30 Recipes With Canned Tomatoes

If you are like me, you have a big stash of canned tomatoes in your pantry. Crushed canned tomatoes (in juice and puree), whole canned tomatoes, diced canned tomatoes, petit diced canned tomatoes — I use them all! Of course, they are amazing in pasta sauces, but they are also the base for so many other recipes.

Turkey meat sauce over penne pasta on plate

You can find canned tomatoes with reduced salt, no salt, with basil or other herbs added in, and maybe other seasonings like garlic. Also, let’s not forget about canned tomatoes with chilis, great for Mexican recipes. Pick the type that’s best for your recipes and your family. Sometimes tomatoes might be packaged in cartons instead of cans.

Storing Canned Tomatoes

Canned tomatoes will usually last for at least 6 months after the “best by” date. Make sure the cans aren’t dented, and store them in a cool place. Once opened, any leftovers should be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated. They will stay good for up to a week.

San Marzano tomatoes from Italy are D.O.P protected, from the San Marzano region. They are prized for their sweet flavor and firmer texture. They are more expensive, but if you’re going for optimal tomato flavor (sweet, rich in taste, with just the right amount of acidity), they will deliver.

I use canned tomatoes in chilis, stews, soups, braises, and more. During the winter months, when fresh tomatoes are…disappointing, at best, this is the way I keep tomatoes in the dinner rotation. In fact, canned tomatoes are better for cooking than fresh, in most cases, because they have been peeled and processed with heat before being canned.

There is always a dinner to be made when you have this staple in stock. This list of canned tomato recipes will keep things hearty and interesting week after week.

Also see what to do with leftover tomato paste!