Zucchini tuna patty topped with a dollop of herbed sauce, with cucumber spears and mango slices

Zucchini Tuna Patties

Name: Zucchini Tuna Patties
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cans light tuna; 1 small zucchini, about 3 cups shredded; 1-2 slices dry bread, white or whole wheat; 2 eggs; 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 tsp dry dill weed, or 1 tbsp fresh dill; Salt and pepper, to taste; Olive oil and/or butter, for pan frying

By Elizabeth Ciobanu · February 11, 2025

Budget-friendly and healthy, tuna patties with zucchini are quick and easy to throw together when you need dinner in a hurry.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min
Total: 20 min
Makes: 8-10 patties

Ingredients

2 cans light tuna
1 small zucchini, about 3 cups shredded
1-2 slices dry bread, white or whole wheat
2 eggs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp dry dill weed, or 1 tbsp fresh dill
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil and/or butter, for pan frying

Instructions

Shred 1 small zucchini for about 3 cups of shredded zucchini. A little bit more or less is fine. No need to squeeze or drain the zucchini.
Crumble 1-2 slices of dry bread into small pieces and add to the grated zucchini.
Mix together with 2 eggs, parmesan cheese, dill, and salt and pepper to taste. (I recommend 1/4 tsp salt as a starting point.)
Heat a flat-bottomed skillet or griddle with both olive oil and butter.
Add 1/4 cup scoops of mixture to the heated griddle. Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side until well browned on the bottom. Flip and cook for another 4 minutes on the second side.
Serve with tzatziki and fresh veggies or a salad. Also pairs well with rice or quinoa.

Notes

The mixture may appear slightly soupy, but it will dry up when cooking.
I use a mixture of olive oil and butter for cooking because the olive oil adds fantastic flavor, but the butter is much better for browning the patties. You can skip the olive oil, but don't skip the butter.
Don't be tempted to flip the patties too soon. They need to be well browned on the bottom before they're ready to turn. They will crumble if the egg hasn't had a chance to set and hold the patties together.