These aren't your ordinary tuna patties. Air Fryer Tuna Keto Patties (low-carb and low in calories) are light, crispy, unbelievably tasty, and oh-so-easy to make. The prep time is only 10 minutes, and they cook in just 10 minutes. Not only are the patties economical, but they are also perfect for a quick meal on busy nights.
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I have been really enjoying my Air Fryer this past month. One of my favorite new recipes to cook in it are these healthy and nutritious keto tuna patties. I can have a healthy meal on the table in just 20 minutes, from start to finish. These patties are super crispy and taste so good.
For a healthy, balanced meal, pair these tuna patties with soup or salad (or both) for a healthy low-carb meal.
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Ingredients for Air Fryer Tuna Patties
Only a few basic ingredients are needed for these tasty tuna patties.
- 2 cans of canned tuna - I use canned tuna packed in water
- ½ onion - White or red or yellow
- 1 egg - To bind the tuna together
- 1 tbsp almond flour - This helps to absorb any moisture and helps the pattie hold its shape. If you are not on the keto diet, use regular flour if you like.
- ⅓ cup of Panko bread crumbs - You could also use ground pork rinds. If you're not on the keto diet, you can use either regular bread crumbs or rolled oats.
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice - Adds a light flavor of lemon to the patties
- 2 tablespoon of parmesan cheese - Doesn't cheese make everything taste better?
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste - To season the tuna
How to make a keto tuna patty
These are just so quick and easy to make. It is my go-to recipe on really busy nights when we are starving and need to eat RIGHT NOW! This is so much healthier than running through a drive-thru to get take-out. (That's not an option for us anyway because we live a LONG way from a restaurant).
First of all, open up your cans of tuna and drain the water. I like to put the tuna in a wire mesh strainer to drain out the water.
Put the tuna into a medium-size bowl. Dice your onion up into small pieces and toss it in with the tuna. Add in 1 egg, flour, Panko bread crumbs, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Stir together with a fork or spoon until the ingredients are well mixed.
Using your hands, grab a handful of tuna mixture. Press it between your hands to form a tuna patty. You might have to squeeze it quite hard. Place formed patties inside your air fryer. The first time I tried it I brushed the Air Fryer tray with oil, but I never did it after that and they were just as crispy. Continue to make patties until the tuna mixture is gone. I usually get 6 nice-size patties out of 2 cans of tuna.
Preheat your Air Fryer to 360 degrees.
Add tuna patties to the Air Fryer and set the timer for 10 minutes. Flip patties over halfway through the cooking time.
Remove from Air Fryer and enjoy!
Variations
- Add extra veggies by adding shredded carrot, cabbage, or spinach chopped quite fine.
- Add a little heat by adding ½ teaspoon of chili powder, or a couple of shakes of hot sauce if that's your thing. Cayenne pepper is also quite good in these patties.
- Add in 1 teaspoon of prepared mustard for some extra flavor.
- Use ground pork rinds instead of almond flour.
Top Tips
- Drain the water out of the tuna really well. I use my hands to push down on the tuna when it is in the strainer to make sure it has no water left in it.
- Chop onions up quite small so the burgers form easily and don't fall apart. If the chunks of onion are too big the burgers won't stay together.
- Make tuna patties the same size to ensure they cook evenly.
- Add a little extra lemon juice or parmesan cheese if you want. It will give the tuna patties a stronger flavor.
Side Dishes
You can pair these tuna burgers with so many side dishes for a balanced meal. Some of our favorites are a fresh green salad, pasta salad, baked potatoes, Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Instant Pot Rice, Extra Crispy Oven-Roasted Potatoes, The Best Spaghetti Squash, and four-bean salad.
Frequently asked questions
If the air fryer isn't hot enough the tuna patties will stick to the tray and when you lift it the patty might tear apart. Always preheat your Air Fryer to the desired temperature, that way the egg contracts and holds all of the ingredients together.
Big chunks of tuna or big chunks of onion might also cause the patty to fall apart and not hold together properly.
Canned tuna is a very nutritious and inexpensive source of protein. Cans of tuna last for several years, so I always buy it on sale and keep my pantry stocked with it. Try to buy tuna that is low in mercury and dolphin friendly.
Water-packed is usually preferable because it has fewer calories and retains more omega-3s. Oil-packed chunk tuna absorbs more of the oil than solid white, even if you drain it. However, the oil that tuna is packed in, usually soybean oil, is unsaturated and heart-healthy.
Canned tuna is perfectly safe to eat directly out of the can, with no further preparation necessary. However, rinsing the tuna before you eat it can remove excess sodium, and in the case of tuna that is packed in oil, rinsing it can remove some of the excess calories.
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these recipes:
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Keto Tuna Patties (Low-carb)
Equipment
- Fine-mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 2 cans of canned tuna 5 oz cans, drained well
- ½ onion any color
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon almond flour
- ⅓ cup Panko bread crumbs or ground pork rinds
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- First of all, open up your cans of tuna and drain the water. I like to put the tuna in a wire mesh strainer to drain out the water.
- Put the tuna into a medium-size bowl. Dice your onion up into small pieces and toss it in with the tuna. Add in 1 egg, flour, Panko bread crumbs, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir together with a fork or spoon until the ingredients are well mixed.
- Using your hands, grab a handful of tuna mixture. Press it between your hands to form a patty. You might have to squeeze it quite hard. Place formed patties inside your air fryer. The first time I tried it I brushed the Air Fryer tray with oil, but I never did it after that and they were just as crispy. Continue to make patties until the tuna mixture is gone. I usually get 6 nice-size patties out of 2 cans of tuna.
- Preheat your Air Fryer to 360 degrees.
- Add tuna patties to the Air Fryer and set the timer for 10 minutes. Flip patties over halfway through the cooking time.
- Remove from the Air Fryer and enjoy!
Notes
- Drain the water out of the tuna really well. I will use my hands to push down on the tuna when it is in the strainer to make sure it has no water left in it.
- Chop onions up quite small so the burgers form easily and don't fall apart. If the chunks of onion are too big the burgers won't stay together.
- Make patties the same size to ensure they cook evenly.
Addie
These were super easy and so crispy!
Oscar
What a great idea to make these in the air fryer. Making them keto is even better for me, can't wait to make these. Thank you.
Jeri
Thanks, Oscar! I hope you enjoy them!
Audrey
These were awesome. My family loved them.
Jere Cassidy
Glad to have a tuna recipe. I normally make salmon patties but rather have tuna and now I get to try my AF out.
Agnieszka | Wholly Tasteful
I love recipes that use canned tuna. These are quick and easy to make!
Jeri
Me too, Agniezska, it's our go-to recipe for a quick meal!
Alexandra
These tuna patties are a new family favourite recipe - we love that they're done in the air fryer too, for easy clean up!
Jeri
I'm so glad you liked them, Alexandra!