12 au can recipes

Tex-Mex guacamole made with ripe avocados, a can of Rotel tomatoes and chiles, Worcestershire, and a chill in the fridge to let the flavors meld. Crowd-feeding party dip for chips or tacos.

Spagetti sauce with a twist from the Sizzlin' Mexican, this sauce includes beef, black beans and corn!

The Colonel’s Baked Beans used to be baked and made fresh daily. Now there made with a can of Navy Beans made by Hanover and a bag of sauce and precooked frozen bacon. When it is needed, it is just microwave and there you go.

Soysage, a homemade vegetarian sausage steamed in a can from whole wheat, wheat germ, and nutritional yeast, seasoned with fennel, garlic, and cayenne, then sliced and fried crisp. A meat-free breakfast classic.

Vegetarian bean burritos with from-scratch mashed pinto beans and fresh salsa Mexicana made with tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro. No refried beans from a can needed.

Curried fruit compote with peaches, apricots, fresh pineapple, and cantaloupe in a curry-spiced sugar syrup with lime slices. A canning recipe that yields four quarts.

Smoky, velvety tomato soup made with fire-kissed tomatoes, crispy bacon, red wine and a kick of cayenne. Ready in 30 minutes and leagues beyond anything from a can.

Jack's barbecue pintos: dried pinto beans slow-simmered until tender, then finished with sauteed bacon, onions, garlic, and green chilies. Smoky, hearty cookout side that beats anything from a can.

Bacon and cheddar beer soup with sauteed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions, simmered in chicken broth with a can of bacon-cheddar cheese sauce, beer, paprika and a hint of liquid smoke. A hearty pub-style chowder.

Shredded beef burritos stuffed with homemade refried pinto beans, cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, and fresh tomatoes. Includes a from-scratch refried beans recipe with chile powder and cumin that beats anything from a can.

Spicy roasted tomato soup with a horseradish kick, blended silky and served chilled under a bright herb salad of basil, tarragon and chervil. Roasting concentrates the tomatoes for a deep, smoky base that beats anything from a can.

Crispy cornmeal-fried soft shell crab sandwiches on sourdough with smoky chipotle adobo mayo and a citrus bell pepper slaw. A restaurant-quality seafood sandwich you can make at home.