These moist, flaky, and simple Croquetas De Atún (Tuna Croquettes) are an easy, versatile recipe to serve as an appetizer or main dish. Topped with cilantro crema and a squeeze of fresh lemon, one bite of this delicious tuna croquettes recipe will transport you to your favorite coastal city.
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An easy dinner made with canned tuna
Let’s discuss.
This is a classic, must make seafood dish any time of year. Follow this recipe for crispy on the outside and creamy inside croquettes. The secret to their soft and creamy texture? A plain mashed potato!
The potato mutes the tuna-taste and they’re not as fishy as other seafood patties tend to be which is perfect for picky eaters!
What’s to love about them?
- They’re high-protein: 1 croquette will get you 7g of protein.
- So easy to make and it only takes about 35 minutes to make the entire batch.
- Good for you: Canned tuna is a nutritious and inexpensive source of protein.
I like to serve them with a salad and Arroz Blanco or Mexican rice for a healthy and delicious meal! These Calabacitas or Espagueti Verde also make great companions.
Want to make them fun to eat? Serve as tacos with my Cilantro Lime Mexican Crema & Chile Guajillo Salsa …you heard that right, they taste amazing inside a tortilla!
🩷 xoxo, Ana
***This post was originally published on Dec 2015. It has been updated to be more helpful.
The Ingredients
The ingredients for these Croquetas De Atun are very simple and most likely you already have in your pantry.
- The Tuna – I like to use white albacore in water but you can use whatever tuna you may have handy.
- The Potato – A large russet potato or two medium white potatoes. Whatever you have handy.
- 1 large egg
- For the bread crumbs you can use seasoned or plain. This is the beauty of this dish! It’s so flexible. Panko will also work perfectly.
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Oil to fry – You can fry them in a pan, bake them or in the air fryer.
** Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
How to make Croquetas De Atun
Croquetas aren’t complicated to make and they are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Here’s a quick run-down:
Step 1 – Start by boiling the potato in water until soft.
Once cooked, mash the potato with a fork then mix together with the tuna in a bowl.
Mix and mash everything together until you don’t see any chunks of potato.
To form the patties, grab some tuna mixture with your hands and squeeze together to form the croquette patty.
Pass it thru the scrambled egg then the bread crumbs. Reserve on a plate until you’re ready to fry or bake them.
Ways to cook Croquetas De Atun
In Frying Pan:
Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the croquettes until golden browned on all sides. About 1 minute per side. Drain on paper towels and repeat the frying process until all done.
Note: frying the croquettes in oil does not require a lot of it since it’s a quick pass thru for about a minute on each side. Add more oil to the pan as needed, a little bit at the time.
In Oven:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Arrange the tuna patties on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Spray or brush the top of the tuna patties with olive oil.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, turning once, until golden browned on both sides.
In Air Fryer:
- Preheat, arrange the tuna patties on surface.
- Spray or brush the top of the tuna patties with olive oil.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, turning once, until golden browned on both sides.
Chef’s Tips & Notes:
Make ahead and freeze raw: Prepare tuna croquettes up to step #3 then place uncooked flat on a tray. Place in freezer for about 4 hours and when frozen, then you can package for longer term storage. Place them in a freezer bag or plastic container with wax or parchment paper between layers.
Storing leftovers: Let your patties cool completely and then transfer them into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to reheat: I suggest doing this in a frying pan, in the air fryer or toaster oven to keep the crispiness. Add a little bit of olive oil to your pan and heat over medium heat. Cook croquettes for a few minutes on each side to warm up.
More Seafood Recipes
Thank you for stopping by!
I hope you like this recipe! Do you have any questions I can help you with? Or if you made it, I would love it if you leave a comment or rating below.
Gracias!!!! xx, Ana
Print Recipe
Croquetas De Atún (Tuna Croquettes)
Equipment
- Frying pan
- Baking tray
- Or Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 5 oz cans solid white albacore tuna in water - or your preferred can of tuna
- 1 large russet potato - peeled and cut into cubes
- 1 egg - beaten
- 1 cup bread crumbs or panko crumbs
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
If frying in pan:
- ½ cup avocado, grapeseed or vegetable oil - add more oil if needed
if baking or in air fryer
- olive oil for coating tuna patties
Instructions
Make the croquettes
- Place the potatoes in a small sauce pan and cover with water. Cook on medium-high heat until potatoes are cook through. Drain when they're cooked.
- While the potatoes are cooking, add the egg in a shallow bowl and beat with a fork. In another bowl, add the bread crumbs and season with salt & pepper. Set both bowls aside.
- Drain the tuna and place in a medium bowl . Add the cooked potatoes, salt & pepper.
- Mix well and mash tuna & potatoes with a hand masher or a fork.
- Form the tuna patties by squeezing them first then forming into patties. You can make them in any shape you want!
- Pass thru the croquettes thru the egg mixture then coat with bread crumbs.
Cooking options:
- IN FRYING PAN: Heat oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the croquettes until golden browned on all sides. About 1 minute per side. Drain on paper towels.
- IN OVEN: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the tuna patties on a lightly greased baking sheet. Spray or brush the top of the tuna patties with olive oil. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning once, until golden browned on both sides.
- IN AIR FRYER: Preheat, arrange the tuna patties on surface. Spray or brush the top of the tuna patties with olive oil. Bake for about 20 minutes, turning once, until golden browned on both sides.
- Serve while warm.
This is a perfect recipe for a delicious and quick Lenten meal! You can doll it up with a flavorful hollandaise or cream sauce. Easy and quick and they’ll ask for seconds!
Thank you so much Diane! I love that you mentioned how easy and quick they are, and that sauce sounds like such a good idea. A flavorful hollandaise or cream sauce would be so good with these. I’m so happy you enjoyed them and that they were a hit enough for seconds!
Absolutely delicious and easy to make / I only had a sweet potato used it – will definitely make again – air fried them
That sounds amazing! I love that you used a sweet potato—great idea! And air frying them is such a smart move. So glad you enjoyed the recipe and plan to make it again!
Terrific, healthy and easy recipe! Great delicious option for Lenten meal!
Thanks, Ana.
Thank you so much Diane! I’m so glad you like them! And yes, they’re excellent for this season.
This post was really helpful and easy to follow. Reading your in-depth analyses and well-explained points is a delight. I found the samples you provided to be really useful. Your expertise is much appreciated.
We loved these! I made them in the air fryer and they were absolutely delicious. Not one left on the plate!
Delicious! I fried mine in oil and they were fantastic.
These are absolutely delicious. The tuna croquettes came out crispy just how I like them. They actually make me full after a couple of these.
This was such a simple yet satisfying recipe that turned out delicious and perfectly crispy! Easily, a new favorite recipe; looking forward to making these time and time again, indeed!
Came out so good for a fun lunch idea with the kiddos.
I made this with gluten free panko I found at the market and it was delicious! Love these croquetas with some ketchup too lol
Hola, estaba por hacer estas croquetas en la freidora hoy mismo, pero desafortunadamente no hay mención de la temperatura de dicho aparato, ni de precalentar ni de cocinar ?
Delicious ? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Excelente post. Muchas gracias, Un saludo
Muchas gracias Croqueto! Igualmente!
I don’t eat a lot of tuna so was skeptical if I should try this. Glad I did. Very good!
Hey there 🙂
Your wordpress site is very sleek – hope you don’t mind me asking what theme you’re using?
(and don’t mind if I steal it? :P)
I just launched my site –also built in wordpress like yours– but the theme slows (!) the site
down quite a bit.
In case you have a minute, you can find it by searching for
“royal cbd” on Google (would appreciate any feedback) – it’s still in the works.
Keep up the good work– and hope you all take care of yourself during
the coronavirus scare!
These are my favorite! I actually eat them with ketchup lol! The recipe is perfect
Favoritas de mi familia!!!
Gracias Ana!!
I love this easy recipe! Can’t wait to make it again