20 ways with tinned fish
Canned fish like tuna, anchovies and sardines can be a great budget friendly way to get more protein and healthy fats into your diet. Learn why we should be eating more and the best recipes you can make at home
Eating tinned fish is an easy way to help limit your waste as it keeps much longer than fresh, is stored out of the fridge and doesn't lose any of its vital nutrition. Tinned fish is also cheaper than the fresh version so it's an ideal way to keep your weekly food bills low.
If you've got some tins lurking in your cupboard that you're unsure what to do with, or you're simply looking for some cheap and sustainable ways to get more fish into your diet, then try some of our easy tinned fish recipes that make the most of this under-utilised produce.
For more delicious dishes check out our favourite fish cake recipes and read our 10 healthiest fish to eat guide.
What are the different types of tinned fish?
Tinned tuna – arguably the most popular canned fish, this is readily available and can be used in everything from pasta bakes to loaded potato wedges.
Tinned sardines – an excellent source of protein and iron, sardines contain nearly 100 per cent of recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Try them in simple recipes like Spanish sardines on toast or as a spicy dip.
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Anchovies – these add a salty, umami flavour to sauces and dressing. Try them on our caramelised red onion & anchovy pasta with gremolata.
Mackerel – you can swap out the fresh version for tinned mackerel in a number of our recipes like our smoked mackerel risotto or peppered mackerel fishcakes.
Salmon – canned salmon is much more affordable than fresh, making it a budget-friendly option for those wanting to have it in their diet. Try it in our salmon burgers for a protein-rich dinner.
Best tinned fish to buy
When buying canned fish look out for brands that have the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label, as it means that it's being fished in a way that doesn't deplete our oceans. Here are some examples:
Sea Sisters smoked sardine fillets
Waitrose anchovy fillets in olive oil
Rio Mare no drain tuna
Princes mackerel fillets in sunflower oil
20 best tinned fish recipes
Tinned tuna recipes
Tuna pasta bake
For some simple midweek comfort food, try our easy tuna pasta bake, using basic storecupboard ingredients. It's a great option for family dinners and quick to throw together.
Tuna, asparagus & white bean salad
For a nourishing salad ready in minutes, try this tuna, asparagus & white bean salad. Perfect for a make-ahead work lunch.
Lentil & tuna salad
You'll need two cans of tuna and two packs of ready-cooked lentils for this simple lentil & tuna salad. It's a great side dish for entertaining or for when you simply don't want to cook as you won't be in the kitchen for long.
Tuna melt potato wedges
Cooking baked potatoes in the oven can take a while and therefore hike up your energy costs. These loaded tuna melt potato wedges are a more energy-efficient alternative to a traditional tuna jacket potato, and a great way to use up your canned tuna.
Tuna & sweetcorn fishcakes
Use tinned tuna and sweetcorn to rustle up these healthy and budget-friendly tuna & sweetcorn fishcakes. This is also a great recipe for batch cooking as you can freeze these for future dinners.
Tinned anchovy recipes
Spaghetti with fennel, anchovies, currants, pine nuts & capers
Our spaghetti with fennel, anchovies, currants, pine nuts & capers is a salty, sweet and simple dish that can be on the table in under 30 minutes.
Roast romanesco with anchovies, capers & currants
Add a salty tang to romenesco in our recipe for roast romanesco with tinned anchovies, capers & currants. The currants help to balance out the saltiness. It's a great side dish and works well tossed through pasta, too.
Amalfi lemon, chilli & anchovy spaghetti
If you're dreaming of the Italian coast, get a taste for it with our Amalfi lemon, chilli & anchovy spaghetti. The chilli adds a gentle kick of heat – don't forget to sprinkle over some fresh parmesan at the end.
Caramelised red onion & anchovy pasta with gremolata
Who says tinned fish can't be luxurious? Our caramelised red onion & anchovy pasta makes for a delicious dinner for two on date night, while still being a budget-friendly option.
Tomato & anchovy risotto with crispy crumbs
Use up budget storecupboard ingredients for this tomato & anchovy risotto with crispy crumbs. This simple Italian rice pot makes for an easy midweek meal for two.
Tinned sardines recipes
Sardine tomato pasta with gremolata
You just need a handful of ingredients to make this crowd pleasing sardine tomato pasta with gremolata. It's cheap and cheerful and you only need 20 minutes to make it.
Spanish sardines on toast
Get a taste of the Med with this simple sardines on toast recipe. Sardines are a storecupboard staple and are packed with omega-3. This dish is perfect for a quick lunch or as a starter for an occasion dinner.
Budget kedgeree
For a wallet-friendly family dinner, try our budget kedgeree made with sardines for an inexpensive, yet nourishing meal that doesn't sacrifice flavour.
Spicy sardine dip
For a different kind of snack at your next party or family night in, try this spicy sardine dip flavoured with a touch of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper.
Tinned mackerel recipes
Peppered mackerel fishcakes
These peppered mackerel fishcakes are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes and tinned mackerel if you've got some lying about in your storecupboard.
Smoked mackerel risotto
After a busy day, it's nice to be able to whip up something quickly with simple ingredients you always have in the house. For our smoked mackerel risotto you can easily swap in tinned mackerel to make it even cheaper per serving.
Indonesian fried rice with mackerel
This one pan Indonesian fried rice with mackerel is a filling and satisfying meal for everyone. Keep costs down by using tinned mackerel and serve with an extra drizzle of soy sauce or sriracha for a bit of heat.
Smoked mackerel & leek hash with horseradish
Make this smoked mackerel & leek hash in just 30 minutes. It uses just a few ingredients and can be served in the pan, so makes a great choice on busy weeknights.
Tinned salmon recipes
Super-healthy salmon burgers
For something a bit lighter than a potato packed fishcake and to use up some tinned salmon, try these salmon burgers made with ginger, soy sauce and coriander.
Samphire & lemony salmon linguine
For a cheaper alternative, you could swap fresh salmon for tinned instead to make this samphire & lemony salmon linguine. It makes for a great lunch or quick dinner.
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