These Asian-inspired Sriracha Tuna Cakes served with a spicy tartar sauce is such a delicious and elevated way to use canned tuna! They’re also incredibly easy to make in a skillet or in the air fryer.
One of my new favorite quick lunches or week-night dinners is tuna cakes! They are so quick and easy to make from canned tuna and chances are you’ll have most of the ingredients you need. I’m all about those pantry meals. The less I have to go to the store, the better!
I love making these tuna cakes for a quick lunch. But, they also make for a great dinner. Just serve with a salad (I love pairing them with a sesame cucumber salad), cauliflower rice, or brussels sprouts! Then you have yourself a delicious and balanced meal.
I hope you love these Sriracha Tuna Cakes and they become a weekly staple for you 🙂!
What you will need for this recipe:
Canned tuna, an egg, Trader Joe’s rice crumbs (to keep this recipe gluten-free) or another favorite brand of breadcrumbs, garlic, mayo, mini sweet peppers or a bell pepper, green onion, sriracha, and dill pickle relish. Two optional ingredients are Trader Joe’s Unami seasoning and ground ginger. I also serve mine with some lime wedges!
Can I make these tuna cakes or the spicy tartare sauce in advance?
Of course! You can make these tuna cakes a couple of hours ahead and keep them on a plate or cutting board in the fridge ready to fry just before eating. You can mix the spicy tartare sauce a couple of days ahead if you’re doing meal prep, just keep it covered in the fridge until you need it! It will also taste best if you bring it up to room temperature before serving.
Can I fry these Sriracha Tuna Cakes in the air fryer?
I added an air fryer method to the notes section of the recipe. As much as I love my air fryer (I like this one!), do I prefer these in the skillet. But, that’s totally up to you! Either way these tuna cakes with be delicious.
Other recipes you will love:
- Gluten-free Tuna Cakes with Lemon Dill Aioli
- Crispy Sesame Brussels Sprouts with Sriracha Aioli
- How To Cook Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp
- Loaded Shrimp Ceviche (with cooked shrimp!)
- Fried Goat Cheese with Hot Honey
- Spicy Pimento Mac and Cheese
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Sriracha Tuna Cakes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 5 tuna cakes 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Asian-inspired Sriracha Tuna Cakes served with a spicy tartar sauce is such a delicious and elevated way to use canned tuna! They’re also incredibly easy to make in a skillet or in the air fryer.
Ingredients
Tuna Cakes
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 (5 oz.) cans of tuna, drained
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Trader Joe’s rice crumbs or breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp sriracha
- 2 red mini sweet peppers, finely chopped, can also use 1/2 a red bell pepper
- 1 tbsp sliced green onion
- pinch of Trader Joe’s umami seasoning, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
Spicy Tartar - 1/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup dill pickle relish
- 2 tbsp sriracha, or to taste
- pinch of ground ginger, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- First make your spicy tartar by combining all ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Add the drained tuna to a medium mixing bowl and use a fork to separate and break it up.
- Whisk in the egg.
- Add the rice crumbs, mayo, sriracha, garlic, umami seasoning (if using) and a pinch of salt and pepper. If salt is added to the canned tuna you can skip it.
- Add diced pepper and green onion and mix to combine.
- Take about 1/3 cup scoops and shape into balls then flatten them to make about 5 patties. This is easier to do with wet hands.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat add olive oil and evenly coat skillet. When hot, gently add the tuna cakes and let them cook about 3-4 minutes per side or until they’re golden brown and heated through. Make sure the flip them carefully.
- Serve with spicy tartar and enjoy!
Notes
Air Fryer Method
Spray air fryer basket. Add tuna cakes in air fryer basket in a single layer without over crowding them (you may have to work in batches). Brush a little olive oil on each tuna cake. Air fry at 360 degrees F for 5 min, flip then cook another 3-4 minutes or until they’re golden brown and cooked through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
Serahe
saw on instagram and had to try it. had just enough of everything to double the recipe. it was easy to make and really flavorful! husband and I both really liked it and it was more filling than you’d think! probably shouldn’t have doubled the sauce because there’s a lot left but i’ll just have to find something else to eat it with – really yummy. thanks for the great recipe!
Billey PaRker
Made this during a Quarantine vacation, and loved it! So easy & comes together for a quick dinner or luNch!! Will definitely double the recipe next time for A leftovers lunch with a salad or a make little sandwich. Im excited to see what i can do with thIs recipe- its perfect! maybe make mini tuna cakes to serve at as apps at a dinner party?? Try some other flavor cOmbinations?? Also I optEd for less sRiRacHa, still phenomenal.
Delsa Robbins
This may be one of the best recipes i’ve ever made. Easy and deliciouS!
Bailee
Amazing! And so easy, uses up pantry staples.
Robin Hickman
So easy and delIcious!!
One of my favorites!
Ariana
THis has Become a staple for me! So Easy and deliCious!
Ali
These are great. So simple and i always have all of the Ingredients in my Pantry excePt for a Pepper and green onions so This has become my go to Meal on nights when i have an appointment after work but still Don’t wanT to do takeout! Roast some vEggies in the oven while im fryiNG these and im done in a half hour!
Sara
I make this at least once a week. It’s so easy and so delish. You most likely have everything already in the pantry for these!