17 Delicious Recipes From a Simple Can of Tomatoes (2024)

Tomatoes Recipes
Dinner
Learning How to Cook

A pantry staple with endless possibilities

Laurel Randolph

A fervid lover of the culinary arts and all things Instant Pot, Laurel has been writing about food for 10 years. One of her cookbooks was the #2 cookbook of 2017.

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Updated on 04/14/21

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17 Delicious Recipes From a Simple Can of Tomatoes (2)

A few cans of tomatoes are essential to a well-stocked pantry. The ingredient keeps for ages and can be used to make a long list of recipes, from soups to chilis to pasta. If all else fails, you can throw together a quick and easy spaghetti dinner with the help of a can of tomatoes and some dried pasta from the back of your cabinet.

The best quality canned tomatoes are Italian whole plum tomatoes in juice. They typically come in big cans and can be used whole, crushed, or puréed. It's a good idea to keep a can or two of diced tomatoes handy since they are useful for quick dishes with minimal prep.

Canning tomatoes is also a great way to preserve a bumper crop of the summertime fruit for use all year long. Whether store-bought or homemade, put your canned tomatoes to good use by making these delicious recipes for lunch or dinner.

Canning Whole Peeled Tomatoes

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Ground Turkey Chili
Canned diced tomatoes and store-bought chili seasoning make the prep for this ground turkey chili easy as can be. Let it simmer on the stovetop while you get on with your day and serve with toppings like avocado, cheese, sour cream, and crackers or chips.
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Classic Tomato Sauce for Pasta
Two large cans of crushed tomatoes are the main ingredient in this easy tomato sauce. It only takes a few minutes to make but is far superior in flavor to the pre-seasoned jarred varieties. Make extra and freeze it for future meals.
03 of 17
Healthy Tomato Basil Soup
Only a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand are needed to make this satisfying tomato basil soup. Use vegetable broth to make it vegan and serve with garlic bread for a warming meal.
04 of 17
Rigatoni Bake With Ground Beef and Cheese
A classic pasta dinner is made all the more comforting when it's turned into a baked casserole. Cooked pasta is combined with browned ground beef, canned tomatoes, and cheese for this family-friendly rigatoni bake.
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Vegan Tofu Tikka Masala
Tikka masala is an Indian dish that's often made with chicken or other meat. This vegan tofu version still has the signature flavors that makes the dish so special thanks to a flavorful marinade and sauce. If you're not vegan you can use dairy yogurt instead.
06 of 17
Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e fa*gioli
Pasta e fa*gioli is an Italian dish that literally means "pasta and beans." This meal-in-a-bowl gets lots of flavor from canned tomatoes, sausage, Italian seasoning, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
07 of 17
Pork and Onion Meatballs With Tomato Sauce
Serve these irresistible homemade meatballs with tomato sauce as an appetizer with grilled bread or a main course with hot, cooked pasta or polenta. The sauce includes chopped sundried tomatoes for an extra punch of flavor.
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Chili Mac
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Bring together beef and bean chili with macaroni and cheese and what do you get? Chili mac. It's as delicious as it sounds and is sure to be a big hit with the whole family. The recipe calls for diced and crushed tomatoes for a nice mixture of textures.
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Spanish Pasta With Chorizo and Tomatoes
For a Spanish take on pasta, combine canned tomatoes with paprika-spiced Spanish chorizo and bell pepper. For a cheesy finish, sprinkle the dish with shaved manchego cheese.
10 of 17
Simple Italian-Style Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Onion, garlic, and stewed tomatoes give tender slow-cooked pot roast and vegetables lots of flavor. Store-bought dry onion soup mix keeps the seasoning simple and the whole dish takes only minutes to prep.
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Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Filled with salty feta cheese and herbs and baked in a simple tomato sauce, stuffed chicken breasts go equally well with freshly cooked pasta as they do with salad and other veggie side dishes. Spaghetti squash is a nice low-carb option.
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Easy Red Lentil and Tomato Soup
This creamy and nutritious lentil and tomato soup requires just a few pantry staples, making it a nice choice for a last-minute winter meal. Drizzle with cream or coconut cream and fresh herbs to dress it up a bit.
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Pork Ragu
Pork shoulder is cooked low and slow until incredible tender with diced vegetables, canned tomatoes, and spices for a pasta night you won't soon forget. For an authentic experience, serve pork ragu over pappardelle (fresh is best).
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Low-Calorie, Almost Fat-Free Vegetable Chili
Packed with beans and veggies like bell pepper, corn, and tomato, this healthy vegetable chili has all of the flavors and textures you'd expect without the meat. You can swap the kidney beans for pinto beans or black beans if you prefer.
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Restaurant Style Salsa
To make salsa just like they serve at your favorite Tex-Mex place, use canned tomatoes. Blended with garlic, onion, lime, and cilantro, it's an extremely easy dip for chips or topping for tacos and burritos.
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Traditional Brunswick Stew With Pork and Chicken
Brunswick stew is a Southern dish that combines several odds and ends into one tasty dish. Chicken and pork are used in this recipe, but game like squirrel and rabbit were traditionally called for. A base of tomatoes and barbecue sauce brings the whole dish together.
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Easy Curried Indian Vegetables
A blend of dried spices is what makes this quick and easy curried Indian vegetables dish stand out. Serve with freshly cooked rice or warm pita or naan for a complete vegetarian meal.