Go Beyond A Tuna Melt With These 11 Ways To Use Canned Meat & Fish

Canned proteins don’t have to be for just emergencies or when you’re too lazy to cook. These delicious recipes bust that myth wide open. Whether it’s chicken, tuna, salmon or sardines, these recipes will change the way you look at canned proteins. You can turn them into crispy bites, mix them into fresh salads and so much more! They’re easy ways to use up what’s in your pantry and go well beyond the classic but overdone tuna melt.

Sweet Corn Peach Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

This salad mixes sweet corn and peaches with canned chicken for a light, mayo-free lunch option. It’s a fresh take on canned protein, proving it can be part of a great summer meal that’s both easy and quick to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Corn Peach Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

Crispy Salmon Bites

These crispy salmon bites transform canned salmon into something special. Perfect as a salad topper, an appetizer, or a main dish with veggies and rice, they prove canned fish can be incredibly versatile and absolutely great.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Salmon Bites

Dijon Dill Salmon Salad

This salmon salad is all about flavor with fresh dill, lemon, dijon mustard, and capers. It’s a protein-packed, nutritious lunch that shows how canned fish can be part of a great meal, enjoyed on toasted bread or in lettuce wraps.
Get the Recipe: Dijon Dill Salmon Salad

BBQ Black Bean & Chicken Tortilla Pizza

Think of this as a quesadilla, but even better. With creamy black beans, loads of cheese, and shredded chicken, it turns canned chicken into a fun dinner. Perfect for a laid-back weekend, it shows canned meat can be both fun and tasty.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Black Bean & Chicken Tortilla Pizza

Garlic Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich

Canned chicken gets a cool upgrade in this sandwich, mixing garlic yogurt and a sun-dried tomato spread on ciabatta. It’s a straightforward yet bold lunch move, showcasing how canned protein can easily stand out in a crowd-pleaser dish.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich

Healthier Tuna Waldorf Salad

This takes the classic Waldorf salad and spins it with canned tuna, showing you can make something awesome beyond just a tuna melt. It’s quick, easy, and packs a punch with flavor and texture, proving canned fish can rock a nutritious lunch.
Get the Recipe: Healthier Tuna Waldorf Salad

Southwest Ranch Chicken Salad Sandwich

Amp up canned chicken with Southwest flavors and ranch, all under a heap of melted cheese on pumpernickel. This sandwich is a testament to how canned protein can be the star in a rich and great-tasting lunch.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Ranch Chicken Salad Sandwich

Buffalo Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Bites

Here’s canned chicken turning into the perfect snack or casual meal. These buffalo chicken cheddar bites are great for a game day or any chill day. They’re a fun way to show how canned meat can be the main event in tasty, easy-to-make bites.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Bites

Turmeric Chicken Salad

This chicken salad brings in turmeric for an extra kick, making canned chicken anything but boring. It’s a great choice for a nutritious, antioxidant-rich lunch. Toasted bread or lettuce wraps turn this into an easy, flavorful meal.
Get the Recipe: Turmeric Chicken Salad

Honey Chicken Apple Salad

With apples and sage, this honey chicken salad offers a new way to enjoy canned chicken. It’s perfect for shaking up your lunch routine, proving that canned protein can play a leading role in creating great, fresh flavors.
Get the Recipe: Honey Chicken Apple Salad

Sardine Salad

Dive into the health benefits of omega-3 with this sardine salad. It’s a simple mix of mustard, capers, lemon, and crunchy veggies, showcasing how canned sardines can be the star of a great-tasting and nutritious salad.
Get the Recipe: Sardine Salad