I’m so excited to share a few of these canned tuna recipes with you. Unless you’re a tuna-lover like me, chances are you aren’t that familiar with how delicious they can be!
It’s that time of day again—time to open up the pantry and dig around for something new and interesting to cook.
And as you’re scanning your shelves, your eyes probably briefly flitted over the stack of canned tuna you have just waiting to be used.
In our house, we are divided on how to use canned tuna.
Renee is a tuna-sandwiches-only kind of person, but I love tuna in casseroles, dips, subs, spreads, and all that.
Some new-to-you tuna recipe ideas, such as the Spicy Tuna Quesadilla, the Orzo Tuna Salad, and Atún A La Veracruzana, are a good place to start.
A classic Tuna Casserole is a fun go-to recipe that is sure to be a treat to you and your guests, #17.
If you didn’t know, canned tuna has many benefits; among others, it is low-cal, has high-protein, and is easy on the fat content.
All great things that anyone concerned about nutrition will love.
Plus, canned tuna is affordable, easy to find, and can last for years in your pantry; although, with these recipes, we don’t see those cans sitting around for too long.
Wondering what to make with canned tuna?
Check out our 19 recipes with tuna below.
Fresh avocados, creamy melted cheese, and freshly toasted bagels?
We all just met our new favorite canned tuna recipe.
These Avocado Tuna Bagel Melts are so easy, so delicious, and they look like fancy hors d’oeuvres.
Serve them up for your guests at your next cocktail party, or eat them in your PJs with a glass of wine – we won’t judge.
Eggs are one of the most traditional ways to start your day, but what if we could enrich our breakfast with the most unexpected guest ingredient?
Though it may sound like an impossible pairing at first, Nonna’s Tuna Frittata shows us the most beautiful marriage between fish and eggs ever seen – or tasted.
It only takes four ingredients, and it’s flexible between breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Who says tuna from a can can’t be fancy and delectable?
We say it sure CAN (see what we did there?). Best of all, this dish looks like it came from a five-star restaurant, but it only takes minutes to make.
Combine some tuna with couscous, pepperoncini, cherry tomatoes, and fresh parsley for a 15-minute fancy dish.
All of the flavors make this a dish you’ll want to try, and all of the colors make it Instagram-worthy.
There’s nothing better than making your friends jealous of your top-notch cooking skills.
This Creamy Tuna Pasta is a major step up from the tuna pasta salad mom used to make (sorry, mom).
Tuna and pasta both last forever, so it seems like a match made in heaven.
Toss in some cream cheese and seasonings, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
This delicious recipe only takes about 20 minutes to make, and the creamy texture will certainly steal your heart – or your stomach.
Some of us would eat sushi every single day if we could, but it’s not a very budget-friendly option.
Plus, preparing your own raw fish at home can leave us feeling anxious over a food-borne illness.
Instead, grab a can of tuna and make your own homemade Tuna Sushi Bowl with this creative, yet easy recipe.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can even try to eat it with a pair of chopsticks.
Or just eat it with a fork or spoon – there’s no need to try to impress anyone here.
Once again, our two favorite pantry staples collide tuna and pasta.
Rather than having a cream-based dish, this particular bake uses tomato sauce for a savory delight.
This can tuna fish recipe is sure to make you a believer.
It’ll also definitely fool your guests into thinking you’re a gourmet Italian chef.
But the truth is, anyone (and we do mean anyone) can put together this fabulous recipe with a ton of ingredients you probably already have.
Could it be true: TWO tuna breakfast recipes?
That’s right – this Tuna Breakfast Quiche uses the common ingredient alongside eggs, zucchini, carrots, onion, and some fresh seasoning.
It’s also low-carb if you care about that kind of stuff.
Either way, feel free to dig in.
This recipe is much more than just your average tuna salad.
The secret ingredient: time.
That’s right; put together this tasty and easy Deli Tuna Salad and let it rest 12 to 24 hours, and your version will taste just as good as it does from the deli.
Do we have any spicy people out there?
This one’s for you.
Think of a tuna melt but with a little extra heat, and what you’ll get is this recipe.
Long gone are the days of boring old cheese quesadillas once you try this tuna idea.
10. Orzo Tuna Salad
There’s something about orzo that makes it so satisfying to eat.
This Italian Orzo Tuna Salad is zesty and savory in all the right ways, and it uses canned tuna to bring all the flavors together.
Unlike other tuna salad recipes, this one doesn’t use any mayo, so it’s ideal for anyone who dislikes it or is attempting to resist fatty ingredients.
If you’re a health nut who loves spending their Sunday evenings meal prepping, stop right now and listen up.
With just two cans of tuna, some veggies, and lentils, you can prep the best salad ever.
Add the creamy dill sauce for a burst of flavor.
12. Spicy Tuna Rolls
What does a person have to do to get some tasty sushi in five minutes or less?
Follow this recipe, of course!
Wrap some canned tuna in some low-cal cucumber strips, add some hot sauce, and you’re ready to… roll!
We apologize for that terrible joke, but we will not apologize for how much we love these Spicy Tuna Rolls.
Sometimes you just need a quick and easy recipe that takes pretty much no effort at all.
Enter Creamed Tuna on Toast.
This paleo-friendly dish is sure to become your next go-to lunch recipe.
The toast adds a blast of color by topping the dish with bright green peas.
Because, you know, it’s important to get those veggies in your diet too.
14. Paleo Tuna Cakes
One of our favorite recipes with canned tuna for meal-prepping is Paleo Tuna Cakes.
They’re similar to mini crab cakes, but they cost way less to make, and they’re so yummy.
Plus, they’re low-carb and gluten-free.
Enjoy these tuna cakes with some tasty red pepper sauce.
You can also add in some of your favorite raws veggies like carrots and celery, which also go well with the pepper sauce!
If we can’t pronounce it, we know it’s probably delicious.
All jokes aside, this upgraded tuna salad is to die for.
It’s jam-packed with bold flavors, including olives, capers, vinegar, and pickled onions – all of which pair perfectly with your favorite crackers.
At this point, pretty much everyone in the world is obsessed with avocados and their healthy-fat goodness.
So why not combine the fruit with a high-protein, low-carb BFF?
You can use the tuna salad recipe provided here, or make your own favorite recipe.
Once it’s made, sprinkle half an avocado with salt and lemon juice and fill it with the salad.
Enjoy with a spoon – you don’t even need a bowl!
Stay with us on this one because we know that Tuna Casserole doesn’t sound that appealing.
But we were pleasantly surprised by this delicious egg noodle casserole, and we think you will be too.
Beware: will cause cravings for a second serving.
The recipe is entirely from scratch, too (save the tuna from a can), so you can easily impress guests with it and turn them into tuna-loving weirdos like the rest of us!
Mini quiches are always a good idea, whether you’re hosting a fancy dinner party or need a dish to bring to a Super Bowl party.
These quiches take all the yummy contents of a classic tuna melt and pack them into bite-sized pastries for the best quiche ever.
Filled with slow-roasted tomatoes, jalapenos, red onions, and cheese, you’ll never reach for another quiche recipe again.
What better way to round off our list of tuna fish recipes than with one last tuna salad variation?
If you’re tired of the same old tuna sandwich for lunch every day, this is the perfect way to spice things up.
Parmesan Tuna Sandwiches combine canned tuna with mayo, parm cheese, lemon juice, fresh basil, and some salt and pepper on your favorite rolls.
Straight up yum.
The bottom line
You woke up today thinking that canned tuna is only good for two things: sandwiches and pasta salad.
But we just hand-delivered 19 tuna dishes that are sure to blow your mind and surprise all your guests.
These appetizers, snacks, and tuna dinner ideas are easy and tasty, so why not try one out today?
We’re super confident that at least one of these tuna recipes will turn you into a full-blown believer, so be sure to let us know what you think!
19 BEST Ways To Use Canned Tuna
These Canned Tuna Recipes of appetizers, snacks, and dinner ideas are easy and tasty, so why not try one out today?
Ingredients
- Avocado Tuna Bagel Melts
- Nonna’s Tuna Frittata
- Mediterranean Couscous With Tuna
- Creamy Tuna Pasta
- Tuna Sushi Bowl
- Tuna Pasta Bake
- Tuna Breakfast Quiche
- Deli Tuna Salad
- Spicy Tuna Quesadilla
- Orzo Tuna Salad
- Lentil Greek Salad
- Spicy Tuna Rolls
- Creamed Tuna On Toast
- Paleo Tuna Cakes
- Atún A La Veracruzana
- Avocados Stuffed With Tuna
- Tuna Casserole (From Scratch!)
- Tuna Melt Mini Quiches
- Parmesan Tuna Sandwiches
Instructions
- Choose one or more options from our list of Canned Tuna Recipes here!
- Create your new favorite dish.
- Pat yourself on the back for making food at home!
- Share and comment! Did you make any tweaks so it’s all your own?