These easy canned chicken recipes will save you time and money! Canned chicken is affordable, widely available, and lasts for a long time in the pantry. Keep a few cans on hand for the next time you need a delicious and healthy meal with minimal effort.
Canned chicken isn’t just for broke college students cooking in a dorm! Get ready to see this budget-friendly, pantry-staple ingredient in a new light with these healthy, fast, delicious, and easy canned chicken recipes.
One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to use what you already have on hand. Pantry staple meals are a great way to do this. And guess what? Canned chicken breast is a widely-available pantry staple! When it’s on sale, you can stock up and buy a couple extra cans because it will last for years in the cupboard, and there are a ton of different healthy recipes using canned chicken.
Not only is canned chicken an affordable protein source, but it’s also great if you need a quick and easy recipe. Chicken in a can is already cooked and ready to eat with no additional cooking required. Just drain off the liquid and you’re good to go. Because of this, canned chicken is a perfect choice for quick lunches, appetizers in almost no time, and easy weeknight dinners.
With everything from canned chicken salad recipes to appetizers, dip recipes, dinner ideas, soup recipes, and camping meals, canned chicken will become your go-to kitchen staple time and time again.
If you’re wondering what to make with canned chicken, bookmark this post so you can easily find it later!
Healthy Canned Chicken Salad Recipes
One of the best things about canned chicken is that you don’t have to cook it – it’s already cooked! This means it’s the perfect protein source for a quick, healthy canned chicken salad recipe. This ready-to-serve canned protein will revolutionize your lunch!
Simple Canned Chicken Appetizers
These quick and easy appetizers are for those times when people unexpectedly pop by, when the kiddos ask for an after-school snack, or when you’re having a movie marathon and want some protein snacks instead of just carby junk food! Canned chicken will help you whip up a healthy protein-rich snack or appetizer fast.
Canned Chicken Dip Recipes
I’m a cheese-lover in all forms. The great thing about these canned chicken dip recipes is that they pair the protein of canned chicken with delicious cheesy flavor! They’re great for snacking on or for bringing to parties.
Delicious Canned Chicken Dinner Recipes
Get ready for a big surprise: canned chicken dinners can be healthy and well-balanced meals! And they will save you a ton of time.
Hearty Canned Chicken Soup Recipes
Homemade soup is so easy to make when you start with a protein source that’s already cooked! Canned chicken soup recipes are hearty and satisfying – the perfect option when you want a home-cooked soup but you’re pressed for time.
Easy Canned Chicken Camping Recipes
Refrigeration isn’t always available when you’re camping. This is why canned items (especially proteins, which usually spoil quickly) come in handy! You can use canned chicken to make well-balanced camping recipes right on your campfire.
Recipes to Use Canned Chicken Instead of Rotisserie Chicken
In many recipes, canned chicken is a great substitute for rotisserie chicken. If you have a couple cans of chicken in your pantry, there are so many recipe possibilities without even having to go grocery shopping!
Canned Chicken FAQs
Is Canned Chicken Healthy?
Yes! Canned chicken is a good source of lean protein and has the same nutritional benefits as fresh chicken. (Find out more on Health Reporter.)
For the healthiest option, look for canned chicken with no salt added.
Do You Have to Rinse Canned Chicken?
A lot of people wonder if you have to rinse canned chicken. Like other canned meats (such as canned tuna), you don’t have to rinse canned chicken before eating it or before cooking with it.
However, if you’re watching your sodium intake, you might want to rinse canned chicken to reduce the sodium. (Read an article about a similar topic – Effect of draining and rinsing on the sodium and water soluble vitamin content of canned vegetables – on the USDA website.)
Can You Cook Canned Chicken?
Many people ask if you can cook canned chicken. The answer is yes! Even though you don’t have to cook canned chicken, you can absolutely cook with it. You can use it to make a ton of different nutritious recipes!
What are Some Good Brands of Canned Chicken?
Here are some widely-available brands of canned chicken along with their Amazon links:
- Kirkland Signature Chunk Chicken Breast Packed in Water – you can find this available at Costco and on Amazon
- Swanson Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast with Rib Meat in Water – this product is frequently buy one get one free at my local supermarket; however, it’s higher in sodium so I typically rinse it briefly under running water before eating
- Hormel Premium No Salt Added Canned Chunk Chicken Breast in Water with Rib Meat – just know that even though this has no salt added, it’s not a sodium-free food
- Wild Planet Organic Roasted Chicken Breast – this is my top choice; not only is there no salt added, but the only ingredient is “organic chicken breast”
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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
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