Canned Chicken Recipes are great alternatives to roasted chicken or rotisserie chicken when making quick meals any night of the week. So often, easy meals call for leftover chicken, but what if you don’t have any?
That’s where canned chicken comes in. In as few as 20 minutes and with a few simple ingredients, dinner can be prepped and in the oven (if not on the table!)
Whether your house is filled with kids or it’s just yourself, sometimes busy days call for an easy recipe that’s still satisfying and filling. Explore the below list of canned chicken recipes for the perfect meal tonight.
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What is canned chicken?
Canned chicken is exactly what it sounds like. Similar to canned tuna, canned chicken breast is fully-cooked chicken that’s ready to eat right out of the can. Like any canned good, it lasts a long time, like years!
The best thing about canned chicken is that it’s a pantry staple. Keep a few cans in your cabinet for an easy recipe when you’re in a crunch for time. Some of the below recipes can be ready in as little as 20 minutes.
Appetizers and Snacks With Canned Chicken
For when your friends show up unexpectedly, and you’re short on food, or the kids are cranky and hungry. Whip up one of these canned chicken appetizers in as little as 15 minutes.
Bacon Cheddar Chicken Salad Dip
A great appetizer for any gathering. From the Super Bowl to the Oscars, even Christmas Eve. With pre-cooked canned chicken and shredded cheddar, make this dish come together in no time.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
It might be hard to choose between this buffalo chicken dip and the above bacon cheddar chicken salad dip. This dip calls for three types of cheese, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing. Swap out the cooked chicken for canned chicken and serve with your favorite crackers or bread or veggie such as bell pepper.
Ranch Chicken Rollups
Ranch seems to be a theme in this post. So, make these small and cute, and they're a perfect appetizer. Make these ranch chicken roll-ups larger, and they’re a solid meal. Serve them with a side of soup, or just eat two!
Stuffed Banana Peppers
These stuffed banana peppers are perfect for snacking. Just swap out the Italian sausage in this recipe for canned chicken. This recipe is a fan favorite in our home. They're so good, just make a huge batch of them and eat them for dinner!
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BBQ Chicken Rollups
When you want something hearty but don't want to spend hours making it. These BBQ chicken rollups are perfect. They remind me of BBQ chicken pizza. And who doesn't love BBQ chicken pizza? These rollups are way easier to make. Just canned chicken, BBQ sauce, and shredded cheese rolled up in pizza crust dough.
Canned Chicken Pasta Recipes
Two staples in any household must be chicken and pasta. That’s in my humble opinion. With canned chicken breast and a few other ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, canned chicken pasta recipes come together quickly.
Chicken Alfredo Bake
This chicken Alfredo bake is delicious and super easy to make using canned chicken. It’s easily made either on the stove-top or in your oven. This is a one-pot meal that will leave your family asking for more.
Chicken Noodles Casserole
This canned chicken noodle casserole is creamy, flavorful, and filling. It's one of my go-to easy pasta recipes and takes me right back to my childhood. Will it you?
BBQ Chicken Bacon Pasta
This BBQ chicken bacon pasta is a flavor-packed dish that's easy to make. It's ready in under 30 minutes and can be made using canned chicken. This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight or when you're short on time. It's packed with flavor and sure to be a hit with the whole family.
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Chicken Baked Ziti
This chicken-baked ziti is a quick and easy recipe that's perfect for a busy weeknight. This dish is flavorful, comforting, and sure to be a hit with whoever you put it in front. You can easily make this recipe gluten-free by swapping out the ziti for a gluten-free option.
Canned Chicken Recipes With Rice
There are so many canned chicken recipes with rice that are quick, easy, and delicious. You can make a variety of dishes using canned just canned chicken, rice, and whatever is left in your pantry.
Easy Mexican Rice with Chicken
This Mexican rice dish is so easy to make. It's a one-pot meal that's packed with flavor. It's made even easier when you use a package of taco seasoning. Our go-to is Knorr.
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Broccoli, Rice, Cheese, and Chicken Casserole
This broccoli, rice, cheese, and chicken casserole is a classic comfort food dish. It's a great casserole to be made ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to eat.
Soups, Chilis, and Chowder Recipes
When you’re feeling under the weather or just need a comforting bowl of soup, chili, or chowder, these recipes will hit the spot. They’re easy to make and can be on the table in no time.
Creamy Chicken Soup
Nothing says comfort like chicken noodle soup. But it’s not the fastest thing to make. One way to speed up the process is by using canned chicken instead of taking the time to make it from scratch.
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Chicken Taco Soup
This chicken taco soup, inspired by traditional chicken tortilla soup, is hearty and soul-warming. Serve it as a side dish on a cold winter day or as the main to your meal with a hearty crust of bread or a side of tortilla chips. And don't forget a dollop of sour cream!
Chicken and Dumpling Soup
There is nothing like a piping hot bowl of chicken dumpling soup to warm you up on a cold winter day. Try this recipe that will stick to your ribs when the weather turns chilly.
Chicken Corn Chowder
This recipe for corn chowder is hearty and delicious. Add canned chicken to it to up the protein. It's a great meal for a cold winter day.
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5 Can Slower Cooker Chili
What makes this chili 5 cans? One can of red beans, one can of pinto beans, one can of diced tomatoes. Substitute the beef in this recipe for canned chicken for a healthier version.
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Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
Make this condensed cream of chicken soup for those busy weeknights. You can use this recipe for many of the other canned chicken recipes in this list. Talk about homemade!
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Canned Chicken Wraps and Salads
When you need something lighter, try wrapping up canned chicken or sprinkling it throughout a delicious salad.
Chicken, Cranberry, Pecan Salad Wraps
Nothing says lunchtime like a deciduous and filling chicken salad wrap. This recipe is both salty and sweet, hitting all the right taste buds.
Asian Cabbage Salad
With Napa cabbage, slivers of almonds, and ramen noodles, the crunch of this salad is incredibly satisfying. Especially if you’re big on texture like I am.
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Chicken Casserole Recipes
Whether a rice casserole or a pasta casserole, they’re great go-to dishes for any busy household. Below are a few of our favorite creamiest dishes we’ve come across.
Creamy Chicken Crescent Casserole
This is a fan favorite on our team. It’s the perfect mix of chicken, cream, and pastry dough. It's perfect for when you need to feed a crowd or want leftovers for the week.
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Grandma’s Chicken Casserole
Almost chicken noodle casserole, but minus the noodles and added cream cheese. And who does it better than Betty Crocker herself?
Creamy Ritz Chicken Casserole
For a slight variation on this canned chicken recipe, try swapping out the sour cream for cream cheese. It's amazing!
Mexican-Inspired Recipes
Some of the most delicious canned chicken recipes we love are Mexican-inspired. Below are just a few of the flavorful dishes we found.
Canned Chicken Quesadilla
If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal, try making canned chicken quesadillas. This dish is made by layering quesadilla-style tortillas with canned chicken, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Crunchy Taco Pie Recipe
This canned chicken recipe is one of our favorites. It features a homemade taco filling with a crispy, flaky crust on top.
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Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups
Try these Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups. They’re perfect for any party or get-together. They're also incredibly healthy with the added benefit of healthy fats from avocados.
Easy Weeknight Chicken Empanadas
Empanadas are a great way to use up any leftover canned chicken. This recipe is easy and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes total.
Quick & Easy Chicken Flautas
For a fun twist on canned chicken tacos, try making these chicken flautas. They’re easy to make and a great mix-up to your traditional taco Tuesday.
Tomatillo Chicken Enchilada
This enchilada casserole is a great way to use up any canned chicken you have. It's also a good dish to make ahead and freeze for those busy weeknights.
Taco Bell Loaded Potato Griller with Chicken
This is a canned chicken recipe that's perfect for anyone who loves Taco Bell. It features all the flavors of a loaded potato griller, with the added bonus of chicken.
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Patties, Pastry, and Fritters with Canned Chicken
When you want something crispy that sticks to your ribs, try one of these tasty patties, pastries or fritters below.
Crispy Chicken Fritters
Also known as the poor man's crab cake, there is nothing second best to a good ole fashioned fritter. No matter what it’s made of.
Flaky Chicken Pot Pie
Just like mom used to make. A can of mushroom soup is what brings this dish to life. Use any type of cheese you want to add your own spin to a no-fail flavorful lunch or dinner.
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Canned Chicken Parmesan Balls
These canned chicken Parmesan balls are a fun and easy way to use up any canned chicken you have. They’re perfect for an appetizer or a main dish.
Easy Chicken Parmesan Patties
These chicken parmesan patties are perfect for a quick and easy snack or appetizer. They’re also great for parties or get-togethers.
Keto and Low-Carb Canned Chicken Recipes
Delicious canned chicken recipes are just for the carb eaters. On a keto or low-carb diet? Canned chicken was made for lunch and dinner recipes.
Chicken Crust Pizza
Whether you’re on the keto diet, gluten-free, or looking to up your protein intake, a chicken crust pizza is the way to go. Making this pizza crust with canned chicken makes it extra easy. Load it up with your favorite topping, and it’s a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Keto Canned Chicken Nuggets
These keto canned chicken nuggets are a great way to get your fast-food fix without all the carbs. You may not even miss your favorite fast food joint!
Low-Carb Chicken Salad
This low-carb chicken salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It’s also great for meal prep. Meal prepping this dish will make your life so much easier during the week.
We could go on and on about canned chicken recipes, but we hope these few have helped spark some creativity and reduce your cooking time. And if you’re still looking for more chicken recipes, check out our list of 32 Summer Chicken Recipes or 23 Chicken Tenderloin Recipes.
Try one of these recipes tonight, and let us know how it went in the comments below!
Until next time: Stay salty, and sweet 😉
