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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Published: Feb 14, 2021 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Crispy Fried Tuna Patties

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional image for crispy fried tuna patties

    These crispy fried tuna patties have been a huge hit in my family my entire life. Modifying my own mother's recipe, I bring you these easy tuna patties that are not only easy to make but wonderfully frugal.

    4 tuna patties on a plate with green onion slices lemon and pickles

    This recipe for tuna patties is based on my own mother's recipe. The only changes I've personally made to it was adding in the seasonings and measuring the ingredients out. We grew up eating them plain with just flour, egg, and tuna. The mixture was always eye-balled to see if it looked right.

    We would eat fried tuna patties and boxed mac and cheese as our family's "poor meal." It was our go-to frugal meal for when we couldn't afford much but wanted something tasty and filling. It's also a dish that I continue to make because it's comforting.

    I've always gotten my husband hooked on these crispy tuna patties so now when I do make them, I have to make large batches so everyone can get their fill.

    Inside every crispy shell is a soft and tender tuna patties that aren't overly fishy. It's a combination of flavor, crunch, and softness in every bite that has you going back for more.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    labeled ingredients needed to make crispy fried tuna patties

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Canned tuna
    • Eggs
    • Flour
    • Onion powder
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Oil for frying

    For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cups
    • Tongs
    • Frying pan

    🔪 Instructions

    Check out how to make tuna patties with these simple step-by-step instructions:

    Heat a pan with about 1-3 inches of oil until it's hot enough for frying.

    eggs in a bowl with tuna

    Drain your canned tuna and add it to a small mixing bowl. Add in your eggs.

    tuna and egg mixture in a bowl

    Mix until well combined and no egg white streaks remain.

    flour and seasonings in a bowl with egg tuna mixture

    Add in the flour, salt, pepper and onion powder.

    tuna patty mixture in a bowl

    Mix until no flour streaks remain.

    three tuna patties frying in a pan of oil

    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.

    three crispy fried tuna patties in a pan of oil

    Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and crispy.

    Remove to a paper towel lined plate and repeat until all patties have been cooked.

    fried tuna patties on a paper towel

    Serve warm.

    Enjoy!

    lemon slices pickle spears and tuna patties on a plate topped with sliced green onion

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    We've grown up eating this fried canned tuna so you can imagine how many different ways they were made, eaten, or presented over the years.

    My mother loves hers with spicy mustard and dill pickle slices over the top. I like mine with a sprinkling of sea salt flakes. My kids like theirs plain as-is (but made mini-sized).

    The best thing about these simple tuna patties is that they are very forgiving. If you add in a little too much flour or egg it's not the end of the world. Getting the ratio right can be a little tricky at first but you want it to be sort of like a thick white paste.

    The more the mixture can "stick" together, the more it's going to hold the shape in the pan.

    You'll also need to press down on the tops of the patties with two forks, much like you would with a peanut butter cookie before baking. It's a good way to flatten it out for even baking, and it gives it a unique shape that will crisp up nicely.

    💭 FAQs

    Why did my tuna patties fall apart?

    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.

    What do you eat with tuna patties?

    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 alongside a salad. Even eating them alone can be a tasty snack.

    4 crispy tuna patties on a plate with sliced green onion lemon slices and sliced pickle spears

    More great side dish recipes to try

    • Easy Salsa Rice
    • Slow Cooker Cabbage with Bacon
    • Browned Butter Garlic and Thyme Purple Mashed Potatoes
    • Creamy Orange Fluff Salad
    • Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese
    • Chicken Cream Cheese Crescent Bombs

    📖 Recipe

    an upclose view of fried tuna patties on a plate with lemon slices pickl spears and green onion garnish
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Crispy Fried Tuna Patties

    These crispy fried tuna patties have been a huge hit in my family my entire life. Modifying my own mother's recipe I bring you these easy tuna patties that are not only easy to make but wonderfully frugal.
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Servings: 8 patties
    Calories: 138kcal
    Cost Recipe $2.79 / Serving $0.35
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cups
    • Tongs
    • Frying pan

    Ingredients

    • 3 cans (5oz) Tuna in water, drained ($2.34)
    • 3 large eggs ($0.24)
    • ½ cup flour ($0.04)
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder ($0.10)
    • ½ teaspoon salt ($0.05)
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper ($0.02)
    • Oil for frying (canola works great)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Heat a large pan of oil until it's hot enough for frying. You want about 1-3 inches of depth.
    • In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients until well mixed.
    • Scoop the mixture into ¼ cup sized scoops and carefully drop about 3 or 4 into your pan. Make sure they have room to grow.
    • Using the backside of two forks and press down gently onto each patty to flatten them out into a disc of uniform thickness- or close to it.
    • Fry until crisp on the bottom and edges, flip and repeat until other side is golden and crisp as well.
    • Remove fried tuna patties and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain grease.
    • Repeat until all patties have been made. Makes about 8 patties.
    • Serve warm.

    Notes

    Recipe Tips

    The best thing about these simple tuna patties is that they are very forgiving. If you add in a little too much flour or egg it's not the end of the world. Getting the ratio right can be a little tricky at first but you want it to be sort of like a thick white paste. The more the mixture can "stick" together, the more it's going to hold the shape in the pan.
    You'll also need to press down on the tops of the patties with two forks, much like you would with a peanut butter cookie before baking. It's a good way to flatten it out for even baking, and it gives it a unique shape that will crisp up nicely. 
    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. 

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1patty | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.3g | Protein: 18.4g | Fat: 3.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.2g | Cholesterol: 96.8mg | Sodium: 270.2mg | Potassium: 190.1mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 33.9IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 21.9mg | Iron: 1.3mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course lunch, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    I'm Nicole and I am the owner and recipe developer here at Beeyond Cereal. I love saving money and one of the best places to trim expenses is in the kitchen. With this site, we are serving up tasty and frugal homemade dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

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