Pumpkin chickpea coconut curry in a bowl. How to make the most of tinned food

Try these recipes using tinned food for easy, budget-friendly meals that seriously deliver on the flavour front.

Cooking with tinned food can produce the most impressive dinners with minimum fuss and without breaking the bank – there’s so much more than baked beans or tuna mayo (although either on a fluffy baked potato is a mighty fine dinner indeed). These recipes have all been created using tins, making them great, tasty options for the whole family that will also help you to save money.

Head to our budget-friendly recipe hub for more money-saving cooking inspiration.

This vegan recipe teams aubergine with tinned black beans, dried lentils and spices to create a daal that is rich, fragrant and ridiculously good. It’s delicious on its own, mopped up with naan, or enjoyed with fluffy rice. 

Anchovies and tomatoes are a match made in heaven in this quick and easy pasta dish – with tinned tuna and a zesty hit of lemon thrown in, it’s a guaranteed winner. 

Put your tinned beans and tomatoes to good use in this hearty alternative to a traditional chilli con carne. The recipe can be switched up depending on what you have, and it’s perfect for batch cooking, too.

This veggie curry heroes tinned food and is full of comforting flavours and beautiful spices. You can also swap in any root veg you already have in the cupboard instead of the pumpkin – perfect!

For a dinner that is packed with flavour and then some, this recipe is it. The combination of anchovies, feta, tinned tomatoes and Kalamata olives, all sitting pretty in a shortcrust pastry case, is one that will have you coming back for more.

Looking for a side dish that will elevate your Sunday roast this weekend? Spicy chorizo, sweet tinned pears and bright red cabbage will add some bold flavours and colour to your table.

The ultimate store-cupboard saviour that’s delicious and nutritious. The lentils are filling and comforting, while the crispy bacon adds a moreish smoky flavour. You can chuck in any leftover veg you might have in the fridge, so it’s a winner on all fronts.

Jamie’s favourite pasta dish, hands down! And it’s so simple to make. Pasta, tinned plum tomatoes, anchovies, garlic and a kick of red chilli – what’s not to love?

This Brazilian-inspired recipe, which uses protein-packed black beans, veggies and aromatic spices, is oh-so delicious. Plus, the dish packs in loads of fibre and four of your 5-a-day, too. Win-win!

Whiz up some chickpeas with tahini and you have the most wonderful creamy houmous – so much better than shop-bought, and more economical, too. Chickpeas are high in protein and fibre, and – with more than 10 micronutrients – this is a great nutritious snack.

While a classic clafoutis is made with cherries, this one uses sweet tinned peaches and is seriously good. Served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, it’s the taste of summer you can enjoy at any time of year.

Hungry for more? Check out our collection of recipes using tinned tomatoes and tinned tuna for more ideas.


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