Canned tuna has been sitting in your pantry for months, maybe years. Time to put it to work. This little can isn’t just for sad desk lunches or weird retro recipes—it’s the key to some great, easy dinners. Creamy casseroles, quick pastas, even burgers—tuna handles it all without draining your wallet. Here are some great ways to use it in dinners that still taste great.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Creamy, crunchy, and straight out of the “Mom used to make this” playbook. Egg noodles, a rich sauce, and crispy onions make this one great for a weeknight when you want something easy that still feels like real food. Plus, it reheats like a dream.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna Meatballs with Linguine
Who needs beef when canned tuna gets the job done? These tuna meatballs bring all the comfort of the classic dish but without the extra heaviness. Toss them with linguine, and you’ve got a meal that’s both unexpected and completely satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Meatballs with Linguine
Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl
Leftover rice just found its purpose. Tuna, crunchy veggies, avocado, and sauces come together for a no-cook dinner that’s done in 20 minutes. And the crispy panko topping? That’s what takes it from “just dinner” to “I need to make this again.”
Get the Recipe: Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl
Homemade Tuna Helper
If you grew up eating the boxed stuff, this homemade version is going to blow your mind. Creamy, cheesy, and ready in under 30 minutes, it’s proof that pantry staples can actually make a great dinner without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Tuna Helper
Tuna Noodle Casserole
A second helping of this classic is never a bad idea. Creamy noodles, crispy onions, and canned tuna come together for an easy meal that’s both nostalgic and practical. Great for feeding a crowd or just making sure tomorrow’s lunch is covered.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Healthier Tuna Waldorf Salad
A fresh take on the classic Waldorf salad with tuna for protein. Crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and a creamy dressing make this a light but great meal when you want something that isn’t another heavy dish.
Get the Recipe: Healthier Tuna Waldorf Salad
Cheesy Tuna Casserole
This one keeps things simple—flaky canned tuna, noodles, and veggies all wrapped up in a creamy sauce with a crispy topping. It’s everything a one-pot meal should be: easy, filling, and no unnecessary steps.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Tuna Casserole
Tuna Sandwich
This isn’t just a tuna sandwich. It’s the tuna sandwich. Simple, classic, and better than anything pre-made at the store. Pile it high on your favorite bread, and lunch (or dinner) is set.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Sandwich
Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Sandwich)
If a Niçoise salad and a sandwich had a baby, it would be this. Packed with tuna and pantry staples, this French classic is proof that canned tuna can do more than just sit in a boring salad.
Get the Recipe: Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Sandwich)
Tuna Pesto Pasta with Fried Capers
A quick pasta that actually tastes like you put in some effort. Tuna, pesto, crispy capers, and breadcrumbs come together in a dish that feels a little fancy but is still easy enough for a weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Pesto Pasta with Fried Capers
Tuna Ricotta Frittata
Eggs, ricotta, and canned tuna make a perfect combo for a throw-it-together meal that works for dinner just as well as it does for breakfast. If you’ve never thought of putting tuna in a frittata, now’s the time.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Ricotta Frittata
Tuna Pesto Pasta
Got 15 minutes? That’s all it takes to throw together this quick pasta dish using pantry staples. It’s fast, it’s packed with flavor, and it’s proof that tuna can hold its own in a great pasta dish.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Pesto Pasta
Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad
This is the pasta salad that actually disappears at potlucks. Tuna, crunchy veggies, and a creamy dressing make it great for meal prep, easy lunches, or a quick side that nobody is mad about.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad
Pasta with Tuna Carbonara
A seafood spin on carbonara that skips the bacon but keeps all the flavor. Quick, creamy, and made with ingredients you probably already have, this is a great go-to for nights when you need something fast and good.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Tuna Carbonara
Spaghetti with Tuna and Tomatoes
Pantry staples turn into a surprisingly great pasta with just a few simple steps. Tuna, tomatoes, garlic, and spaghetti make for a meal that comes together fast but still feels like a real dinner.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Tuna and Tomatoes
Creamy Garlic Canned Tuna Pasta
A rich, creamy garlic sauce coats pasta and flaky tuna for a meal that’s better than it has any right to be. Butter, cream, and sweet browned onions take this from basic to something you actually want to make again.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Canned Tuna Pasta
Tuna Salad
This is the tuna salad that actually keeps things interesting—crunchy apple, sweet corn, and onion tossed in a creamy dressing. Great on its own, in a sandwich, or straight out of the bowl.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Salad
Tuna Casserole
The definition of comfort food. A creamy, hearty dish that takes canned tuna and turns it into something that actually feels homemade. Perfect for a dinner that feeds a crowd (or just yourself for multiple nights).
Get the Recipe: Tuna Casserole
Tuna Burgers
If you like crab cakes, these tuna burgers are right up your alley. Quick to mix together and cook, they make a great dinner, and you can skip the bun if you just want tuna patties instead.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Burgers
Tuna Melts
Tuna salad, melty cheese, and a slice of tomato on toasted bread—it doesn’t get more classic than this. A quick meal that’s just as great for dinner as it is for lunch.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Melts
Creamy Tuna Macaroni Casserole
Mac and cheese just met its match. Tuna, short-cut pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and a tomato-pesto Alfredo sauce make this a casserole worth putting on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuna Macaroni Casserole
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
