Can I use tuna that's packed in oil for this recipe?

Yes, as long as you drain it well and you're using flaked tuna.

I don't have time to chill the tuna cake mixture. Is it absolutely necessary?

For the best results, I recommend chilling, but if you don't have 30 minutes to spare, you can skip the chilling step. Just note that the mixture will be a little sticky and messier to handle.

Can I make ahead and chill the mixture overnight?

Yes! While the mixture only requires 30-60 minutes to firm up, you can leave it covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

What's the best way to reheat air fried tuna cakes?

In the air fryer! While you can give them a quick heating in the microwave, to get the outside crispy again, I just pop them in the air fryer at 350F for 3-5 minutes. Just be careful not to reheat for too long as they will dry out.

Air Fryer Tuna Cakes with Cheddar Cheese & Grated Carrot

Description

These Air Fryer Tuna Cakes, made with canned tuna, cheddar cheese and grated carrot, are crisp and golden on the outside and soft and tender in the middle.

Ingredients

2 cans (266g) albacore flaked white tuna, packed in water (drained) *see note #1
1/2 cup (40g) panko crumbs
1/2 cup (30g) finely grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (50g) finely grated carrot, about 1 medium carrot
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 large egg
1/4 cup (65g) mayo
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Instructions

In a large bowl, toss together the tuna, panko crumbs, cheese, carrot, green onion and dill.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, mayo, dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Pour the egg/mayo mixture over the tuna mixture and stir until well combined. (The mixture should stick together).
Cover and chill for 30-60 minutes.
Shape the mixture into 8 patties, about 3/4 inch thick. Each patty is about 3 1/2 tablespoons of mixture.
Spray both sides of each patty with oil and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry at 400F for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. There is no need to flip the patties.

Notes

The cans of tuna I used had a net weight of 184 grams per can. The drained weight was 133 grams per can, for a total of 266 grams of tuna.
I recommend using flaked tuna as the small flakes are easier to mash together with the other ingredients. Solid or chunk tuna may result in bigger pieces of tuna in the patties, which could prevent them from sticking together.
Be sure to finely grate the cheese and carrot so it mixes together more evenly with the other ingredients. Larger shreds of cheese or carrot will make it harder for the patties to stick together.
I recommend chilling the tuna cake mixture for at least 30 minutes. This gives the mixture time to firm up as the panko crumbs absorb moisture and makes it easier to form into patties.
In order to get the outside of the cakes golden and crispy, make sure you spray both sides with a little oil. You can also brush some on if you don’t have spray oil.
You don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer as the patties won’t cook as evenly. If your air fryer is small, you will need to air fry them in 2 batches. (I have a 5.8 quart air fryer, which fit the 8 tuna cakes perfectly).