10 Easy Tinned Fish Recipes for Quick Weeknight Meals
There are some evenings when you want a proper meal, but you don't want to spend an hour in the kitchen.
That's where tinned fish really comes into its own. A tin of sardines, mackerel, tuna or mussels can sit in the cupboard for weeks, ready for the moment when you need something quick. Add some pasta, potatoes, rice, good bread or a few fresh vegetables and dinner is often only minutes away.
And tinned fish doesn't have to mean boring sandwiches or a basic tuna salad. With the right ingredients, it can become a comforting bowl of pasta, crispy fish cakes, a Mediterranean-style lunch or even a sharing board for a relaxed evening.
We've put together 10 easy tinned fish recipes that are simple enough for a weeknight but tasty enough to make you want to cook them again.
1. Easy Tinned Mackerel Pasta with Garlic, Lemon & Herbs
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Mackerel and pasta are a brilliant combination. The rich flavour of the fish works particularly well with garlic, lemon and fresh herbs, while a little pasta water brings everything together.
This is the sort of meal you can make when the fridge is looking a little empty.
Ingredients
200g spaghetti or linguine
1 tin mackerel fillets
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
A small handful of fresh parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon chilli flakes, optional
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a low to medium heat.
Add the chopped garlic and cook gently for about 30 seconds. You want the garlic softened and fragrant, not browned.
Add the mackerel fillets and gently break them into large pieces.
Add the lemon zest and a little lemon juice.
Drain the pasta, keeping a mugful of the cooking water.
Add the pasta to the frying pan and toss everything together.
Add a splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce.
Stir through the parsley and chilli flakes, then season with black pepper.
Serve immediately with another squeeze of lemon.
Serving Tips
A handful of rocket makes a nice addition, particularly if you like a little peppery freshness with your pasta.
For an even easier version, ABC+ Mackerel Fillets Aglio Olio already bring garlic and olive-oil flavour to the dish, making them a handy choice when you want dinner on the table quickly.
2. Tinned Sardines on Toast with Lemon & Tomato
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones you come back to most often.
Good sardines, toasted sourdough, ripe tomato and fresh lemon make an excellent quick lunch or light dinner. There is very little preparation involved, but the combination has plenty of flavour.
Ingredients
2 thick slices sourdough or crusty bread
1 tin sardines in olive oil
1 ripe tomato
½ lemon
Fresh parsley
1 small garlic clove
Black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil, if needed
Instructions
Toast the sourdough until crisp around the edges.
Cut the garlic clove in half and lightly rub it over the warm toast.
Slice the tomato and arrange it over the bread.
Place the sardines on top.
Add chopped parsley and a generous squeeze of lemon.
Finish with freshly ground black pepper.
Add a small drizzle of olive oil if you want a little extra richness.
Serving Tips
Add a few chilli flakes for heat or some thinly sliced red onion for extra crunch.
José Gourmet Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil are particularly well suited to a simple serving like this. You don't need to do much to them; good bread and a squeeze of lemon are often enough.
3. Mediterranean Tinned Fish Salad
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: None
Serves: 2
When you want something fresh and filling without turning on the oven, make a tinned fish salad.
The great thing about this recipe is that there are no strict rules. Use whatever salad vegetables you have in the fridge and change the fish depending on what you're in the mood for.
Ingredients
1 tin tuna or sardines
2 handfuls mixed salad leaves
½ cucumber
1 large tomato
½ red onion
A handful of olives
Fresh parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Black pepper
Salt, to taste
Instructions
Wash and prepare the salad leaves.
Slice the cucumber and red onion.
Chop the tomato into bite-sized pieces.
Place everything in a large bowl with the olives.
Drain the fish if necessary and add it to the salad.
Mix the olive oil and lemon juice together.
Pour the dressing over the salad.
Add parsley and season with black pepper.
Toss gently so the fish stays in good-sized pieces.
Serving Tips
If you're particularly hungry, add boiled baby potatoes or cannellini beans.
For a more substantial version, serve with warm crusty bread.
José Gourmet Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil make an excellent choice when you want to turn this into a more substantial lunch or light dinner.
4. Spicy Sardine Pasta with Garlic, Chilli & Tomato
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2
This is a proper comfort-food recipe that doesn't require much effort.
The tomato gives you a simple sauce, while sardines, garlic and chilli bring the flavour. It's inexpensive to put together and works brilliantly when you need something quick after work.
Ingredients
200g spaghetti
1 tin sardines
200g chopped tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil
½–1 teaspoon chilli flakes
Fresh parsley
Black pepper
Salt
Instructions
Cook the spaghetti in salted water until al dente.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a frying pan.
Add the garlic and chilli flakes and cook gently for around 30 seconds.
Add the chopped tomatoes.
Let the sauce simmer for 8–10 minutes.
Add the sardines and gently break them into smaller pieces.
Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water.
Add the spaghetti to the sauce and toss well.
Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
Finish with chopped parsley and black pepper.
Serving Tips
A little lemon zest works surprisingly well here. If you like a stronger chilli kick, add fresh sliced chilli just before serving. Some toasted breadcrumbs scattered over the top will also give the pasta a lovely crunch.
5. Quick Tinned Tuna & White Bean Salad
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: None
Serves: 2
This is one of those recipes worth remembering.
Tinned tuna and white beans are both useful cupboard staples, and together they make a filling salad with very little preparation.
Ingredients
1 tin tuna
1 tin cannellini or butter beans
½ red onion
1 tomato
A small handful fresh parsley
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Black pepper
Salt
Instructions
Drain and rinse the beans.
Finely slice the red onion.
Chop the tomato.
Add the beans, tomato and onion to a bowl.
Add the tuna and gently mix.
Chop the parsley and add it to the bowl.
Mix the olive oil and lemon juice together.
Pour over the salad.
Season with black pepper and a little salt.
Toss everything together and serve.
Serving Tips
Serve with toasted sourdough or warm flatbread. You can also add olives, capers, cucumber or roasted peppers depending on what you have available.
It's particularly good made ahead and kept chilled for lunch the next day.
6. Tinned Mackerel Rice Bowl with Lemon & Fresh Herbs
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Rice bowls are wonderfully flexible. Once you have the rice cooked, you can use almost any vegetables you have available.
For this version, rich mackerel is paired with crunchy cucumber, grated carrot, spring onions and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
250g cooked rice
1 tin mackerel fillets
½ cucumber
1 carrot
2 spring onions
Fresh parsley or coriander
½ lemon
1 tablespoon olive oil
Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
Slice the cucumber and spring onions.
Grate the carrot.
Divide the cooked rice between two bowls.
Arrange the vegetables around the rice.
Place the mackerel fillets on top.
Add the fresh herbs.
Squeeze over the lemon juice.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Finish with black pepper and serve.
Serving Tips
This is a great recipe for using up leftover vegetables. Have some roasted peppers? Add them. Leftover broccoli? That works too. You could even top the bowl with a fried egg for a more substantial meal.
7. Easy Tinned Mackerel Fish Cakes
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2–3
Fish cakes might sound like a weekend cooking project, but using tinned mackerel makes them surprisingly straightforward.
They're also a good way to turn a couple of simple ingredients into a dinner that feels a little more special.
Ingredients
2 tins mackerel
400g potatoes
1 spring onion
A small handful fresh parsley
1 egg
50g breadcrumbs
Black pepper
Salt
Olive oil for frying
Instructions
Peel the potatoes and cut them into even-sized pieces.
Boil until completely tender.
Drain and leave them for a couple of minutes so excess steam escapes.
Mash the potatoes.
Add the mackerel, sliced spring onion and chopped parsley.
Add the egg and mix gently.
Season with black pepper and salt.
Divide the mixture into six portions and shape into fish cakes.
Coat each one lightly with breadcrumbs.
If you have time, chill them for 15–20 minutes.
Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan.
Cook the fish cakes for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden and crisp.
Serving Tips
Serve with peas, a green salad or steamed vegetables. A simple sauce made from mayonnaise, lemon juice and chopped parsley makes a great accompaniment.
8. Smoked Mussels on Toast with Lemon & Parsley
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2
If you've never tried smoked mussels on toast, this is a good place to start.
The smoky flavour of the mussels works beautifully with crisp bread, fresh lemon and parsley. It's quick enough for a weekday snack but also makes a lovely starter when friends come over.
Ingredients
1 tin smoked mussels
2–4 slices sourdough
1 garlic clove
½ lemon
Fresh parsley
Black pepper
Olive oil, optional
Instructions
Toast the sourdough until golden and crisp.
Cut the garlic clove in half.
Rub the garlic lightly over the warm toast.
Arrange the smoked mussels over the bread.
Add freshly chopped parsley.
Squeeze over lemon juice.
Finish with black pepper.
Serving Tips
FANGST Wood Smoked Blue Mussels are a natural fit for this recipe. For a relaxed sharing plate, cut the toast into smaller pieces and serve with olives, tomatoes, roasted peppers and another tin or two of seafood.
9. Portuguese-Style Sardines with Potatoes & Olive Oil
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Portuguese food often shows how much you can do with a few good ingredients. This simple dish combines sardines with potatoes, red onion, parsley, lemon and olive oil. There's no complicated sauce and very little preparation.
Ingredients
400g baby potatoes
1 tin sardines
½ red onion
Fresh parsley
1 lemon
Extra virgin olive oil
Black pepper
Salt
Instructions
Wash the potatoes and place them in a pan of salted water.
Boil until tender.
Drain and allow them to cool slightly.
Cut the potatoes in half.
Arrange them on a serving plate.
Add thinly sliced red onion.
Place the sardines over the potatoes.
Scatter over the chopped parsley.
Drizzle generously with olive oil.
Finish with lemon juice and freshly ground black pepper.
Serving Tips
Serve with crusty bread and a simple green salad. For a different flavour, use sardines in tomato sauce instead of sardines in olive oil. Nuri Sardines in Tomato Sauce can bring a richer tomato flavour to the dish.
10. Easy Tinned Seafood Tapas Board
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: None
Serves: 2–4
Not every quick dinner needs a recipe. Sometimes the best option is to open a few tins, put them on the table with good bread and let everyone help themselves.
A tinned seafood board is particularly good for Friday nights when you want something relaxed rather than sitting down to a formal meal.
Ingredients
Choose three or four tins of seafood, such as:
Sardines
Tuna
Tuna belly
Smoked mussels
Anchovies
Then add:
Crusty bread
Olives
Cherry tomatoes
Roasted peppers
Pickles
Lemon wedges
Fresh herbs
Extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Choose a selection of seafood with different flavours and textures.
Slice the bread and arrange it on a large board.
Open the tins shortly before serving.
Place the seafood around the board.
Fill the gaps with olives, tomatoes, peppers and pickles.
Add lemon wedges and fresh herbs.
Put everything in the middle of the table and let everyone build their own plate.
Serving Tips
Try not to choose tins that are all very similar. A combination of sardines, tuna, smoked mussels and anchovies gives everyone something different to try.
For a more indulgent board, José Gourmet Tuna Belly, FANGST Wood Smoked Blue Mussels and Olasagasti Cantabrian Anchovies make a lovely combination.
How to Make Tinned Fish Taste Even Better
You don't always need a complicated recipe to enjoy good tinned seafood. A few simple ingredients can make a big difference.
Lemon
A squeeze of fresh lemon is one of the easiest ways to brighten sardines, mackerel, tuna and mussels.
Fresh herbs
Parsley is a particularly useful cupboard-fridge combination for tinned fish recipes. Coriander, basil, dill and chives can work too, depending on the fish and the rest of the dish.
Garlic
Garlic and tinned fish are a natural pairing. Add it to pasta, rub it over toast or use it in a simple dressing.
Chilli
If you enjoy a little heat, chilli flakes or fresh chilli can transform a simple tin of sardines or mackerel.
Good bread
Never underestimate the importance of bread.
A slice of properly toasted sourdough can turn a tin of sardines or smoked mussels into a satisfying meal. It's also perfect for soaking up the olive oil or sauce left in the tin.
Potatoes
Boiled, roasted or pan-fried potatoes work with almost every type of tinned fish. They're particularly good with sardines and mackerel.
Final Thoughts
A well-stocked cupboard can make weeknight cooking much easier, and tinned fish deserves a place in it.
These recipes are deliberately simple. You don't need specialist cooking equipment or a long list of ingredients. Start with a good tin of seafood, add a few fresh ingredients and let the fish do most of the work.
If you're new to tinned seafood, start with something familiar such as tuna or sardines. Once you've found what you enjoy, try mackerel, smoked mussels, anchovies or tuna belly and experiment with different flavours.
At Tin Fish Pantry, we bring together premium tinned fish and seafood from Portugal, Spain and other European producers, including sardines, mackerel, tuna, anchovies and mussels.
So the next time you're staring into the kitchen wondering what to make for dinner, don't overlook the tins in the cupboard. A good tin of fish, some crusty bread and a squeeze of lemon might be all you need.
