Fresh Ahi Tuna Burgers with Spicy Mayo
This tuna burger recipe with fresh tuna is perfect for summertime grilling. They’re quick & easy to prepare and cook, and pack so much flavor topped with homemade spicy mayo. No grill? No problem! Sear them inside in a pan instead.
As a Registered Dietitian and pescatarian, I love a good veggie burger or fish burger.
There’s just something special about biting into a thick, juicy burger – especially fresh off the grill in summertime!
These fresh tuna burgers are a unique, different, and tasty option to serve up at your next party or summer cookout!
These ahi tuna burgers with fresh tuna are packed with flavor and meaty texture.
They’re inspired by Asian flavors, with delicious ingredients like green onions, fresh ginger, and soy sauce. Top them off with a dollop of spicy mayo and you are good to go!
Prefer salmon to tuna? Try my lemon dill salmon burgers!
This fresh ahi tuna burger recipe takes about 15 minutes to prep, and less than 10 minutes to cook. It makes 5-7 burgers, depending on how large you want them to be.
Ingredients in fresh ahi tuna burgers
Here is everything you need to make this recipe:
- Fresh ahi tuna
- Breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Soy sauce
- Fresh ginger
- Scallions
- Lime
- Mayonnaise
- Sriracha
- For serving: burger buns, lettuce, tomato, sliced cucumber
Kitchen tools needed
You will need a food processor to make fresh tuna burgers. You can cook them on the grill or indoors in a nonstick skillet.
How to make fresh tuna burgers
- Cut fresh tuna into 1 inch cubes. Put them in a food processor fitted with a S blade.
- To the food processor, add sliced scallions, egg, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, lime juice, and grated or minced ginger.
- Pulse ingredients together several times in the food processor until everything is combined, but small chunks of tuna still remain.
- Use your hands to form 5-7 tuna patties, pressing down to flatten them a bit.
Grill cooking instructions
- Heat up your grill to medium-high heat. Spray the grill grates with some cooking oil – this helps prevent the tuna burgers from sticking.
- Place the tuna burgers on the preheated grill.
- Cook for about 3 minutes, flip, then cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Stovetop cooking instructions
- Heat up a bit of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Once the skillet is hot, add the tuna burgers, being careful not to crowd the pan. If your skillet is small, cook them in batches.
- Cook for three minutes, flip, then cook for another 2-3 minutes.
How to know when tuna burgers are done cooking: You’ll know the burgers are finished when they are no longer pink on the inside, or a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part.
Can I prep fresh tuna burgers in advance?
These fresh tuna burgers make a great meal prep option because they keep well in the fridge and taste good reheated.
Just cook them up and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat in the microwave for 45 seconds -1 minute. Then serve them up.
Can I freeze tuna burgers?
Yes! You can freeze the cooked tuna burgers for up to three months.
Cook the tuna burgers and let them cool fully to room temperature. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap then store them all in one large baggie.
Defrost in the fridge before cooking.
What to serve with ahi tuna burgers
These fresh tuna burgers taste amazing on a bun, but you can also serve them without a bun to add some protein to a salad or grain bowl.
These tuna burgers would be excellent with a variety of different sides, such as:
- Sweet potato fries
- Air fried fingerling potatoes
- Air fried carrot fries
- Kale salad
- Quinoa salad
- Caprese orzo salad
Ahi tuna nutrition benefits
Ahi tuna, also known as yellowfin tuna, is a nutritious food to include in your diet.
A three ounce serving provides 21 grams of high quality protein! In addition, the same three ounce serving has:
- 15.704 mg niacin (98 percent of your daily needs)
- 1.77 mcg Vitamin B12 (74 percent of your daily needs)
- 1.45 mcg Vitamin D (7 percent of your daily needs)
- 236.3 mg phosphorus (34 percent of your daily needs)
- 77.01 mcg selenium (140 percent of your daily needs)
While ahi tuna provides several beneficial nutrients, it is high in mercury compared to other fish and seafood options.
High mercury is linked to adverse health effects, including impaired cognition, memory, and focus.
Because of this, ahi tuna should be enjoyed occasionally – once a week or a few times per month. Pregnant women should avoid eating fish high in mercury and consult with a doctor to find out the safe levels of tuna to consume during pregnancy.
Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
Print
Fresh Ahi Tuna Burgers with Spicy Mayo
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 21 minutes
- Yield: 5–7 tuna burgers 1x
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop or grill
Description
This tuna burger recipe with fresh tuna is perfect for summertime grilling. They’re quick & easy to prepare and cook, and pack so much flavor topped with homemade spicy mayo. No grill? No problem! Sear them inside in a pan instead.
Ingredients
Fresh tuna patties
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh ahi tuna
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- Juice of half a lime
- 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated or minced
Spicy mayo
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sriracha – add more based on how spicy you like it
For serving
- Burger buns
- Romaine lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Cucumber, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cut the ahi tuna into 1 inch cubes. Add to a food processor bowl fitted with an S blade.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor: egg, green onions, lime juice, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, and ginger.
- Pulse the food processor several times until the ingredients are combined, but there are still some small chunks of fish left. You should be able to easily form patties with your hands, without them falling apart.
- Form 5-7 tuna patties with your hands. Press down on them slightly to flatten.
- Cook them on the grill or stovetop for about 6 minutes *see notes below for detailed cooking instructions.
- While the burgers are cooking, whisk together the mayonnaise and sriracha in a small bowl until well combined to make the spicy mayo.
- Toast the burger buns if desired, and assemble the burgers with a dollop of spicy mayo, a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a slice of cucumber.
Notes
*Grill cooking instructions
- Heat up your grill to medium-high heat. Spray the grill grates with some cooking oil – this helps prevent the tuna burgers from sticking.
- Place the tuna burgers on the preheated grill.
- Cook for about 3 minutes, flip, then cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Stovetop cooking instructions
- Heat up a bit of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Once the skillet is hot, add the tuna burgers, being careful not to crowd the pan. If your skillet is small, cook them in batches.
- Cook for three minutes, flip, then cook for another 2-3 minutes.
How to know when tuna burgers are done cooking: You’ll know the burgers are finished when they are no longer pink on the inside, or a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part.
Keywords: fresh ahi tuna burger recipe, tuna burger with fresh tuna, how to make tuna burgers,
LOVED THESE! I only had Italian breadcrumbs but they turned out delicious! I also used Chick-fil-a’s Sweet & Spicy sriracha for the mayo.
★★★★★
Thank you so much! Such a good summertime recipe. Glad to hear those substitutions worked well 🙂
Very delicious! I didn’t use a food processor, just mixed with my hands. I put the burger on a bun with avocado and a mixture of Greek yogurt + chilis in adobo. It cooked great and all stayed together! Very easy! I’ll definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Thank you, Em! I’m glad to hear this recipe worked well for you even without a food processor.