This humble pantry staple can go a long way.
Canned tuna is a humble pantry staple that gets a bad rap. But it's time to think beyond simple tuna fish sandwiches and recognize the versatility of this budget-friendly, non-perishable ingredient. Here are a bunch of ways to turn a can of tuna fish into a gourmet meal you'll actually be excited to eat.
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This lightened-up tuna salad is packed with veggies like onions, chickpeas, olives, cucumber, and pepper. Get the recipe for Mediterranean tuna salad here.
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If you want to take things up a notch, opt for gourmet jarred tuna in olive oil. Add it to your favorite pasta with garlic and sun dried tomatoes. Get the recipe for tuna pasta with olive oil and garlic here.
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These tuna cakes are packed with corn, black beans, egg, and lots of spices so they're super filling. If you don't want to make the cream sauce from scratch, a simple dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of lemon will do the trick. Get the recipe for Mexican-style tuna cakes with jalapeño cream sauce here.
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Canned tuna takes the place of raw fish in this almost-too-pretty-to-eat poke bowl. Use whatever veggies you have in your fridge, and serve it all over rice, zucchini noodles, or a bed of lettuce. Get the recipe for rainbow poke bowls here.
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Say what you will about tuna casserole, but this classic recipe never goes out of style. After all, It's both comforting and so simple to make. Get the recipe for tuna casserole here.
11. Spicy Tuna Stuffed Avocado
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Start with halved avocados and fill them with your favorite tuna salad. Then add a drizzle of Sriracha or hot sauce to kick things up a notch. Get the recipe for spicy tuna stuffed avocado here.
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This grown-up version of mac 'n' cheese calls for cauliflower florets, canned tuna, and Roumy cheese, a hard cheese similar to Parmesan. Feel free to play DJ though and throw in any of your favorite cheese from Gruyère or goat cheese to sharp cheddar. Get the recipe for mac 'n' cheese with tuna and cauliflower here.
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Sometimes the most comforting foods are the most basic. These tuna quesadillas come together with mostly pantry staples. Serve them with mashed avocado or salsa and chow down. Get the recipe for spicy tuna quesadillas here.
14. Niçoise Salad
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This fancy French recipe is one of our favorite salads because it's seriously filling, thanks to hard-boiled eggs, boiled potato, haricots verts, and protein-packed tuna. Get the recipe for Niçoise salad here.
15. Zesty Tuna Pasta
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Made with just a handful of basic ingredients that are probably sitting in your pantry, this tuna-packed pasta is an easy and cheap weeknight dinner you can throw together in no time. Get the recipe for zesty tuna pasta here.
16. Open-Faced Tuna and Avocado Melts
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We're all about fancy open-faced sandwiches. Here: Toast gets topped with tuna salad, tomato, and cheddar cheese, broiled until melty and gooey, and garnished with sliced avocado. Get the recipe for open-faced tuna avocado melts here.
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These shells are stuffed with a rich and decadent mixture of tuna fish, mushrooms, frozen peas, and artichoke hearts, then they're covered with a buttery cream sauce and baked until tender. Get the recipe for tuna casserole stuffed shells here.
18. Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes
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Not only are these stuffed tomatoes satisfying to make, they're even more fun to eat. The recipe calls for black olives, cilantro, celery, and lots of spices, but you can customize your tuna salad with whatever is in your kitchen. Get the recipe for tuna-stuffed tomatoes here.