Canned Salmon Recipes: 10 Cheap Salmon and Tuna Meals, Priced

Quick answer: The best canned salmon recipes are salmon patties, salmon fried rice, lemon salmon pasta, no-cook salmon salad and salmon potato chowder. With canned tuna, make tuna patties, tuna noodle casserole or tuna rice bowls. We priced all 10 meals below at one Walmart on October 17, 2026, at $0.91 to $1.86 a serving.¹

If your can of salmon came from a food bank, the rest of each recipe costs $0.13 to $0.73 a serving.¹ You can find food pantries with canned goods in every state.

Why do food banks give out canned salmon?

It comes from USDA. Canned pink salmon in 14.75-ounce cans is on USDA's fiscal year 2027 list of foods for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).² The same can is on the list for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the program behind senior food boxes.³

Canned tuna is not on either list, so pantry tuna comes from donated or purchased food instead.²³ In PantryPath's directory, 3,065 of 7,566 confirmed pantries list canned goods, and 499 mention CSFP or senior food boxes.⁴

Read our senior food box guide to see what else comes in a box, the CSFP guide for who qualifies, or the TEFAP guide for how USDA food reaches pantries.

What do the 10 recipes cost per serving?

Tuna patties are the cheapest at $0.91 a serving, and salmon potato chowder costs the most at $1.86.¹ The fish is most of the cost in every salmon recipe, so a free can changes the math.

Recipe	Serves	Per serving	Per serving if the fish is free
Salmon patties	4	$1.38	$0.14
Salmon fried rice	4	$1.65	$0.41
Lemon salmon pasta	4	$1.59	$0.35
Salmon salad and crackers	4	$1.54	$0.30
Salmon potato chowder	4	$1.86	$0.62
Tuna noodle casserole	6	$1.05	$0.73
Tuna patties	4	$0.91	$0.19
Tuna rice bowls	4	$1.14	$0.42
Tuna salad and crackers	2	$1.34	$0.38
Sardines on crackers	1	$1.23	$0.13

Source: PantryPath price check of Walmart.com prices for store #3081, Sacramento, California. Fish, saltines, mayonnaise and lemon juice priced October 17, 2026; other staples October 14, 2026. Prices vary by store and change often.¹

How much does canned salmon cost compared with tuna?

Ounce for ounce, canned salmon cost about 75% more than canned tuna at the store we checked.¹

Can	Size	Price	Per ounce
Great Value pink salmon	14.75 oz	$4.97 (in a 4-pack)	33.7¢
Bumble Bee pink salmon	14.75 oz	$5.68 (in a 3-pack)	38.5¢
Great Value chunk light tuna in water	5 oz	$0.96	19.2¢
Chicken of the Sea sardines in olive oil	3.75 oz	$1.10	29.3¢

Walmart.com, store #3081, October 17, 2026. Single 14.75-ounce salmon cans were not for sale online that day, so the salmon price is the multipack price divided by the number of cans.¹

Do you have to drain canned salmon and remove the bones?

Drain it, but you do not need to rinse it or pick out the bones.⁵ Canning softens the bones, and mashing them in adds calcium.⁵ The skin also softens, so you can mix it in or lift it out.⁵

Canned salmon is fully cooked, so you can eat it straight from the can.⁵ Pink salmon has a light color and mild flavor, and red (sockeye) salmon has a stronger color and flavor.⁵ Either works in every recipe here.

How do you make salmon patties from canned salmon?

Mix one drained can of salmon with an egg, cracker crumbs and onion, then pan-fry until golden. These old-fashioned salmon patties are also called salmon cakes or salmon croquettes.

1. Old-fashioned salmon patties ($1.38 a serving)

You need: 1 can (14.75 oz) pink salmon, 1 egg, ¼ sleeve saltine crackers (1 oz), 1 small onion (minced), 2 tablespoons oil, salt and pepper.

Drain the salmon. Mash it in a bowl with a fork, bones and all.
Crush the crackers and mix them in with the egg and onion. If the mix is wet, add a few more crumbs.
Press into 8 small patties about 1 inch thick.
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes per side.⁵

Because the patties contain raw egg, cook them to 160°F in the center.⁶ Serves 4. For baked salmon patties, use a greased sheet pan at 400°F, flip once, and check for the same 160°F. Air fryer salmon patties work the same way. Leftover cooked fresh salmon can replace the can.

How do you keep salmon patties from falling apart?

Use a good binder: the egg and crumbs hold the patties together. Use a wide spatula and flip only once the bottom is browned. The three core ingredients in this easy salmon patty recipe are fish, egg and crumbs. One slice of bread torn into small pieces can stand in for the crackers.⁵

What else can you make with canned salmon?

Use canned salmon anywhere you would use tuna or cooked chicken: in fried rice, pasta, salads and soups. Each recipe below uses one 14.75-ounce can, the size food banks receive.²

2. Salmon fried rice ($1.65 a serving)

You need: 1 can pink salmon (drained), 1½ cups uncooked rice, 3 eggs, half a 12-oz bag frozen peas, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder.

Steps: Cook the rice and let it cool. Scramble the eggs in the oil, add the rice, peas and garlic powder, and stir-fry 5 minutes. Fold in the salmon and soy sauce and heat through. Serves 4.

3. Lemon salmon pasta with peas ($1.59 a serving)

You need: 8 oz spaghetti, 1 can pink salmon (drained), 2 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons bottled lemon juice, half a 12-oz bag frozen peas, 1 teaspoon garlic powder.

Steps: Boil the spaghetti, adding the peas for the last 2 minutes. Drain, keeping ½ cup of the water. Toss with the butter, garlic powder, lemon juice, salmon and enough pasta water to coat. Serves 4.

4. No-cook salmon salad and crackers ($1.54 a serving)

You need: 1 can pink salmon (drained), 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 oz minced onion, 2 sleeves saltine crackers.

Steps: Mash the salmon with the mayonnaise, lemon juice and onion. Scoop onto crackers, bread or a tortilla wrap. Serves 4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.⁵

5. Salmon potato chowder ($1.86 a serving)

You need: 1 can pink salmon (with its liquid), 1½ lb potatoes (diced), 1 small onion, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 cups milk, 1 cup water, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, 1 teaspoon garlic powder.

Steps: Soften the onion in the butter. Add the potatoes, water and garlic powder, cover, and simmer 15 minutes until tender. Add the vegetables, milk and salmon, and heat without boiling. Serves 4.

What can you make with canned tuna?

Canned tuna works the same ways, for less money: casseroles, patties, rice bowls and no-cook salads. The recipes below use 5-ounce cans of chunk light tuna in water.¹

6. Tuna noodle casserole ($1.05 a serving)

You need: 12 oz egg noodles, 2 cans (5 oz) tuna (drained), 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup milk, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas, 1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar.

Heat the oven to 375°F. Boil the noodles until just tender and drain.
Stir the soup and milk together, then fold in the noodles, tuna and peas.
Spread in a greased 9-by-13-inch dish and top with the cheese.
Bake about 20 minutes, until bubbling and the cheese melts.

Serves 6. Reheat leftovers to 165°F.⁶ Our cheap dinner ideas include a tuna melt and a second tuna noodle bake, priced the same way.

7. Tuna patties ($0.91 a serving)

You need: 3 cans (5 oz) tuna (drained), 2 eggs, ¼ sleeve saltines (crushed), 1 small onion (minced), 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons oil.

Steps: Mix everything but the oil and shape 8 small patties. Fry over medium heat until browned on both sides and 160°F in the center.⁶ Serves 4.

8. Tuna rice bowls ($1.14 a serving)

You need: 3 cans (5 oz) tuna (drained), 1½ cups uncooked rice, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons soy sauce.

Steps: Cook the rice and steam the peas. Mix the tuna with the mayonnaise and soy sauce, and spoon over the rice and peas. Serves 4.

9. Tuna salad and crackers ($1.34 a serving)

You need: 2 cans (5 oz) tuna (drained), 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 oz minced onion, 1 sleeve saltines.

Steps: Mix and serve on crackers or bread. Serves 2. This one needs no stove.

10. Sardines on crackers ($1.23 a serving)

You need: 1 can (3.75 oz) sardines, ¼ sleeve saltines, 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Steps: Lay the sardines on the crackers and add the lemon juice. Serves 1. You can also mash sardines into any salmon recipe above.

Is canned salmon healthier than canned tuna?

Per serving, canned pink salmon has more calcium, vitamin D and omega-3 fats than canned light tuna, and tuna has fewer calories.⁷

3 oz, drained	Protein	Calcium	Omega-3 (EPA + DHA)
Pink salmon	19.6 g	241 mg	0.92 g
Light tuna in water	16.5 g	14 mg	0.19 g
White (albacore) tuna in water	20.1 g	12 mg	0.73 g
Sardines in oil, with bone	20.9 g	325 mg	0.83 g

Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy, per-100-gram values scaled to 85 grams (3 ounces). Calories per 3 ounces: pink salmon 117, light tuna 73, albacore 109, sardines 177.⁷

The FDA rates fish for regular eating. Salmon, sardines and canned light tuna are "Best Choices," and albacore tuna is a "Good Choice."⁸ For people who are or may become pregnant or breastfeeding, the advice is 2 to 3 servings a week from the Best Choices list, with 4 ounces as one serving.⁸

Does canned tuna or salmon go bad?

Not for years if the can stays sealed. Unopened canned salmon keeps three to six years.⁵ USDA gives low-acid canned goods 2 to 5 years on the shelf, and tuna in pouches 18 months.⁹ The date on the can is for quality, not safety.⁹

After opening: refrigerate canned salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 days.⁵ You can freeze it too.⁵
Small dents: safe if the can is otherwise in good shape. Throw out deeply dented cans.⁹
Never use: cans that leak, bulge or spurt liquid when opened, or food with a foul smell.⁹

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat canned salmon straight from the can?

Yes. Commercial canning heats food in sealed containers to 250°F, which leaves it commercially sterile.⁹ You can eat canned salmon cold from the can.⁵

Is canned tuna cooked?

Yes. Canned tuna goes through the same 250°F canning process, so it is safe to eat without heating.⁹ Recipes with raw egg, like tuna patties, still need to reach 160°F.⁶

Can you use canned salmon like tuna?

Yes. Swap one 14.75-ounce can of salmon for about three 5-ounce cans of tuna in any recipe here. Salmon costs more per ounce but adds more calcium and omega-3 fats.¹⁷

Is canned salmon good for kids?

Salmon is on the FDA's Best Choices list for children.⁸ The FDA puts a child's serving at about 1 ounce at ages 1 to 3, 2 ounces at 4 to 7, 3 ounces at 8 to 10, and 4 ounces at age 11.⁸ Mash the soft bones well for small children.

What spices go well with salmon patties?

Garlic powder, black pepper, hot sauce, lemon juice and minced onion all work, and all are cheap pantry staples. University of Missouri Extension's version adds 1 tablespoon each of mayonnaise and lemon juice, plus minced celery and carrot.⁵

Which canned salmon recipes need no eggs?

The salmon salad, lemon salmon pasta and salmon chowder above use no eggs. Canned salmon is already cooked, so these only need to be mixed or heated through.⁵

How we checked this

On October 17, 2026, we read USDA's fiscal year 2027 foods lists for TEFAP (updated October 16, 2026) and CSFP (updated August 10, 2026).²³ We took handling tips from University of Missouri Extension, safety rules from USDA and FoodSafety.gov, and fish advice from the FDA.⁵⁶⁸⁹ Nutrition values come from USDA FoodData Central.⁷

We priced the recipes from Walmart.com listings for store #3081 in Sacramento, California, reading prices online, not in the store. Fish, saltines, mayonnaise and lemon juice were priced October 17, 2026, and 15 other staples on October 14, 2026.¹

We counted only the share of each package a recipe uses, counted a small onion as 4 ounces and a teaspoon of garlic powder as 0.1 ounce, and used USDA's weight of 185 grams for a cup of uncooked rice.¹⁷ Salt, pepper and water are not counted. We did not cook or taste-test these recipes for this article.

We queried the PantryPath directory the same day (confirmed listings with a name, city and state, n=7,566).⁴

Next step: find a pantry with canned goods, and see our canned beans recipes for the rest of the bag.