This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Sardine lovers, rejoice! This vast collection of canned sardine recipes will let you enjoy your favorite little fillets morning, day, and night. Sardine-topped bagels, healthy wraps, pasta dinners, and stuffed mushrooms—this list has it all.
Table of Contents
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 also incredibly versatile, despite the fact that a lot of fanatics are happy to just eat them straight out of the can. But we’re stepping out of the box. From nourishing omelettes to melty grilled cheese sandwiches, this collection of canned sardine recipes will have you eating them on the regular.
And if you’re inclined to incorporate more fish into your diet, check out these easy salmon recipes!
Is Eating Canned Sardines Good for You?
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.
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 Lunch Ideas
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.
Sardines 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.
Crave-Worthy Appetizers
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
For adults, the FDA recommends an intake of 2-3 servings of sardines per week, which works out to be about 8-12 ounces—even pregnant women. For children, it’s 4-6 ounces.
This is dependant on the type of fish. Some people are safe to eat low-mercury fish on a daily basis. But fish that are high in mercury should not be consumed daily.
Although both options are healthy, sardines are more nutrient-dense. They contain a higher combined omega-3 (DHA and EPA) content than tuna does, as well as more vitamin E and calcium.
More Healthy Fish Recipes to Try…
Fish and Seafood
High-Protein Canned Tuna Bowl
Fish and Seafood
Easy Miso Salmon
Fish and Seafood
Easy Air Fryer Fish Sticks w/ Lemon Tartar Sauce
Fish and Seafood
Crispy Baked Alaska Pollock Recipe
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.
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!
They are surprisingly versatile!
I want to try a bunch of these!
Please let me know if you do!
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.
Yes! Absolutely you can.
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.
Sardines are a miss with so many people! Happy you’ve found this collection :)
You always kill it with the sardines, girl! What a delicious lineup! Thanks so much for sharing another winner :)
Aw, thanks so much, Traci!
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 :)
Great to hear!
Wow, I love this. So many different ways to use sardines. We always have this and its nice to have recipes to try variations.
Hope it brings you inspiration!
I’m in awe with this list. I can’t wait to get started making these. They all sound fantastic.
Thank you!
I’ve never made anything with sardines before but these look so good! I can’t wait to try one.
Keep me posted!
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!
Good luck! Let me know what you try :)