We have two great and easy tuna cake recipes or tuna patties. We’re obsessed. Todays version is baked in the oven for a lower fat option. Our baked tuna patties are still simple and really delicious. We also like to call them our healthy tuna cakes.

healthy baked tuna patties on sheet pan

Easy Tuna Patty Recipes

Like we mentioned before, we just really do love making tuna patties in different ways. They’re so simple to put together and eat as a snack, appetizer or main meal. We’re just tuna recipe obsessed.

Difference between albacore tuna vs yellowfin tuna 

When shopping for tuna first thing you should identify is the type of tuna that you like. The two main types of canned tuna on the market are albacore or yellowfin tuna. What’s the difference? 

  • Albacore tuna is more white in color. We like to say it kinda looks like white shredded chicken breast meat. It’s much more meaty and drier than yellowfin.
  • Albacore tuna is light and mild in flavor. If you’re trying to convince someone to enjoy tuna, try serving them albacore first. This is much approachable as there is less of a fishy flavor.
  • Yellowfin tuna is often tan or more pink in color than Albacore. It’s much more soft and mushy than albacore.
  • Yellowfin is rich in flavor and has much more of a fish flavor. It’s intense flavor is rich and we really enjoy the flavors of yellowfin. Here’s a great article for more details about the two different types of tuna.
broken baked tuna patty

Low Carb or Keto Option for Baked Tuna Patties

If you want to make these very low carb, then don’t use regular breadcrumbs or Japanese panko. You can use crushed pork rinds or almond flour. These will help make the tuna patties lower carb or more keto friendly.

Video: Baked tuna patties recipe 

Best canned tuna for tuna patties or tuna cakes 

With so many different brands on the market there’s definitely some that differ so much in cost. We like brands that are sustainable. Chicken of the sea has a great albacore tuna and we also love Genova’s yellowfin and albacore tunas in different flavors.

Tips on making baked tuna patties in the oven  

  • We discussed the difference between albacore and yellowfin tuna. Albacore is much lighter in flavor so we like to season albacore tuna much more than yellowfin. If using albacore, taste the tuna and if you feel that you want it seasoned more, then add more salt before finalizing the mix and shaping it.
  • This is a great method for making a big batch of tuna cakes at one time. You can cook at least 12-15 tuna patties on a full sheet pan.
  • Even though these are baked you still need to use enough oil brush or spray to give these tuna cakes a crispy crust. Don’t be afraid to use a liberal brush of oil or oil spray on the surface of the Pattie’s. 
  • Cooking times will vary depending on the size of your patties.
  • Keep the sizes of the patties consistent by using a 1/4 cup measurement cup or a cookie scoop. This will make sure that all the patties will bake evenly. 
  • Add additional of your favorite seasonings. The flavor possibilities are endless customized the flavors to your personal taste. 
  • If you like spicy tuna cakes then add about 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder. 
  • All baked tuna patty recipe details are in the recipe box below. 
healthy baked tuna patties on sheet pan

Easy Baked Tuna Patties

Yield: 10 Patties
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
We love the texture of the canned albacore tuna the best for this recipe. Try to avoid the canned tunas which are very mushy.
The amount of egg will vary depending on the dryness of your tuna and the absorption of the breadcrumbs or panko. If you are unsure, start with 2 eggs, and if the mixture seems too dry to easily form into patties, add a 3rd egg.
For keto, use crushed pork rinds or almond flour instead of the breadcrumbs or panko.
5 from 4 votes

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Ingredients

  • 3 cans albacore tuna or yellowfin tuna, (5 ounce-142g cans – 15 oz total) drained
  • 2-3 large eggs *see note above
  • zest of 1 medium lemon
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup (54 g) breadcrumbs or panko (keto version with crushed pork rinds or almond flour)
  • 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
  • Olive oil or oil spray for coating patties

Optional for Serving

  • Tarter sauce, mayo, ranch, lemon slices

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C. Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper or lightly oil the baking sheet pan.
    Oven knobs
  • In a bowl, combine the eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, breadcrumbs, 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.
    Tuna patty mixture in bowl
  • Shape the tuna mixture into patties about 2-inches (5cm) wide x 1/2-inch thick (1.25cm). (A cookie scoop makes easy work of this. Just scoop a balls of the mixture and flatten to form the patties). Place on the prepared baking sheet pan. If patties are too soft to handle, chill them for at about 1 hour or until firm.
    Using cookie scoop to form tuna patties
  • Lightly brush both sides with olive oil (a nice cooking spray works well too).
  • Bake at 400°F/205°C for 15 minutes, then flip the patties.
    Flipping half baked tuna patty
  • Continue to bake for 10 minutes more or until the tuna patties are light golden and cooked through (but don’t over cook or else they will start to dry out). Serve with sauces and/or lemon slices, as tuna sliders, on salads, etc…

Notes

  1. Easy substitutions: Crushed saltines or other savory cracker for the bread crumbs. Fresh herbs for the dried herbs. Shallots or green onions for the onions. 

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 111kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.004g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 336mg, Potassium: 168mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 97IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 111

Don’t Like Mayo? Substitutes for Mayonnaise

Mayo helps bind the tuna mix, especially if you’re using yellowfin tuna. It’s a softer tuna so you definitely need some breadcrumbs and mayo to hold the shape together. But if you don’t like mayo, you can use other substitutes like greek yogurt, sour cream, vegan yogurt or even some mashed avocado.

Best dips or sauces for tuna patties 

Another reason why we love eating these tuna cakes is because of the dips and sauces. Each batch or bite is unique based on the sauce or dips that you serve the patties with. 

Delicious ways to serve baked tuna patties

  • Eating them warm and hot as a snack is great. We love eating them warm and fresh. They’re so good warm out of the oven. These low carb patties are a healthy snack throughout the day. 
  • Serve them as appetizers! Just place them on a platter with a few dips to choose from. Add some raw veggies alongside the patties and you have an instant low carb appetizer plate. 
  • Wrap them in lettuce wraps! We love eating them this way for a keto friendly tuna patty meal. 
  • Serve them as part of a healthy low carb salad. It’s another low carb and healthy way to enjoy tuna cakes. 
  • Make tuna patty sliders! What a fun a delicious way to enjoy these as a sandwich but slider style. Add some tarter sauce or mayo to the buns, lay the tuna patty and top with some lettuce and tomato.
  • If you want to make the patties bigger, then make a tuna patty burger! It’s perfect for your pescatarian friends who crave burgers without eating beef. A seafood burger is fantastic especially when it’s a juicy tuna burger.

How to freeze and store leftover patties

If you don’t finish eating then all, then leftovers are great to store in the fridge for about 2 days. Beyond that, you need to store them in airtight bags and containers in the freezer. You can store them in the freezer for about 2-3 months. After that, try to eat them right away because freezer burn can set-in and cause the patties to dry out. 

Best way to re-heat baked tuna cakes or tuna patties

We like to microwave them for about 30 seconds to make sure they’re warmed in the center. Then lightly oil or oil spray a heated skillet. Gently cook the patties for about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side until they are crispy. Hope you enjoy these healthy tuna cakes!

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