Canned chicken tops our list of go-to ingredients when we need to get a meal on the table quickly or didn’t plan ahead to pull something from the freezer before work. From salads to soups, you can use canned chicken in almost any recipe that calls for cooked chicken.
Substitute canned chicken breast into any recipe that calls for diced, cooked chicken. One 12 ounce can of chicken breast is approximately 1 1/2 cups, so you may need more than one can of chicken breast depending on how much the recipe calls for.
Recipes Using Canned Chicken Breast
Let’s face it, sometimes when it comes to cooking, we need convenience. And sometimes, we need cheap. There’s no reason to sugar-coat it, it’s just the way it is. One of the most versatile ingredients that fits both bills is canned chicken breast.
Canned chicken breast takes out the step of cooking the chicken which is a huge time saver. For most recipes, be sure to drain off the excess liquid from the chicken before adding to a recipe.
We keep multiple cans of chicken in our pantry to have on hand when we need a quick meal or even snack – our 3-ingredient chicken salad made a great snack with crackers. Check out all of our pantry essentials on our Amazon Store (we do earn on qualifying purchases).
Is canned chicken cooked?
Yes, as a rule of thumb, any food that comes in a can is already cooked. During the canning process, foods are subjected to a high temperature to kill microorganisms. This makes canned foods safe to eat and also cooks the foods at the same time. Essentially, you could eat any canned foods straight out of the cans cold, and they would be safe to eat.
What does canned chicken taste like?
Canned chicken breast has the texture and taste of poached chicken. It’s moist and has a pretty bland flavor, since it’s only seasoned with salt. This makes it a good base to add to recipes.
What can I make with canned chicken?
Almost any recipe or dish that calls for cooked chicken can be made using canned chicken. Below we are sharing links to a variety of recipes that either already feature canned chicken OR that can easily be made with it instead of poached, rotisserie or roasted chicken.
What can I substitute for canned chicken breast?
Most cans of chicken breast contain 12 ounces which would be the equivalent of 1 1/2 cups of diced or shredded chicken, Substitute leftover grilled chicken, poached chicken, or rotisserie chicken.
Chicken Salad Recipes with Canned Chicken
Chicken salad is a great option for a quick lunch or even afternoon snack. We love putting together a bowl of chicken salad to use for our workday lunches. The first two recipes below call specifically for chicken in a can and the third can easily be adapted to use it too.
Lemon Chicken Salad (Low Carb)
What do you put in a chicken salad?
Chicken salad is one of the most versatile meals around; you can practically put anything but the kitchen sink in it. Look in your refrigerator and pantry and be creative. Start with a base to make it creamy, and then pick your add-ins. Love a sweet bite? Try some fruit or dried fruit. Like a tang? Mustard is a great way to add a little bite. Check out our list of ideas below.
- Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Chopped Celery
- Dried Cranberries
- Shredded Cheese
- Peas
- Mustard (Dijon, German, Yellow, etc.)
- Fried Bacon Pieces
- Pineapple
- Mango
Canned Chicken Recipes with Crescent Rolls
Canned, refrigerated crescent rolls or biscuits are a great ingredient to use “outside the box.” You can essentially roll out the dough, and stuff it with almost anything. Another option would be to roll out the crescent dough into one big sheet or purchase crescent roll dough sheets to use as a crust for appetizers or even pizza.
Check out our favorite combinations of refrigerated biscuits and canned chicken breast.
Canned Chicken Casserole Recipes
Casseroles are a perfect way to use this go-to ingredient! Below are a few of our favorites…although our go-to casserole is still our Mom’s Tuna Casserole using canned tuna!
Grandma’s Chicken and Rice Casserole
Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole with Potato Chips
Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
Pasta Recipes with Canned Chicken
Impossible Chicken Parmesan Pie
Soup Recipes Using Canned Chicken
Crock Pot Chicken Corn Chowder
Mom’s Wild Rice and Broccoli Soup
Old Fashioned Chicken Recipes
Here are some more great chicken recipes you can try that you could easily swap in canned chicken breast for cooked chicken in the ingredients. Remember that one 12 ounce can of chicken breast is approximately 1 1/2 cups!
Pin This Post for Later
This post is a great resources of all things chicken so be sure to save if for later so you can come back when you need inspiration!
More Chicken Recipes
Chicken is such a versatile protein and we love using fresh bone-in chicken in recipes too. Our 4-ingredient baked chicken legs are so simple to make but are always a hit with the kids.
“Fried” Chicken in the Crock Pot
Aunt Peggy’s Chicken Noodle Soup
[…] For me, I always have canned chicken (mainly because I’m obsessed with my chicken salad recipe), shredded cheese, crescent rolls, and cream of chicken soup. Who knew you could put all these together for a fast meal that everyone will love. Check out more of our recipes that use canned chicken. […]