This recipe is an oldie but goodie that my mom used to make when my brother and I were kids. While the adults would be enjoying a juicy steak or hamburger, we enjoyed a hot tuna burger with melted cheese straight from the BBQ grill.
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Jump to RecipeI have no idea where my mom found this recipe, but when she made it for the first time, it quickly became a favorite that both my brother and I loved.
Even my dad, who normally wasn’t wild about tuna, enjoyed it upon occasion – probably because of the melted cheese. (At our house, cheese is a really big deal!!!)
However, while this recipe is perfect for cooking in the oven or on the grill, it’s also good to serve cold…sort of a tuna salad on steroids, in a way.
First, you need several hardboiled eggs. Personally, I like to do this step the day before simply because I hate trying to peel then chop eggs unless they’ve totally and completely cooled!
I seem to always either burn my fingers, or make a mess of the egg, and both annoy me.
Then, prep then chop your celery. Good knives are essential. We also prefer using bamboo cutting boards over plastic or other materials.
We chop ours fairly coarsely, but a lot of younger kids would probably prefer more finely chopped celery.
Add your ingredients to a medium sized mixing bowl.
Add mayonnaise and cheese.
Finally, add your chopped egg. I don’t know why I always do this last, I just do.
Mix everything together well then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to put on hamburger buns or other bread.
This last well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. If it last longer, we’ve never known because it’s always gone before then.
Tuna Burgers
An easy recipe that kids love!
Ingredients
- 6 cans tuna drained
- 4 medium eggs hardboiled
- 1/2 medium red onion chopped
- 1/2 cup dill pickle relish
- 3 medium celery stalks chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 hamburger buns
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
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Hard boil eggs. Cool completely before chopping.
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Prepare 8 squares of aluminum foil to wrap buns in if grilling or cooking in oven.
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Wash & chop celery. Shred cheese
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Drain tuna & add to medium mixing bowl. Add rest of ingredients (except hamburger buns).
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Spread mixture on hamburger buns and wrap each with aluminum foil. Either heat in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes till cheese melts, heat on outdoor BBQ grill, or toast hamburger bun in hot skilled coated with oil.
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This mixture can also be served cold on hamburger buns or bread slices.
Now, feel free to add extra ingredients to your tuna mixture to suit your family’s tastes. We happen to like black olives in ours so that’s a frequent addition at our house. You could also substitute sweet pickle relish instead of the dill if your family likes that better.
While my mom always served this on hamburger buns, it’s also good served as a wrap in a tortilla or lettuce leaf. My own kids always liked it cold as an “upgraded” tuna fish as well.
I’ve even taken this mixture and added it to a green salad mixture when I’m trying to cut my carbs as much as possible. Any way you choose to serve it, it’s always good.
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More great recipes to try:
I’m a retired educator, mom of three adult children, cancer warrior, sandwich generation member, and lover of life!
I help older women create & live a life they love through radical self acceptance, unapologetic goal pursuit, and relishing the joys of home.
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