Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (2024)

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by Diane

Our previous crispy stove top tuna patties recipe were such a hit! So many of you asked us for an air fryer tuna patties recipe so here it is! A batch of these air fried tuna cakes is low carb and delicious.Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (2)

Easy Healthy Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe

Our recipe for tuna patties in the air fryer is so much healthier because it hardly uses any oil. We couldn’t believe it when we took a bit into a air fried tuna patty. It’s is a little drier than the stove top version, but the healthier air fried option is still delicious! The flavor and texture difference between the pan fried tuna version and air fried version is small. Air frying the tuna patties is definitely the way to go if you’re looking to cook with less oil and cut calories.

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (3)

Video: Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe

Low Carb, Low Calorie Air Fried Tuna Patties

The hot circulating air cooks these fish cakes perfectly only need a light brush or spray of olive oil. Hardly using any oil makes the lower calorie for sure. And the patties use a bit of bread crumbs, which makes them lower carb than most other options out there. You’ll love these and serve then on a salad, as an appetizer or in a slider. If you’re looking for a BAKED TUNA PATTY here’s a great recipe that can easily be baked in the oven. Both these options are great ways to enjoy these low calorie tuna cakes!

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (4)

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (5)

How to Make Tuna Patties or Tuna Cakes in Air Fryer

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (6)

Use ice cream scoop to keep sizes consistent

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (7)

Flatten out the tuna patties and keep their round shape. Brush with oil.

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (8)

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (9)

Here’s our Stove Top Version: Recipe Here

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (10)

Hope you enjoy our air fried tuna cakes recipe. Here’s more healthy recipes:

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (11)

Air Fryer Tuna Patties

Yield: 10 Patties

We texture of the canned albacore tuna the best for this recipe. Try to avoid the canned tunas which are very mushy. Fresh, raw tuna works great too if you feel like using fresh fish.
The amount of egg will vary depending on the dryness of your tuna and the absorption of the bread crumbs. If you are unsure, start with 2 eggs, and if the mixture seems too dry to easily form into patties, add a 3rd egg.

4.53 from 17 votes

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Ingredients

  • 15 ounces (425 g) canned albacore tuna , drained or 1 pound (454g) fresh tuna, diced
  • 2-3 large eggs *see note above
  • zest of 1 medium lemon
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup (55 g) bread crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 stalk celery , finely chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) minced onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried herbs (oregano, dill, basil, thyme or any combo)
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) Kosher salt , or to taste
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • optional for serving - ranch, tarter sauce, mayo, lemon slices

Equipment

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine the eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, celery, onion, garlic powder, dried herbs, salt and pepper. Stir the mixture to make sure everything is combined. Gently fold in the tuna until just combined.

  • Lay perforated air fryer baking paper inside base of air fryer. Lightly spray the paper. (if not using a liner, spray enough olive oil spray at the base of the air fryer basket to make sure the patties do not stick)

  • Scoop 1/4 cup of mixture, and shape into patties about 3-inches wide x 1/2-inch thick and lay inside basket. Makes about 10 patties. If patties are too soft to handle, chill them for at about 1 hour or until firm. This will make them easier to handle during cooking.

  • Spray or brush top of patties with oil.

    Air Fry at 360°F, 10 minutes, flipping half way. Spray the tops again after you flip the patties. Serve with your favorite sauce and lemon slices.

Notes

Easy substitutions: Fresh herbs for the dried herbs. Shallots or green onions for the onions.

Video

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (12)

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 101kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 61mg, Sodium: 298mg, Potassium: 131mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 83IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: Air Fryer, Seafood

Calories: 101

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posted in: 30 Minute Recipes, 300+ Easy Meals, Air Fryer, Healthy, Paleo, Seafood, Side Dishes 15 comments

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (13)

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    15 Comments on “Healthy Air Fryer Tuna Patties”

  1. Annie Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (16)
    This was a great way to get my kids to eat tuna! They’re usually really picky about eating it but they loved this!

  2. Cal Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (17)
    I love finding different ways to cook tuna! I’m addicted to these air fryer tuna patties!

  3. Roxie Otteson Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (18)
    Sounds delicious….wondering if I could substitute canned salmon. I will be trying both.
    Thank you

    • Best Recipe Box Reply

      Hi Roxie, we haven’t tried it with canned salmon yet. If it turns out good, please let us know! Our input will be super helpful!

  4. Are used what I had which was for 2.5 ounce packs of lemon pepper tuna and one pack of Thai tuna. It was incredible. Really easy excellent recipe. Ruth Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (19)
    I used what I had which was four 2.5 ounce packs of lemon pepper tuna and one pack of Thai tuna. It was incredible. Really easy excellent recipe. I also added ginger and turmeric. Crushed stuffing for the bread crumbs. Yummy!
    Thanks
    Ruthie

    • Best Recipe Box Reply

      Hi Ruthie! thanks for sharing and love the addition of ginger and turmeric!

  5. Louise Reply

    Exactly how many calories per patty?

    • Maggie @ Magnolia Chocolatier Reply

      Each one is 101 calories. I did the math.

  6. Cassie Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (20)
    These were easy to make and turned out so delicious!! I added some Tajin for a little spice!

    • Diane Reply

      Love Tajin! So glad you enjoyed these. Thanks for sharing Cassie!

  7. Maggie @ Magnolia Chocolatier Reply

    I made these in my brand new air fryer. They were really good. I’m still learning the air fryer, so it’s great to have recipes that will work with it. Thanks!

    Mag

  8. Sharon Reply

    Thanks for the recipe. It sounds good. I don’t think it really qualifies as low carb because of the breadcrumbs. But otherwise it sounds good

    • Diane Reply

      Hi Sharon, you can certainly use almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a more low carb version.

  9. S M Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (21)
    So tasty, so crispy and so easy to make. I halved the recipe and it turned out great. I didn’t have any celery but it was still really good.

  10. Mel Reply

    Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (22)
    I made them with fresh tuna and it was perfect simple love it

Air Fryer Tuna Patties Recipe CRISPY and LOW CARB | Best Recipe Box (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep tuna patties from falling apart? ›

If you find that your tuna patties tend to fall apart, you don't need to start over or add more tuna: You just need to add an extra egg to the batch. Tuna from a can or pouch is usually one of three kinds of fish: albacore, yellowfin, or skipjack, all of which are pretty soft and flaky when they're packaged.

What is tuna patties made of? ›

Tuna patties are just like a burger, but made with canned tuna. In addition to the tuna, they usually also contain egg and breadcrumbs to hold them together, and some seasoning for extra flavor. The mixture is then flattened into a patty and fried until deliciously golden brown.

What to eat with tuna patties? ›

Serving Suggestions

I like to top these tuna cakes with a creamy topping such as tartar sauce, sriracha mayo, or sour cream dip and serve them with one of these salads: Creamy cucumber salad.

Why won't my tuna patties stick together? ›

Tuna patties fall apart when they have too much moisture in them. By pressing as much of the liquid out of the canned tuna as possible, you'll ensure that the mixture is dry enough to hold together.

What is the crunchy stuff in my can of tuna? ›

These small fragments are crystals of a substance know chemically as magnesium ammonium phosphate, commonly called "struvite." If you find glass-like crystals in your canned seafood, don't be alarmed. These are natural occurring minerals called struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).

How many carbs are in tuna patties? ›

Tuna cake or patty contains 251 calories per 120 g serving. This serving contains 18 g of fat, 18 g of protein and 3.2 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 0.6 g sugar and 0.2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Tuna cake or patty contains 2.9 g of saturated fat and 80 mg of cholesterol per serving.

What is the black meat in canned tuna? ›

What is the black or dark red on tuna and swordfish and is it okay to eat? That dark, nearly black area in the middle of your tuna or swordfish steak is nothing bad or unhealthy, although you may not like its strong flavor. It is a muscle that is rich in myoglobin, a blood pigment.

What can I mix with tuna instead of mayo reddit? ›

Mustard is really good with tuna. I make tuna salad sandwiches with a raspberry or strawberry vinaigrette dressing instead of mayo. I add a bit of sweet pickle relish to the tuna as well. Pine nuts, pecans, or walnuts are good, too.

What season goes well with tuna? ›

Organic Dill Weed: Adds a fresh, tangy kick, perfect for tuna salads. Organic Garlic Powder: A universal flavor enhancer for a savory touch. Organic Paprika (Sweet or Smoked): For a subtle warmth and color, excellent in rubs. Use smoked paprika for a more grilled flavor.

How do you keep patties together? ›

You can use a binder in burgers to help hold them together. Common binders include eggs, breadcrumbs, or ground flaxseed mixed with water. These ingredients help to bind the meat, seasonings, and other ingredients together, making the patty more stable and easier to handle while cooking or grilling.

Why do my fish patties fall apart? ›

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

How do you stop fish cakes from falling apart? ›

Refrigerate The Mix, Use A Sheet Pan

Then you can scoop the cakes and put them on a sheet pan to cool down in the fridge once again. The cooler temperature of the mix will help everything stick together better when the patties are pan-fried, crisping them up nicely.

How do you get fish cakes to stick together? ›

The proteins in the egg will help bind together your fish cake mix as it cooks. Think of it as your glue: Without it, your fish cakes are going to fall apart. At minimum, you'll want to use one egg for every pound or so of fish so that you have enough “glue.” More is fine, though.

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