Canned Tuna Recipes – Cheap, Quick and Easy

Delicious and Nutritious Dishes for a Tight Budget

Cost conscious cooks can create delicious dishes without breaking the budget. A can of tuna and a few more ingredients can come together in a healthy, tasty meal.

An excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, protein and other essential nutrients, tuna provides a strong foundation for a vast array of meals. It can be added to salads, made into sandwich fillings or used as the main ingredient in casseroles to satisfy even the hungriest brood. It is already cooked, so preparing it is easy and quick. Stock up on tuna next time it’s on sale, and there will always be something substantial in the pantry.

Tuna Crunch Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 canned of tuna
• 3/4 cups of shredded carrots
• 3/4 cups of diced celery
• 1 tablespoon of minced onion
• 1/2 cup of sliced black olives (optional)
• 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
• 3/4 cups of canned shoestring potatoes

Directions:

1. Drain the tuna and put into a mixing bowl. Break it apart.
2. Add the carrots, celery, onion and olives.
3. Spoon in the mayonnaise. Stir until well mixed.
4. Chill for approximately 30 minutes.
5. Right before serving, fold in the shoestring potatoes.

Zesty Tuna Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 can of tuna
• 2 ripe medium size tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon of minced onion
• 1 minced chili pepper
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice
• Salt to taste
• Sandwich rolls split for sandwiches
• Leaves of lettuce

Directions:

1. Drain the tuna and put into a bowl. Break it apart.
2. Add the tomatoes, cilantro, onion, chili pepper, lime juice and salt. Stir until mixed.
3. Open the rolls and scoop the tuna mixture on one half. Top with lettuce leaf and close sandwich.
4. Serve with carrot sticks, chips and salsa.

Tuna in a Pita

Ingredients:

• 1 can of tuna
• 1 hardboiled egg
• 1/4 diced celery
• 1 tablespoon of minced onion
• 1/2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
• 1 cup of ripped romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup of sliced or diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened diced pineapple (optional)
• 1/4 cup of raisins (optional)
• Pita bread cut in half to create pockets

Directions:

1. Drain tuna and break apart into bowl.
2. Chop the boiled egg and add to the tuna.
3. Gently fold in celery and onion.
4. For fruity-sweet sandwiches, add pineapple and raisins to the mixture.
5. Stuff each half of the pita pockets with lettuce and tomatoes.
6. Stuff the tuna mixture in behind the lettuce and tomatoes.
7. Serve with carrots, chips and salsa.

Cheesy Tuna Casserole

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 2 cans of tuna
• 2 cans of condensed cream soup (cream of celery or cream of mushroom)
• 1-1/2 cups of green peas (frozen or canned)
• 1/4 cup of chopped onion
• 1 small can of sliced mushrooms
• 4 cups of cooked egg noodles
• 1-1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of crushed saltines or potato chips

Directions:

1. Spray casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Line the bottom of the casserole dish with the cooked noodles.
3. In a large bowl, mix the tuna, condensed soup, peas, onion, mushrooms and half of the cheese.
4. Pour the tuna mixture over the noodles.
5. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the mixture.
6. Top with the crushed saltines or potato chips.
7. Bake in a 400 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes, until the cheese bubbles and the crushed saltines or potato chips are brown.
8. Serve hot with a lettuce and tomato salad.

Keeping a few cans of tuna and some of the other ingredients on hand will provide peace of mind that there’s always something to prepare for lunch or dinner. Tuna based meals are quick, easy, nutritious and delicious.