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Home By Meal Lunch and Dinner

Easy Tuna Patties with Spicy Aioli

★★★★★ 39 Reviews Recipe Print
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By: Erin7/24/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

easy tuna patties
easy tuna patties

For a filling and protein rich meal, these Easy Tuna Patties with Spicy Aioli do the trick. They’re made with tuna, crackers, and lemon juice, and are topped with a zesty and spicy homemade aioli sauce!

tuna patties with lemon

A filling and satisfying nutritious entree

Looking for a protein-rich entree filled with flavor and zest, I decided to create something with a bit of extra oomph. I decided to make tuna the main part of this recipe thanks to its high protein, vitamin, and mineral content. Plus, I don’t cook with it nearly enough!

I did some experimenting, and lo and behold, easy tuna patties with spicy aioli turned out to be one of my favorite tuna recipes I’ve ever created. It’s tangy, juicy, and delicious, and even comes with a homemade spicy aioli sauce to eat with each and every bite!

This dish is easy to make but feels absolutely gourmet. Your friends and family will love it, and will probably wind up questioning whether you secretly went to culinary school behind their backs.

squeezing lemon on tuna patties

Ingredients used to make easy tuna patties with spicy aioli

These tuna patties with aioli are made of two parts. First, we will make the cakes with a combination of tuna, spices, mayo, lemon juice, and breadcrumbs. Then, we’ll make the delicious aioli sauce with Greek yogurt, sriracha, and more lemon juice!

Tuna cakes:

  • Tuna
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Egg
  • Mayonnaise
  • Lemon juice
  • Cilantro or parsley
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Crackers or breadcrumbs*
  • Avocado or olive oil

*I used almond flour crackers and pulsed them in my food processor until fine.

Aioli:

  • Greek yogurt
  • Sriracha
  • Lemon juice
  • Salt

Kitchen tools needed for this recipe

You will need a handful of items to make this recipe, but nothing too crazy. Grab a few mixing bowls, a skillet, a couple of utensils, and dive in!

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Stirring utensil
  • Large skillet
  • Spatula
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Whisk

As far as measurements go, you’ll need the following sizes: 1/2 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, and 1/2 cup.

tuna patties in a dish

How to make tuna patties with spicy aioli

This recipe begins by mixing all of the tuna cake ingredients and then frying ’em up on the stove. After that, we’ll dive into creating the lemon zesty sauce to go on top!

In a large bowl, mix all of the tuna cake ingredients until everything is very well combined. You should be able to form the mixture into patties.

With about 1/3 cup of the mixture, form a patty. Repeat until you’ve used all of the mix.

Heat a large skillet on the stove with the cooking oil.

Once hot, place the patties in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they reach a golden brown color.

Flip and do the same thing on the other side. Remove from the heat once cooked.

While cooking, prepare the aioli by mixing all of the ingredients together.

Serve and enjoy!

fork in tuna patties

Tuna making tips

Here are some quick tips and FAQs regarding this recipe and the cooking process!

Tuna patties are falling apart
If you find that your patties won’t stay bound, make sure that your tuna is in very small pieces. Additionally, be sure to cook on medium-low.

When is the meat fully cooked
The tuna patties are fully cooked when they reach a temperature of 125-140F (125F being medium-rare). They should be cooked when both sides reach a golden brown color, though you can check the temperature to be sure.

What is aioli?
If you’re a fan of Mediterranean dishes, you’ve probably had your fair share of aioli. But if you’re not as familiar with the cuisine, you may be wondering what it is! Aioli is made of olive oil, garlic, and salt, and is used as a sauce for eating alongside other dishes. Eat it with sandwiches, wraps, or tuna patties. We, of course, will be spicing ours up with sriracha!

Storing easy tuna patties with spicy aioli
Though I personally find this dish to taste best fresh off the stove, it can be stored for 2-3 days. Keep it refrigerated in an airtight container. The same goes for the aioli!

Is tuna good for you?

The short answer is yes! If you’re looking for lean options that are rich in nutrients, tuna is a wonderful choice. It’s incredibly high in protein (think over 40g per can) and is essentially void of carbs and sugar.

The breading in this recipe does contain carbs, but it is still a great choice overall!

More protein-rich entrees

In the mood for some more delicious dinners that will leave you feeling fueled and satisfied? Here are some great options.

  • Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Easy One Pan Salmon Dinner
  • Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Three Bean Turkey Chili

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

tuna patties with lemon
★★★★★ 5 from 39 reviews

Easy Tuna Patties with Spicy Aioli

For a filling and protein rich meal, these Easy Tuna Patties with Spicy Aioli do the trick. They’re made with tuna, crackers, and lemon juice, and are topped with a zesty and spicy homemade aioli sauce!

Prep: 10Cook: 10Total: 20 minutes
Yield 8 cakes 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

Tuna Cakes

  • 2 cans tuna (5oz)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 cup crushed crackers (or breadcrumbs) I used Simple Mills almond flour crackers and pulsed them in my food processor until fine.
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil for cooking.

Aioli

  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp sriracha
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • tiny pinch salt 

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together all tuna cake ingredients until very well combined. You should be able to form into patties.
  2. With about 1/3 cup mixture, form into patties.
  3. Heat large skillet on stove with oil. Once hot, place patties in and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Flip and do the same on the other side. Remove from heat once cooked.
  4. While cooking, prepare the aioli by mixing all ingredients together.
  5. Serve!
Author: Erin MorrisseyCategory: lunch, dinnerMethod: stove-topCuisine: American
tuna patties with lemon

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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chocolate chip cookies
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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Shannon says

    Posted on 12/4 at 4:57 pm

    We love these! So yummy and economical

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/5 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Shannon, so glad you loved them!

      Reply
  2. Mimi says

    Posted on 6/12 at 9:38 pm

    Love that you can make this with basic pantry staples! Great for dinner and meal prep – quick, easy, and delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/16 at 8:11 pm

      Hi Mimi, so glad you enjoyed them!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Mackie says

    Posted on 3/24 at 10:11 pm

    These are truly incredible. I love salmon cakes but haven’t found a good tuna cake recipe before now and honestly I’m upset I didn’t search your recipes to begin with. We ate these over jasmine rice but I can see them over salad with peppers and carrots too! The possibilities are endless! Thank you, thank you!

    I only had bags of tuna 2.5oz but I did end up using 3 bags and it was still spot on – have a hungry fiancé to feed. 😉

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/25 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Mackie, so happy you loved them so much and great sides!!

      Reply
  4. Rebecca says

    Posted on 3/20 at 3:07 pm

    These Tuna Pattie’s are soo good!! I love the flavor and they are easy to make. I will definitely be making these again soon

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/21 at 1:59 pm

      Hi Rebecca, so glad you loved them!!

      Reply
  5. Mary says

    Posted on 3/1 at 6:19 pm

    AWESOME! I had a ton of frozen salmon that I was feeling meh about, subbed the tuna for salmon and they were great!!! Thanks Erin!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/2 at 2:11 pm

      Hi Mary, so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jordan says

    Posted on 1/18 at 12:48 pm

    Easy and delicious! Ate them on a bed of spring mix! Will definitely be making again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/19 at 10:11 am

      Hi Jordan, so happy you loved them!!

      Reply
  7. Jill says

    Posted on 12/9 at 7:46 am

    These have become a staple for me! They are easy and delicious and perfect for leftovers for lunch. I serve over salad greens and sometimes sub canned salmon! Perfection!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/9 at 1:20 pm

      Hi Jill, so happy you loved the patties!!

      Reply
  8. Marija says

    Posted on 6/14 at 1:48 pm

    These are incredible! I have made them twice in the last week alone. Paired with a side salad they make a great light lunch or dinner. My partner and I eat the whole batch in one sitting! Can’t get enough!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/14 at 4:34 pm

      Hi Marija, so glad you loved them!!

      Reply
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I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

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