What to make with canned tuna
Canned tuna makes tuna melts, tuna noodle casserole, lemony tuna pasta, tuna patties, rice bowls, lettuce wraps and pasta salad for lunches. A drained 3-ounce serving of light tuna has about 20 grams of protein. The FDA lists canned light tuna as a best choice for children, while albacore is best kept to one serving a week.
canned tuna
10 easy ideas with canned tuna
Family-tested favorites. Tap one to get the full recipe, scaled for your table.
Tuna Melts
15 minTuna salad and cheddar on toasted bread, broiled until the cheese bubbles.
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Tuna Noodle Casserole
40 minEgg noodles, peas and tuna in a creamy from-scratch sauce with a crunchy top.
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Lemony Tuna Pasta
20 minSpaghetti tossed with tuna, lemon, garlic, olive oil and parsley. Dinner from the pantry.
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Crispy Tuna Patties
25 minTuna, breadcrumbs and egg pan-fried into golden cakes. Serve with a yogurt dip.
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Tuna Rice Bowls
10 minTuna with mayo and a little soy sauce over rice, with cucumber and avocado.
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Tuna Pasta Salad
20 minSmall pasta, tuna, peas and celery in a light dressing. Good cold in a lunchbox.
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Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
10 minGreek yogurt tuna salad in crisp lettuce cups, with grapes on the side.
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White Bean and Tuna Salad
10 minCannellini beans, tuna, red onion and lemon. A filling lunch with no cooking.
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Tuna Quesadillas
15 minTuna, cheese and corn in a crisp tortilla. A friendly first fish for kids.
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Tuna and Sweet Corn Fritters
25 minTuna, corn and scallions in a light batter, pan-fried until golden.
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Kitchen notes on canned tuna
Light or albacore?
Canned light tuna, usually skipjack, is lower in mercury, and the FDA lists it as a best choice at 2 to 3 servings a week. Albacore (white) tuna is a good choice at 1 serving a week. A child’s serving is about 1 ounce at ages 1 to 3, 2 ounces at 4 to 7, 3 ounces at 8 to 10 and 4 ounces from 11.
Water or oil?
Tuna in water is leaner and best for tuna salad. Tuna in olive oil is richer and better in pasta, where the oil becomes part of the sauce.
Drain it well
Press the lid down hard to squeeze out the liquid, or the tuna salad turns watery by lunchtime.
Storage
Move leftover tuna out of the can into a covered container and use it within 3 to 4 days.
Questions about canned tuna
Is canned tuna safe for kids?
Yes, in kid-size portions. The FDA lists canned light tuna as a best choice for children, at 2 to 3 servings a week, with a serving of about 1 ounce at ages 1 to 3 and 2 ounces at ages 4 to 7. Albacore is higher in mercury, so keep it to 1 serving a week.
How much protein is in a can of tuna?
A drained 5-ounce can of light tuna in water has roughly 25 to 30 grams of protein, depending on the brand. A 3-ounce serving has about 20 grams.
How long does opened canned tuna last?
Covered in the fridge, use it within 3 to 4 days. Store it in a container rather than the opened can.
