15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (2024)

Using canned tuna and salmon is a convenient way to get dinner on the table fast. Including cheesy casseroles, crab cake knock-offs, and easy sandwiches, these canned seafood recipes are ideal for mixing up your weeknight dinner routine. Stock up on canned tuna or salmon packets, and you'll be just minutes away from enjoying a heart-healthy entrée.

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Lemon-Dill Salmon Cakes

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (1)

Once these lemony, crispy cakes are coated in panko bread crumbs and pan-fried, you'll never notice it started from canned salmon. Mix together plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and a pinch of fresh dill for a creamy dressing to top your salmon patty salad.

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Mediterranean Tuna Salad

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (2)

Canned seafood comes in oil or water. Here, we suggest seeking out tuna in oil since the rest of the pretty, composed salad is so lean. The extra fat boosts satisfaction and vitamin absorption.

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Salmon Pot Pie

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (3)

Pot pie can be a daunting dish to bake on a weeknight. Not this fast-forward fish version! A canned salmon and veggie filling cooks to bubbly perfection and is casserole-ready in about 10 minutes. Plus, the crust is almost instant since (our little secret!) it comes from the supermarket refrigerator.

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Gluten-Free Asparagus-Tuna Casserole

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This gluten-free casserole is the ideal crowd-pleasing dish to serve in that long stretch when winter transitions into spring. Plenty of hearty potatoes and melted provolone will warm you up, while tuna in garlic oil and fresh asparagus pieces make this dish one for anyone, whether you need to be gluten-free or not.

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Tuscan Tuna Mac Casserole

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (5)

Can't decide between tuna noodle casserole or mac and cheese? No need to choose just one when you can enjoy both in this scrumptious Italian herb-seasoned pasta bake. In addition to two cans of tuna, this casserole features a cup of sliced cremini mushrooms for another hearty, meat-like ingredient.

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White Bean Tuna Salad

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (6)

Talk about a dinner winner. This healthy, herb-packed, and super affordable salad can be ready 20 minutes from starting. Canned tuna, canned white beans, and a simple homemade red wine vinaigrette make it possible.

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Salmon Patties with Parsley Mayo

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (7)

With a meaty texture and a creamy parsley-mayo topping, these burger look-alikes will convince those who typically swim clear of salmon to catch their omega-3s for the day. Serve stuffed inside a bun or between two slices of toasted bread for a seafood sandwich.

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Mediterranean Salmon Wrap

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If you're not keen on seafood salads mixed with mayo, try this light and refreshing canned salmon creation. Instead of mayonnaise, we use olive oil, lemon juice, and other Mediterranean classic pairings like Kalamata olives and diced red onion.

Mediterranean Breakfast Recipes You'll Want to Eat All Day

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Tuna-Noodle Casserole

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A classic tuna noodle casserole that's easy and made from scratch? Yes, please. The creamy, decadent sauce is made with 100 percent recognizable ingredients, including milk, butter, and freshly grated cheese.

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Muffin Pan Tuna Melts

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All the melty goodness; no griddle required! Build open-faced tuna sandwiches in muffin cups and then pop them in the oven. Serve two with a fresh salad to make these canned tuna melts a complete meal.

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Fast Nicoise Salad

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Why spend $10+ for a restaurant salad when you can build a way more budget-friendly Nicoise at home in just 20 minutes? The combo platter of pouch tuna and hard-cooked egg gives each satisfying serving 20 grams of protein.

Insanely Easy Recipes for Weeknight Dinners

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Tuna and Green Bean Bake

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Calling all kids (and kids at heart)! A handful of cheesy fish-shaped crackers give a colorful, crunchy finish in this playful green bean bake featuring canned tuna. Stick to light condensed soup and milk for less sodium and fat.

19 Great Green Bean Recipes

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Avocado Ranch Tuna Melts

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15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (13)

Ranch and tuna may seem like a weird combination, but don't knock it until you try it. Creamy avocado (another source of omega-3) serves as the base to make this a heart-healthy light lunch.

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Salmon-Stuffed Zucchini

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Stuffing zucchini is one of the best ways to enjoy the summer squash as a meal. Try using recipe-ready lemon pepper packets of salmon for a burst of citrus flavor in this light, yet filling dinner recipe.

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Curried Tuna Sandwich

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If you love global, aromatic curry spice, try this updated canned tuna salad recipe. The addition of coleslaw and peanuts adds a nice crunchy bite. It's an easy make-ahead recipe to keep in the fridge for when you need a quick meal.

15 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat (2024)

FAQs

Is canned tuna or canned salmon healthy? ›

The bottom line. Overall, salmon offers higher levels of brain-boosting omega-3 fats, and much higher levels of bone-strengthening calcium. While tuna contains less of these, it's still a good source of omega-3 fats and an excellent source of hunger-busting protein.

Should you drain canned salmon? ›

Canned salmon also contains high concentrations of sodium, particularly when the fish is packed in salt water. That's why it's recommended that you drain the salmon before eating it. A can of salmon can contain over 400 milligrams of sodium, which is about 17% of a person's recommended daily sodium intake, per the FDA.

Can you eat salmon and tuna together? ›

A little bit of tuna, though should not hurt you every now and then, as I like to eat tuna, sometimes, every now and then, but I eat salmon, as is recommended, more often. I hope this answers helps, and so with that in mind, yes, you can eat salmon and tuna together, just not in excess.

Is it OK to eat canned salmon everyday? ›

The answer is yes. Canned salmon and fresh salmon may not taste exactly the same, but they're almost identical from a nutritional standpoint. In fact, canned salmon is actually more nutritious than fresh because it's higher in calcium when packed with bones.

Which is healthier red or pink canned salmon? ›

These ones are pretty much the same, but often. red salmon tends to be slightly higher in calories, has more Omega 3 fatty acids than the pink. In terms of protein, even a little more protein. So up to you what you like in terms of eating, uh, and taste.

What is the white stuff in canned salmon? ›

That white slimy stuff is called albumin, and it's actually just a harmless (albeit pretty gross-looking) protein that solidifies as salmon cooks.

Why does canned salmon say do not drain? ›

Draining the liquid shouldn't impact nutritional value

Despite this minor leaching of nutrients, canned salmon retains lots of its oils, which means a large portion of omega-3s remain in the fish. Because these oils are not highly water soluble, the nutrients are less likely to be washed away by rinsing.

Can you eat canned salmon straight from the can? ›

Straight Out of the Can! Just open the can, maybe squeeze on some lemon, and fork on! There is simply not an easier, better protein source than canned Alaska salmon. Finely chop celery, add salmon, whether Redhead (sockeye) or Thinkpink (pink) salmon, squeeze on lemon and put on a dollop of co*cktail sauce.

How often should you eat canned salmon? ›

As for how much fish to eat, consuming at least two servings of salmon per week can help you meet your omega-3 fatty acid needs. Salmon is rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and decrease risk factors for disease.

How do you get the fishy taste out of canned salmon? ›

Also, you can marinate the fish in a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and water for 30 minutes. This will help to neutralize the fishy taste. Cooking the fish using a cooking method that will not allow the fishy flavor to become pronounced, such as grilling, baking, or steaming can help as well.

How many times a week should you eat tuna and salmon? ›

A healthy, balanced diet should include at least 2 portions of fish a week, including 1 of oily fish. That's because fish and shellfish are good sources of many vitamins and minerals.

How many times a week can you eat tuna and salmon? ›

Tuna is incredibly nutritious and packed with protein, healthy fats and vitamins — but it should not be consumed every day. The FDA recommends that adults eat 3–5 ounces (85–140 grams) of fish 2–3 times a week to get enough omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients ( 10 ).

How often can you eat canned tuna and salmon? ›

For adults, a typical serving is 4 ounces of fish, measured before cooking. Our advice is to eat 2 to 3 servings of a variety of cooked fish, or about 8 to 12 ounces, in a week.

What is the healthiest canned fish to eat? ›

The most healthful choices on this list that are available canned include anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, clams, crab, oysters, sardines, shrimp, and trout. Canned seafood brands offer varying levels of testing to ensure lower mercury levels.

Is it safe to eat tuna or salmon everyday? ›

You could eat both canned tuna and salmon everyday, but I would personally limit myself to maybe one can of tuna per week or biweekly due to levels of mercury often found in tuna, but as far as salmon are concerned, as long as the salmon are wild caught, you can eat it daily.

Is salmon or tuna better for weight loss? ›

Comparing salmon and tuna, tuna is lower in calories than salmon. This is predominantly because salmon has around 13 times the fat content as tuna. In terms of caloric value, cooked salmon contains 37 kilojoules or nine calories of fat per gram, and 17 kilojoules or four calories per gram of protein and carbohydrates.

Can you eat canned salmon like canned tuna? ›

So is canned salmon the new canned tuna? It's just as convenient, delicious and easy to use, so it just might be. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a shot. Salmon Cakes: If you like crab cakes, you'll like salmon cakes.

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