25 Things to Make with Canned Tomatoes

Don’t get us wrong, we love a good homemade pasta sauce made from canned tomatoes (we’ve even included a few here) but this pantry staple is far more versatile. You can use canned tomatoes for everything from Tex-Mex rice casseroles to shakshuka.

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Shakshuka

Whether you prefer it for brunch or breakfast-for-dinner, shakshuka is always a good idea. Marc cooks the eggs in a French-inspired tomato sauce, which is ideal for mopping up with pita or crusty bread.

Get the Recipe: Shakshuka

Minestrone Soup

This healthy soup uses two types of canned tomatoes (diced and crushed) to achieve just the right texture. Added bonus: It’s extra hearty thanks to other pantry staples: beans and pasta.

Get the Recipe: Minestrone Soup

Roman-Style Chicken

Canned tomatoes are the secret sauce (literally) in this fan-favorite recipe. Combine them wine, herbs and prosciutto for the most delicious accompaniment to pan-seared chicken.

Get the Recipe: Roman-Style Chicken

Marinara Sauce

There may be many ways to make marinara sauce, but Ina Garten's five-star recipe relies on red wine and garlic for a full-bodied flavor. The sauce is a bit chunky thanks to chopped onions and crushed tomatoes.

Get the Recipe: Marinara Sauce

Mexican Rice Casserole

If you haven’t been making this cheesy, Tex-Mex-inspired rice casserole whenever you serve tacos or quesadillas, you’ve been missing out! Canned tomatoes with spicy green chili peppers give it just the right amount of kick.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Rice Casserole

The Best Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is thought to have been created by a Bangladeshi chef in Glasgow in the 1960s. It's a spicy, tomato-based dish seasoned with garlic, ginger, fenugreek and garam masala. In this recipe we used fenugreek leaves for their nutty and slightly minty flavor. If you can't find them, substitute dried mint leaves and a pinch of ground fenugreek. Garam masala is a popular Indian spice blend that usually includes black and white pepper, cloves, cinnamon, mace, cardamom, bay, cumin and coriander. It's pretty easy to find in your local grocery store and most national spice companies.

Get the Recipe: The Best Chicken Tikka Masala

One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

You can have this creamy and comforting pasta with chicken on the table in just 30 minutes and best of all, it all cooks in one pot -- you won't even need to boil water first! It's packed with tender chicken thighs, bell peppers, and onions, and finished off with a creamy tomato sauce.

Get the Recipe: One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

Manicotti

Thanks to canned tomatoes, a great marinara sauce is never far away. The tomatoes get simmered with garlic, basil and thyme, then baked with pasta in this cheesy Italian dish.

Get the Recipe: Manicotti

Lightened Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan

Canned tomatoes serve at the sauce for this lightened-up comfort food, which is equally delicious served plain or sandwiched between a whole-wheat hoagie roll.

Get the Recipe: Lightened Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan

Ratatouille Soup

Turn canned tomatoes and seasonal produce into a savory, comforting soup.

Get the Recipe: Ratatouille Soup

Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Eggplant

Have leftover tomato-eggplant soup at home? Put it to good use with Ina's easy and cheesy pasta bake! She combines the soup with cooked pasta, tops the dish with cheese and bakes it until hot, bubbly and golden-brown.

Get the Recipe: Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Eggplant

Lasagna

Anne's decadent, multilayered lasagna is perfect for a Sunday family dinner. Loaded with cheese, zucchini, mushrooms and chunky Italian sausage, this classic dish ensures your daily dose of protein and vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Lasagna

Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs

Cooking for two? Ree's spaghetti dinner makes the perfect amount to share with someone special.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs

Steakhouse Pasta

Ree’s taken everything you love about a steakhouse dinner and combined it into this meaty pasta dish. A simple sauce, made with canned, diced tomatoes brings it all together.

Get the Recipe: Steakhouse Pasta

Pasta and Beans: Pasta e Fagioli

For a bowl of hearty comfort, make Rachael's take on her grandfather's favorite soup. Thanks to shortcuts, like canned tomatoes and beans, her dish comes together in just 20 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Pasta and Beans: Pasta e Fagioli

Chicken Tortilla Dump Dinner

All your favorite Tex-Mex flavors in a comforting casserole that's fast and easy to throw together? No, it’s not too good to be true! Just make sure you use canned tomatoes with chiles for that sweet-and-spicy flavor you crave.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Dump Dinner

Tuscan Bean Soup

Three cans of beans add texture and heartiness to Ree’s Italian-inspired soup.

Get the Recipe: Tuscan Bean Soup

Simple Bolognese

Giada's meaty pasta sauce is made all in one pot. Be sure to break up any large clumps when sauteing to fully incorporate the meat with the tomatoes, basil and parsley.

Get the Recipe: Simple Bolognese

Chicken Tortilla Soup

We always keep a few cans of fire-roasted tomatoes in the pantry and this recipe gives us the perfect excuse to use them. These charred tomatoes add a nice smoky flavor to quick-and-easy chicken tortilla soup.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Canned tomatoes, chicken, pasta, mozzarella: Giada uses just a handful of basics to make this hearty and family-friendly meal.

Get the Recipe: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Everything Jambalaya

If you’ve got canned tomatoes, then you’re one step closer to Rachael’s easy jambalaya. If you’re cooking completely from pantry and freezer staples and don’t have the andouille or shrimp, feel free to swap them out with whatever you have on hand. Other sausages and proteins like chicken work just as well.

Get the Recipe: Everything Jambalaya

Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

The best part of this chili recipe? You just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it go. But be sure to leave the chili powder until the end; this ensures that the spices remain bright and vibrant rather than dull and bitter.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Chicken Enchiladas

Tyer's enchiladas are taken to the next level by a juicy chicken filling, which he achieves by combining shredded chicken with canned tomatoes, corn and fiery green chiles.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

Tomato-Peanut Soup

Peanuts and curry powder may not be ingredients you typically use to make tomato soup, but once you try it, you may never go back to regular tomato soup again.

Get the Recipe: Tomato-Peanut Soup

Easy Chicken Curry with Vegetables

Despite what you might think, you don’t need a ton of ingredients to make a terrific curry. Prepared curry paste brings lots of flavor while canned tomatoes (combined with coconut milk and chicken stock) cook down into the perfect sauce.

Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Curry with Vegetables