The 20 best recipes that start with a can of tomatoes

Dinner—and yes, even dessert—is just a can or two of tomatoes away.

If you have a can of tomatoes sitting in your pantry, you’re already well on your way to a great meal. There are countless recipes—from tomato sauce to soup—that lean on this cupboard staple, but here are a few of our favorites that readers keep coming back to.

Note: Not all canned tomatoes are created equal. Tomatoes, even those of the same variety, can vary drastically in sweetness and acidity. When cooking with canned tomatoes, pay close attention to their taste—they might need a pinch of salt or a touch of white sugar to bring the flavors into balance.

01 of 20

Best Marinara Sauce Yet

You can’t talk about canned tomatoes without talking about marinara. The sauce is one of the best ways to transform a can of tomatoes into your next meal. No food processor? No problem. A rich, smooth sauce is still achievable without one. Just be sure to crush your tomatoes before cooking them if you are using canned whole tomatoes.

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02 of 20

The Best Vegetarian Chili in the World

“I’ve made this at least a dozen times, and it’s always a hit with the crowd,” said recipe reviewer veggiedancer. “Even my non-vegetarian friends and family love it!” This chili recipe relies on whole peeled tomatoes that tenderize and break into pieces over a low, slow simmer.

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03 of 20

Chef John’s Shakshuka

“With a few eggs, some spices, and canned tomatoes, you can have yourself a hearty meal fit for any time of day. In this dish, eggs are poached in a flavorful, sometimes spicy, plum tomato base before being topped with feta and fresh herbs. Chef John’s recipe adds vegetables to the tomatoes for a thicker, richer sauce.

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04 of 20

Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore, or chicken prepared “hunter-style,” is a Southern Italian dish of braised chicken in a tomato sauce often enhanced by wine. This easy-to-follow Instant Pot version of the rustic dish is a reviewer favorite with almost 250 5-star ratings.

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05 of 20

D’s Famous Salsa

Start with two cans of stewed tomatoes. The rest flows smoothly from there. “The simplicity of this recipe cannot be overstated,” recipe reviewer Mary438 said. “It literally took me less than five minutes. And it’s GOOD!”

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06 of 20

Best Penne alla Vodka

This 5-star vodka sauce recipe can be thrown together in a quick 25 minutes. Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to suit your spice level, but don’t skip the booze. Vodka is just as important as the crushed tomatoes in this recipe. It unlocks the tomatoes’ flavor and adds depth to the sauce.

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07 of 20

Vegan Black Bean Soup

Whip up a batch of this black bean soup the next time you need to have leftovers for a few days. The flavors get better with time, thanks in part to the tang of the crushed tomatoes. Recipe reviewer N Lincoln said, “Really good with a dollop of low-fat plain yogurt, some chopped green onions and cilantro to garnish.”

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08 of 20

Charleston Red Rice

“Very good, [the] closest I’ve found to classic Charleston red rice. I added a diced green bell pepper for texture and a bit of mild spice. Cooked the pepper with the onion in the bacon drippings; it was perfect.” —member Merissa Ellis

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09 of 20

Bow Ties with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cream

Simplicity and flavor are why this recipe has nearly 5 stars from 3,300 reviews. The member who shared the recipe, Linda Caroline, said, “A friend gave this recipe to me a few years back, and my family can’t seem to get enough of it. It sounds strange with cream in it, but that just enhances the flavor and texture.”

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10 of 20

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

“One of the best “King Ranch Chicken” recipes I’ve tried. I used a rotisserie chicken and boiled the bones in store-bought chicken broth, which added flavor… I added the Ro-Tel tomatoes [and the] remaining sauce ingredients to my large skillet and simmered for a few minutes before preparing the casserole.” —Home cook Philip Russell Wahl

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11 of 20

Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce

“Excellent sauce! No cooking was a plus! I didn’t even refrigerate [it], and it was incredible. Most other sauces I’ve tried didn’t come close. Perfect consistency too. I put it on KetoPizza. Wow, was it good!” —member Debbie

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12 of 20

Chicken Sorrentino

“Made this for lunch today. It takes a bit of time but [is] well worth it. The flavor was great and chock-full of good-for-you ingredients. Ate it as is; will add a salad and/or roasted green beans next time to accompany this lovely dish.” —Recipe reviewer Bettina

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13 of 20

Ultimate Crockpot Cowboy Casserole

“Super easy to throw together and packed with flavor! Kept jalapeño on the side so there wasn’t too much heat for my littles. I also made corn bread to go with it. I will absolutely make this again!” —Home cook Kimberly

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14 of 20

Break-Up Pasta

“This is simply delicious. Granted, it is a bit high in fat, but it is excellent. Try balancing out the rest of your meals. Flavor is excellent.” —member GoofyScoop1497

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15 of 20

Indian Tomato Chicken

“Chicken pieces coated with many fragrant spices like turmeric, cardamom, and cloves, then simmered in a tomato sauce. This dish is a family favorite. I have also taken it to potlucks and served it to guests in my home. Everyone asks for the recipe,” said recipe submitter SHECOOKS2. “It is a great slow cooker meal, too.”

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16 of 20

Stuffed Pepper Soup

“Great flavor and filling dinner. This is a great recipe [for] a quick throw-together dinner. I usually have all the ingredients on hand,” says home cook Jaci Jacob Reese. “I did add one more bell pepper and omitted the sage (just don’t like the taste of it in anything). Also used one can of Ro-Tel and one 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes instead of one 28-ounce can of tomatoes. It’s even better the next day.”

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17 of 20

Puerto Rican Canned Corned Beef Stew

“This is an excellent and very filling dinner. I followed the instructions other than adding more veggies (bigger potato, diced carrots, an onion, and a can of tomatos/corn/okra) and extra sofrito as a taste preference,” says member SillyBacon2932. “I don’t care for canned corned beef, but it sort of melts into the sauce….Tonight I’ll add beef and more sautéed veggies to stretch it into another meal. Thank you for sharing!”

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18 of 20

Low Carb Turkey-Stuffed Peppers

“Put a healthier family classic on the dinner table by substituting ground turkey for ground beef and using frozen riced cauliflower instead of high-carb white rice,” says recipe submitter lutzflcat.

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19 of 20

Chef John’s American Goulash

This classic is one of those very simple dishes that doesn’t taste simple. It’s perfect for your weeknight dinner rotation. Chef John calls it “An Americanized version of goulash, like they served in my school cafeteria, invented to stretch a small amount of beef into enough food for a not-so-small family.”

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20 of 20

Easy Tomato Spice Cake

That’s right—tomato cake! “No changes at all. A wonderful cake that everyone in my family enjoys,” says recipe reviewer mimisstuff. “I just tell everyone that it is a spice cake. No details unless they want the recipe. Then the shock sets in. TOMATO SOUP!! ARE U KIDDING ME!”

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