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A few cans of tuna in the pantry can save a busy night. It keeps for a long time, costs very little and goes from the shelf to the table in minutes. I keep a stack on hand for the days when chores run late and nobody has planned dinner.
Here are 12 tuna recipes using canned tuna, from classic casseroles and melts to patties, salads and rice bowls. Each one says what it is and how to make it. If you want more quick meals after this, our 30 minute dinners are a good next stop.
1. Tuna noodle casserole
SaveCredit: Belly Full
This is the tuna recipe most of us grew up with. Egg noodles, tuna and a creamy sauce bake into a warm dish that feeds a crowd.
Make the sauce from butter, flour and milk instead of a can of soup, and stir in peas for color. A buttery cracker or breadcrumb topping adds crunch. Leftovers reheat well for lunch the next day.
2. Crispy tuna patties
SaveCredit: The Real Food Dietitians
Tuna patties are golden outside and tender inside, and they turn two cans from the pantry into dinner in about 20 minutes.
Mix drained tuna with an egg, breadcrumbs and a little onion, shape into patties and pan fry until crisp on both sides. Serve them with a squeeze of lemon and a dill sauce, or tuck one into a bun.
3. Tuna melt sandwich
SaveCredit: Kristine’s Kitchen
A tuna melt is a grilled cheese with a tuna salad filling, and it is one of the coziest ways to use a can of tuna.
Butter the outside of the bread, pile on the tuna salad and sharp cheddar, and cook in a skillet over medium heat until the bread is golden and the cheese melts. A slice of tomato inside is lovely.
4. Tuna pasta salad
SaveCredit: Salt & Lavender
Tuna pasta salad is a make ahead dish for picnics, potlucks and packed lunches. This one uses a simple oil and vinegar dressing instead of mayo.
Toss cooled bow tie pasta with tuna, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and red onion, then dress it with olive oil and vinegar. It keeps in the fridge for several days, and the flavors get better as it sits.
5. Classic tuna salad sandwich
SaveCredit: foodiecrush
Sometimes the plain classic is the best one. A good tuna salad sandwich takes about 10 minutes and needs nothing fancy.
Mix drained tuna with mayo, a little mustard, chopped celery and onion, then pile it on toasted bread with lettuce. A spoonful of pickle relish adds a sweet tang. Keep the salad in a covered container in the fridge and use it within a few days.
6. Tuna stuffed avocado
SaveCredit: Caroline’s Cooking
An avocado half makes a pretty little bowl for tuna salad. It is a no cook lunch that is done in about five minutes.
Stir tuna with a little mayo, peas, corn and parsley, then spoon it into halved avocados. A squeeze of lemon on the cut avocado helps keep it green. Serve with cherry tomatoes on the side.
7. Spicy tuna rice bowl
SaveCredit: Grumpy Recipes
When you want something a little different, this rice bowl is fast and full of flavor. It is ready in about 10 minutes if you have leftover rice.
Mix tuna with a little mayo, hot sauce and a drop of sesame oil, then stir it into warm rice. Top with cucumber, avocado and green onion. Day old rice works well here.
8. Tuna cucumber boats
SaveCredit: Joy to the Food
Cucumber boats are a cool, crunchy lunch with no bread at all. They are good for hot days and for anyone cutting back on carbs.
Halve a cucumber lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Pat the inside dry, then fill with tuna mixed with Greek yogurt, red onion and herbs. Eat them right away so they stay crisp.
9. Cheesy tuna rice casserole
SaveCredit: Mae’s Menu
If you are tired of noodles, try a tuna casserole with rice. The rice cooks right in the pan, so there is no extra pot to wash.
Cook onion and celery in butter, then add uncooked rice, tuna, peas and broth with a homemade cheese sauce. Cover and bake until the rice is tender, then uncover for a golden top. Drain the tuna well so the casserole does not turn watery.
10. Tuna croquettes
SaveCredit: The Big Man’s World
These crunchy croquettes are a good way to use leftover mashed potatoes. They are crisp outside and soft inside.
Mix tuna with mashed potato, seasoning and breadcrumbs, shape into rounds and fry in a skillet. Drain the tuna very well so they hold their shape. They also freeze nicely before cooking.
11. Tuna burgers
SaveCredit: The Mediterranean Dish
A tuna burger is a nice change from beef, and it comes from pantry cans. It is a good dinner for a busy weeknight.
Mix tuna with an egg, panko, lemon and parsley, shape into patties and chill them for about 20 minutes so they hold together. Pan fry and serve on a toasted bun with greens and a creamy sauce.
12. Tuna lettuce wraps
SaveCredit: Wholefully
Tuna salad in a lettuce leaf is light and fresh. It is an easy lunch or a pretty appetizer for a get together.
Mix tuna with mayo, celery, red onion and a chopped boiled egg if you have hens, and spoon it into romaine leaves. The tuna salad keeps for three or four days in the fridge, so fill the leaves just before you eat.
Tips for cooking with canned tuna
Drain the tuna well before you mix it into anything, especially patties, croquettes and casseroles, or the dish can turn watery. Tuna packed in water tastes milder, and tuna packed in oil is richer. Albacore is firmer and lighter in color, while chunk light is softer and a little stronger in flavor.
Keep food safe too. Tuna salad with mayo should stay in the fridge until you eat it, and most of these keep well for about three or four days.
Tuna recipes FAQ
What is the easiest thing to make with canned tuna? A tuna salad sandwich or a tuna melt is the quickest, and both are ready in about 10 minutes.
What can I make with tuna and no mayo? Try the tuna pasta salad with oil and vinegar dressing, the cucumber boats with Greek yogurt, or the spicy tuna rice bowl.
Which tuna recipes can I make ahead? Tuna pasta salad, tuna noodle casserole and the patties all work well ahead. Casseroles reheat nicely, and shaped patties and croquettes can go in the freezer before cooking.
