These crispy fried tuna patties have been a huge hit in my family my entire life. Modifying my mother's recipe, I bring you these easy tuna patties that are not only easy to make but wonderfully frugal.
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This recipe for tuna patties is based on my mother's, with minor adjustments made by me, such as adding seasonings and measuring ingredients. We grew up eating them plain with just flour, egg, and tuna, eyeballing the mixture to ensure it looked right.
Tuna patties with boxed mac and cheese were our family's "poor meal," our go-to frugal option for a tasty and filling dinner. It's a dish I continue to make for its comforting qualities.
My husband has also become a fan of these crispy tuna patties, so I often make large batches to satisfy everyone's cravings.
Each crispy shell encases a soft and tender tuna patty that isn't overly fishy, offering a delightful blend of flavors, crunch, and tenderness in every bite.
For more tuna recipes, check out my Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole, Air Fryer Tuna Melt, and Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Made with tuna, flour, egg, and seasonings using Frugal Pantry Staples, making it easy to meal plan on a tight budget.
- Budget friendly. Canned tuna is an inexpensive protein, making this one of the most affordable dinners around. Serve it with mac and cheese for a filling, low cost meal.
- A fresh way to use tuna. If plain tuna sandwiches are getting old, this recipe offers a simple, flavorful way to use up canned tuna.
🛒 Ingredients
Canned tuna. Use tuna packed in water for best results. This recipe has not been tested with oil packed tuna. Save an extra can for this Spicy Tuna Sandwich.
Eggs. Act as the binding agent to help the patties hold together.
Flour. All purpose flour thickens the mixture so it forms sturdy patties.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy tuna in multipacks: Multi-can packs are usually cheaper per can and pantry-friendly.
Use pantry seasonings: Onion powder keeps flavor simple without buying fresh ingredients.
Shallow fry smartly: Use just enough oil to fry and strain it after cooling to reuse once more if clean.
🥄 Instructions for Crispy Fried Tuna Patties
Step 1: Heat a pan with about 1-3 inches of oil until it's hot enough for frying.
Step 2: Drain your canned tuna and add it to a small mixing bowl. Add in your eggs.
Step 3: Mix until well combined and no egg white streaks remain.
Step 4: Add in the flour, salt, pepper and onion powder.
Step 5: Mix until no flour streaks remain.
Step 6: Scoop ¼ cup of the mixture into the pan and use the backside of two forks to gently press down on the patties. You should be able to fit about 3 or 4 per pan. Leave room for them to spread.
Step 7: Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and crispy.
Step 8: Remove to a paper towel lined plate and repeat until all patties have been cooked.
Serve warm.
Enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Family favorite. This fried tuna recipe has been passed down for generations, with everyone enjoying it a little differently. Try it with spicy mustard, dill pickle slices, or a simple sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
- Very forgiving. If you add a little extra flour or egg, the recipe will still work. Aim for a thick, white paste like consistency so the patties hold together while cooking.
- Shape for crispiness. Press the patties flat with two forks before frying. This helps them cook evenly and gives them a crisp, golden exterior.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store cooked Crispy Fried Tuna Patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat to restore crispness, or microwave for 30-60 seconds if needed.
Make Ahead: The tuna mixture can be mixed up to 24 hours in advance and kept covered in the fridge. Patties can also be cooked ahead and reheated before serving.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve Crispy Fried Tuna Patties with coleslaw, a simple salad, or steamed vegetables. These patties also pair well with rice, roasted potatoes, or tucked into sandwich buns with mayo or tartar sauce.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
If you didn't give your patties a good flour to egg ratio then the paste that holds them together will not work. You want the blend to be somewhat whiter in color and to be able to form a ball without breaking.
We always enjoy ours with a side of macaroni and cheese but other options can include turning them into a simple burger pattie or serving them alongside a salad. Even eating them alone can be a tasty snack.
Yes, the egg along with the flour works as a binder to hold the tuna chunks together and form a nicer patty (one that won't fall apart).
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🐝 If you tried these Crispy Fried Tuna Patties, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Fried Tuna Patties
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 3 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained - ($2.88)
- 3 large eggs - ($0.45)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour - ($0.07)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder - ($0.08)
- ½ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
Instructions
- Heat oil. Heat 1 to 3 inches of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot and ready for frying.
- Mix batter. In a large bowl, combine the tuna, eggs, flour, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until well mixed. The mixture should be thick and cohesive.
- Portion patties. Scoop the mixture into about ¼-cup portions and carefully place 3 to 4 patties into the hot oil, leaving space between them.
- Flatten. Use the backs of two forks to gently press each portion into a flat, even disc.
- Fry. Fry until the bottoms and edges are golden and crisp, then flip and cook the other side until equally crisp.
- Drain. Remove the patties and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Repeat and serve. Continue until all patties are cooked. Makes about 8 patties. Serve warm.
Notes
- Texture. The mixture should resemble a thick, pale paste that holds together easily. Slight variations in egg or flour amounts are forgiving.
- Shaping. Pressing the patties flat before frying helps them cook evenly and creates crisp edges.
- Binding. A proper flour-to-egg balance allows the mixture to form patties without breaking during frying.
Nutritional Information
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Charlotte says
Thes are awesome