These Whole30 air fryer tuna patties are Paleo, keto, and a great budget friendly meal. Tuna is often an emergency food we keep in our pantry, but this family friendly recipe changes totally changes that! With just a few cans of tuna and some simple additions, you’ve got crispy patties for dinner or meal prep.
I make these paleo tuna patties quite often both in my air fryer and just in a skillet on the stove. The air fryer is a really quick and easy way to cook them up that doesn’t require any extra oil. If you’re making these on the stovetop, just remember to oil the pan well first and then don’t touch or move them around too much.
If you try to flip the air fryer tuna patties before they’ve cooked about halfway through, they’ll fall apart. Let them set and solidify before moving them in the pan. With the air fryer, you don’t have to flip them at all. You’ll just put them in there in a single layer and they’ll get crispy on both sides.
For tuna, any canned tuna packed in water that you have will work. If your tuna is packed in oil, you’ll likely need to add a bit more almond flour to absorb some so that they’ll form into patties. You’ll also need Paleo and Whole30 mayo for the air fryer tuna patties, which you can make yourself, or pick up pre made. Primal Kitchen has my favorite mayo that I always use. You could also grab the almond flour and mayo cheaper than Amazon from Thrive Market.
Other Whole30 and Paleo Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
If you’re new to air frying, don’t worry. It’s really so simple to use! I’m just getting the hang of how to work my air fryer but I already love it so much! Just set the time and temperature and that’s it. It makes cooking and cleaning really simple. If you don’t have an air fryer, it might be to hop on the bandwagon.
Drizzle some Homemade Southewest Ranch dressing over these air fryer tuna patties and enjoy!
PrintWhole30 Air Fryer Tuna Patties (Paleo, Low Carb, Stovetop Instructions)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2
- Category: Meat
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cans tuna packed in water
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoon almond flour
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons mayo
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well
- Tuna should be still wet, but able to form into patties – add an additional tablespoon of almond flour if it’s not dry enough to form
- Form into 4 patties
For Air Fryer:
- Heat to 400 degrees F.
- Place patties in a single layer in the basket and cook for 10 minutes. Add an additional 3 minutes if you’d like them crispier
For stovetop:
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil or cooking fat in a skillet over medium-high heat
- Let the oil get hot and then place patties into the skillet in a single layer
- Cook for 5 minutes on each side until crisp and cooked thoroughly
Notes
Double the recipe for 4 servings
This paleo air fryer tuna patties post may contain some links that are affiliate links, though products are ones I use personally and recommend. When you purchase anything using my links, it costs you absolutely nothing extra, but it does give wholekitchensink.com a little financial support which helps to keep this blog running. Thank you for your continued support, both with your dollars and your interest.
free whole30 ebook
sign up for my newsletter and receive my 20 best Whole30 recipes!
By using this form you agree with this site's privacy policy.
Tracey Sherman says
So very good, did not use mayo though due to gall bladder removal diet 😶! Still excellent! Used Valetti’s Lemon Pepper Marinade ( fat free ). Wonderful recipe for Air Fryer! 🤗💛
Karen says
Do you drain the water from the can of tuna before you mix with other ingredients.
paleobailey says
Yes, great question. You do need to drain any liquid. I’ll add that to the post to clarify. Thank you!
Keisha Mathew says
Mine kept crumbling. Despite that it was good. Do know the nutritional value per serving?
Clara says
I made these this week honestly expecting to not like them. I honestly don’t like tuna that much but I’ve been budgeting and wanted to use up the cans of tuna in my pantry. They came out soooo good! Like I looked forward to making them and eating them again the next day for dinner again. Mine came out really crisp – they fall apart easily but I don’t eat eggs so i really didn’t expect them to and I just made sure to use a spatula when taking them out so they wouldn’t fall apart in the fryer. This is probably going to be my go-to budget friendly meal. I mixed a little mayo & sriracha to top it off and with some steamed broccoli. My tummy and wallet are very much a happy camper. Thank you!
Kristin Folse says
How many patties per serving?
paleobailey says
Two 🙂
jkr_ames says
What sauce is drizzled across the patties in the picture?
paleobailey says
My homemade southwest ranch https://www.wholekitchensink.com/southwest-ranch-dressing/
Terri Blank says
Do I need to spritz the tuna patties first with olive oil if cooking in the air fryer? Thank you!
paleobailey says
I don’t, but you certainly can! I don’t think it will make too much of a difference 🙂
Cristal Elliot says
How many ounces are the cans of Tuna?
paleobailey says
5 oz cans
Sarah says
Hi Bailey, I definitely want to try this recipe so thank you. What size canned tuna are you using? Can’t find it mentioned. I’ve found three different sizes at my local grocery store. TIA 🙂
paleobailey says
Hi Sarah! I used 5 ounce cans 🙂
Kim says
Made this tonight for my family and loved it.
paleobailey says
I’m so glad! Thanks so much for letting me know!!