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Sardine people, this one’s for you. A whole lineup of canned sardine recipes so you can eat those tender little fillets morning, noon, and night. Think: bagels with sardines, a quick and healthy Greek pita with sardines, pasta dinners that feel way fancier than they are, even stuffed mushrooms (yes, really). Basically, if you love sardines, you’ll be very busy.
We all know oily fish are basically the gold standard for heart health, and canned sardines? Absolute powerhouses. Sure, plenty of sardine loyalists are perfectly happy eating them straight from the can (respect), but I’ve gone a little further. From nourishing omelets to melty grilled cheese, this lineup of canned sardine recipes might actually have you craving them on the regular.
And if you’re looking to bring more fish into the mix, I’ve got a bunch of easy salmon recipes you’ll want to bookmark, too. A few of my personal faves include these air fryer salmon bites, this family-friendly miso salmon, and, for a quick bite, cottage cheese toast with salmon.
Are Canned Sardines Actually Healthy?
Yes! They are high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which can help prevent heart disease, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. They can also reduce the risk of blood clots and help to lower blood pressure.
Canned Sardine Recipes for Breakfast
These fillets make for a delicious and nutritious way to start the day.
Brunch Bagel with Sardines
This brunch bagel is smothered with whipped cream cheese, then topped with crisp veggies and brisling Sardines.
Easy Fisherman’s Eggs
These Easy Fisherman’s Eggs are protein-packed thanks to canned sardines, eggs, and fresh veggies. Serve them with arugula and toast for a complete breakfast or brunch!
Breakfast Egg and Tomato Sardine Sandwich
Who doesn’t love a breakfast sandwich? This one is eggy and drippy and packed with Omega-3s.
Fisherman’s Huevos Rancheros
This recipe takes the concept of Fisherman’s Eggs and marries it with the beloved huevos rancheros, and it’s a WIN.
Canned Sardine Recipes for Lunch
Move over, tuna sandwiches! These sardine recipes make for some pretty awesome lunch options.
Cheddar Jalapeño Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Sardines
Because grown ups like grilled cheese sandwiches, too! This one is ooey gooey perfection with a little kick from the jalapeños.
Green Goddess Pita with Sardines
This pita is super filling and refreshing with an easy homespun Green Goddess dressing you’ll CRAVE.
Spicy Sardine Salad Sandwich
Tuna salad can take a backseat for a while, because these sardine salad sandwiches are DELISH.
Spicy Tostadas with Sardines
Crispy corn tortillas are topped with refried beans, quick-pickled onions, juicy tomatoes, cotija cheese, and brisling sardines that have been packed with punchy jalapeño peppers.
Greek Pita With Sardines
All of the Greek flavors we love rolled up into a wholesome and satisfying pita with canned sardines.
Canned Sardine Recipes for Dinner
Believe it or not, canned sardines can create a complete meal! They add a lot to a pasta dish and go beautifully with rice.
Instant Pot Pesto Pasta with Sardines
A quick and simple 15-minute pasta packed with nutrients! It’s the perfect weeknight fix.
Dirty Rice With Sardines
Get your tastebuds ready: this Dirty Rice is a delicious spin on the classic Louisiana dish with shrimp and meaty sardine fillets.
Tex Mex Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Sardines
Tex Mex Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Sardines give you a healthy dose of protein, fiber, and Omega-3s.
Crispy Fish Po’boy Sandwiches with Lemon Tarragon Mayo
These Crispy Fish Po’boy Sandwiches are slathered with lemon tarragon mayo and stuffed with tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and homemade fish cakes made from boneless and skinless sardines.
Lemon Pepper Pasta with Sardines
Bright and lemony is the name of the game here. This 30-minute pasta is tossed with garlic, lemon juice, arugula, and peppery sardines.
Fish Tacos With Jalapeño Sardines
This recipe is much healthier than your usual deep-fried fish tacos! There’s no cooking required and it’s ready in minutes.
Instant Pot Spanish Rice With Sardines
Rice is pressure cooked in broth with tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and a blend of aromatic spices. Once the rice is ready, fold in some delicious sardines for protein.
Seafood Stuffed Peppers with Sardines
These low carb seafood stuffed peppers are brimming with fragrant basmati rice, sautéed veggies, meaty shrimp, and sardines in tomato sauce.
Appetizers Using Canned Sardines
Everyone is going to want to munch on these appies! Even people who think they don’t like sardines.
Goat Cheese & Cherry Pepper Crostini with Sardines
Goat Cheese & Cherry Pepper Crostini with Sardines is the perfect holiday appetizer. It’s quick, easy, and calls for just
Crispy Fish Croquettes
Golden crispy fish croquettes made up with canned sardines. Serve them with a tangy mustard sauce for a little extra oomph!
Bang Bang Fish Sliders
These sweet and spicy Bang Bang Fish Sliders are everything you love about Bang Bang Fish Tacos in tiny burger form!
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms With Spicy Sardines
Plump mushroom caps stuffed with garlic, cream cheese, pickled jalapeños, and sardines, and topped with a crumby coating and baked to golden perfection.
Greek Pinwheels with Sardines
A different kind of pinwheel! These are buttery and golden and filled with Greek flavors with pesto, olives, pine nuts, feta, and Mediterranean-style canned sardines!
Quick Tomato Confit on Toasts with Sardines
Easy peasy toasts with tomato confit topped with sardines become a wholesome and nutritious starter.
Lemon and Dill Pinwheel Sandwiches with Sardines
These brightly flavored pinwheel sandwiches bring sardines to a whole new level.
Greens and Beans with Sardines
Greens and Beans, but make it with an extra punch of protein!
Frequently Asked Questions
This totally depends on preference, but the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity. You can enjoy sardines in any form—from sandwiches to pasta dishes.
If you don’t want to cook a whole recipe but want to amp things up, you can place the fillets on a bagel with cream cheese, pop them onto a cracker with pickled vegetables, or throw them into an omelet.
You don’t have to, but if you find the brine too strong or find them too oily, you can give them a quick rinse under cool water and gently pat them dry with paper towels.
If you try any of these canned sardine recipes, please pop back in and leave a 🌟 star rating! And let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Sardines With Pasta + 24 More Canned Sardine Recipes
Ingredients
- 6 oz spaghetti
- 1 can King Oscar sardines with spicy cracked pepper, *See notes
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- 3 heaping handfuls of baby arugula
- Sea salt, to taste
- A generous amount of cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup toasted panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- To toast breadcrumbs, dump the breadcrumbs into a dry pan. Heat the pan on the stove over medium heat, occasionally tossing the breadcrumbs around to prevent burning, until they’re toasty and golden. This should take about five minutes, but keep a close eye on them. When done, set them aside.
- Cook the spaghetti as per the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- While the spaghetti cooks, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and a pinch of salt, and simmer until tender and fragrant—about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the drained sardines to the skillet and, using a spatula or spoon, flake them into chunks, stirring to combine.
- When the sardines are warmed through, which should only take about 2 minutes, transfer the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, parmesan, arugula, and a generous amount of cracked black pepper. Continue to toss to distribute the ingredients evenly. Taste, and add salt as needed.
- At last, toss in the toasted breadcrumbs. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
More Healthy Fish Recipes to Try…
Fish and Seafood
High-Protein Canned Tuna Bowl
Fish and Seafood
Baked Miso Salmon
Fish and Seafood
Easy Air Fryer Fish Sticks
Fish and Seafood
I love all the options. I grew up just eating them with crackers with my Jamaican grandfather. I tried the sardine lemon pasta and it was delicious! So bright! I look forward to experimenting with these other recipes!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the pasta! I love the memories of eating them with your grandfather. Nothing beats a food that invokes memories!
It’s the brunch bagels for me. Outstanding!
They’re SO good! One of my faves.
Such a wonderful collection of recipes to use canned sardines! I especially love the Brunch Bagel with Sardines and Lemon Pepper Pasta with Sardines.
That bagel is seriously one of my favorites :)
So much great choice here. I can’t wait to try them.
Thank you!
So many options for using sardines and several I have never thought to try before! Thanks for all the great ideas!
You’re so welcome!
That pita looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I’ve made the green goddess pita and it was unbelievable. Bookmarked this list so I can make more. You have a talent with sardines!
Aw, thanks so much, Ilya!
Tiny but mighty…I love it! Your photos are beautiful and I am craving sardines now. The Spanish rice and sardines is one that I would like to try, it sounds full of flavour. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Adrianne! That one has gotten quite a bit of love, so it would be a great one to start with. Let me know if you try it!
This is a wonderfully comprehensive list of recipes to try with canned sardines. I am sure each one will turn out as good as in the pictures too.
Thank you!
I had no idea you could do so much with canned sardines. looking forward to trying these.
I hope you find something you enjoy! Keep me posted.