Easy & Crispy Air Fryer Tuna Cakes Recipe
These simple and delicious Air Fryer Tuna Cakes are crisp and golden on the outside and soft and tender inside. Made with canned tuna, they are quick, easy, and budget-friendly. Air frying uses less oil than traditional pan-frying, making them a healthier option. These tuna cakes feature fresh chopped dill, lemon juice, cheddar cheese, and grated carrot for added flavor and nutrients. Enjoy them as a delightful appetizer with your favorite seafood sauce, as a satisfying main course with a side salad, or even as tuna burgers with larger patties!
Table of contents
- Inspiration for these Air Fryer Tuna Cakes
- Key Ingredients for the Best Tuna Cakes
- How to Make Air Fryer Tuna Cakes (Step-by-Step)
- Serving Suggestions: Best Sauces and Dips
- Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Tuna Cakes
- Frequently Asked Questions About Tuna Cakes
- More Delicious Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
Inspiration for these Air Fryer Tuna Cakes
When I got married, tuna cakes were a staple meal. They were a quick recipe that used stuffing mix as a filler, along with shredded carrots and cheese. I loved how fast it was, but I wanted to improve the flavor and texture.
They were quick and easy, but the texture needed improvement, and they tasted more like stuffing than tuna. I wanted to highlight the taste of tuna while keeping the easy preparation.
To improve the flavor, texture, and avoid the packaged stuffing, I used what I learned from perfecting my air fryer crab cakes recipe and applied it to create my own tuna cake version.
I promise you’ll love these tuna cakes as much as we do! The air fryer makes the outside perfectly crispy while keeping the inside moist. The texture is similar to my crab cakes recipe, but the flavor is like a tuna salad in patty form. The tuna, lemon, dill, garlic, and Dijon flavors shine through.
Key Ingredients for the Best Tuna Cakes
Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients and possible substitutions. See the recipe card at the end for all the ingredients and precise quantities.
- Tuna: Use two cans of flaked white (albacore) tuna packed in water. You can use flaked light tuna (skipjack), but it has a darker color and stronger flavor. Make sure to drain the tuna well.
- Carrot: I add 1/2 cup of finely grated carrot for added moisture and nutrients.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese adds flavor and helps bind the cakes. Full-fat cheese melts better than light cheese.
- Mayonnaise: Mayo also helps with binding and moisture. You can use full-fat or reduced-fat mayo. I usually use reduced fat as that is what we have.
- Panko Crumbs: Panko crumbs are a great binding agent because they absorb moisture and help everything stick together, providing a crispy texture. I haven’t tested this recipe with regular breadcrumbs.
- Fresh Dill: Fresh dill adds a bright, tangy flavor. If you use dried dill, reduce the amount to 1 teaspoon because it’s more potent.
- Egg: The egg helps to bind all of the ingredients together.
- Dijon Mustard: This adds a tangy zip to the tuna cakes.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds brightness and complements the tuna.
- Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper: Seasonings to enhance the overall flavor profile.
How to Make Air Fryer Tuna Cakes (Step-by-Step)
It’s as easy as mixing, chilling, shaping, and air frying!
Serving Suggestions: Best Sauces and Dips
These tuna cakes have great flavor on their own, but some sauces and dips add an extra layer of deliciousness:
- When enjoying them as larger patties on burger buns, I mix together a simple mayo, dill, and lemon juice mixture (measured with my heart!). This cashew mayo is also a delicious option.
- Seafood sauce or tartar sauce are classic choices, especially when serving as an appetizer.
- For a spicy kick, serve them with this chipotle dip or jalapeno dip. (Serve these dips on the side in case your guests aren’t fans of spicy food!)
Expert Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Tuna Cakes
- Thoroughly Drain the Tuna: Ensure the canned tuna is well-drained to prevent soggy tuna cakes. Excess moisture can hinder their crispness and texture. Press the tuna gently with a spoon to remove any excess water.
- Choose Flaked Tuna: Opt for flaked tuna rather than solid or chunk tuna. Flaked tuna blends more evenly with the other ingredients, creating a cohesive mixture and uniform texture in the patties. This also ensures the patties hold together better during cooking.
- Finely Grate Cheese and Carrot: Finely grated cheese and carrot incorporate seamlessly into the mixture, promoting even distribution and better binding. Large shreds can compromise the patties’ structure, making them prone to falling apart.
- Chill Before Shaping: Chilling the tuna cake mixture for at least 30 minutes is highly recommended. This allows the panko crumbs to absorb moisture, firming up the mixture and making it easier to shape into patties that maintain their form during air frying.
- Spray with Oil: Achieving a golden and crispy exterior requires a generous spray of oil on both sides of the tuna cakes before air frying. This promotes even browning and enhances the overall texture. Alternatively, you can brush the patties with oil if you don’t have spray oil.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Overcrowding the air fryer can lead to uneven cooking and prevent the tuna cakes from achieving optimal crispness. Cook the patties in batches to ensure each one has enough space for hot air circulation.
- Consider the Right Air Fryer Size: If your air fryer is compact, cooking the tuna cakes in multiple batches is necessary. A larger air fryer, around 5.8 quarts or more, can accommodate all the patties in a single layer, streamlining the cooking process.
- Test for Doneness: Begin checking for doneness around the 13-minute mark. The tuna cakes should be golden brown and crispy on the outside. Avoid overcooking, as this can dry out the inside.
- Add Spice: To enhance the flavor profile, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the tuna mixture.
- Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs like parsley, chives, or cilantro can be substituted or combined with dill for a diverse herb blend, adding depth and aroma to the tuna cakes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tuna Cakes
Yes, as long as you drain it well and it’s flaked tuna.
For the best results, chilling is recommended, but if you don’t have time, you can skip it. The mixture will be stickier.
Yes! You can leave it covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Reheat them in the air fryer at 350F for 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to overheat, as they’ll dry out.
More Delicious Air Fryer Seafood Recipes
- Air Fryer Breaded Shrimp
- Air Fryer Breaded Cod
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties (with fresh salmon)
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think in the comments!
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