11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (2024)

Learn how to prepare canned tuna, so that it tastes good! To start, try these fast, easy and healthy canned tuna recipes for dinner, lunch or even breakfast!

This recipe collection includes different tuna salad recipes as well as an amazing creamy tuna pasta recipe that you can make with leftovers in 20 minutes!

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (1)


Canned Tuna Nutrition & Recommendation

Eating canned tuna is a tricky thing. On the one hand, we’ve got a good amount of protein, omega-3’s, vitamin D for very little calories in canned tuna (you can read more here).

On the other hand, tuna is naturally high in mercury – a heavy metal that can cause serious health issues in humans. This is because tuna eat small fish which leads to mercury accumulating in the meat. In general, the bigger the tuna (albacore or bigeye), the more mercury it has. (source)

Canned tuna is usually made from smaller types of tuna (light and skipjack), so lower in mercury. Recommendations are to eat no more than 2 servings of light or skipjack tuna per week.


What To Add To Canned Tuna

Canned tuna on its own is not bad, but to me, personally, it can do better. So, combine it with some of the following ingredients and you’re gonna love it.

  • lemon
  • onion
  • garlic
  • capers
  • mayonnaise
  • sour cream or creme fraiche
  • wasabi
  • spice
  • vegetables
  • avocado
  • eggs
  • cream cheese

Now let’s see how to combine these ingredients with canned tuna to make a quick and easy meal for dinner, lunch or even breakfast.


Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (2)


Creamy Tuna Pasta

This delicious creamy tuna pasta recipe is loaded with vegetables, super easy to make with the things you have in your fridge and absolutely yummy! Perfect comfort meal with a healthy twist. Recipe here.

Servings: 2; Calories: 444, Protein: 30g


Crustless Tuna Quiche

Ever thought eggs with canned tuna would taste good? They do! This crustless tuna quiche recipe is proof. Quick and super tasty, it’s great for any time of the day! Serve with some lettuce salad on the side for dinner or eat on the go for breakfast or lunch. Recipe here.

Servings: 4; Calories: 125, Protein: 13g


Spicy Tuna Quesadilla

I love this tuna quesadilla! It’s made with tomatoes, basil, garlic and cheese and it’s really tasty. Recipe here.

Servings: 2; Calories: 373, Protein: 21g

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (5)


Meal Prep Tuna Quinoa Salad

This is a great salad recipe with canned tuna and quinoa if you like to meal prep for the week. It’s filling, super healthy and delicious. Recipe here.

Servings: 3; Calories: 413, Protein: 24g


Meal Prep Tuna Chickpea Bowls

I originally made this recipe during the lockdown in 2020 and it’s pretty much: canned food, hummus, avocado and the one vegetable that can survive anything: cabbage. It’s delicious, healthy, and very fast. Recipe here.

Servings: 3-4; Calories: 334, Protein: 21g

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (7)


10-Minute Tuna Melt Quesadilla With Sriracha Sauce

To make this tuna melt quesadilla all you need to do is mix the canned tuna with some sriracha sauce, cream cheese, garlic and vegetables, spread it over a tortilla and toast in a pan on both sides. It is pretty amazing and ready in 10 minutes. Serve with some quick salad for a quick and easy dinner.

Servings: 2; Calories: 445, Protein: 35g

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (8)

Breakfast Tuna Wraps

Use whole-grain, gluten free or almond flour tortillas to make these fit your diet! You can add whatever vegetables you have at home to make these filling tuna wraps! Recipe here.

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (9)

Winter Tuna & Rice Salad

This healthy winter salad recipe is filled with cabbage, canned tuna and rice. Its a gluten free, nutritious and filling salad that you can pack for lunch or eat for dinner. Recipe here.

Servings: 2; Calories: 431, Protein: 29g

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (10)


Healthy Tuna Frittata

This is a delicious tuna frittata recipe made with tuna, broccoli, eggs, olives, onion and peppers. Serve with some avocado and a salad for a high protein low carb version or with some whole grain bread for a more balanced meal. Recipe here.

Servings: 3; Calories: 439, Protein: 40g

Mediterranean Tuna Chickpea Salad

This recipe is great with or without tuna! If you’re following the Mediterranean diet, this meal is perfect to put on your meal plan. Recipe here.

Servings: 2; Calories: 415, Protein: 27g

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (12)

Gluten Free Dairy Free Tuna Salad

This tasty healthy tuna salad is made gluten-free and dairy-free thanks to the addition of cashews! If you tolerate dairy just fine, you can definitely use sour cream or creme fraiche instead to make this. Recipe here.

Servings: 3; Calories: 317, Protein: 19g


More Healthy Recipes

Well, I really hope you enjoyed this small, but mighty, collection of healthy canned tuna recipes! I think now you have some new ideas about what to make with those cans, even when you don’t have much at home. Now if you need more healthy recipes for breakfast, lunch or dinner, check these out:

Yield: 2

11 Easy And Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (13)

11 easy and healthy canned tuna recipes for dinner, lunch or breakfast! Learn how to prepare canned tuna fast to make it taste good with these simple ideas!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

For The Tuna Quesadilla Melt With Sriracha Sauce

  • 2 tbsp cream cheese
  • 1 can tuna, drained
  • 1 1/2 tsp sriracha sauce
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/2 tsp basil, dried
  • 1/2 cup spinach, chopped
  • 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tortillas

Instructions

  1. Mix the cream cheese and sriracha in a bowl. Mix in the tuna, spinach, garlic clove and basil. Taste and add salt or black pepper if needed.
  2. Spread 1/2 mixture on one half of a tortilla. Top that half with mozzarella cheese and fold.
  3. Toast the quesadilla on both sides until golden brown. Repeat for the other quesadilla as well. For more information, follow the instructions at www.homemademastery.com

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 445Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 970mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 35g

Related

11 Healthy Canned Tuna Recipes That Are Fast & Easy - Her Highness, Hungry Me (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat canned tuna? ›

  1. Swap tuna into your favorite salmon or crab cake recipe.
  2. Mix tuna into vegetable- or potato-based soup or into stew instead of chicken. ...
  3. If you're sticking with a simple salad on the run, swap mayo for Greek yogurt, and mix in some Dijon mustard.
  4. Try using cottage cheese in place of mayo or Greek yogurt.
Dec 21, 2015

What can I mix with a can of tuna? ›

To keep it hot, mix a can into pasta sauce as you heat it; we love tuna in a classic tomato sauce, but you can also go simple with a no-cook sauce, combing tuna with olive oil, capers, olives, and herbs for a salsa verde approach. Or you can stir it into mac-and-cheese for a creamy, tuna casserole.

What can I eat with tuna to lose weight? ›

Because the goal is weight loss, you must remember to keep the carbohydrate content low. So out of the options, the safest ones are tuna salad with fresh greens and sashimi, or mixing them with brown rice, which has higher fiber, vitamin, and mineral contents.

What can I use instead of mayo in tuna? ›

When you're ready to elevate your next lunch or dinner, here are 12 delicious substitutes for mayo in your tuna salad.
  • Greek yogurt. Maslova Valentina/Shutterstock. ...
  • Avocado. Irina Rostokina/Shutterstock. ...
  • Hummus. Tempura/Getty Images. ...
  • Olive oil. Maryia_K/Shutterstock. ...
  • Dijon mustard. ...
  • Ranch dressing. ...
  • Sour cream. ...
  • Cottage cheese.
Jan 24, 2024

Why should you not eat canned tuna every day? ›

Certain types of tuna are high in mercury, which can have harmful effects on health in high amounts or in certain populations. For most healthy adults, it's recommended to consume at least 2 servings of fish per week, which can include tuna.

What to avoid in canned tuna? ›

Skipjack and canned light tuna, which are relatively low in mercury, can be eaten as part of a healthy diet. However, albacore, yellowfin and bigeye tuna are high in mercury and should be limited or avoided.

Is it OK to eat egg and tuna together? ›

Yes. It is completely risk-free. Because neither the fish nor the egg interferes with digestion. Furthermore, there is no scientific data indicating that they should not be eaten together.

Can you eat egg and tuna together? ›

The answer is YES and you should. Tuna and egg salad is basically a combination of classic tuna salad and classic egg salad. It's made with canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and the most delicious and tangy sauce to really bring it all together into one dish.

What can I mix with tuna to make it taste better? ›

If you're not interested in a formal recipe, you can bring a can of tuna to life using this simple formula: Simply swap your regular mayo for a combo of mustard and Greek yogurt and use a fork to mix it with your tuna. Next, throw in any salty (capers or chopped pickles, anyone?) or sweet (grapes, perhaps?)

Should I rinse canned tuna before using? ›

In dishes where you aim for a fresh, clean taste, like in salads or light pasta dishes, rinsing tuna can help achieve the desired flaky texture and light flavor profile. It removes the oil or brine that might otherwise weigh down the dish or clash with delicate dressings and ingredients.

Can I lose belly fat eating tuna? ›

Tuna not only improves the metabolic rate in individuals but also increases bodily functions to keep you energetic, active, and healthy. For example, eating tuna after a workout will help you to maintain your energy while reducing belly fat due to the high-thermic effect. This fish is a complete protein.

Is tuna good for losing belly fat? ›

In addition to being a good source of protein, tuna is also low in fat. This means that it can be a good choice for people who are looking to lose belly fat. When you consume fewer calories than your body needs, it will start to burn fat for energy, which can lead to a reduction in belly fat.

What is the 3 day tuna diet? ›

For 3 days, you eat 1 to 1.5 grams of protein (in the form of tuna) per pound of body weight, and you drink 2 to 4 liters of water. The diet is extremely restrictive and could cause all kinds of short- and long-term side effects as well as nutrient deficiencies.

Is canned tuna in oil or water better for you? ›

Oil vs Water

Tuna packed in water will contain fewer calories and less fat but also allows for the loss of omega 3 fatty acids to occur. Water-packed also dilutes the natural juices and flavors contained within the fish and can lead to a more rounded and less refined taste.

Is eating tuna straight from the can healthy? ›

Absolutely! Tuna is a low-fat protein choice with about 2 grams of fat per 2.5-ounce portion of solid white albacore tuna. More importantly, the majority of fat in tuna is healthy unsaturated fats, like omega 3 fatty acids. Some fat is important to help absorb vitamins and minerals from the meal you're eating.

Should you rinse canned tuna? ›

In dishes where you aim for a fresh, clean taste, like in salads or light pasta dishes, rinsing tuna can help achieve the desired flaky texture and light flavor profile. It removes the oil or brine that might otherwise weigh down the dish or clash with delicate dressings and ingredients.

Is canned tuna better in vegetable oil or water? ›

If you'll be flavoring your tinned fish, reach for water-packed. You may believe that, nutritionally, the better choice is tuna packed in water because it contains fewer calories than tuna packed in oil. Tuna in oil, however, is higher in bone-healthy vitamin D and selenium, which helps your body fight infections.

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