Crispy Tuna Patties
Tinned tuna, egg, and breadcrumbs fried into golden patties — the budget dinner that outperforms.
Ingredients
- 2 tin Tinned tuna
- 1 Egg
- 60 g Breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp Neutral oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 Scallions (optional)
- ½ Lemon (optional)
- 2 tbsp Mayonnaise (optional)
- ½ tsp Black pepper (optional)
Method
- Thinly slice the scallions, white and green parts.
- Zest the lemon, then cut it into wedges for serving.
- Drain the tinned tuna well, pressing out the liquid.
- Mix the tuna with the egg, breadcrumbs, sliced scallions, mayonnaise, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until it holds together.
- Shape the mixture into four even patties with your hands.
- Rest the patties on a plate so they firm up and hold together, about 5 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Fry the patties in the hot oil until deep gold and crisp, about 4 minutes per side.
- Serve the patties hot with the lemon wedges alongside.
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About Crispy Tuna Patties
Crispy tuna patties are a resourceful American home-cooking staple — tinned tuna bound with egg and breadcrumbs, seasoned with scallion and lemon, and fried into golden cakes. They belong to the same family as crab cakes and salmon patties but lean on the cheapest, most reliable protein in the cupboard, which is exactly why generations of cooks have kept them in rotation as a budget dinner that eats far better than its cost suggests. Mayonnaise and lemon zest keep the mixture moist and bright rather than dry and fishy.
The texture is the point: a crisp, deep-gold crust giving way to a tender, flaky interior, with the scallion and lemon lifting the tuna and keeping it fresh. Two details make or break them — draining the tuna thoroughly so the mixture isn't wet, and resting the shaped patties for a few minutes so they firm up and hold together in the pan instead of falling apart. Frying them in shimmering oil until crisp on both sides gives that satisfying contrast. Serve them hot with the lemon wedges to squeeze over, and a dollop of mayo or a simple salad turns them into a complete, high-protein plate.
Crispy Tuna Patties: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Crispy Tuna Patties?
A serving has about 649 calories — 37.2g protein, 25.4g carbs, 43.9g fat, 2.5g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 37.2g of protein, roughly 23% of its calories.
Is Crispy Tuna Patties gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Breadcrumbs. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Crispy Tuna Patties?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions, lemon, mayonnaise — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Crispy Tuna Patties make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.