This Albacore Tuna Recipe transforms premium canned tuna into a cozy, restaurant-worthy chowder. I'm sharing all my best tips to ensure tender, flavorful results that elevate this simple weeknight soup to a dinner you crave.
This recipe is based on a fish chowder I ate so many days in a row in Helsinki, Finland last year. I couldn't wait to get home and make it myself. While traditionally made with fresh salmon, it's become my favorite pescatarian pantry dinner using Wild Planet Albacore Tuna. Each can of this tuna contains a whole tuna steak, making it perfect for a chowder.
Why You're Going to Love This:
- Ready in 30 minutes using pantry staples.
- Restaurant-quality results with canned tuna.
- One-pot comfort food that's actually nutritious.
- Perfect for meal prep - tastes amazing the next day.
For more quick and cozy dishes for soup season, try Maryland Crab Soup, Crawfish Bisque and Lobster Corn Chowder!
Key Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Wild Planet Albacore Tuna - 2 cans are all you need and don't drain them! They're packed in their own juices and it's full of flavor and nutrients.
- Yukon Gold potatoes - or any small, yellow potato. I grabbed a small bag of fingerlings, which sliced beautifully and cooked quickly in the chowder.
- Fresh dill - the best flavor pairing with tuna and creamy chowder! Dried dill week works in a pinch, but reduce to 1 tablespoon. Substitute chives, if needed.
- Stock - vegetable or chicken are the simplest option, although fish or seafood is a great choice if you have them in the pantry.
Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.
Pro Tips:
- Include the juice from the tuna can for extra flavor and nutrients.
- Don't overcook after adding tuna - leave the chowder simmering just long enough to heat the fish.
- Taste before final seasoning - tinned tuna adds salt and flavor!
Can I use regular canned tuna?
Yes, but premium albacore gives better texture and flavor.
No fresh dill?
Use 1 tablespoon dried dill or 2 tablespoons fresh chives or flat leaf parsley.
My chowder is a little too thick or thin?
Adjust the broth with extra milk to thin out the consistency. If the broth is too thin, use a fork to mix together 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of butter until fully combined. Add it to your simmering chowder and stir until melted and thickened.
Quick Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Build chowder
Sautee vegetables. Add broth, cover and simmer.
Step 2: Tuna + Dill
Stir in milk and tuna, simmer until warmed through. Add fresh dill.
Step 3: Garnish and Serve
More dill and lemon zest on each bowl.
30-Minute Wild Albacore Tuna Chowder
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3-4
Description
This easy Albacore Tuna Recipe turns quality canned tuna into a cozy, flavorful seafood chowder. One-pot comfort food ready faster than takeout.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 ¼ cups small potatoes, cleaned and sliced
- ¾ cup celery, diced
- ¾ cup carrots, sliced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups stock (vegetable or chicken)
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cans Wild Planet Albacore Tuna (including the juice in the can)
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
- Lemon zest, for garnish
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté celery, onion and garlic in butter for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add a big pinch of salt and pepper. Add sliced potatoes and carrots. Cook for 2 minutes. Add flour and toss in the veggies, cooking for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in the broth, scraping up any bits at the bottom of the pan. Cover and simmer on medium low for 15 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.
- Stir in milk, then the tuna. Gently break the tuna steak into chunks, stirring carefully. Return to low simmer to thicken the broth, and heat tuna, about 5 minutes. Remove chowder from the heat and stir in half the dill. Then ladle soup into bowls.
- Garnish with a little lemon zest and more dill.
Notes
- Leftover chowder can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat gently to prevent curdling. Add a bit more broth or milk if the chowder is too thick. Garnish with fresh herbs.
- Chowder Pairs Well With: Crusty Garlic Baguette, Simple Tossed Salad, Seasoned Oyster Crackers.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Easy Recipes
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅓
- Calories: 449
- Sugar: 10.4 g
- Sodium: 1546.1 mg
- Fat: 17.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 35.3 g
- Protein: 37.7 g
- Cholesterol: 85.1 mg
christina toth
putting this directly into the soup rotation!
Christina Jolam
Me too...it's a keeper!