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Home » Ingredient » Fruit » Canned Tomato Recipes (Quick, Easy and Delicious Dishes Using Canned Tomatoes)

Canned Tomato Recipes (Quick, Easy and Delicious Dishes Using Canned Tomatoes)

February 23rd, 2022 | 12 Comments

Canned tomato recipes are one of the best tools for a home cook. You’ll be able to create so many dishes using quality canned tomatoes.  Save this list and refer to it whenever anyone asks: “What’s for dinner?”

two bowls of pasta sauce

Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Due to my passion for quality Italian tomatoes, I was asked to collaborate with the Greatest Tomatoes From Europe and I 🖤 San Marzano DOP campaigns, and I now work with them in promoting their canned tomatoes. As always, all opinions are my own.

greatest tomatoes from Europe

I’m excited to share this canned tomato information and recipe list with you as I think it will be a game changer for you when you realize the difference that quality canned tomato products will make.

mixing sauce with penne pasta

How to Buy Quality Canned Tomatoes

When choosing your canned tomatoes, what do you look for? Do you just buy the same brand you’ve always used just because they are familiar? I am going to ask you to step out of your comfort zone for a minute, but if you trust me, I think this will change your life in a good way. 

Ciao Italian tomatoes in a can
Look for this brand. Ciao tomatoes are one of the best.

If you have followed me for any length of time, you know my biggest mantra is to tell you to use the best quality ingredients you can find for any and all of your cooking and recipes, right? Well, one of the most important ingredients that I use on a regular basis is canned tomatoes. They are a staple in my pantry.

4 cans of Italian tomatoes
Photo Courtesy of What a Girl Eats (see note below about San Marzano DOP tomatoes)

Some of you may be thinking, “why does she used canned anything if she’s always saying to used the best quality ingredients”? Well, when we’re not in tomato season, which is a short two or three months of the entire year, the next best option is quality canned tomatoes from Europe. I’ve always preferred Italian canned tomatoes, but after visiting the Ciao tomato factory in Italy last year, I can tell you that quality is the number one priority at all the factories we visited (colleagues visited other factories).

Ciao tomato factory inside

Harvested at the peak of freshness and canned within hours of leaving the fields, these tomatoes grow in the best conditions under the Italian sun. If you’re used to adding sugar to cut down the acidity in your canned tomatoes, this is something you simply won’t need to do anymore. I ask you to visit the Greatest Tomatoes From Europe‘s website to learn more about these marvelous canned tomato products.

mutti cherry tomatoes

Look for the brand names listed below (just a few of the many, but more easy to source) next time you’re shopping for canned tomatoes for your pantry, and please let me know if you taste the difference in the outcome of your recipes. You can also visit the Greatest Tomatoes From Europe website to see the complete list of companies that are approved quality tomato producers. I’m going to bet that if you’re not already using these brands, or other quality Italian tomatoes, you’re going to be writing to thank me. 

  • Ciao
  • Carmelina 
  • Fontanella
  • Mutti (their purée in glass jars is popular, too)
  • La Doria
  • La Valle

You may see “Pomodori pelato di Napoli” which means “peeled tomatoes of Naples” on cans; this is a good sign. Consider this another stamp of approval.

Do Italian Canned Tomatoes Contain BPA?

Also, for those of you concerned about BPA in the lining of cans, I went straight to the source to ask about this, and this is the response from CIAO. ”

All Ciao cans are white enamel-lined and BPANI (BPA not intended). This is the technical way of saying BPA free, legally. I’m not sure what other information I can provide other than a technical sheet form the can manufacturer, but as far as I know, the entire industry has moved to this standard. We were probably one of the first ones because we started using the BPANI cans many years ago.”

Note: Pomodori San Marzano Dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP are the top quality Italian tomatoes, and as long as you see this name and two seals, you are guaranteed you are getting a certified product. However, the brands above produce pomodorini (cherry tomatoes), passata (purée), whole, chopped, crushed and more, so you can choose the type that best suits your cooking needs.

I have arranged the recipes below according to the following categories: Soups, Tomato Sauces, Pasta Recipes with Sauces, Baked Main Course Meals, Vegetarian, Seafood, Meat and Poultry, however, some are interchangeable (for example vegetarian soup, or a seafood pasta recipe with sauce) so check the entire list as I only posted each recipe in one category.

Canned Tomato Recipes (Quick, Easy and Delicious)

Curated by Christina Conte 

Soups Using Canned Tomatoes

creamy tomato basil soup using a canned tomato recipe
Photo courtesy of What a Girl Eats
  • Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

closeup easy tortilla soup in a bowl

  • Quick and Easy Tortilla Soup

winter soup with tortellini
Photo courtesy of What a Girl Eats
  • Winter Tortellini Vegetable Soup

 

spoonful of tomato turmeric soup using a canned tomato recipe

  • Quick Tomato and Turmeric Soup

 

Authentic Pasta and Beans aka Pasta e Fagioli

  • Pasta and Beans (More like a soup than a pasta dish)

 

Tomato Sauces

spaghetti sauce using a canned tomato recipe

  • Spaghetti Sauce with Only 6 Ingredients

 

wooden spoon with tomato sauce using a canned tomato recipe

  • Authentic Quick Italian Tomato Sauce 

bolognese sauce
Photo courtesy of Culinary Ginger
  • Traditional Bolognese Sauce

 

best pizza sauce recipe

  • Best Pizza Sauce Recipe (No Cook)

 

Pasta Recipes with a Tomato Sauce

spicy penne pasta on a fork using a canned tomato recipe

  • Penne Arrabbiata

 

penne alla vodka with cheese and parsley

  • Penne alla Vodka

 

Fusilli with Pumpkin and Sausage using a canned tomato recipe

  • Fusilli with Pumpkin and Sausage (and Tomato Sauce)

 

Baked Main Course Meals 

Pasta al Forno using a canned tomato recipe

  • Pasta al Forno

 

lasagna on a plate with an Italian napkin using a canned tomato recipe

  • Traditional Italian Lasagna

 

cannelloni on a plate using a canned tomato recipe

  • Three Cheese Manicotti

 

Vegetarian Recipes

italian cabbage and rice using canned tomato recipe

  • Italian-Style Cabbage and Rice

 

baked zucchini on a plate

  • Zucchini Lasagna

 

vegetarian cassoulet
Photo courtesy of Cooking on the Weekends
  • Vegetarian Cassoulet 

 

hidden zucchini pasta

  • Hidden Zucchini Pasta

 

shakshuka
Photo Courtesy of Little Ferraro Kitchen
  • Vegetable Shakshuka with Feta Cheese

 

ratatouille
Photo courtesy of Panning the Globe
  • Ratatouille

 

fava beans and tomatoes in a bowl with bread

  • Fava Beans and Tomatoes

 

Italian potato recipe
Photo courtesy of She Loves Biscotti
  • Italian Potato Recipe

 

Seafood Dishes Using Canned Tomatoes

Oven baked fish on a plate

  • Oven-Baked Fish with Tomatoes

 

Cioppino overhead shot

  • Cioppino -Italian American Seafood Stew

 

Greek baked fish
Photo courtesy of Scrummy Lane
  • Greek Baked Fish

 

Seafood Sauce using a canned tomato recipe

  • Paccheri with Seafood Sauce

 

monkfish stew
Photo courtesy of Mad About Macarons
  • Monkfish Stew (Substitute Mahi-Mahi , too)

 

Mussel pasta in a bowl using canned tomatoes

  • Mussel Pasta

 

Meat and Poultry Using Canned Tomato Recipes

chicken cacciatore using a canned tomato recipe

  • Chicken Cacciatore

 

meatball in tomato sauce

  • How to Make Meatballs in Sauce

 

sloppy joes
Photo courtesy of The Dizzy Cook
  •  Healthy Sloppy Joes

 

texas brisket chili
Recipe courtesy of Urban Cowgirl Life
  • Texas Brisket Chili

 

bowl of chili
Photo Courtesy of Tao of Spice
  • Spicy Pork Chili

 

osso buco

  • Pork Osso Buco – Sous Vide

 

chicken tikka masala and rice using a canned tomato recipe
Photo courtesy of Culinary Ginger
  • Chicken Tikka Masala 

Dessert

 

Tomato topped cheesecake
Photo courtesy of the Greatest Tomatoes From Europe

 

  • Tomato Cheesecake 

✧

I hope this is a list of canned tomato recipes that you will refer to often,
and you and your family will enjoy!

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I am paid by the Greatest Tomatoes From Europe and I <3 San Marzano DOP. The company promoting these campaigns found me because I was already promoting their product. All opinions are solely my own.

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Course or Meal, Fruit, Ingredient, Main Courses, Soups, Vegetables · Canned Tomatoes

Reader Interactions

12 Responses

  1. Peggy says:
    February 28, 2022 at 10:17 am

    We always keep canned tomatoes in our pantry, and with this fabulous array of recipes, I’ll put some of them to good use soon. I think I will start with the turmeric and tomato soup. So good and nutritious on a cold day!

    Reply
  2. June says:
    February 27, 2022 at 7:54 am

    Wow. What a brilliant informative email. I haven’t seen many Italian canned tomatoes in stores but maybe I’ve not paid sufficient attention. I haven’t used canned tomatoes for quite some time but will now have a good look! Your recipes are superb so I’m off to one or two supermarkets to have a good look. June.

    Reply
  3. Frank @Memorie di Angelina says:
    February 27, 2022 at 6:01 am

    Indeed, where would be without canned tomatoes? I enjoy all the brands mentioned except Fontanella, which I haven’t seen around here. Curious now to give it a try.

    Btw, this post reminds me that I once had a reader comment that if I used canned tomatoes for tomato sauce I might as well just use jarred sauce. Can you believe it?

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      February 27, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      Oh, there are many more good brands, Frank. Well, some people need a little educating, and unfortunately, he didn’t know that you are one of the best there is. His/her loss. Keep doing what you’re doing!

      Reply
  4. Colleen says:
    February 27, 2022 at 2:50 am

    I totally agree with you on this subject. I have always used the familiar named cans of tomatoes. And then several years ago, I bought a couple of cans of Mutti brand. Wow! Such a difference in flavour. They are a little pricier, but, I keep my pantry stocked with them now. I have never heard of the Ciao brand here in Canada, but I will make a list of the brands you have mentioned and see what’s out there. Even Walmart has an International aisle with an Italian section, so I will see what they have too. Thanks so much for this and your great recipes!

    Reply
  5. Martha says:
    February 27, 2022 at 1:26 am

    I live in the UK although I am originally from NY where Italian food is so good. I now see Mutti brand on Amazon here and some Mutti sauces in the supermarkets at a cost but have not seen Ciao brand. There is also a brand called Coppola on Amazon. I could look into some of the online Italian shops. I do try and use the very best tomatoes, (San Marzano when I can). I love your recipes with your Italian/Scottish background and your link to both America and the British Isles! It makes for an interesting mix of recipes. I got hooked on your site when I made your Sicilian orange cake. I absolutely adore that!

    Reply
  6. Anna says:
    February 25, 2022 at 8:57 am

    I’m so glad to read this important information about the best and authentic tomatoes from Europe, I’m sure it will help many people that have no idea about the real product. I have been aware for some, I do appreciate learning more, I’m very conscious about food. Thank you Christina.

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      February 25, 2022 at 9:12 pm

      Thanks, Anna. I’m so glad you agree and are aware of some food labeling.

      Reply
  7. Valentina says:
    February 24, 2022 at 11:37 am

    I’m totally sold and will be stocking my pantry with them. Such a great, informative post. Thank you. How can I ever use other canned tomatoes now? All of the recipes you included look and sound delicious and thanks for sharing one of mine. :-) Valentina

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      February 25, 2022 at 9:11 pm

      Thanks Valentina! I am so glad.

      Reply
  8. Jill is Mad About Macarons says:
    February 24, 2022 at 5:05 am

    You’re right! I’m indeed going to thank you, Christina – as I didn’t know about the website with approved canned/tinned tomatoes. That’s so interesting. Especially, as living in France we don’t have access to that many brands it seems. I did a big shop at one of our supermarkets this morning and as usual, there is only Mutti on the shelves to choose from. Suits me fine as they’re good.
    What a delicious round-up of recipes too. Thanks so much for including my French fish stew and for adding the mahi-mahi alternative x

    Reply
    • Christina says:
      February 24, 2022 at 11:36 am

      I’m surprised that you don’t have many brands of Italian tomatoes to choose from in France. I hope this brings awareness to others around the globe, as well as in the US.

      Reply

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Meet Christina

A Scottish Italian cook living in Los Angeles, Christina is usually cooking, baking or (cr)eating something scrumptious. When she isn't in the kitchen, she loves to travel, near and far, as long as good food is involved. Christina is on a mission to save authentic Italian dishes from extinction, and is constantly promoting Scottish (and British) food as some of the best cuisine the world has to offer—one steak pie and sticky toffee pudding at a time.



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