20 Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat That Begin With A Can Of Diced Tomatoes

    Always keep this non-perishable on hand for an easy, satisfying meal.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    If you look in your kitchen right now, there's a good chance you have a can of diced tomatoes sitting around. So don't let this versatile ingredient go to waste. Turn it into one of these satisfying recipes.

    1. Skillet Lasagna

    Skillet lasagna
    Creations by Kara / Via creationsbykara.com

    Unlike traditional lasagna that gets baked in the oven, this skillet version calls for bowtie pasta, ground pork sausage and beef, diced tomatoes, and a three-cheese mixture that comes together on the stovetop. Get the recipe for skillet lasagna here.

    2. Creamy Tomato Soup

    A bowl of creamy tomato soup with two halves of grilled cheese on the side.
    The Recipe Rebel / Via thereciperebel.com

    Diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and milk form the base of this creamy and simple soup that tastes worlds better than the canned stuff. Get the recipe for creamy tomato soup here.

    3. Pasta Bolognese

    Feed Good Foodie / Via feelgoodfoodie.net, Feel Good Foodie / Via feelgoodfoodie.net

    Making Bolognese sauce from scratch doesn't have to be a whole to-do. Sauté ground beef in some olive oil with onions, garlic, and herbs, then add crushed tomatoes and simmer. Get the recipe for pasta Bolognese here.

    4. Baked Shrimp in Tomato and Feta Sauce

    A skillet with shrimp baked in a sauce made of diced tomatoes and feta cheese with some fresh herbs.
    Simply Recipes / Via simplyrecipes.com

    You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp for this one-skillet meal. The shellfish gets baked in a tangy and bright sauce of canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, parsley, and feta cheese. Serve it with crusty bread for dunking. Get the recipe for baked shrimp in tomato feta sauce here.

    5. One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

    Gal On a Mission / Via galonamission.com

    Store-bought tortellini becomes a gourmet meal when served in this decadent blend of diced tomatoes, cream, chicken stock, herbs, and Parmesan cheese. Get the recipe for one-pot creamy tomato tortellini soup here.

    6. One-Dish Chicken Bake

    A baking dish full of cheesy baked chicken in tomato sauce with fresh herbs.
    Diethood / Via diethood.com

    Combine canned tomatoes with garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, and oregano. Then nestle chicken breasts into the tomato mixture topped with shredded cheese and let the whole thing bake for 35 minutes until bubbly and hot. Get the recipe for one-dish chicken bake here.

    7. Italian Sausage Stew

    A big Dutch oven full of white bean, tomato, and sausage soup.
    The Wicked Noodle / Via thewickednoodle.com

    This hearty recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients: diced tomatoes, canned white beans, onion, garlic, and Italian sausage. If you don't happen to have sausage, any ground meat will do the trick. Get the recipe for Italian sausage stew here.

    8. Creamy Tomato Gnocchi

    A bowl of gnocchi in creamy tomato sauce with fresh herbs.
    Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

    Along with some heavy cream, canned tomatoes in their juices forms the base of this rich and decadent gnocchi. If you don't have potato gnocchi on hand, try making it with any tubular pasta.

    9. Creamy Coconut Chickpea Curry

    A bowl of chickpea curry with a side of white rice and sliced limes.
    40 Aprons / Via 40aprons.com

    While this recipe calls for chickpeas stewed in a flavorful broth made with coconut milk, diced tomatoes, and curry powder, you can feel free to swap in whatever protein and veggies you have on hand like sweet potatoes or shrimp. Get the recipe for creamy coconut chickpea curry here.

    10. American Goulash

    A spoon digging into a big bowl of mac 'n' cheese with ground beef.
    Tastes of Lizzy T / Via tastesoflizzyt.com

    Elbow macaroni (or any pasta), ground beef, and canned, diced tomatoes are the heart of this filling recipe you can enjoy for lunch or dinner. Make a big batch because it tastes even better as the next day's leftovers.

    11. Minestrone Soup

    Mom's Dish / Via momsdish.com

    Thanks to a handful of canned and boxed ingredients like kidney beans, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and noodles, you can easily whip up this comforting soup when you're low on fresh groceries. Get the recipe for minestrone soup here.

    12. Four-Ingredient Baked Fish

    The Seasoned Mom / Via theseasonedmom.com

    Cod (or any white, flaky fish) gets baked in canned tomatoes, lemon juice, and fresh basil. The result is perfectly tender fish with lots of flavor. Get the recipe for four-ingredient baked fish here.

    13. Shakshuka

    Kiersten Hickman / Via kierstenhickman.com

    This Middle Eastern and North African recipe is perfectly appropriate for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Bake eggs in a mixture of diced tomatoes, red peppers, onions, garlic, and spices until just set. Get the recipe for shakshuka here.

    14. Chicken, Shrimp, and Sausage Jambalaya

    Diethood / Via diethood.com

    Don't be intimidated by the long list of ingredients for this Cajun-dish. You can make use of whatever protein you have on hand whether it's chorizo, frozen shrimp, chicken, ground beef, etc...Get the recipe for chicken, shrimp, and sausage jambalaya here.

    15. Cabbage and Beef Soup

    What's In The Pan / Via whatsinthepan.com

    A true dump and cook meal, just toss all of your ingredients into a big pot and let them simmer. The recipe calls for ribeye, but you can use any cut of beef. Get the recipe for cabbage and beef soup here.

    16. Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

    Saving Dessert / Via savingdessert.com

    Work with the ingredients you've got: If you don't have everything for the sauce, just use canned tomatoes and season them with a little sugar, salt, pepper, and whatever dried Italian seasonings are in your pantry. Get the recipe for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza here.

    17. Spicy Eggplant Pasta

    A bowl of spaghetti with eggplant, tomatoes, arugula, and a spoonful of ricotta cheese.
    Every Little Crumb / Via everylittlecrumb.com

    This recipe calls for a mixture of fresh and canned tomatoes, but if you're running low on ripe tomatoes, just opt for the canned version. This pasta will still turn out great. Get the recipe for spicy eggplant pasta here.

    18. One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

    This one-pot meal is so easy you don't even have to boil the noodles separately. Just toss everything — spaghetti, garlic, onion, canned tomatoes, and broth — into a large sauce pot or Dutch oven, turn on the stove, and wait for your dinner to make itself. Get the recipe for one-pot tomato basil pasta here.

    19. Chicken Cacciatore

    Chicken cacciatore in stewed tomatoes.
    Gal On A Mission / Via galonamission.com

    There are no fancy ingredients involved in this dish. In fact, all you need are chicken breasts, canned tomatoes, some leftover red wine, onion, and spices, but it still manages to taste restaurant-quality. Get the recipe for chicken cacciatore here.

    20. Stuffed Pepper Casserole

    A pot of rice stewed in tomato sauce with melted cheese and herbs.
    Spend With Pennies / Via spendwithpennies.com

    This cheap and comforting meal is made with bell peppers, rice, canned diced tomatoes in their juices, ground beef, and shredded cheese. Just dump everything besides for the cheese in a large pot, bring it to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer and cook until the rice is tender. Get the recipe for stuffed pepper casserole here.