21 Dinner Recipes to Make with a Can of Tuna

March 18, 2020

Take canned tuna and turn into a healthy, delicious dinner. These recipes elevate this popular, affordable fish by adding fresh vegetables and pasta to create a nutritious dinner. Recipes like Quick Tuna Burgers and Greek Tuna Casserole are filling, well-rounded and the perfect way to utilize your pantry staples.

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad

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You might not think to use hummus as a pasta sauce, but the creamy dip makes the perfect backdrop to the bold flavors of this healthy Mediterranean-inspired pasta salad. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

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Greek Tuna Casserole

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Tuna casserole is a timeless comfort-food recipe; this one incorporates eggplant, artichoke hearts, oregano, olives and feta cheese for a Greek flair. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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One-Pot Pasta with Tuna

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Use the one-pot pasta cooking method to make this tuna pasta recipe that calls for just 5 ingredients and is ready in just over half an hour. For extra crunch and a tuna noodle casserole feel, sprinkle this speedy pasta dish with toasted whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

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Pressed Tuna Sandwich (Pan Bagnat)

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This Provençal sandwich literally means "bathed bread" and gets its name from the juicy dressed vegetables piled liberally into a crusty loaf. This recipe is perfect for toting along to soccer games and concerts in the park. We suggest bringing plenty of napkins. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2018

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Tuna & White Bean Salad

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The time-honored Italian pairing of canned tuna and cannellini beans makes a super-simple, satisfying lunch. Serve over salad greens, on grilled whole-wheat country bread or tucked in a whole-wheat pita pocket. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 1998

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Pasta, Tuna & Roasted Pepper Salad

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The secret to this delicious pasta salad is a creamy low-fat dressing made with bottled roasted red peppers. If you have cooked chicken on hand, you can substitute it for the tuna. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 1998

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Tunisian Roasted Vegetables with Tuna & Hard-Boiled Eggs

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Harissa paste adds heat to roasted vegetables in this Tunisian-inspired main dish. Hard-boiled eggs and canned white tuna add protein, while Kalamata olives offer a nice briny flavor. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Tuna Melt

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In this updated tuna melt recipe, we go light on the mayo and top it with fresh tomato slices and shredded sharp Cheddar. This allows us to use considerably less cheese while ensuring that there's great cheese flavor in each gooey bite of this healthy tuna melt recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2013

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Spinach & Tuna Noodle Casserole

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Homemade mushroom sauce kicks the can of soup out of the picture in this veggie-centric, healthy riff on a classic tuna-noodle casserole recipe. Serve with steamed green beans. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2015

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Quick Tuna Burgers

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Turn a couple cans of tuna into a zesty tuna burger with this quick recipe. If you can't find good whole-wheat hamburger buns, whole-wheat English muffins are a great substitute. The burger mixture might seem a little soft going into the pan, but once the first side is cooked, you'll be able to flip them easily. Serve with steamed broccoli or sweet potato fries. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2011

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Crunchy Confetti Tuna Salad

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The herb-infused dressing in this healthy tuna salad recipe calls for equal parts Greek yogurt and low-fat mayo to keep it light. Lots of fresh veggies, including bell pepper, carrot, radishes and celery, also give boosts of flavor, color and nutrients. Serve on lettuce leaves, over a green salad or as an open-face sandwich on whole-grain toast.

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Tuna-Zucchini Pasta

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The sauce for this pasta recipe comes together quickly in one skillet while your spaghetti noodles cook on the next burner. Zucchini, fragrant basil, fresh tomato, and canned tuna combine to make a sensational topping for the whole-grain spaghetti in this 30-minute meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Thai Tuna Toss

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Tuna, napa cabbage, and colorful vegetables get a sweet-and-spicy Asian-style dressing for a main-dish salad that's perfect for warm summer days. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Tuna Pomodoro

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Inspired by the Italian dish spaghetti al tonno e pomodoro, this quick and healthy pasta became a staff favorite at EatingWell. If you keep canned tuna and whole-wheat pasta on hand, you'll do what we did: return to this quick meal again and again. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April/May 2005

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Mediterranean Tuna-Spinach Salad

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This tuna salad recipe gets an upgrade with olives, feta and a tahini dressing. Served over baby spinach, this is the perfect easy and light lunch or dinner salad. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2016

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Tuna-&-Tomato Mac & Cheese

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Tuna mac & cheese takes a trip to the Southwest with spicy tomato and festive blue tortilla chips on top. Canned tomatoes with green chiles and ancho chile powder add a peppery kick, but if you like, you can keep it mellow by using a 14-ounce can of drained petite diced tomatoes and mild chili powder. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2011

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Tuna, Artichoke & Basil Stuffed Potatoes

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These baked potatoes topped with canned tuna, artichoke hearts, provolone cheese and basil may seem unconventional, but the flavor combination is awesome. Serve with a mixed green salad. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2011

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Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

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Use reduced fat soup and fat-free milk to make this favorite casserole lower in fat and calories. Adding a variety of vegetables makes it more nutritious than the traditional recipe. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Mediterranean Tuna Panini

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For a great sandwich filling, spike canned tuna with salty olives and capers, bright lemon juice and tangy feta. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2007

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Sesame Tuna Salad

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Toasted sesame oil transforms a humble staple like canned tuna into an elegant supper. We love the crunch of napa cabbage in this salad, but romaine lettuce would also work if you happen to have that on hand. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2010

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Farfalle with Tuna, Lemon, and Fennel

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This warm, flaked tuna and lemon pasta recipe is ready in 30 minutes. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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