Sweet Potato Tuna Patties with Lemon-Dill Yogurt Dip

These Tuna Patties with Sweet Potato are a crowd-pleasing, quick recipe—ready in about 30 minutes. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, they make a great light meal, snack, or appetizer.

This recipe uses simple pantry staples: canned tuna, sweet potatoes, onions, breadcrumbs, and a few seasonings. It’s versatile and easy to scale for meal prep—leftovers keep well in the fridge and reheat beautifully in a skillet.

Sweet potatoes add moisture and help bind the mixture, so the patties hold together while cooking. The result is a soft interior and a golden, crispy exterior—delicious served with lemon wedges or a simple yogurt-based dip.

How To Make Tuna Patties with Sweet Potato

Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes — 2 small, peeled and cut into chunks.
• Tuna — 2 cans, drained and flaked. Use your preferred variety.
• Green onions — about ½ cup, sliced.
• White onions — about ½ cup, finely diced.
• Breadcrumbs — ½ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs or almond flour).
• Eggs — 2, to bind the mixture.
• Seasonings — ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp chili pepper, salt and black pepper to taste.
• Lemon — 1/2 lemon juiced; extra wedges for serving (optional).
• Mayonnaise — 1 tbsp for creaminess (use any mayo you prefer).
• Olive oil or cooking spray — for frying.

Instructions

1. Cook the sweet potatoes:

• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the sweet potato chunks and cook 10–15 minutes, until fork tender.
• Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Transfer to a large bowl and mash with a fork until mostly smooth.

2. Combine the ingredients:

• Add the flaked tuna, green onions, white onions, breadcrumbs, eggs, mayonnaise, garlic powder, chili pepper, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the mashed sweet potatoes.
• Mix until all ingredients are evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

3. Shape and cook the patties:

• Form the mixture into evenly sized patties using your hands or a scoop for consistency.
• Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add a little olive oil or spray the pan with cooking spray.
• Cook the patties 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown and heated through. Avoid overcrowding the pan so they brown nicely.

4. Garnish and serve:

• Let the patties rest briefly after cooking. Garnish with chopped scallions or fresh herbs if desired.
• Serve with lemon wedges and a dipping sauce such as plain yogurt or a lemon aioli.

What To Serve with Tuna Patties

• Flavorful sauce: A lemon aioli, yogurt-based dip, or creamy avocado sauce pairs well.
• Side salad: Serve with a simple green salad or a roasted sweet potato and kale salad for a complete meal.
• Grains: These patties are delicious over fluffy rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a heartier plate.