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Home » Recipes » Dish Type » Sandwiches and Burgers

Tuna Burgers (with canned tuna)

Published: Jan 23, 2022 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Jan 8, 2023 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

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pin with text on bottom and photo of HealthyTuna patty on a bun with tartar sauce on one side and tomatoes and lettuce on the other side

These Tuna Burgers are made with canned tuna, are easy and quick to make, and are so good they will even make a tuna lover out of the biggest hater! Even my teenage son, who is not a fan of canned tuna, loves these healthy tuna burgers.

Tuna patty on a bun with tartar sauce on one side and tomatoes and lettuce on the other side

These healthy tuna patties make a great weeknight dinner can be made in the air fryer or on the stovetop (I've included directions for both) and are also Weight Watchers friendly. This tuna burger recipe was inspired by my Open Faced Tuna Melts (no mayo) on this site, and pairs well with my Healthy Homemade Tartar Sauce and this Skinny Coleslaw.

Jump to:
  • 🥘Ingredients
  • 🔪Instructions
  • 📖Substitutions & Variations
  • 🥗 Side dishes
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 🔢WW Points
  • 🍽Equipment
  • 🌡️Storage
  • 💭Top tip
  • ❔ Frequently Asked Questions
  • 🦺Food safety
  • 📋 Tuna Burger (with canned tuna) Recipe

🥘Ingredients

For this Tuna Burger recipe, you'll need:

  • canned tuna in water
  • eggs 
  • bread crumbs
  • celery
  • low-fat mayonnaise
  • green onion
  • chili sauce * I use Heinz
  • fresh cilantro
  • olive oil
  • buns * I use President's Choice Thins
  • Lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, and tartar sauce (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

Ingredients in a Tuna Burger in small bowls, labelled.

🔪Instructions

How to Make Tuna Burgers

How to Air Fry Tuna Patties:

tuna burger ingredients in a bowl with buns and oil in the background

Combine tuna, bread crumbs, eggs, chili sauce, green onion, celery, cilantro, and mayonnaise to a medium-sized bowl.

tuna burger ingredients mixed together in a bowl with a spoon and olive oil in the background

Mix ingredients together until fully incorporated.

6 tuna patties on a white plate
STEP 3

Shape into 6 patties. *They don’t have to be perfectly round

the bottom drawer of a Ninja Foodi being sprayed with oil

Spray air fryer basket or drawer with oil spray.

raw tuna burgers in air fryer drawer

Place raw tuna patties in the air fryer. Spray a few pumps of oil on burgers.

Set the air fryer to air fry setting at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)

*Use match cook if making this in a Dual Zone Ninja Foodi air fryer

tuna burgers flipped over in air fryer.

Air fry for 7 minutes, then flip.

Spray a few more pumps of oil spray on the other side.

cooked tuna burgers in air fryer basket or drawer

Air fry for 6 additional minutes, until golden brown.

*Time will vary around 5-7 minutes on each side, depending on the type of air fryer you have

Stovetop Method:

uncooked tuna burgers in a frying pan
STEP 4

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. 

tuna burgers cooked/browned in a frying pan
STEP 5

Cook patties until lightly browned, about 5-6 minutes on each side. 

Hint: Try not to get impatient and turn them too soon - give them the full 5-6 minutes or they are more likely to fall apart. I recommend using a large/wide spatula (affiliate link) and flipping them carefully.

📖Substitutions & Variations

  • Mayonnaise - you can use any type of mayonnaise you prefer *I use Hellman's low-fat
  • Lettuce - you can use iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, or spinach
  • Buns- you can use any type of bun you like (i.e. hamburgers buns), white or whole wheat buns or bread instead
  • Gluten-free - use gluten-free buns and gluten-free bread crumbs
  • Chili sauce-*I use Heinz but you can click HERE for substitutes and recipes
  • Spicy - add red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to the tuna patty mixture

🥗 Side dishes

What to serve with Tuna Burgers

If you're wondering what to serve with tuna burgers, I would recommend Healthy Homemade Tartar Sauce, salad, coleslaw, raw vegetables, kimchi, fruit salad, or soup:

  • Quick Cucumber Kimchi (pictured below)
  • Classic Fruit Salad (with Honey Lime Dressing) or fresh fruit
  • Skinny Coleslaw Recipe
  • Healthy Artichoke and Red Pepper Coleslaw
  • Spinach Salad
  • Soup
kimchi pickle in white bowl on grey marble counter surface with glass vinegar container in background

👪 Serving Size

This tuna cakes recipe makes 6 tuna patties. You can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.

🔢WW Points

These Healthy Tuna Patties are Weight Watchers friendly at 3 WW points. With these buns, they are 7 points. You can bring down the WW points even further by using a lower-point bun and bread (when you're making bread crumbs) *Points do not include tartar sauce

tuna burger on grey plate with frying pan with tuna patties in the background

🍽Equipment

These easy tuna burgers recipe needs a frying pan (affiliate links) and a mixing bowl. If you make your own bread crumbs (see top tip) you'll need a food processor. And if you are using the air frying method for these tuna burgers, you'll need an air fryer. I recommend a Ninja Foodi (affiliate links).

🌡️Storage

Store the tuna patties and toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, as well as tartar sauce) separately from the dry ingredients (buns) in the fridge, and recombine when ready. Good for 2 days in airtight containers (canned tuna recipes start to taste very fishy after a couple of days and not as tasty.)

Freezing: These tuna patties can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

💭Top tip

How to make bread crumbs

If you don't have bread crumbs on hand, you can easily make them by processing pieces of bread in your food processor. Simply add the pieces of bread to your food processor and process until they become a crumb-like consistency.

bread crumbs in a food processor

Then store the extras in your freezer (for up to 3 months) until the next time you need them!

bread crumbs in a freezer bag, labelled, on a counter top

❔ Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep tuna patties from falling apart?

The best way to keep tuna burgers from falling apart is to ensure you compress the patties together tightly when forming them. You don't want the patty too big either; 3-4 inches in diameter is the ideal size for a tuna patty. When you're cooking the tuna patties, make sure the pan is hot (medium-high heat) before you add the patties and let them cook the entire 5-6 minutes on each side (do not try to flip them too early) and flip them over carefully with a large, wide, thin spatula.

Are Tuna Burgers healthy?

Tuna burgers are healthy when they are made with canned tuna in water (not oil), as canned tuna is a healthy and economical protein alternative. Also using whole ingredients such bread crumbs (making them yourself is ideal and more economical) eggs, celery, and green onions make them healthier, as well as air frying them, instead of frying. They are 288 calories with a thin bun.

What to put on tuna burgers?

Put toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, and tartar sauce on tuna burgers. You can also add jalapenos, cucumbers, sriracha sauce, fresh herbs like cilantro or dill, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, aioli, a little coleslaw, or any topping you like that pairs well with tuna fish!

Fish burgers (with canned tuna) are an easy, healthy, quick, and economical dinner idea that's a great alternative to both beef and chicken burgers.

And if you're looking for more fish burger recipes, give my Salmon Fillet Burgers (with frozen salmon) a try!

baked salmon sandwich with WW Asian coleslaw on a white plate.

🦺Food safety

  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoke point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

tuna burger on grey plate
Food Meandering Logo

📋 Tuna Burger (with canned tuna) Recipe

These healthy Tuna Burgers, made with canned tuna, are economical, quick and easy to make and Weight Watchers friendly!
4.84 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: burgers, canned tuna, tuna
Special Diet: Weight Watchers
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 288kcal
Author: Terri Gilson
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
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Equipment

food processor
frying pan
air fryer

Ingredients

  • 3- 170 g cans light tuna in water, drained
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 ⅓ cup fine bread crumbs *see post for instructions to make your own
  • ¼ cup chopped celery
  • ½ cup low-fat mayonnaise
  • ½ cup finely chopped green onion
  • 4 tablespoon chili sauce
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil *use pump spray for air fryer (you'll use a lot less oil)
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 6 thin buns * I use President's Choice

Toppings

  • Lettuce leaves and sliced tomato optional
  • tartar sauce https://foodmeanderings.com/healthy-homemade-tartar-sauce/
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

*Instruction photos are set to NOT print by default- you will need to click 'print' if you want them to print

  • Add bread crumbs, tuna, eggs, chili sauce, green onion, celery , cilantro and mayonnaise together in a medium mixing bowl.
    tuna burger ingredients in a bowl with buns and oil in the background
  • Mix together until fully incorporated.
    tuna burger ingredients mixed together in a bowl with a spoon and olive oil in the background
  • Shape into 6 patties.
    6 tuna patties on a white plate

Air Fryer Method

  • Spray air fryer basket or drawer with oil spray.
    the bottom drawer of a Ninja Foodi being sprayed with oil
  • Place raw tuna burgers in air fryer. Spray a few pumps of oil on burgers.
    Set air fryer to air fry setting at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
    *Use match cook if making this in a Dual Zone Ninja Foodi air fryer
    raw tuna burgers in air fryer drawer
  • Air fry for 7 minutes, then flip.
    Spray a few more pumps of oil spray on the other side.
    tuna burgers flipped over in air fryer.
  • Air fry for 6 additional minutes, until golden brown.
    *Time will vary around 5-7 minutes on each side, depending on the type of air fryer you have
    cooked tuna burgers in air fryer basket or drawer

Stovetop Method

  • In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and place patties in frying pan, once heated.
    uncooked tuna burgers in a frying pan
  • Cook patties until lightly browned, about 5-6 minutes on each side.
    tuna burgers cooked/browned in a frying pan
  • Serve on buns. If desired, top with lettuce, tomato slices and tartar sauce.
    Tuna patty on a bun with tartar sauce on one side and tomatoes and lettuce on the other side

Notes

*See post contents for important recipe information, substitutions and tips!
Nutrition Facts
📋 Tuna Burger (with canned tuna) Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 burger)
Calories 288 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 83mg28%
Sodium 507mg22%
Potassium 300mg9%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 332IU7%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 29mg3%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger | Calories: 288kcal (14%) | Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) | Protein: 27g (54%) | Fat: 9g (14%) | Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg (28%) | Sodium: 507mg (22%) | Potassium: 300mg (9%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 3g (3%) | Vitamin A: 332IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 8mg (10%) | Calcium: 29mg (3%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nancy

    January 25, 2022 at 10:26 am

    i can't believe this was made with canned tuna! such a good pantry meal

    Reply
  2. Marie

    January 25, 2022 at 3:13 pm

    I'd never made any kind of burger from canned meat OR fish before. Super convenient - going into regular rotation!

    Reply
  3. Colleen

    January 25, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    I always have canned tuna in the pantry, so this recipe is super convenient. Plus the burgers look delicious and I will be making them for sure. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Carolyn

    January 26, 2022 at 10:20 am

    A great alternative to the old tuna melt idea! I never thought of cilantro with tuna but it makes a lot of sense... and I love cilantro!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      January 27, 2022 at 8:17 pm

      Oh I know- I'm cilantro crazy too and it seemed like the perfect addition to this burger!

      Reply
  5. Julia

    January 31, 2022 at 6:26 am

    My daughter loves canned tuna and would love these for sure. Making soon, thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
  6. Dave

    January 19, 2023 at 7:25 pm

    Easy and tasty. Will make again.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      January 21, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Dave! They are also one of our faves 🙂
      Terri

      Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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