These delicious and meaty tuna burgers made with tinned tuna and store cupboard staples can be cooked in an air fryer, fried on the hob, or baked in the oven!
The tuna patties are seasoned with lemon, Parmesan, and Dijon mustard and are really tasty served in a toasted ciabatta roll with seasoned mayo.
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A handful of store-cupboard ingredients, 12 minutes in the air fryer (or a bit longer if you pan fry or oven bake) and the result are these utterly delicious tuna burgers. We love them with a side of sweet potato fries, or if you really like tuna, then creamy tuna pasta salad!
👩🍳 Love burgers? Try my easy lamb, feta & mint burgers!
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Meat-free meal
- Frugal ingredients
- Quick to make and cook
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Air frying means lower in fat
🥘 Ingredients
- Tinned Tuna - in brine or spring water. The tuna need to be drained before use.
- Breadcrumbs - use dried 'panko' style breadcrumbs for the best texture and colour.
- Light Mayo - helps bind the burgers together.
- Egg - another binding agent that holds the ingredients together.
- Parmesan - grated Parmesan adds a lovely savoury flavour. You could also use vegetarian hard cheese instead.
- Dijon Mustard - adds a depth of flavour but this could be left out if you prefer.
- Lemon - the zest of half a lemon pairs really well with the tuna.
- Parsley - chopped fresh parsley adds freshness and also a bit of colour to the burgers. You could also use chopped chives or dill.
- Salt and Pepper - for seasoning.
- Olive Oil - ½ teaspoon if air frying, 2 tablespoons if frying on the hob or baking in the oven.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Drain the tuna and place the tuna flakes into a large mixing bowl.
Two: Add all of the other ingredients (apart from the olive oil).
Three: Mix together with a spoon.
Four: Form into 4 patties or burgers and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up (or up to 24 hours).
Five: Air fry the tuna burgers for 6 minutes per side or 8-9 minutes per side if frying in a conventional frying pan. Alternatively they can be baked in an oven at 190°c (375F) for 25 minutes (turning halfway)
💭 Top tips
- Save time at dinner and make the tuna burgers the night before. Store in the fridge in a sealed container until you're ready to use.
- If you're in a rush, make the burgers as directed and place them in the freezer for 10 minutes to set, before cooking.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve them in toasted burger buns with salad and mayo for a quick and easy dinner. They also go really well with apple coleslaw, spicy sweet potato chips, roasted sweet potato chunks, and baked carrot fries.
🧊 Suitable for freezing?
The tuna patties can be frozen cooked or uncooked. If freezing uncooked, place between discs of non-stick baking paper in a freezer-safe container. There is no need to defrost the burgers first, just carry on with the recipe, adding a couple more minutes to the cooking time (whichever method of cooking you decide).
If freezing them cooked, allow to cool completely before placing them in the freezer. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven.
❓ FAQS
Adding mayo, egg and breadcrumbs to tuna patties helps to keep them from falling apart. Allowing them to set for 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours) in the fridge is also useful.
Lemon, dill, parsley, pepper and mustard all go well with tuna.
More delicious air fryer recipes to try from the Effortless Foodie kitchen!
Recipe
Easy Tinned Tuna Burgers
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Equipment
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 x 145 g Tins of Tuna in Brine or sping water, drianed.
- 130 g Dried Breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ Lemon zest only
- 1 tablespoon Parsley chopped
- 1 Egg
- 100 g Extra Light Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan grated (or use vegetarian hard cheese)
- Salt and Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Olive Oil for air fryer (or 2 tablespoon if frying/baking conventionally)
Instructions
- Place the drained tuna flakes into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in all of the other ingredients (EXCEPT THE OIL) and mix throughly.
- Split into 4 equal portions and form burgers.
- Put the burgers on a plate and place them in the fridge for 30 minutes to set. You can also make them the night before and leave them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- If using an air fryer to cook the burgers, preheat the air fryer to 200°c (400F) and brush each side of the tuna burgers with the oil.
- Place the burgers in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes.
- Turn the burgers and cook for a further 6 minutes (12 minutes in total).
- If cooking in a frying pan, put 2 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and cook the burgers for 16-18 minutes turning regularly.
- If baking in the oven, drizzle the tuna burgers with olive oil and place them on a baking tray. Bake in the oven at 190°c (375F) for 25 minutes turning half way through cooking.
- Serve in rolls or with salad and sweet potato fries.
Notes
- Save time at dinner and make the tuna burgers the night before. Store in the fridge in a sealed container until you're ready to use.
- If you're in a rush, make the burgers as directed and place them in the freezer for 10 minutes to set, before cooking.
Denay DeGuzman
What a great way to use the cans of tuna I have in my pantry. My family is going to love this recipe! I'm making this tonight.
Aimee Mars
These burgers look absolutely delicious. We're a family who loves burgers and I like to try and sneak in as many healthy ingredients as I can to dinner. These tuna burgers are a great way to do that!
Claudia Lamascolo
I love economical meals like this one and tuna is also a favorite this is a winner!
Nathan
These look so easy and delicious, love how simple it is to make them in the air fryer. I always forget how much I like tuna; I'll definitely have to give this recipe a try!
Emily Flint
These burgers look so yummy! I think my family would really enjoy them.