43 Recipes You Can Make With a Can of Diced Tomatoes

Your pantry is a treasure trove. You've got cans of diced tomatoes and cans of beans and cans of tuna and bags of rice. But beyond a pot of chili, what can you make with a can of diced tomatoes? A lot, it turns out. We've got recipes for pantry pastas and a few different types of chili, of course, but also tomato-enriched taco fillings, Instant pot stews, easy soups, and even salsa that doesn't require any fresh tomatoes. There are so many great recipes here that you may find that it's time to restock your canned tomato stash sooner rather than later.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/43Pantry Pasta Puttanesca
Having diced tomatoes and a few other pantry staples stocked at all times means this classic Italian pasta recipe will always be a dinner option.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/43Salsa de Árbol
This super-easy salsa recipe starts with a can of diced tomatoes (fire-roasted are ideal) and a few dried chiles. Drizzle it on tacos, scrambled eggs, or just dip your chips.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/43Lentil Bolognese
This earthy pasta sauce has a touch of bacon but no other meat. The flavor comes from marinated lentils and a big can of diced tomatoes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton4/43Four-Cheese Manicotti
A spoon works fine for stuffing the manicotti noodles, but a piping bag—while it may seem fussy—makes quicker work of the assembly.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson5/43Greek-Style Shrimp Pasta With Kale
This pasta is so packed with vegetables and shrimp that it's a complete, satiating meal—despite using half the normal serving size of noodles.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell6/43Chickpea Crepe "Tacos" With Eggplant and Lamb
Thin, naturally grain-free chickpea flour pancakes take the place of tortillas in these warmly spiced lamb and eggplant “tacos.”
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog7/43Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup With Bean and Cheese Nachos
This weeknight-friendly soup is enriched by the flavor of smoky chipotles, brightened by fresh lime, and ready in just 22 minutes or less.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson8/43Sunday Stash Marinara Sauce
A quick tip: if you're puréeing the sauce anyway, it doesn't really matter what kind of canned tomatoes you're using. So while this recipe calls for whole tomatoes, it's just as good made with diced.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/43Goat Birria Tacos With Cucumber Pico de Gallo
Birria is usually served with a side of consomé, the rich pan juices from the roasted meat. This recipe takes things a step further by puréeing those juices with roasted vegetables and dried chiles.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Jennifer Ophir10/43Very Versatile Baked Beans With Cabbage
Onions, garlic, cabbage, and tomatoes melt into a thick rich blanket of sweet richness for these hearty baked beans.
Photo by Alex Lau11/43Cheesy Baked Pasta With Cauliflower
This recipe calls for canned cherry tomatoes, but if you can't find them, diced tomatoes make an excellent stand-in.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi12/43Egg Curry with Tomatoes and Cilantro
While this easy curry is super satisfying served over rice or with naan, we wrapped it in some leftover crepes for a convincing dosa-like experience.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton13/43Braised Rotisserie Chicken With Bacon, Tomatoes, and Kale
Bring store-bought rotisserie chicken back to life with the flavor of a slow-cooked braise in a fraction of the time.
Photo by Shutterstock14/43Instant Pot Slow-Cooked Ground Beef and Cocoa Chili
Slow-cooking and chili-making are a match made in heaven.

The Editors of Epicurious

Kendra Vaculin

Anna Stockwell

Joe Sevier