One of the best ways to save money is to use the items you have in your pantry. I always keep a few cans of chicken breast on hand for quick and easy dinners when I don’t have time to cook and shred the meat myself. If you are looking for a fast and budget-friendly meal to feed your family, you will love these recipes.
Easy Recipes With Canned Chicken Breast
I’m gonna let you in on a little life hack:
Canned chicken makes life easier.
Sure, you can toss some chicken breasts in the crock pot and hand shred it if you have 4-6 hours for that.
But if your family is like mine, most nights you need to get dinner on the table ASAP to feed your hungry family.
A long time ago I learned that canned chicken breast tastes just as good as the fresh stuff and is perfect to keep in the pantry for family-friendly meals.
If you’re a Costco shopper (ummm…who isn’t) you can grab their 6-count Kirkland brand canned chicken for a great price so you always have some on hand to throw together one of these delicious weeknight recipes.
I have personally made each of the recipes below and my family devoured them…even my youngest who is quite picky.
Be sure to save this list of budget-friendly recipes you can make with canned chicken. I am sure they are gonna be a hit with your family too!
1
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Skillet Recipe
Photo Credit:insidebrucrewlife.com
This Cheesy Chicken Pasta is an easy meal that you can have on your dinner table in under 30 minutes. Gooey cheese, pasta, and chicken will have everyone licking their plate clean in a hurry.
2
BBQ Chicken Roll-Ups
Photo Credit:www.readyseteat.com
A kid friendly recipe with canned chicken, barbecue sauce, cheese and red onion rolled inside a tender crust for a hand held main dish.
3
Pillsbury Crescent Roll Chicken Bundles Recipe
Photo Credit:lilluna.com
Shredded Chicken Mixed With Cream Cheese, Italian Dressing Mix, And Cream Of Chicken Rolled Into Buttery Crescent Dough! These Flavorful Chicken Crescent Roll Bundles Have Become A Family Fave.
4
Easy Chicken Taco Spaghetti Casserole
This chicken taco spaghetti is a great way to enjoy all the flavors of chicken tacos and spaghetti together in one dish. It's quick, easy, and full of flavor! Plus you can customize it with your favorite cheese or toppings for an extra special meal that everyone will love.
5
Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Photo Credit:joyfulhomemaking.com
Use canned chicken breast to quickly throw this recipe together and your family will think it took you hours.
6
15 Minute Angel Hair Pasta Recipe with Canned Chicken
Photo Credit:theforkedspoon.com
Easy, fast, and delicious, this 15-Minute Angel Hair Pasta Recipe with Chicken is made with vine-ripened tomatoes, green olives, and needs just 15 minutes to prepare. Loved by the whole family (even those picky eaters!), this easy pasta with chicken uses canned foods to help eliminate waste; save you time in the kitchen; and get your family essentials like protein and vegetables.
7
FIESTA RANCH CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
Photo Credit:butterwithasideofbread.com
Substitute canned chicken breast for the shredded rotisserie chicken in this yummy recipe.
8
4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole
Photo Credit:www.theseasonedmom.com
This 4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole comes together in about 5 minutes and can be prepared ahead of time for a family-friendly easy dinner on busy nights!
9
Easy Chicken Sandwich Melts
Photo Credit:natashaskitchen.com
These chicken sandwich melts are scrumptious and they are an easy company-ready dish that takes minutes to put together. They will win over a crowd every time!
10
Chicken Dumpling Soup
Photo Credit:lilluna.com
This creamy and hearty soup is perfect for those cold winter nights when you really want to finish dinner fast and get cozy on the couch with a warm blanket.
11
Quick Chicken Enchilada Nachos
Photo Credit:www.realmomkitchen.com
Turn regular nachos into a meal with the addition of canned chicken breast in a yummy enchilada sauces.
12
Easy Chicken Tinga Tacos
Photo Credit:bingeworthybites.com
Busy moms everywhere love this recipe. With no real steps to follow you literally throw all the ingredients in a pot to let them heat up and mingle. Boom it's done, delicious AND healthy.
The low-maintenance "secret weapon" in this recipe is canned chicken!
13
7 Can Chicken Taco Soup
Photo Credit:togetherasfamily.com
7 CAN SOUP IS A SUPER SIMPLE DINNER RECIPE THAT’S MADE IN JUST ONE POT AND READY IN 20 MINUTES. DUMP 7 CANS IN A POT PLUS SOME SEASONINGS. THAT’S IT!
14
Thai Chicken Salad
Photo Credit:stylishcravings.com
This Low Carb Thai chicken salad recipe has a yummy peanut dressing that your family is going to love! It’s a not-too-spicy and healthy dinner that is full of veggies.
15
EASY CHICKEN NOODLE CASSEROLE
Photo Credit:www.thecountrycook.net
You just can’t beat a tasty and filling meal that is all in one baking dish. This one is made with easy to find ingredients. In fact, you probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry right now.
16
Easy Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
Photo Credit:www.anediblemosaic.com
This easy Canned Chicken Salad Recipe is easy to make in less than 10 minutes! It’s creamy like tuna salad and seasoned simply with seasoned salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. This version is healthier than most and replaces most of the mayo with Greek yogurt!
17
Pesto Chicken Pasta (5 ingredients)
Photo Credit:thetoastykitchen.com
Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy, 20 minute meal that’s made with just five pantry-friendly ingredients. Bow tie pasta and chicken are coated in a rich and flavorful pesto sauce that is super satisfying.
18
The Best Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Photo Credit:bellyfull.net
This is the BEST chicken salad recipe. It could not be easier or more delicious. With chicken, dried cranberries, apples, and pecans, it’s wonderful on its own or as a sandwich!
19
4-Ingredient Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Photo Credit:unsophisticook.com
Packed with loads of mixed veggies and chicken, these 4-ingredient mini chicken pot pies are a fantastically quick and easy weeknight meal… Just substitute an 12.5 oz can of canned chicken breast for the diced chicken and you'll have dinner on the table in no time.
20
Quick Canned Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
Photo Credit:www.cdkitchen.com
Turn simple quesadillas into a dinner worthy meal with the addition of canned chicken breast. Your whole family will love this toasty, crunchy and yummy meal that comes together in just minutes.
21
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Photo Credit:www.theseasonedmom.com
This classic dish is made with simple ingredients like pasta, chicken, and veggies in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It's a quick dinner that you may prepare ahead of time or a nice meal to take to a new mom or neighbor.
22
Quick & Easy Chicken Flautas
Photo Credit:togetherasfamily.com
Chicken Flautas are a fast and simple dinner idea that only takes 10 minutes to make! This flautas recipe includes canned chicken for a fast supper that everyone will enjoy.
23
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Photo Credit:www.momontimeout.com
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is the simplest dish you'll make all week and will quickly become a new family favorite! This quick supper is ideal for weeknights and is loved by children and adults since it uses rotisserie or canned chicken!
24
Easy Chicken Chili Recipe Made with Costco Canned Chicken
Photo Credit:www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com
For a hearty and filling meal to feed a family, check out this easy chicken chili recipe.
25
Homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
Photo Credit:www.budgetbytes.com
Make a yummy pizza at home that comes together in just minutes thanks to canned chicken breast.
26
Cheesy Chicken Sliders Recipe
Photo Credit:insidebrucrewlife.com
Need a quick dinner idea? With these Cheesy Chicken Sliders on your table, you'll be sure to have guests begging for more. These simple rolls are quick to make with a chicken and vegetable combination, Hawaiian rolls, and loads of gooey cheese.
27
Chicken Burger Patties
Photo Credit:natashaskitchen.com
Sub out these chicken patties for the traditional beef the next time your family wants burgers. These are crispy and delicious and make a great weeknight dinner.
28
Chicken Nuggets with Canned Chicken
Photo Credit:grumpyshoneybunch.com
This homemade chicken nugget recipe is prepared with canned chicken and can be made in the air fryer or baked in the oven.
29
30 Minute Pantry Chicken Noodle Soup
Photo Credit:www.bigbearswife.com
Canned chicken breast makes this homemade chicken noodle soup recipe a quick and easy weeknight dinner for busy families.
30
20 Minute Enchilada Chicken Skillet (Easy Canned Chicken Recipe)
Photo Credit:wearychef.com
ThisPantry Enchilada Chicken Skillet Dinneris super easy to make and also a great frugal meal for families on a budget.
31
Chicken Stuffing Casserole
Photo Credit:feastandfarm.com
This is one dinner you'll want to have in your back pocket. This dish is hearty, warm, and easy to prepare ahead of time. Canned chicken breast and stuffing are ideal for making this Chicken Stuffing Casserole.
There you have it, mama! Easy and affordable meals you can make for your family using canned chicken breast from the pantry.
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What is canned chicken good for?
Canned chicken is great at saving you time in the kitchen. It can easily be used in any recipe that calls for diced, shredded or chopped chicken.
Since canned chicken is pre-cooked you can even use it in cold food recipes like chicken salad. It’s also great for other meals like:
- Quesadillas
- Enchiladas
- Soups
- BBQ chicken sandwiches
- Casseroles
- Chicken tacos
How can I make canned chicken taste good?
As long as you use it in a recipe, like the ones listed above, there is nothing that you need to do to the chicken.
However, if you are making a recipe where the canned chicken will be the “star” or if there are few other ingredients you might want to do a few things to jazz it up.
I like to quickly sauté it in a hot pan with some olive oil to get it slightly browned and add some flavor.
You can also add salt and pepper for seasoning. Depending on the type of dish you make you can also add additional seasonings and spices. For example, I like to use canned chicken to make tacos, so all you need to do is sauté it in a pan with some taco seasoning and it really is delicious.
Do you need to rinse canned chicken?
No, you do not need to rinse canned chicken. In fact, you can eat it straight out of the can.
Of course, you can rinse it if you like, which may help to rinse away some of the sodium if it is added in processing. However, most canned chicken is just packed in water.
What is the best canned chicken?
In a taste test, Kirkland Brand Canned Chicken took the prize for best taste, followed by Valley Fresh All Natural Canned Chicken Breast.
30 Easy Recipes With Canned Chicken Breast
