Canned foods often end up gathering dust at the back of the pantry, only to be retrieved way past their expiration date. But that doesn’t have to happen; they can be put to good use to make meal preparation easy and convenient. Using various canned ingredients, one can whip up quick and delicious dishes from breakfast to dinner, from canned fruit with oatmeal and chickpea stew or hummus to slow cooker ragu.
Canned fruit with oatmeal
Having oatmeal for breakfast is one of the most nutritious ways to start the morning. It is a power-packed, hearty option that provides enough protein and fiber to stay full until quite late. Besides, it is one of the easiest breakfasts to whip up in a rush before heading out for the day. What makes oatmeal an ideal breakfast option is its versatility. There are several ways to customize it with various toppings and additions. Whether having overnight oats or a steaming bowl of oatmeal, adding canned fruits will make breakfast prep easier and quicker. It is one of the easiest canned food meals to have. Several options, from berries to cherry, apple, and peach pie fillings, can be added to a bowl of oatmeal.
7-can soup
This is one of the quickest canned food recipes that can be made at home. This canned food dinner idea is for those days when there is less time to make a meal, and nothing in the freezer seems inspiring enough. With this recipe, dinner can be on the table in under 30 minutes. To make it, pour out about a 15-ounce can of corn, chili, kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, tomatoes, and tomatoes with green chiles and liquid included into a pot. Set the pot on a stove with high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and lower the heat to let it simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Add some salt and pepper to taste. Dice or grate some cheese and stir it into the soup right before serving.
Slow cooker ragu
This canned food recipe can be a lifesaver when looking to get veggies to the family table. This ragu meal uses canned carrots, mushrooms, and tomatoes for the tomato sauce, which is delicious and nutritious. For this recipe, start by heating some oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper. Then, add some tomato paste and thyme, cook, and combine everything well. Slowly deglaze the pan with half a cup of low-sodium beef broth. Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker, and stir in canned tomatoes, ground pork, and ground beef sirloin, preventing any lumps from forming. Close the cooker and cook for up to six hours on high heat or up to ten hours on low heat. When about two hours remain on the timer, pause the cooking and add canned mushrooms and carrots. Once done, serve over pasta.
Moroccan chickpea stew
This hearty and budget-friendly canned recipe takes less than half an hour to make. It can be easily added to a busy weeknight dinner menu. The recipe uses many wholesome ingredients, such as warm spices, veggies, and squash.
To make this, use a Dutch oven or a deep casserole dish. Heat some oil in the pot over medium heat, and add in squash, onions, and red pepper. Cook and stir for about five minutes before adding in ground cinnamon, pepper, ground ginger, ground cumin, and salt. Let all the seasonings blend well with the onions and squash. Then, slowly add the cans of chickpeas, tomatoes, and water until it comes to a boil. After this, lower the heat and cover the pot to let it simmer. Cook until the squash has a tender consistency. Top it off with some fresh cilantro and serve.
Easy vegetable potpie
When thinking about quick canned meal prep, include this easy vegetable potpie on the weekly dinner menu. This meatless dish comes together in no time, which means it can be made on those hectic Monday nights, too. Besides, it is kid-friendly, making it a wholesome one-pot meal for the family.
For this recipe, start by preheating the oven to about 375 degrees. Then, in a large skillet, melt some butter on medium heat and add three cups of frozen or canned mixed veggies and a can of drained lentils. Combine everything and stir in a couple of spoons of all-purpose flour. Slowly whisk in a cup of chicken or vegetable broth. Bring everything to a boil and stir continuously until the liquids start to thicken up.
Stir in some mustard, French four spice mix, and salt, and transfer this to a pie plate and cover it with a ready-made pie crust. Trim, cut the crust, and brush it with oil before sprinkling some parmesan on the top and baking until the crust is golden.
Mediterranean pasta with tuna and tomatoes
Canned tuna is mostly used as a sandwich filling. But this canned food dish can easily transform canned tuna into something exotic yet nutritious. Start by boiling the pasta of choice according to the instructions in the package, and reserve about a quarter cup of pasta water before draining off the rest. Heat some oil in a large skillet. Add canned tomatoes with the juice, canned olives, capers, and pasta water, and bring to a boil. Once the boiling starts, add the cooked pasta, tuna, and tuna liquid. Lower the heat and stir to break up the tuna lumps; add any herbs of choice, such as parsley and oregano. Sprinkle some lemon zest and juice for added flavor, and add salt and pepper to taste.
