Canned Sardine Recipes (2024)

Home » 25 Tasty Canned Sardine Recipes

by Dana Sandonato//July 15, 2022 (updated May 23, 2023)

Sardine lovers, rejoice! We’ve got 25 canned sardine recipes that will let you enjoy your favorite fillets morning, day, and night.

Table of Contents

Sardines Are Tiny, but Mighty!

It’s no secret that oily fish are a best choice when it comes to heart health—and canned sardines are nutritional powerhouses!

They’re high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which 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.

A lot of canned sardine fanatics are happy to eat them straight out of the can with some crackers, and that’s cool.

But in an attempt to boast how versatile these little fillets are, we’ve collected 25 canned sardine recipes that will give you ideas for any time of the day.

4 Tasty Ways to Start Your Day With Canned Sardines.

Brunch Bagel with Sardines. This bagel is smothered with whipped cream cheese, then topped with crisp veggies and canned Sardines. Healthy, wholesome, and delectable!
Breakfast Egg and Tomato Sardine Sandwich. Who doesn’t love a breakfast sandwich? This one is eggy and drippy and packed with Omega-3s.
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!
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.

5 Glorious Canned Sardine Lunches That Serve as a Fab Pick-Me-Up.

Green Goddess Pita with Sardines. This pita is super filling and refreshing with an easy homespun Green Goddess dressing you’ll CRAVE.
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.
Greek Pita with Sardines. All of the Greek flavors we love rolled up into a wholesome and satisfying pita with canned sardines.
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.
Spicy Sardine Salad Sandwich. Tuna salad can take a backseat for a while, because these sardine salad sandwiches are DELISH.

8 Ways to Put Canned Sardines on Your Dinner Table.

Instant Pot Pesto Pasta with Sardines. A quick and simple 15-minute pasta packed with nutrients! It’s the perfect weeknight fix.
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.
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.
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.
Easy Fish Tacos with Sardines. This recipe is much healthier than your usual deep-fried fish tacos! There’s no cooking required and it’s ready in minutes.
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.
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.
Crispy Fish Po’Boy Sandwiches. 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.

8 Canned Sardine Appetizers Made to Share.

Greens and Beans with Sardines. Greens and Beans, but make it with an extra punch of protein!
Lemon and Dill Pinwheel Sandwiches with Sardines. These brightly flavored pinwheel sandwiches bring sardines to a whole new level.
Quick Tomato Confit on Toasts with Sardines. Easy peasy toasts with tomato confit topped with sardines become a wholesome and nutritious starter.
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!
Spring Snap Pea and Radish Canapés with Sardines. Fresh baguette slices with lemony anchovy butter and topped with crisp radishes, sweet peas, tender brisling sardines, and fresh dill for the perfect spring appetizer.
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.
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!
Crispy Fish Croquettes. Golden crispy fish croquettes made up with canned sardines. Serve them with a tangy mustard sauce for a little extra oomph!

Did You Find This Round-up Useful?
If you enjoyed this collection of canned sardine recipes, please let us know by leaving feedback in the comments section below.
You can also show off your creations on Instagram by tagging @killing__thyme

posted in: Food, Recipe Round-up // 42 comments

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42 Comments on “25 Tasty Canned Sardine Recipes”

April —July 29, 2023 @ 3:05 pm Reply
Wow! I love sardines and had NO idea of being able to put them in such recipes!! I have several bookmarked to try very soon; especially the toasted cheese and the lemon pasta! Thank you
- Killing Thyme —August 1, 2023 @ 1:13 pm Reply
  I hope you love them, April! Keep me posted on what you try :)
Natasha —July 19, 2023 @ 4:37 pm Reply
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!
- Killing Thyme —August 28, 2023 @ 10:14 am Reply
  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!
Fernanda —March 19, 2023 @ 4:27 pm Reply
It’s the brunch bagels for me. Outstanding!
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- Killing Thyme —March 19, 2023 @ 6:53 pm Reply
  They’re SO good! One of my faves.
Tara —March 1, 2023 @ 10:20 am Reply
Such a wonderful collection of recipes to use canned sardines! I especially love the Brunch Bagel with Sardines and Lemon Pepper Pasta with Sardines.
- Killing Thyme —March 19, 2023 @ 6:52 pm Reply
  That bagel is seriously one of my favorites :)
Dannii —March 1, 2023 @ 10:19 am Reply
So much great choice here. I can’t wait to try them.
- Killing Thyme —March 19, 2023 @ 6:52 pm Reply
  Thank you!
Wanda —March 1, 2023 @ 10:11 am Reply
So many options for using sardines and several I have never thought to try before! Thanks for all the great ideas!
- Killing Thyme —March 19, 2023 @ 6:51 pm Reply
  You’re so welcome!
Christina Morris —March 1, 2023 @ 10:05 am Reply
That pita looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
- Killing Thyme —March 19, 2023 @ 6:51 pm Reply
  Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Ilya —February 23, 2023 @ 10:34 am Reply
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!
- Killing Thyme —March 19, 2023 @ 6:51 pm Reply
  Aw, thanks so much, Ilya!
Adrianne —February 6, 2023 @ 7:31 pm Reply
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.
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- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 7:51 pm Reply
  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!
Seema Sriram —February 6, 2023 @ 6:51 pm Reply
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.
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 7:51 pm Reply
  Thank you!
Kathleen —February 6, 2023 @ 6:49 pm Reply
I had no idea you could do so much with canned sardines. looking forward to trying these.
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 7:51 pm Reply
  I hope you find something you enjoy! Keep me posted.
Anjali —February 6, 2023 @ 6:45 pm Reply
This is such a helpful guide to using canned sardines! I didn’t know there were so many different ways to use them in cooking – can’t wait to try these soon!
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 7:50 pm Reply
  They are surprisingly versatile!
Barb —December 15, 2022 @ 10:45 pm Reply
I want to try a bunch of these!
- Killing Thyme —December 16, 2022 @ 10:39 am Reply
  Please let me know if you do!
Chris —October 15, 2022 @ 3:15 pm Reply
So many ways to use Sardines. Can’t wait to try them all out. I feel you can also try them out with canned tuna.
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:36 pm Reply
  Yes! Absolutely you can.
Leila Jean —August 15, 2022 @ 4:32 pm Reply
This is a great compilation. I’m considered the weirdo in my family and loooooove sardines. It’s awesome to see them used in so many different ways.
- Killing Thyme —August 15, 2022 @ 4:39 pm Reply
  Sardines are a miss with so many people! Happy you’ve found this collection :)
Traci —August 3, 2022 @ 6:04 pm Reply
You always kill it with the sardines, girl! What a delicious lineup! Thanks so much for sharing another winner :)
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:36 pm Reply
  Aw, thanks so much, Traci!
Cathleen —August 3, 2022 @ 5:39 pm Reply
I love sardines!! This is the roundup that I needed! Thank you so much for sharing, I am definitely going to be making a lot of these recipes :)
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:38 pm Reply
  Great to hear!
Roxana —August 3, 2022 @ 4:29 pm Reply
Wow, I love this. So many different ways to use sardines. We always have this and its nice to have recipes to try variations.
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:38 pm Reply
  Hope it brings you inspiration!
Andrea —August 3, 2022 @ 4:20 pm Reply
I’m in awe with this list. I can’t wait to get started making these. They all sound fantastic.
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:37 pm Reply
  Thank you!
Andrea —August 3, 2022 @ 3:44 pm Reply
I’ve never made anything with sardines before but these look so good! I can’t wait to try one.
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:37 pm Reply
  Keep me posted!
Tayler Ross —July 27, 2022 @ 4:01 pm Reply
We always have a can of sardines in the pantry, so I’m so glad I’ve happened upon this list! It will be great when I don’t have anything ready for dinner!
- Killing Thyme —February 6, 2023 @ 4:37 pm Reply
  Good luck! Let me know what you try :)

FAQs

What can you do with canned sardines? ›

Sardine recipes

BBQ sardines with chermoula sauce. ...
Sardine pasta with crunchy parsley crumbs. ...
Spicy sardine dip. ...
Sardines & tomatoes on toast. ...
Lemon & marjoram sardines with walnut & pepper dressing. ...
Sardines & peperonata on wholemeal toast. ...
Spicy fennel linguine with sardines & capers. ...
Salsa spaghetti with sardines.

More items...

Show Me More ›

How do you jazz up canned sardines? ›

Sauté in oil, garlic, onions, and tomato with a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Gets rid of fishy smell and taste, and eat with a bowl of rice! Make a dip: Mash together sardines, mayo, chopped parsley, capers, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers and chips.

How do the British eat sardines? ›

Sardines are delicious mashed straight out of the tin on buttered toast or barbecued fresh.

How do Greeks eat sardines? ›

Greeks traditionally consumed the small, cheap fish: sardines and anchovies that also happen to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Typically, sardines are consumed grilled and very often they are cured.

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What is the downside of sardines? ›

Sardines contain healthy nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, calcium and minerals. But they're also high in salt and calories, and have uric acid that isn't good for people with kidney problems or gout.

Keep Reading ›

Is 2 cans of sardines a day too much? ›

Because mercury is nearly all seafood and shellfish, the Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming no more than eight to 12 ounces — or two to three servings — per week for adults.

View Details ›

Which is better, salmon or sardines? ›

Sardines, Pacific (wild-caught)

It packs more omega-3s (1,950 mg!) per 3-ounce serving than salmon, tuna, or just about any other food; it's also one of the very, very few foods that's naturally high in vitamin D. Many fish in the herring family are commonly called sardines.

Get More Info Here ›

Can you cook sardines out of the can? ›

You can toss them on straight from the can, fry them up, or grill them. Either way, sardines make a fun pizza topping. Sardines might not be the first type of seafood that comes to mind when you think about fish tacos, but these small, canned fish work surprisingly well in a tortilla.

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Can you eat canned sardines without cooking it? ›

Eat sardines straight out of the can.

You don't need a complicated recipe to enjoy sardines! Simply grab a fork and eat them straight out of the can for a healthy, protein-packed snack. You could add a drizzle of lemon juice, hot sauce, or balsamic vinaigrette on top if you want.

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Do sardines taste like tuna? ›

Sardines, with their relatively mild, slightly fishy flavor and meaty texture are less polarizing than, say, the salty tinned anchovy. And yet they're also more exciting than the sandwich-staple tuna. Hence, they've become a marquee name in a bona fide tinned fish revival of the last several years.