Our 15 Best Canned Salmon Recipes

Yummy and easy ways to use this pantry staple

Salmon Ochazuke (Rice With Tea) in a bowl

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Cooking from the pantry can be a challenge, but our best canned salmon recipes make it a cinch. All you need is a can of salmon, and a few more supporting ingredients, to whip up satisfying weekday lunches, pleasing party appetizers, elegant brunch ideas, and nutritious family dinners with these budget-friendly recipes.

  • 01 of 15

    Smoked Salmon Dip

    Smoked Salmon Dip topped with dill

    The Spruce Eats / Crystal Hughes

    Salmon and cream cheese are classic bagel toppings, so why not mix them together along with all of the other delicious toppings like capers, red onion, and dill and form a spread? Smear it on top of an everything bagel or you can use it as a dip for bagel chips or crackers. This recipe uses smoked salmon, but swap in a smoked canned salmon for an even easier appetizer.

  • 02 of 15

    Salmon Ochazuke (Rice With Tea)

    Salmon Ochazuke resting in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

    Salmon ochazuke is a traditional Japanese dish of steamed rice served in a small rice bowl, topped with grilled salmon and tea. Essentially, ochazuke is a simple, Japanese rustic soup of rice with tea. For this salmon ochazuke recipe, simply use the best canned salmon you can find and indulge in all the flavors.

  • 03 of 15

    Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes With Salmon

    Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes With Salmon

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

    Upgrade the typical holiday scalloped potatoes, and turn them into a satisfying weeknight supper, with our seafood-themed recipe. By adding canned salmon, and cream of mushroom soup, this rich side dish becomes a tasty main that is quick and easy to put together. Using the crockpot means you can leave it to cook for several hours, and come home to a satisfying, creamy meal.

  • 04 of 15

    Baked Salmon Loaf

    A baked salmon loaf cut into slices

    The Spruce Eats

    Move over, meatloaf. There's a new, lighter dinner loaf in town. We make use of convenient, budget-friendly canned fish to create a pleasing salmon loaf that can be sliced and served for supper. Plate it with mashed potatoes, and your choice of green vegetable, for a complete and nutritious family dinner.

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.
  • 05 of 15

    Salmon Stuffed Peppers

    Salmon Stuffed Peppers resting on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Sonia Bozzo

    Salmon stuffed peppers with a crispy, buttery breadcrumb topping are an excellent solution to the weeknight dinner dilemma. Ready in just over half an hour, these baked stuffed peppers with a creamy, hearty filling of salmon, eggs, onions, and seasonings are easy, filling, and quick to prepare. Best of all, they use basic ingredients you probably stock already in your kitchen.

  • 06 of 15

    Salmon Quiche

    A salmon quiche with a slice cut out

    The Spruce Eats / Ana Zelic

    Brunch just got a lot more delicious with our easy and elegant salmon quiche. Adding a can of salmon to the classic rich, savory egg custard filling for quiche is a clever way to win your next brunch gathering. You could make your own pastry crust to use in this recipe, or save yourself the trouble and pick up a pre-baked crust from the store.

  • 07 of 15

    Baked Salmon Croquettes

    Baked salmon croquettes resting on parchment paper

    The Spruce Eats

    When you need a budget-conscious party appetizer, look no further than these crispy salmon croquettes. They are a lot like crab cakes, but are made with budget-conscious canned salmon, and baked instead of fried, so they are healthier. Prepare the patty mixture a day ahead, and bake just before guests arrive, for a low-fuss party starter. Serve with tartar sauce for dipping.

  • 08 of 15

    Salmon Noodle Casserole

    Salmon Noodle Casserole on a white plate

    The Spruce Eats / Qi Ai

    On busy days, you can still serve your family a soul-satisfying meal with our easy salmon noodle casserole. Comforting and creamy, with plenty of good nutrition from canned salmon and green bell pepper, and an indulgent sauce made with canned soup and cheddar cheese, it comes together in just a few steps for the oven. Freeze it ahead for an anytime one-dish family meal.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.
  • 09 of 15

    Salmon Cucumber Sandwiches

    A plate with small salmon cucumber sandwiches

    The Spruce Eats / Elizabeth Briskin

    Take any tea party to new heights with salmon cucumber sandwiches. They are a breeze to make with go-to pantry ingredients, including canned salmon, and soft white bread or sandwich buns, and deliver fantastic crunch. A little lemon juice and fresh dill added to the yogurt-mayonnaise mixture is all that is needed to make drained and flaked salmon sing.

  • 10 of 15

    Creamy Salmon Chowder

    Overhead of a creamy salmon chowder

    The Spruce Eats

    On a cold or rainy night, treat yourself to a warming bowl of creamy and comforting fish chowder. Our easy, hearty salmon chowder can be made with canned or fresh salmon, and includes plenty of good-for-you veggies, plus a good amount of cheddar cheese. Serve it for a light lunch or dinner with crusty bread or rolls, and a side green salad.

  • 11 of 15

    Party Salmon Cheese Ball

    a party salmon cheese ball with sliced carrots and crackers

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    Give friends and family an old-school treat at your next gathering with our retro-inspired party cheese ball. Adding canned salmon and horseradish to the cheesy spread makes this appetizer a bit more elegant, and the vintage presentation keeps it fun. Serve it surrounded by crackers, crudites, or toast points for dipping.

  • 12 of 15

    Salmon Souffle With Fresh Herbs

    Salmon Souffle With Fresh Herbs

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Fancy trying your hand at a savory souffle? Our tasty salmon souffle with fresh herbs is a fabulous place to start. It's simpler to prepare than you might guess, and uses basic pantry ingredients to produce a sophisticated, light and airy dish. Serve it straight from the oven for a special lunch or party dish that always impresses.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.
  • 13 of 15

    Cheesy Salmon Casserole With Peas

    A cut of cheesy salmon casserole with peas on a plate

    The Spruce Eats

    Introduce a new family favorite meal with this tasty and cheesy salmon casserole. The one-dish comfort food dish comes together in a snap with convenient ingredients, including canned fish, condensed cream of mushroom soup, shredded cheddar cheese, and thawed frozen peas, and is hot and ready for the table in about an hour.

  • 14 of 15

    Salmon Melts

    A plate with a salmon melt cut in half

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Use canned salmon to make nostalgic salmon melt sandwiches that will remind you of childhood. Packed with generous amounts of seasoned canned fish, the sammies are generously topped with a pile of gooey, melted cheese, to make a delicious, balanced casual meal. Prep the salmon filling ahead, if you like, for quick assembly. You can also make these sandwiches open-faced.

  • 15 of 15

    Panko-Crusted Salmon Cakes

    Overhead of Panko-crusted salmon cakes on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    Salmon cakes are a great way to use leftover cooked salmon, but it's even easier with canned salmon. The flaked fish is combined with minced green onion, fresh parsley, eggs, panko breadcrumbs, and a little cayenne for a kick if you like. After the mixture is formed into patties, the cakes are chilled to assure they won't fall apart; then they are pan-fried until nice and crisp.