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Photo: Caitlin Bensel
One thing you may not know about canned tomatoes is that they typically go from the field to the canin a matter of hours, meaning they are picked at their peak freshness and preserved for maximum flavor and nutrition. This is one of the reasons that canned tomatoes are my go-to unless tomatoes are in-season where I live, which is only a few months in the summertime. Not only are they delicious, but they’re alsopacked with nutrientslike fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and the antioxidantlycopene, which helps keep your heart healthy.Canned tomatoes are also incredibly versatile and lend themselves to everything from soups to casseroles to pastas. When I’m in a pinch for dinner, I know I usually have the ingredients for our Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach (I like the sub in frozen spinach, too). And this winter, our Spaghetti Squash Soup with Sausage has become a new staple in my house. Pro tip: I like tobuy my canned tomatoes at Costcobecause they have a no-salt-added option that’s a fraction of the price of a can from a traditional grocery store. I hope these recipes inspire you to stock up on (and use) more canned tomatoes, and for more budget-friendly cooking tips and recipes, check outThrifty.
One thing you may not know about canned tomatoes is that they typically go from the field to the canin a matter of hours, meaning they are picked at their peak freshness and preserved for maximum flavor and nutrition. This is one of the reasons that canned tomatoes are my go-to unless tomatoes are in-season where I live, which is only a few months in the summertime. Not only are they delicious, but they’re alsopacked with nutrientslike fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and the antioxidantlycopene, which helps keep your heart healthy.
Canned tomatoes are also incredibly versatile and lend themselves to everything from soups to casseroles to pastas. When I’m in a pinch for dinner, I know I usually have the ingredients for our Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach (I like the sub in frozen spinach, too). And this winter, our Spaghetti Squash Soup with Sausage has become a new staple in my house. Pro tip: I like tobuy my canned tomatoes at Costcobecause they have a no-salt-added option that’s a fraction of the price of a can from a traditional grocery store. I hope these recipes inspire you to stock up on (and use) more canned tomatoes, and for more budget-friendly cooking tips and recipes, check outThrifty.
01of 14Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & SpinachSimmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes.View Recipe
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Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
Simmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes.
View Recipe
02of 14Spaghetti Squash Soup with SausageCaitlin BenselThis easy soup is a great way to showcase the versatility of spaghetti squash. Sweet Italian sausage pairs well with the subtle sweetness of the squash. The broth that coats the thin strands of spaghetti squash is flavorful and light.View Recipe
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Spaghetti Squash Soup with Sausage
Caitlin Bensel
This easy soup is a great way to showcase the versatility of spaghetti squash. Sweet Italian sausage pairs well with the subtle sweetness of the squash. The broth that coats the thin strands of spaghetti squash is flavorful and light.
03of 14Easy Chicken Tikka MasalaThis full-flavored, deeply spiced chicken tikka masala comes together in just 30 minutes. You’ll want to add it to your weeknight dinner rotation ASAP.View Recipe
03of 14
Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
This full-flavored, deeply spiced chicken tikka masala comes together in just 30 minutes. You’ll want to add it to your weeknight dinner rotation ASAP.
04of 14Easy Chicken Enchilada CasseroleKatie WebsterCasseroles make perfect meal-prep dinners, and this enchilada version is no exception. The whole casserole can be built and left to hang out in the refrigerator for up to three days—just bake it off on a busy night and you have a healthy, easy dinner on the table in no time. The quick homemade enchilada sauce in this recipe is great when you don’t have any of the canned sauce on hand; just season crushed tomatoes with spices and salt for an instant enchilada sauce.View Recipe
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Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Katie Webster
Casseroles make perfect meal-prep dinners, and this enchilada version is no exception. The whole casserole can be built and left to hang out in the refrigerator for up to three days—just bake it off on a busy night and you have a healthy, easy dinner on the table in no time. The quick homemade enchilada sauce in this recipe is great when you don’t have any of the canned sauce on hand; just season crushed tomatoes with spices and salt for an instant enchilada sauce.
05of 14Chhole (Chickpea Curry)This healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, this dish is a comforting and delicious dinner.View Recipe
05of 14
Chhole (Chickpea Curry)
This healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, this dish is a comforting and delicious dinner.
06of 14One-Pot Beans & Rice with Corn & SalsaThis one-pot dinner is like a deconstructed burrito bowl–especially when topped with salsa, sliced avocado or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a cool, creamy accent. You can also enjoy it as a meal on its own, or as a vegetarian taco or burrito filling or a side dish on taco night.View Recipe
06of 14
One-Pot Beans & Rice with Corn & Salsa
This one-pot dinner is like a deconstructed burrito bowl–especially when topped with salsa, sliced avocado or a dollop of Greek yogurt for a cool, creamy accent. You can also enjoy it as a meal on its own, or as a vegetarian taco or burrito filling or a side dish on taco night.
07of 14One-Pot Pasta With Spinach & TomatoesCaitlin BenselThis one-pot pasta dinner is simple, fresh, and healthy—what’s not to love? Cooking the pasta right in the sauce saves time and cleanup while infusing the noodles with more flavor. This speedy recipe is also endlessly adaptable, and lends itself to plenty of easy ingredient swaps (make sure to check out the clever riffs below). Change up the spinach for any vegetables you have on hand such as sliced zucchini and mushrooms, or add leftover chicken or cooked and crumbled sausage. We’ve happily embraced whole-wheat spaghetti as a healthier alternative to white pasta; it works especially well in this one-pot application.View Recipe
07of 14
One-Pot Pasta With Spinach & Tomatoes
This one-pot pasta dinner is simple, fresh, and healthy—what’s not to love? Cooking the pasta right in the sauce saves time and cleanup while infusing the noodles with more flavor. This speedy recipe is also endlessly adaptable, and lends itself to plenty of easy ingredient swaps (make sure to check out the clever riffs below). Change up the spinach for any vegetables you have on hand such as sliced zucchini and mushrooms, or add leftover chicken or cooked and crumbled sausage. We’ve happily embraced whole-wheat spaghetti as a healthier alternative to white pasta; it works especially well in this one-pot application.
08of 14Cheesy Marinara BeansPhotography / Nico Schinco, Food Styling / Frances Boswell, Prop Stylist / Paige HicksThis ooey-gooey dish has baked-pasta vibes but features protein-packed beans instead of noodles. Look for dried corona beans, a larger, creamy white bean, at natural-foods stores or online. Cannellini are a good substitute. Serve with a green salad and toasted baguette.View Recipe
08of 14
Cheesy Marinara Beans
Photography / Nico Schinco, Food Styling / Frances Boswell, Prop Stylist / Paige Hicks
This ooey-gooey dish has baked-pasta vibes but features protein-packed beans instead of noodles. Look for dried corona beans, a larger, creamy white bean, at natural-foods stores or online. Cannellini are a good substitute. Serve with a green salad and toasted baguette.
09of 14Easy Vegetarian ChiliCanned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit—sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.View Recipe
09of 14
Easy Vegetarian Chili
Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit—sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.
10of 14Lasagna SoupThis quick and healthy lasagna soup recipe has all the comforting flavors of classic lasagna with plenty of tomatoes, Italian turkey sausage and lasagna noodles broken into bite-size bits. A dollop of ricotta cheese mixed with mozzarella and Parmesan adds a creamy finishing touch. Serve the soup with a green salad and crusty bread to sop up what’s left in the bowl for an easy healthy dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.View Recipe
10of 14
Lasagna Soup
This quick and healthy lasagna soup recipe has all the comforting flavors of classic lasagna with plenty of tomatoes, Italian turkey sausage and lasagna noodles broken into bite-size bits. A dollop of ricotta cheese mixed with mozzarella and Parmesan adds a creamy finishing touch. Serve the soup with a green salad and crusty bread to sop up what’s left in the bowl for an easy healthy dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
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Chickpea Dumplings in Curried Tomato Sauce
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Clean-Out-the-Fridge Vegetable Stew
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Slow-Cooker Arroz con Pollo (Chicken & Rice)
14of 14Tuscan White Bean SoupA pound of dried beans is the inexpensive foundation for this simple, hearty meal. Serve it with slices of whole-wheat bread or a side salad for a complete and satisfying lunch or dinner.View Recipe
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Tuscan White Bean Soup
A pound of dried beans is the inexpensive foundation for this simple, hearty meal. Serve it with slices of whole-wheat bread or a side salad for a complete and satisfying lunch or dinner.
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