Tuna Patties With Sweet Potato

These Tuna Patties with Sweet Potato are always a crowd-pleaser! Ready in just 30 minutes, they’re crispy, flavorful, and so delicious! This gluten-free recipe is perfect as a light meal or hearty appetizer.

I always love a healthy and satisfying recipe that I can make with just a few pantry staples. These tuna patties are made with canned tuna and sweet potatoes, plus a few other simple ingredients. They’re also super versatile, so I can enjoy them as a healthy meal, a satisfying snack, or a tasty appetizer.

If you have leftovers, they’re perfect for meal prep, too!  I like to make a few extra and portion them out for healthy lunches, similar to these Salmon Patties with Coleslaw Meal-Prep Bowls.

 

Sweet potatoes are such a delicious addition to classic tuna patties! They help hold everything together, so the patties don’t fall apart when you cook them, like most fish cakes. Plus, it makes them soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and absolutely irresistible.

How To Make Tuna Patties with Sweet Potato

Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes — I use 2 small sweet potatoes for this recipe.
• Tuna — I recommend using good-quality canned tuna. Feel free to use whatever variety you prefer.
• Onions — For the best flavor, I like a combination of white and green onions.
• Breadcrumbs — I use gluten-free breadcrumbs, but you can use regular if you don’t need the recipe to be gluten-free. Or you can use almond flour too.
• Eggs — The eggs are what bind the ingredients together.
• Seasonings — I use a blend of garlic powder, chili pepper, and salt and pepper.
• Lemon— I juice half of the lemon, and cut the other half into wedges.
• Mayonnaise — I recommend trying my easy homemade mayonnaise for this recipe. Of course, you can use whatever mayo you have on hand.
• Cooking spray — For simplicity’s sake, I like to use olive oil cooking spray, but you can also use a drizzle of olive oil.

Instructions

Cook the sweet potatoes:

• In a medium pan or stockpot, bring water to a boil and add the cubed sweet potatoes. Cook them for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until they’re fork tender.
• Drain the sweet potatoes and run them under cold water to cool them down. Then, transfer them to a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork.

Combine the ingredients:

• Once the sweet potatoes have cooled, add the tuna, green onions, white onions, breadcrumbs, eggs, and mayonnaise. Season with garlic powder, chili pepper, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
• Then, mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

Shape and cook the patties:

• Using your hands, shape the tuna mixture into evenly sized patties or tuna cakes/tuna burger.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and add cooking spray, vegetable oil or olive oil.
• Cook the tuna patties for 3 to 4 minutes on both sides or until they’re golden brown.

Garnish and serve:

• Allow the tuna patties to cool slightly before serving.
• Garnish with chopped scallions or fresh herbs, if desired. Serve with lemon wedges, yogurt dipping and enjoy!

How To Store Leftovers

• To Store: This recipe is great for meal prep! Simply store the tuna patties in an airtight container for up to 4 days. I like to use a good glass container, but you can also use a silicon or Ziploc bag.
• To Freeze: I suggest flash freezing the patties for about an hour on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
• To Reheat: These tuna patties reheat so well. The best way I’ve found is to heat them in a skillet for just a minute on each side until they’re heated through. This keeps the inside soft, while the outside is still nice and crispy. I don’t recommend to reheat them in a microwave.

What To Serve with Tuna Patties

• Flavorful sauce: These tuna patties are incredible on their own, and even better with a yummy sauce. I recommend a simple lemon aioli or this Whole30 creamy avocado sauce.
• Side salad: When I want a fresh meal that’s still cozy, I like to pair this recipe with delicious side dishes like this roasted sweet potato kale salad or arugula salad.
• Fluffy rice: For a warm, satisfying lunch or dinner, I like to serve these tuna patties on top of fluffy rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
• Tasty appetizers: If I’m serving these as an appetizer, I’ll pair it with other hearty finger foods. A few of my favorites are bacon-wrapped dates, stuffed mushrooms, and cauliflower bites.

Recipe Variations

• Swap the tuna: These tuna patties are super versatile, so feel free to use whatever canned fish you’d like, such as salmon, mackerel, or even crab. I also like to make these with leftover homemade salmon and they’re just as delicious!
• Fresh herbs: When I have fresh herbs on hand, I’ll add them in for a nice bright flavor. Dill, fresh parsley, and chives are all delicious additions to this recipe.
• Spicy tuna patties: For an extra kick, I recommend adding diced jalapeño or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the mixture.
• Other seasonings: You can also add lemon zest, Old Bay seasoning, and even a bit of Dijon mustard to the tuna mixture.

Recommended Tools

• Medium pan: You’ll need a medium pan or stockpot to boil the sweet potatoes.
• Large bowl: To save time and dishes, I mash the sweet potatoes and prepare the tuna patty mixture in the same large bowl.
• Frying pan: To get a nice crispy sear, I recommend a heavy frying pan or cast iron skillet.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can watch the Web Story of this recipe HERE.

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