Can we take a moment to say how glad we are that canned fish is finally having its moment? Finally! We're especially huge fans of humble, economical tuna. But if the word 'tuna' makes you immediately think of just tuna melts, we're going to help you change that association. There's so much more you can do with this hearty, protein-packed fish, whether you're using canned tuna or a lush piece of ahi tuna. So jump in and we'll show you why tuna is one of the best fishes in the sea.
Did you know you can even make sushi with canned tuna? We took our all-time favorite sushi varieties, spicy tuna rolls, and added all that creamy, spicy, umami flavor to our spicy tuna stuffed avocados. If you want to go the deluxe route, we love to use ahi tuna in our spicy ahi tuna nachos for an impressive appetizer sure to impress at your next party!
Choosing the right canned tuna will also help to add tons of richness to any weeknight dinner. We always opt to splurge on a fancy can of tuna, especially ones packed in olive oil and studded with herbs. Those slightly fancier cans will truly take your tuna salad, one-pan tuna pasta, and classic Niçoise salad to a whole other dimension. Pinky promise.
Still hungry? After you tried all our top tuna recipes, get to cooking all our best canned salmon recipes, favorite seafood recipes, and easy salmon recipes.
One-Pan Tuna Pasta
Using canned or jarred tuna in pasta is a cheap and delicious way to add some protein to a meal. Italians do it with pasta al tonno, and Americans do it (in our own way) with tuna noodle casserole. This recipe is a bit of a riff on pasta puttanesca, using familiar ingredients such as capers, anchovies, and olives.
Get the One-Pan Tuna Pasta recipe.
Spicy Tuna Roll
In restaurants, spicy tuna sushi rolls usually involve raw, sushi-grade fish. But if raw fish is out of reach, this recipe uses humble canned tuna. To spice up our tuna, we used sriracha and mayo. If you already have spicy mayo on hand, perfect, use it! If you have to make it from scratch, we'd highly recommend Kewpie mayo, which contains MSG and adds that extra bump of umami into the mix.
Get the Spicy Tuna Roll recipe.
Niçoise Salad
Since no two Niçoise salads are exactly alike, we figured we’d we follow our stomachs and gather some of our favorite ingredients: fresh, crunchy cucumbers, tender boiled potatoes and green beans, briny black olives and capers, jammy boiled eggs, tuna, and a punch of salty umami a la anchovy fillets. Drizzled with a mustard-spiked vinaigrette, this salad features a pleasant balance of flavors and textures that makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.
Best Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is one of our go-to healthy lunches. We love it between two pieces of bread, spread on a cracker, scooped over lettuce, or right out of the bowl. If you want to step up your tuna game, the easiest way is to splurge on olive oil-packed tuna—you'd be shocked at how much extra flavor you can get!
Get the Best Tuna Salad recipe.
Tuna Melt
Tuna lovers! Meet your ultimate sandwich. With just the right amount of crunch, melty cheddar cheese, and a couple good slices of tomato, you might even convert a tuna hater.
Get the Best-Ever Tuna Melt recipe.
Grilled Tuna Steak with Scallion Sauce
Those who say that good things take time have clearly never grilled a tuna steak. Once the grill is preheated, tuna steaks take around 5 minutes to grill. Grilled tuna steaks are best enjoyed simply so that you can savor the delicious texture and flavor. Serve the grilled tuna steak over an arugula salad, or instead of traditional canned tuna in a Niçoise salad. Since the grilled scallion sauce adds a lot of flavor, the tuna is also delicious served sliced over warm white rice or brown rice.
Get the Grilled Tuna Steak with Scallion Sauce recipe.
Spicy Ahi Tuna Nachos
Some folks love California rolls, some love unagi, but more often than not, we settle on spicy tuna as the best sushi of all. That perfect combination of creamy mayo, spicy sriracha, and tender tuna makes for the ideal base not just for sushi, but for all types of dishes. Enter spicy tuna nachos. It’s a dish that takes all the things you love about spicy tuna and turns it into crispy, delicious nachos.
Get the Spicy Ahi Tuna Nachos recipe.
Grilled Ahi Tuna with Lemony Labneh
Labneh is a Middle Eastern strained yogurt that’s creamy, tangy, and thicker than Greek yogurt (although in a cinch, the perfect substitute—just make sure it’s the full-fat version). It’s rich and luscious, so it takes kindly to basically anything grilled and charred, like ahi tuna and broccolini.
Get the Grilled Ahi Tuna with Lemony Labneh recipe.
Ultimate Tuna Noodle Casserole
If you're a '90s kid, it's likely that cheesy tuna casserole was your grade-school jam. We love it, not just because it's a budget-friendly way to used canned tuna, but it's decadently cheesy in the best way. We remember this dinner-table favorite fondly—we instantly get visions of a just-out-of-the-oven, bread crumb-encrusted, melty tuna casserole just thinking about it.
Pizza Niçoise
Pizza Niçoise is exactly how it sounds—a mashup of classic Niçoise salad toppings piled on top of a warm, doughy crust. Layer on the thinly sliced potatoes before baking. Then, once it’s golden and cooled slightly, go to town with all the fixings: peppery arugula, bright green beans, sweet tomatoes, salty olives, crisp red onions, and rich, savory chunks of tuna packed in olive oil. It’s a taste of the Mediterranean right from your kitchen table.
Get the Pizza Niçoise recipe.
Tuna Patties
When you’re tired of the usual tuna salad, give these samosa-inspired patties a try. For a heartier version, serve 'em in toasted English muffins.
Get the Tuna Patties recipe.
Seared Ahi Tuna
If it wasn't already obvious, the most important part of this recipe is the fish, so make sure you're getting quality sushi-grade ahi tuna—it tastes MUCH better raw than your average grocery store cut of tuna. Remember: Frozen sushi-grade fish doesn't mean it's not fresh!
Get the Seared Ahi Tuna recipe.
Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
If you love rice, onigiri is a must-try: a humble rice ball accented by a variety of fillings, wrapped in roasted seaweed (nori), and perfect for snacking or a light meal. We chose three different filling options: miso salmon, spicy tuna, and umeboshi (pickled plum) dotted with furikake (a variety of Japanese seasoning mixes). You can stuff whatever your heart desires inside each ball, or simply mix the rice with your favorite seasonings to create a super-flavorful rice ball.
Get the Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) recipe.
Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
Poke bowls are healthy and offer plenty of opportunity for customization and creativity. Add some crunchy fried onions or shallots and a drizzle of spicy mayo for the true restaurant experience.
Get the Ahi Poke Bowls recipe.
Cheesy Tuna Arancini
Every recipe for arancini—cheese-filled, deep-fried rice balls—starts with risotto. The fresh basil, bright lemon zest, and rich, savory tuna (we use tuna packed in olive oil for added flavor) come together to elevate the risotto to new heights. Be sure to give your risotto a proper chill before shaping the rice balls and coating them in panko; otherwise, they'll fall apart in the hot oil instead of forming crispy, golden spheres.
Get the Cheesy Tuna Arancini recipe.
Skillet Tuna Melt
We love a tuna melt. It's easy, economical, and beyond comforting. Which is why we cannot get enough of this deconstructed one-skillet version of the classic sandwich.
Get the Skillet Tuna Melt recipe.
Chirashi Bowls
Chirashizushi (ちらし寿司) translates to "scattered sushi" and is a style of sushi that entails exactly what the name suggests: pieces of sashimi over sushi rice. Chirashizushi—or chirashi bowls—is probably the simplest way to enjoy what you love about sushi without having to learn how to roll maki.
Get the Chirashi Bowls recipe.
Avocado Tuna Sandwich
If you haven’t tried tuna salad made with avocado (or even if you have), you’re in for a lunchtime treat. The avocado gives it a healthy and eminently satisfying creaminess, while chopped celery, red onion, and red bell pepper add a delightful crunch.
Get the Avocado Tuna Sandwich recipe.
Spicy Tuna Stuffed Avocados
Canned tuna for sushi-style spicy tuna?! YES. Trust us, it's amazing in these stuffed avocados.
Get the Spicy Tuna Stuffed Avocados recipe.
Tuna Spanakopita Pie
Love spanakopita but less fond of folding individual triangular pastries? This take on the Greek classic is the exact right recipe for you. We added rich, savory chunks of tuna packed in herbed olive oil—to the spinach-and-feta filling. It’s a simple twist that’s guaranteed to satisfy.
Get the Tuna Spanakopita Pie recipe.
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