23 Delicious Canned Tuna Recipes for When You Just Can’t
You just got home from a long day at work (canned tuna recipes), it's record-breaking hot outside (canned tuna recipes), you haven't come up with weeknight dinner ideas (canned tuna recipes), and you just can't. Can't turn on the oven, can't use any more brainpower, just...can't.
You know what you can do? (Did our subliminal messaging work?) That's right: Open up your pantry door, pull out a can of tuna fish, and go the semi-homemade route. Make a 15-minute couscous with capers or a bean and radicchio salad or a tuna melt, or quick and crispy tuna patties.
Here are 19 easy recipes that go beyond tuna noodle casserole—although that's here too—for when you feel like you can't, but you actually can.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams1/23A Perfect Tuna Melt
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food Styling by Luciana Lamboy2/23Tuna Niçoise Salad
Nothing says “I’m on vacation” like a two-hour lunch featuring glasses of rosé (no one’s counting) and this meal-worthy composed salad.
Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon3/23BA’s Best Tuna Casserole
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown5/23Classic Tuna Salad
If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it. This classic tuna salad recipe has everything you crave and would expect: red onion, celery, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon, parsley, and capers.
Photo and Food Styling by Diana Yen7/23Onigiri Three Ways
Compact and ready to be taken on the go, onigiri are one of our favorite lunch ideas—and you don’t need to be a sushi chef to make them.
Photo and Food Styling by Molly Baz8/23Anything-Goes Green Goddess Salad
Herby, punchy, creamy green goddess dressing is as versatile as it is delicious. You can use cilantro, mint, basil, or any combination of tender herbs, and it can be mixed into shredded chicken breasts, chickpeas, chopped hard-boiled eggs, or, yes, high-quality canned tuna.
Peden + Munk9/23Linguine With Anchovies and Tuna
We love the meaty, sustainably caught Spanish tuna packed in buttery olive oil from Ortiz for this recipe. Eat any leftovers for lunch the next day and call it pasta salad.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou10/23Green Goddess Tuna Salad Sandwich
Green goddess dressing meets tuna salad in this sandwich, which is a revelation, bringing bright, herbaceous flavors to the classic.
12/23Roasted Squash and Cauliflower With Cashew Tonnato
This riff on classic tonnato gets its creaminess from cashews instead of eggs and, along with the dukkah spice mix, will gussy up any tray of roasted veggies.
Photo by Alex Lau13/23Easy Tuna Pasta
Pick your pasta—classic, whole wheat, gluten-free—but, for this recipe, we do recommend olive-oil packed, sustainable, thick-cut tuna that may come in a can (like Genova) or a jar (like Tonnino or Bela).
Alex Lau14/23You're Never 'Too Busy' for This Instant Couscous Dinner
You don't really need a recipe for this one. Just cook the couscous; throw in some tuna, capers, pepperoncini, lemon juice, and cherry tomatoes; and finish with fresh herbs.
