Easy Tuna Patties With Canned Tuna

Looking for a quick, healthy dinner after a busy day? These easy tuna patties require just a few simple ingredients and are so tasty, even kids love them!

This recipe is quick to make, and something you can feel good about feeding your family. This tuna patty recipe is a clean eating staple in our household, and is also gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and Paleo-friendly.

And, thanks to canned tuna, it’s a very affordable dinner too!

There have been seasons in my family’s life when we’ve followed specialty or elimination diets. And while it always feels worth it at the time, I won’t lie—there were days I wished we could just order a pizza!

I’ve made it my personal mission to find family dinner recipes that are quick and easy for busy weeknights, yet still healthy and kid-friendly. Most importantly, I wanted my kids to actually enjoy their food!

That’s exactly how I came up with this Easy Tuna Patties recipe.

I probably tested about six different versions before settling on this one, and now my whole family loves it! Especially me—because it literally takes just 10 minutes to prepare, then another 20 minutes in the oven, and dinner is done.

It’s a winner in my house, and I know it will be in yours too!

Ingredients

• chunk-light tuna fish in water
• coconut flour
• salt
• chipotle powder
• pepper
• tomato paste
• red onion, finely chopped*
• garlic cloves
• egg

*Tip: chop the whole onion at once, then store the extra in your freezer until you need it again! My kids aren’t big fans of onion so I keep it minimal, but you can add more to your taste.

Why Choose Canned Tuna?

The star of this delicious recipe? Canned food!

Canned tuna is a pantry staple that’s both affordable and nutritious. It’s also rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a great (and healthy!) choice.

Additionally, canned foods are budget-friendly, and typically cost WAY less than fresh or frozen options. In fact, canned food can be half the cost of frozen food and 15-20% less than fresh.

I don’t know about you, but I can use all the help I can get when it comes to buying healthy food for my family. Eating healthy can be expensive, but smart choices like these egg and canned tuna patties make it more affordable (yes, even with crazy egg costs!).

How to Make Tuna Patties

Now, let’s get down to business and make this tuna and egg patty! First, preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Drain the water from the cans of tuna and scoop into a medium sized bowl. This recipe is so simple, you don’t even need a mixer!

Next, add the dry ingredients – the coconut flour, salt, pepper, and chipotle power (don’t skip this! The chipotle powder really makes this recipe amazing) and stir.

Now, add the remaining ingredients – tomato paste, onion, garlic, and egg…

…and mix well.

Once you have your patty mixture ready, shape the meat into 6 tuna patties and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. It was one of those days when I took the photos for this recipe and I completely spaced and used aluminum foil.

Don’t do that. The tuna patties love to stick to foil, but parchment paper works perfectly!

When you shape the patties, make sure you press them down – like hamburger patties. If they’re too thick, they’ll take longer to cook.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving, then enjoy!

Serving Suggestions 

There several ways to enjoy this yummy patty!

You can serve your Easy Tuna Patties over a bed of lettuce. We love adding fresh tomato slices, avocado, and sometimes a little parsley as a garnish.

Confession: My kids eat their patties with mustard and ketchup. What can I say? They don’t fully appreciate the smoky chipotle flavor all by itself. 😉

Of course, another way to enjoy a tuna patty is to pop it into a bun. If you’re gluten-free, just use a gluten-free bun!

For a low-carb option, try serving these patties wrapped in lettuce with a drizzle of mayo or even better, some lemon-garlic aioli. It’s light, fresh, and full of flavor!

Feeling fancy? Stack your tuna patty on top of a roasted sweet potato slice for a unique, nutrient-packed twist. The natural sweetness pairs perfectly with the savory flavors.

You can also keep it classic and serve alongside roasted veggies or a simple coleslaw for a balanced, hearty meal.

Or, go full comfort food mode and pair your patties with creamy, homemade mac and cheese. The crispy, savory tuna patties complement the rich, cheesy pasta perfectly—especially this gluten-free Instant Pot mac and cheese!

However you serve it, you’ve got a delicious, easy dinner ready in just 30 minutes!

Enjoy!

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