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Apr 11, 2017 By Stacie Hassing

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

Dairy-Free
Gluten-free
Grain-Free
Paleo
Whole30
Jump to Recipe

Put food on the table in less than 30 minutes with these fast-and-easy tuna burgers. A Whole30-friendly recipe that’s healthy and delicious and one that everyone will love!

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo on a white plate

Canned tuna gets a facelift with these Easy Tuna Cakes that are high in protein and made with just a few ingredients that you may even have on hand.

I know I know, you’re  probably wondering why on earth I’m sharing an ‘old school’ Tuna Cake recipe like it’s 1970. But…I promise you, these are not any ordinary Tuna Cake. Like our popular Salmon Burgers with Avocado Sauce, they’re flakey, delicious, full of flavor and made entirely with Whole30-compliant ingredients. In other words they are gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and paleo-friendly, too!

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo with side of carrots on a white plate

In addition, we like to share our favorite go-to recipes on the blog and the ones we truly enjoy often; this happens to be one of mine. I often include these Easy Tuna Cakes in my weekend meal preps. They’re quick to make, reheat nicely and taste just as good on day 4 as they do on day 1. Canned tuna is one of my pantry staples and something I always have on hand. It’s an easy and budget-friendly source of quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Oh..and the the Roasted Red Pepper Mayo is totally optional but sure is delicious so I highly recommend you give it a try!

Easy Tuna Cakes - a fast and delicious @whole30 friendly recipe made with @safecatch tuna! Click To Tweet

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo with toppings on a white plate

Quality matters. Safe Catch is a canned tuna you can trust!

We’ve all heard that canned tuna contains mercury at some degree (generally the larger the fish the more mercury it contains) and can be harmful to our health. Mercury is indeed a natural element that’s found in plants and animal – that’s not the concern. The concern is when levels of mercury become too high due to the industrial activity in the world today. This is when eating tuna (and other marine life) can get a little questionable. The mercury that’s produced industrially makes its way to natural bodies of water and as a result increases the mercury levels of the fish that we eat. Want to learn more about how to choose the safest tuna (and other seafood)? Read this post.

BUT rest assured because Safe Catch is…safe to eat! Here’s why:

  • Lowest mercury of any brand. Every single fish is tested and it’s the only brand that meets consumer reports ‘Low Mercury’ criteria for pregnant women and kids.
  • 10x stricter mercury limit than FDA.
  • Only canned tuna that is slow cooked which results in higher-levels of Omega 3’s.
  • Sustainably caught.
  • No fillers and additives and packed in BPA free cans.

Safe Catch is available to purchase on amazon or check the sites store locater to see if it’s available at your local grocery store.

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo | https://therealfoodrds.com/easy-tuna-cakes/

Easy Tuna Cakes are made with Safe Catch Tuna.

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo on a white plate

Roasted Red Pepper Mayo is where it’s at!

Don’t forget the sauce! With just 3 simple ingredients, this sauce is a must! Roasted Red Pepper Mayo adds a delicious burst of flavor that pairs nicely with the flavors of the Easy Tuna Cakes. It’s a versatile condiment because you can also make a creamy tuna or chicken salad with it, dip raw veggie sticks into it or top it on really any burger. It’s made whole30-compliant by using Primal Kitchen Foods Mayo.

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo in a person's hand

Let’s get cooking!

Pro tip: When making the Easy Tuna Cakes, make sure the tuna is well drained and patty the burgers in to 8 mini burgers. They smaller they are the easier they are to flip. I recommend cooking the burgers in ghee because I love the flavor and it makes the outsides of the burgers nice in crispy. Coconut oil or avocado oil are great options, too!

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Let's Get Cookin'

Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

Put food on the table in less than 30 minutes with these Whole30-friendly, Easy Tuna Cakes that are topped with a 3-ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Mayo. A recipe that’s fast, healthy and delicious and one that everyone will love!

  • Author: The Real Food Dietitians
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 25 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings (8 small burgers) 1x
  • Cuisine: Whole30, Dairy-Free
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

Ingredients

Tuna Cakes:

  • 2 (5 oz.) cans Safe Catch Tuna, very well-drained (or other solid steak tuna such as albacore)
  • 2 whole eggs
  • ¼ cup almond flour
  • ¼ cup finely diced onion
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp. dried dill weed
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. cooking oil or fat of choice for frying

Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup roasted red pepper (patted dry)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine and mix together the Tuna Cakes ingredients (except ghee/oil) in a bowl.
  2. Form into 8 small patties (squeeze out as much liquid as possible).
  3. In a large frying pan on medium high heat, add oil or fat – enough to cover the base of the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the patties to the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove from pan.
  4. For the Roasted Red Pepper Mayo, combine the ingredients in a small food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
  5. Serve Roasted Red Pepper Mayo on top of tuna cakes, if desired.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 small burgers (without mayo)
  • Calories: 207
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 320 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 25 g

We’d love to hear if you’ll be adding Easy Tuna Cakes to your weekend meal prep menu! Comment below.

Pin now, make later!

pinterest image for Easy Tuna Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

 

 


This post was made possible by our friends at Safe Catch. Though we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are 100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating great recipes and content for you.

Safe Catch

This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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About Stacie Hassing

Stacie is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian from rural southern Minnesota where she, her husband and daughter reside with their two pups. She’s a co-founder of The Real Food RDs and content creator of simple and wholesome recipes. She loves all kinds of fitness and has a passion to inspire as many as she can live a healthier and happier life both in and out of the kitchen - the driving force behind the co-development of the The Real Food RDs brand.

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Bethany @ athletic avocado says

    April 11, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    I’ve been scoping out tasty high-protein dinner options for Whole30 for awhile (I started today!), and these tuna cakes are definitely a recipe I need to try! Love the addition of the red pepper mayo 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      April 15, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      You’re gonna love these, Bethany! Good luck on your Whole30!

      Reply
    • Kylie says

      January 19, 2018 at 8:46 am

      Is there a better way to cook these?! I followed instructions but they’re turning out crumbled and mushy.

      Reply
      • Stacie Hassing says

        January 20, 2018 at 8:33 am

        You really have to squeeze out the liquid when making them into patties. You could also add more flour to absorb the liquid. When you’re cooking them, flip them very carefully. Hope that helps!

        Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    April 12, 2017 at 1:50 am

    This is awesome. I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      April 15, 2017 at 8:23 pm

      Thanks, Madison!

      Reply
  3. Aimee says

    May 2, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    Where have these been all my life? Delicious! Just finished having these for dinner and they’re perfect! Thanks for always providing perfect, healthy recipes!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      May 7, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      Hi Aimee,

      Hahaha! Glad you loved them! You’re so very welcome for the recipes – we love that you’re loving them.

      Reply
  4. linda says

    June 12, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    what is roasted red pepper and what does it look like and where do you buy it at ….thank you ….this looks so good

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      June 14, 2017 at 7:31 am

      Hi Linda,

      Roasted Red Peppers are red bell peppers that have been charred over fire then peeled, leaving behind hearty slabs of intensely flavored roasted pepper flesh. They’re sold in jars in the grocery store (often by the canned vegetables or pickles). In addition to the sauce for this recipe, I often add them to egg bakes/quiches, casseroles and more.

      Reply
  5. Lori Hurley says

    August 18, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Can’t use almond flour because of a nut allergy. Coconut flour might through the flavor off, yes? What can I use instead?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      August 26, 2017 at 8:55 pm

      Hi Lori,

      You wouldn’t need much coconut flour in this recipe since it soaks up a lot of moisture. Maybe just a few teaspoons (I’d say start with less and add more as you go). If you’re not grain-free you could also use some oat flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  6. Denise says

    September 10, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    I followed the recipe but only used 1 egg and even then these were too watery and fell apart when I cooked them 🙁 Good flavor though. Will need to experiment how to make them hold up better.

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      September 18, 2017 at 11:21 am

      Hi Denise,

      Sorry to hear yours fell apart like that. It may have been the tuna, some brands are much drier than others – and albacore is often drier that chunk light tuna. I’d suggest draining the tuna really well, even using the lid and pressing it onto the surface of the tuna to get more liquid out.

      Also, the weight of tuna can vary by brands. This recipe was tested using a 5 oz. can (so 5 oz. of tuna by weight).

      Reply
      • Mary Morley says

        October 26, 2017 at 5:10 pm

        Mine were a little watery too but I kind of squeezed the patty in my fist and only one of them ended up falling apart a little bit. It was delish! Thanks for the easy meal prep!

        Reply
        • Stacie Hassing says

          November 4, 2017 at 7:52 am

          Yes, you do have to squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Glad they turned out for you!

          Reply
  7. Caitlyn says

    October 23, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    Love this recipe!! Thank you so much!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 4, 2017 at 8:23 am

      Awesome! You’re so welcome 🙂

      Reply
  8. Sarah says

    November 15, 2017 at 12:15 pm

    These look yummy!!
    My son is allergic to eggs too. I almost always use flax egg as a substitute. Lately my flax egg technique hasn’t met my texture expectations in meatballs, etc. is there another better alternative for this type of recipe.

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      November 21, 2017 at 8:33 am

      Hi Sarah,

      You could try a chia seed egg (ground chia seeds + water) though they tend to be slightly gummier. I’ve had a good results with the new Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer (it doesn’t contain soy like the original formulation does).

      Reply
  9. Cortney says

    February 21, 2018 at 7:01 am

    Could you use fresh tuna instead of canned and dice it very small?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      February 21, 2018 at 6:23 pm

      Yes, you could use fresh tuna.

      Reply
  10. Jenny says

    March 2, 2018 at 10:36 am

    Love, love, love this recipe! The roasted red pepper mayo is perfect with the tuna cakes. This makes an awesome lunch, served over spinach or with a side salad!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 3, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      Awe thanks Jenny! So great to hear!

      Reply
  11. Cortney fuller says

    March 3, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    Made it a few days ago with fresh tuna and these are DELISH! i will definitely make them again! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 3, 2018 at 2:17 pm

      So great to hear! Thanks for the feedback!

      Reply
  12. Angela Perrotta says

    March 24, 2018 at 3:27 pm

    Excited to try these!
    Just wondering how you think they would hold up if baked?
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      April 1, 2018 at 1:10 pm

      Hi Angela! We have yet to try baking them but I think they would hold up just fine. Just be sure to really squeeze out the liquid. That should help. Let us know if you try them baked.

      Reply
  13. Adrienne says

    April 10, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    So good! I added Parmesan and red bell peppers. Great recipe!

    Reply
  14. Crystal says

    June 24, 2018 at 8:51 am

    Family loved the tuna cakes. Would like to make extra for future meals, is it possible to freeze? If so, best to prepare to freeze? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      July 12, 2018 at 1:55 pm

      Yes you can certainly freeze them. I freeze them in an airtight container and if I stack them I put a little parchment paper between each row. I prefer to reheat them in a sauce pan with a little ghee or oil over medium heat.

      Reply
  15. Karen Daniels says

    December 28, 2018 at 2:34 pm

    I dont usually leave comments on blogs, but the roasted red pepper mayo was so easy and AMAZING! It was a great addition to the tuna cakes, and i think we will be using it as a condiment regularly on other foods!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 28, 2018 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks, Karen! We’re so glad you loved the mayo!

      Reply
  16. Michelle says

    February 7, 2019 at 7:42 am

    Sorry, this might be a dumb question does the calorie count for this include the mayo or no?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      February 13, 2019 at 9:03 am

      Not a dumb question. The mayo is not included in the nutritionals.

      Reply
  17. Jennifer lee says

    March 6, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    Delish! So tasty and crispy! Yum!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 7, 2019 at 7:10 am

      So great to hear you enjoyed these easy tuna cakes!

      Reply
  18. Kaitlyn says

    March 26, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    Amazing!!! I added lemon zest, fresh chopped parsley and red onion to the patties. Left out dried dill because I didn’t have it on hand. For the sauce, I subbed the mayo with plain Greek yogurt (was out of mayo) and roasted the garlic before blending all together. So so yummy and will definitely make again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 28, 2019 at 3:35 pm

      Hi Kaitlyn! Great to hear your enjoyed this recipe and we are all for improvising recipes and using what you have on hand!

      Reply
  19. Samoni says

    April 9, 2019 at 8:16 pm

    This was a a great recipe! I used crab instead of tuna. I’m not a fan of whole30 mayo (I think because of the avocado oil) so I used Frank’s red hot sauce in lieu of the red-pepper mayo and it worked great!

    Reply
  20. Bee says

    April 15, 2019 at 12:36 pm

    Really easy indeed! I don’t eat tuna very often, but these cakes just have my heart, can’t wait to try them!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      April 15, 2019 at 12:52 pm

      This is so great to hear! Hope you love them.

      Reply
  21. Ben says

    June 26, 2019 at 3:49 am

    So good and so easy! Protein Bombs.
    I added parsley and coriander, and changed the onion to a Spanish onion for colour. Definitely a new staple

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      June 27, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      I love the addition of parsley and coriander – glad you love them!

      Reply
  22. Jen says

    April 13, 2020 at 10:34 am

    Tasted like raw tuna smothered in too much lemon….

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      April 14, 2020 at 6:50 pm

      We’re sorry to hear that you did not like this recipe.

      Reply
  23. Sarah says

    October 16, 2020 at 8:57 am

    These were a hit! Instead of cooking them in a pan, I baked them in the oven. I used silicone muffin cups to line the muffin tins. Baked them at 350 for 20-25 minutes. We have five boys and they all agreed that these were keepers.

    Easy and Delicious!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      October 18, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      We love that idea – thank you for sharing!

      Reply

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