14 Tuna Recipes

Fresh fish isn’t always on the cards when you’re shopping on a budget, but canned tuna makes it easy to get a protein-packed, nutrient-rich option on the table. It’s a great source of lean protein, it’s shelf-stable, and can be stretched into all kinds of meals. I’m talking easy weeknight dinners, snacks, meal-prep lunches, and filling salads! This round up of 14 tuna recipes makes it simple to mix things up all week without needing anything fancy or expensive.

Easy and Affordable Meals from Tuna

A couple cans of tuna can carry dinner on nights when you need something fast but still filling. This section has cozy comfort food, quick pasta, and a fresh bowl that works great when you don’t want to reheat anything.

1. Tuna Patties

Tuna Patties

Tuna Patties are a quick, easy, and inexpensive meal option for hot summer days. Delicious, filling, and endlessly versatile!

4.88 from 33 votes

$3.18 recipe / $0.80 serving Get the Recipe

You won’t believe how easy these tuna patties come together, and I love that they use basic pantry staples like breadcrumbs and mayo. The seasoning is flexible too, so you can make them fit whatever your family’s into that week. They’re great on a salad, tucked into a pita, or with your favorite dips!

2. Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole is a creamy and comforting classic American dinner full of noodles, a creamy mushroom sauce, tuna, and peas. 

4.62 from 47 votes

$8.65 recipe / $1.44 serving Get the Recipe

This is the comfort classic casserole, but made from scratch with a creamy mushroom sauce (plus peas and tuna) and a simple breadcrumb-Parmesan topping. I’d freeze any leftover tuna casserole in single servings for easy prep future dinners.

3. Creamy Tuna Pasta

Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas

This quick and comforting Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas is a fast and easy weeknight dinner that only requires a few simple ingredients.

4.51 from 77 votes

$7.82 recipe / $1.95 serving Get the Recipe

Creamy tuna pasta is a weeknight lifesaver with noodles, peas, Parmesan, and a deliciously creamy sauce. Use chunk light tuna to keep costs down, or go for solid albacore tuna if you want more tuna chunks throughout the dish. I also love how customizable this recipe is, since you can easily toss in spinach, herbs, pesto, or a squeeze of lemon depending on what needs using up!

4. Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls

Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls

These super fresh and Spicy Tuna Guacamole bowls are packed with protein, fiber, and flavor. The perfect no-reheat meal prep lunch for summer! 

4.73 from 37 votes

$7.80 recipe / $1.95 serving Get the Recipe

These spicy tuna guacamole bowls are fresh, filling, and made for no-reheat meal prep, with rice, tuna, crunchy veg, edamame, guacamole, sriracha, and sesame seeds. If guac is a bit spendy for you, this recipe is still a great template for building a bowl meal around whatever you’ve got!

Sandwiches & Wraps

These easy recipes are GREAT for fast lunches, simple dinners, or something I can prep once and stretch over a couple of days.

5. Tuna Melt

Classic Tuna Melt

A nostalgic diner-style tuna melt with buttery, crisp toast, savory tuna salad, and warm, gooey melted cheddar. Pure comfort food that's like a next-level grilled cheese.

5 from 2 votes

$6.46 recipe / $1.62 serving Get the Recipe

This tuna melt is pure diner-style comfort! A punchy tuna salad (celery, red onion, pickles) gets piled onto sourdough with cheddar, then toasted in butter until crisp and gooey. It’s basically a grilled cheese that got promoted, and it’s a great way to make canned tuna feel like a real treat.