18 Surprisingly Tasty Recipes That Start With A Can Of Tuna Fish

This humble pantry staple can go a long way.

Canned tuna is a humble pantry staple that gets a bad rap. But it's time to think beyond simple tuna fish sandwiches and recognize the versatility of this budget-friendly, non-perishable ingredient. Here are a bunch of ways to turn a can of tuna fish into a gourmet meal you'll actually be excited to eat.

1. Lentil and Tuna Bolognese

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There's no beef in this pescatarian take on Bolognese, but tuna adds a satisfying texture and big flavor to your pasta bowl. Get the recipe for lentil and tuna Bolognese here.

2. Caprese Tuna Salad

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Tuna, mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic is really all you need to whip up this delicious lettuce-free salad. Get the recipe for tuna caprese salad here.

3. Tuna Fish Tacos With Scallion Crema

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Start with tortillas, add canned tuna, and then get creative with the ingredients in your kitchen like avocado, jalapeño, and pico de gallo. Get the recipe for tuna fish tacos with scallion crema here.

4. Spicy Sriracha Tuna Lettuce Cups

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Your basic tuna salad gets a spicy makeover thanks to Sriracha. We like jazzing this up even more with some Asian-inspired ingredients like scallions, sesame seeds, and even a hint of wasabi for an extra kick. Get the recipe for spicy Sriracha tuna lettuce cups here.

5. The Ultimate Tuna Melt

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Imagine a gooey grilled cheese and a creamy tuna fish sandwich combine into one single combination on buttety French bread. The result, as you can imagine, is pretty darn good. Get the recipe for the ultimate tuna melt here.

6. Mediterranean Tuna Salad

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This lightened-up tuna salad is packed with veggies like onions, chickpeas, olives, cucumber, and pepper. Get the recipe for Mediterranean tuna salad here.

7. Tuna Pasta With Olive Oil and Garlic

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If you want to take things up a notch, opt for gourmet jarred tuna in olive oil. Add it to your favorite pasta with garlic and sun dried tomatoes. Get the recipe for tuna pasta with olive oil and garlic here.

8. Mexican-Style Tuna Cakes

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These tuna cakes are packed with corn, black beans, egg, and lots of spices so they're super filling. If you don't want to make the cream sauce from scratch, a simple dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of lemon will do the trick. Get the recipe for Mexican-style tuna cakes with jalapeño cream sauce here.

9. Rainbow Poke Bowls

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Canned tuna takes the place of raw fish in this almost-too-pretty-to-eat poke bowl. Use whatever veggies you have in your fridge, and serve it all over rice, zucchini noodles, or a bed of lettuce. Get the recipe for rainbow poke bowls here.

10. Six-Ingredient Tuna Casserole

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Say what you will about tuna casserole, but this classic recipe never goes out of style. After all, It's both comforting and so simple to make. Get the recipe for tuna casserole here.

11. Spicy Tuna Stuffed Avocado

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Start with halved avocados and fill them with your favorite tuna salad. Then add a drizzle of Sriracha or hot sauce to kick things up a notch. Get the recipe for spicy tuna stuffed avocado here.

12. Mac 'n' Cheese With Cauliflower and Tuna

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This grown-up version of mac 'n' cheese calls for cauliflower florets, canned tuna, and Roumy cheese, a hard cheese similar to Parmesan. Feel free to play DJ though and throw in any of your favorite cheese from Gruyère or goat cheese to sharp cheddar. Get the recipe for mac 'n' cheese with tuna and cauliflower here.

13. Spicy Tuna Quesadilla

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Sometimes the most comforting foods are the most basic. These tuna quesadillas come together with mostly pantry staples. Serve them with mashed avocado or salsa and chow down. Get the recipe for spicy tuna quesadillas here.

14. Niçoise Salad

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This fancy French recipe is one of our favorite salads because it's seriously filling, thanks to hard-boiled eggs, boiled potato, haricots verts, and protein-packed tuna. Get the recipe for Niçoise salad here.

15. Zesty Tuna Pasta

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Made with just a handful of basic ingredients that are probably sitting in your pantry, this tuna-packed pasta is an easy and cheap weeknight dinner you can throw together in no time. Get the recipe for zesty tuna pasta here.

16. Open-Faced Tuna and Avocado Melts

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We're all about fancy open-faced sandwiches. Here: Toast gets topped with tuna salad, tomato, and cheddar cheese, broiled until melty and gooey, and garnished with sliced avocado. Get the recipe for open-faced tuna avocado melts here.

17. Tuna Casserole Stuffed Shells

Rhubarb and Cod / Via rhubarbandcod.com

These shells are stuffed with a rich and decadent mixture of tuna fish, mushrooms, frozen peas, and artichoke hearts, then they're covered with a buttery cream sauce and baked until tender. Get the recipe for tuna casserole stuffed shells here.

18. Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes

Wonky Wonderful / Via wonkywonderful.com

Not only are these stuffed tomatoes satisfying to make, they're even more fun to eat. The recipe calls for black olives, cilantro, celery, and lots of spices, but you can customize your tuna salad with whatever is in your kitchen. Get the recipe for tuna-stuffed tomatoes here.