will also reach for a frittata, a simple pasta or one of my favorite salad recipes.
There are only 5 ingredients in these Tuna Patties –
- Tuna – I like to use Tuna Canned in water, although oil is fine too.
- Cracker Crumbs rather than bread crumbs, it’s something my Mom used quite often especially in her Delicious Meatloaf.
- 1 egg – to help bind everything together.
- 1-2 stalks of celery – I love the taste and crunchiness of celery but you can always substitute with green peppers, onions, carrots or even chives.
- Mayonnaise – also used to bind all the ingredients, I chose light mayo but regular is fine also.
How to make Tuna Burgers
In a medium bowl add the tuna and flake it with a fork, then add the cracker crumbs, egg, chopped celery and mayo, mix together then form into patties. Drizzle a little olive oil in frying pan and cook until the patties have browned on both sides. Serve with an easy dill mayonnaise sauce.
Can Tuna Patties be Baked instead of Fried?
Yes they can be baked, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, place the patties on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in a pre-heated 375F / 190 C oven and bake until the burgers are golden brown about 10 minutes on each side.
How to make Dill Mayonaisse Sauce:
In a small bowl combine mayo, lemon juice and dill. Whisk the ingredients together. Perfect with fish burgers. Refrigerate an leftover sauce.
Recipe Tip
Place the uncooked burgers on a clean plate and cover with plastic wrap and chill for approximately 15 minutes. This will firm them for easier frying.
What to serve with Tuna Burgers:
They are absolutely delicious between two slices of pumpernickel bread or any of your favourite bread. Or if you decide to go really light, a tossed salad on the side would be the perfect combination.
Or sometimes I will add some Sauteed Greens or some baked Italian Rosemary Potatoes would be a good choice.
More Delicious Tuna Recipes:
- Easy Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Tuna Mozzarella Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
- Grilled Zucchini Double Cheese Tuna Bake
So if you are looking for something on the lighter side I hope you give these Tuna Patties a try and let me know what you think. Buon Appetito!
Easy Tuna Burgers (Patties)
Ingredients
TUNA BURGERS
- 2 cans tuna (in water)drain well (2 x 6 ounce cans / 2x 125g)
- 1½ cups cracker crumbs (I use saltine crackers using a blender to mash them)
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1-2 stalks celery finely chopped
- ½ cup light or regular mayonnaise (more if needed)
DILL MAYO SAUCE
- ½ cup light or regular mayo
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½-1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1-2tablespoons fresh chopped)
Instructions
TUNA BURGERS
- In a medium bowl add tuna and flake well with a fork, add cracker crumbs, egg, celery and mayonnaise. Mix until combined.
- Form into patties (I made 5 patties), place in a lightly greased frying pan and cook on medium heat, approximately 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown or desired doneness. Serve immediately. Top each with Dill Mayo Sauce if desired. Enjoy!
DILL MAYO SAUCE
- In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice and dill.
Notes
Can the patties be made in advance?
Yes they can be made in advance, place on a plate cover with plastic wrap or parchment paper and refrigerate up to one day.How to store tuna burgers
Store the completely cooled burgers in an airtight container, they will keep for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. You can freeze the Tuna Patties uncooked or cooked. To freeze uncooked be sure to freeze them in an airtight freezer safe container on layers of parchment paper. No need to thaw, just cook them frozen. Although they may need some extra cooking time. If you decide to freeze them cooked, then make sure to cool completely before storing in an airtight container again on layers of parchment paper. Let thaw over night in the fridge and warm in the oven.Nutrition
Updated from March 24, 2015.
Thanks for the recipe 🙂 Delicious !! Super easy to throw together, my boyfriend loved it.
Hi Chloenoel, thanks so much, so glad you both liked it. Take care!
My Grandma used make tuna burgers and we called it Cookie Tuna. A feast! Thank you for this recipe. I haven´t eaten it for years and will make it today. Only difference is that I put mashed potato in instead of crumbs.
Thank you for your recipes it has brighten many days in my kitchen.
New Year Greetings and Blessings to you.
Hi Annatjie, thanks so much, that’s very interesting adding mashed potatoes instead of crumbs. Take care and Happy New Year!
Just made for the second time. Perfect moisturize to make the Pattie’s. Very happy. I added just a lil Old Bay. Success approval by my hubby.
Tried to post a pic….I wasn’t permitted to attach…they came out beautiful. Thank you.
Hi Tammy, thanks so much, so glad you liked the recipe. Take care and Happy New Year!
Made these with leftover rice. Delicious
Hi Rae, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
These were so good, Im gluten free so I used gf Panko bread crumbs. Turned out very good. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
Hi Connie, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
Is there a way to use the air fryer instead of a frying pan? thank you, can’t wait to try!
Hi Allison, I just started using an air fryer and I would say yes you can, line the basket with foil add the burgers, I would say bake for about 5 minutes on each side at 360F. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
Can you use bread crumbs instead of saltines?
Hi Lynda, yes you can use bread crumbs, I have used them before also, you should add a bit of salt, 1/4 teaspoon should be enough. Take care.
One more question how much bread crumbs and should they be plain or Italian style?
Hi Lynda, 1 1/2 cups breads crumbs, I have only used plain, but if you want you could try with Italian style. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
I made the tune burgers tonight and used plain breadcrumbs and only used a half a cup which was enough and was able to make six both my husband and I enjoyed them and will definitely make them again.
Hi Lynda, thanks so much so glad you both enjoyed them. Take care!
Instead of frying can you cook these in the oven?
Thank you.
Hi Lynda, yes you can, bake at around 350F for about 15-20 minutes, you might want to flip them halfway through baking. Let me know how it goes.
That seems like a lot of cracker crumbs for only 2 small cans of tuna. Do you mean 1-1/2 cups crackers, then crush them, which measures much less than 1-1/2 cups?
Hi Cindy, 2 small cans is more than 250 grams. And yes the amount is correct. 🙂
Haven’t tried yet, so can’t rate but does look yummy. One member in my house is gluten free, will use gf crackers. Another member has high cholesterol, can I use plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo mixed with some green relish. Cooking for two different diets isn’t easy.
Hi Susan, yes I think greek yogurt would work fine. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know how it goes. Take care.
Loved the tuna burgers. I did 3 cans of tuna . Put 1 heaping teaspoon mayonnaise . 1 cup more crackers & put 2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Shook some onion powder,little garlic,salt & pepper. It made 4 huge tuna burgers. I made roasted veg. to go with it.
Hi Jean, thanks glad you enjoyed them. Sounds delicious. Take care.
Okay, I tried this recipe today since I had two cans of tuna, and I didn’t want to spend money on dinner. I’m a pescatarian, so fish is key in my diet. However, I have only had tuna in my sandwiches, so I was shocked to see many canned tuna recipes in my search. I must say, this came out amazing. I enjoyed this with the rice my sister made me, and my father enjoyed it too. I will 100% save this recipe and make it again. I am now ready to tackle canned tuna differently. Thank you so much for this!
Hi Taeler, thanks so much, so glad you liked the recipe. I also have a canned tuna pasta recipe https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/tuna-olive-rigatoni/. Have a great weekend.
Delicious. I ate for dinner and breakfast with eggs.
Hi thanks so much, so glad you liked them. Have a great week.
These were so good! I absolutely love them. It browned very nicely with the olive oil, so tasty. I didn’t have celery at the time,so i just used green pepper, onion, and zucchini! I added some sea salt and garlic powder too.
Hi Connie thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care.
Hi, it says 2 cans, how many ounces?
Hi Susan, 2 cans 6 ounces each, drain well.
Sounds great. I’d like to make them up and freeze them to cook later. Would that work?
Hi Linda, yes you can freeze and then cook later. Freeze them on a cookie sheet and when firm, place in a freezer safe bag or container.