Canned Tuna Recipes

Photo: Iain Bagwell Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Take a peek into the back of your pantry. Chances are you've got at least a couple cans of tuna, waiting to be transformed into speedy lunches, quick snacks, and even company-worthy spreads that you never considered this humble, shelf-stable staple capable of. Budget-friendly, healthy, and one of the most convenient proteins to stock your kitchen with, this versatile ingredient is definitely one to embrace. Once you do, you'll have these canned tuna recipes on high rotation.

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Niçoise Gnocchi Salad

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Niçoise Gnocchi Salad Recipe

Haven’t made it to the grocery store in a minute? That doesn’t mean you can’t whip up an impressive dish. This lovely, snackable take on a salad Niçoise is composed largely from pantry items, like canned tuna and roasted red peppers, plus a couple of common refrigerator staples—frozen green beans and eggs. We use packaged gnocchi, shelf-stable gnocchi as a creative swap for the fresh potatoes typically found in a salad Niçoise. Dressed up with a super simple vinaigrette this “throw-together” salad could easily pass for a well-planned. In other words, keep this one in your back pocket for the next time you need a last-minute appetizer for entertaining.

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Tuna-and-Pickled-Vegetable Pita Pockets

Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Tuna-and-Pickled-Vegetable Pita Pockets Recipe

Shortcuts: Microwave-in-Bag Haricots Verts: No water needed. Throw the entire package into the microwave for crisp-tender green beans in about three minutes. Pickled Vegetable Salad: Usually marinated overnight, this blend of cauliflower, onions, and peppers packs a ton of flavor. Hummus: Not just for snacking! Hummus is a great alternative to mayo for a sandwich spread.

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Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Peas and Breadcrumbs

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Peas and Breadcrumbs Recipe

We love the old-school feel of this skillet supper. If you can't find whole-wheat panko, sauté fresh whole-wheat crumbs until crisp.

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Bucatini with White Beans, Tonnato, and Olive Oil Breadcrumbs

Caitlin Bensel

Bucatini with White Beans, Tonnato, and Olive Oil Breadcrumbs Recipe

Elevate humble mayo via a quick ride through the blender with high-quality canned tuna and anchovies (think Ortiz or Genova brands). The velvety result? Tonnato, an Italian condiment-turned-pasta-sauce to coat every bit of bucatini. Reserve a spoonful or two of the sauce for future sandwich spreads or a dip for roasted veggies.

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Tuna, Egg, and Avocado Toast

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Tuna, Egg, and Avocado Toast Recipe
Don’t toss all that excess oil—it contains a lot of the vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids from the fish. We use this nutrient-dense oil rather than mayo to dress the salad, then pile it on a smear of avocados, which are packed with monounsaturated fats that encourage blood flow and boost brain activity. We love this combination on whole-grain toast but you can also toss it over pasta, greens, or grains.

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Tuna, Bean and Escarole Salad

Photo: Travis Rathbone

Tuna, Bean and Escarole Salad Recipe

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Crispy Tuna Cakes

Greg DuPree

Crispy Tuna Cakes Recipe

Our tasty riff on crab cakes adds oomph to omega-3-rich pouched tuna. For extra flavor, drizzle with any remaining All-Purpose Tahini Dressing you have on hand. We use old-fashioned rolled oats in place of breadcrumbs to sneak in some whole grains.

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Pan Bagnat Tuna Sandwich

Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Pan Bagnat Tuna Sandwich Recipe

The ultimate "yes, there's enough to share, but I don't want to" sandwich.

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Cavatappi Salad with Tuna and Olives

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Claire Spollen

Cavatappi Salad with Tuna and Olives Recipe

This big, fresh, juicy dinner-in-a-bowl is our kind of easy summer eating. For intense flavor impact, we look to bold-flavored ingredients like kalamata olives and lemon juice. To get this dinner done in 30 minutes, marinate the tomato mixture while the pasta water comes to a boil; this allows those bold flavors plenty of time to mix and mingle.

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Tuna Melt

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Tuna Melt Recipe

The tuna melt… you either love it or hate it. However, if you happen to be one of the few on the fence, you should definitely give this one a try. Our take on a classic tuna melt offers an element of childhood nostalgia, but with a layer of grown-up flavor. The incorporation of capers, Dijon, and fresh lemon juice give the tuna salad brightness and complexity to balance the buttery, toasted bread and rich, melty Swiss cheese. This classic sandwich is also delightful when served open-faced, so feel free to lose the second slice of bread if you’d prefer.

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Tuna-Quinoa Toss

Photo: Colin Price; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Tuna-Quinoa Toss Recipe

A whole-grain protein bowl is the perfect solution for when lunch needs to be quick--as well as tasty, filling, and healthy. Cook quinoa ahead of time (or buy precooked, available in pouches near the rice). To complete the lunch, serve with 1/2 cup steamed green beans as shown. Dairy-free option: Use 2 teaspoons toasted chopped walnuts instead of feta cheese.

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Mascarpone Tuna Rillettes

Photo: Iain Bagwell Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Mascarpone Tuna Rillettes Recipe

Look for premium jarred or canned olive oil-packed tuna fillets such as Ortiz or Tonnino brands; the extra cost is worth every penny.

Replay gallery

12 Ways To Use Canned Tuna

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Niçoise Gnocchi Salad

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Tuna-and-Pickled-Vegetable Pita Pockets

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Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Peas and Breadcrumbs

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Bucatini with White Beans, Tonnato, and Olive Oil Breadcrumbs

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Tuna, Egg, and Avocado Toast

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Tuna, Bean and Escarole Salad

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Crispy Tuna Cakes

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Pan Bagnat Tuna Sandwich

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Cavatappi Salad with Tuna and Olives

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Tuna Melt

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Tuna-Quinoa Toss

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Mascarpone Tuna Rillettes

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12 Ways To Use Canned Tuna

1 of 12

Niçoise Gnocchi Salad

1 of 12

2 of 12

Tuna-and-Pickled-Vegetable Pita Pockets

2 of 12

3 of 12

Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole with Peas and Breadcrumbs

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Bucatini with White Beans, Tonnato, and Olive Oil Breadcrumbs

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Tuna, Egg, and Avocado Toast

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Tuna, Bean and Escarole Salad

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Crispy Tuna Cakes

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Pan Bagnat Tuna Sandwich

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Cavatappi Salad with Tuna and Olives

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Tuna Melt

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Tuna-Quinoa Toss

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Mascarpone Tuna Rillettes

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