Canned chicken is one of those pantry staples that quietly saves weeknights. It’s fully cooked, packed with protein, and turns into quick dinners, lunches, and high-protein snacks with almost no prep.

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In this round-up of 12 Best Easy Canned Chicken Recipes, you’ll find comforting casseroles, speedy skillet meals, and simple sandwiches you can throw together in 10–30 minutes using ingredients you probably already have.

These recipes are perfect for busy nights, no-thaw meal prep, lunch or dinner, college students, picky eaters, and anyone trying to stretch the grocery budget without sacrificing flavor. Grab a few cans from your pantry, and let’s turn them into actual meals.

1- Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas with a Sour Cream Sauce

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f you love Mexican food but hate all the tedious prep work, these Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas are about to become your new weeknight obsession.

Using canned chicken makes the filling a total breeze, and the rich, tangy sour cream sauce poured over the top makes them taste like they came straight from your favorite restaurant.

Instructions:

1. Prep the Filling: Drain your canned chicken completely. In a bowl, mix the flaked chicken with a handful of shredded Monterey Jack cheese and a small can of diced green chiles.
2. Roll & Stuff: Scoop an even amount of the chicken mixture into soft flour tortillas, roll them up tight, and place them seam-side down in a greased 9×13 baking dish.
3. Mix the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together a cup of sour cream, a can of cream of chicken soup, and a splash of chicken broth until the sauce is rich and smooth.
4. Pour & Top: Pour that creamy white sauce right over your rolled enchiladas. Sprinkle a generous layer of extra shredded cheese all over the top.
5. Bake: Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is perfectly melted and the sauce is hot and bubbly!

3- Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets (Made with canned chicken)

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These baked chicken nuggets are an absolute game-changer for busy weeknights! Because you are using canned chicken from the pantry, you completely skip the hassle of handling and thawing raw meat.

Mixing the chicken with a little cheese and baking them in the oven makes them naturally lower in carbs than the fried, store-bought versions, but they still come out perfectly crispy and is totally kid-approved.

Instructions

1- Preheat & Prep: Heat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2- Squeeze the Chicken: Drain the canned chicken completely. Use your hands or a strainer to squeeze out as much water as possible (this makes them crispy!).

3- Mix it Up: In a bowl, mix the dry chicken, 1 egg, a handful of mozzarella and parmesan cheese, plus garlic powder and pepper. (Skip the salt!)

4- Shape: Roll the mixture into 12 small nuggets (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and put them on the baking sheet.

5- Bake: Bake for 18 to 22 minutes. Flip them halfway through so both sides get crispy and golden.

4- Sloppy Joes BBQ Chicken Sliders

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If you love traditional sloppy joes, you will obsess over this ridiculously easy BBQ chicken version. Using canned chicken and a few soft slider buns, you can have a sweet, tangy, and totally kid-friendly dinner on the table in under 15 minutes!

Instructions:

1. Drain & Shred: Drain the canned chicken completely and use a fork to shred it up in a bowl.
2. Heat it Up: Toss the chicken into a skillet over medium heat and pour in your favorite BBQ sauce. Stir until it is hot and bubbling.
3. Assemble: Spoon the warm BBQ chicken onto the bottom half of your slider buns.
4. Top & Serve: Add a slice of cheese or a scoop of crunchy coleslaw, pop the top bun on, and serve immediately!

5- Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole

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This is the ultimate comfort food when you need something warm, filling, and incredibly simple. It uses basic pantry staples like canned chicken and soup, and the crushed potato chip topping adds the absolute perfect salty crunch.

Instructions:

1. Preheat & Boil: Heat your oven to 400°F. Boil 2 cups of noodles according to the package, then drain them.
2. Mix the Sauce: Whisk together your cream soup and milk in a large bowl.
3. Combine: Stir the cooked noodles, drained canned chicken, and frozen peas into the soup mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Top it Off: Pour everything into a greased 9×13 baking dish. Sprinkle an even layer of shredded cheese and crushed potato chips right on top.
5. Bake: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until it is hot and bubbly!

6- Salsa Chicken Quesadillas

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Quesadillas are a lifesaver for busy weeknights, and throwing in some canned chicken adds the perfect punch of protein!

Mixing the chicken straight with salsa and cheese makes the filling so flavorful without needing a ton of extra spices or prep work.

Instructions:

1. Prep the Chicken: Drain the canned chicken completely and use a fork to flake it into small shreds in a bowl.
2. Mix the Filling: Stir in your favorite jarred salsa and a big handful of shredded cheese. (Add a dash of garlic or chili powder if you want extra flavor!)
3. Stuff: Lay your tortillas flat and spread an even layer of the cheesy chicken mixture over them.
4. Toast: Heat a large skillet with a little butter over medium heat. Cook the quesadillas for a few minutes on each side until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
5. Serve: Slice them into triangles and serve with sour cream or guacamole.

7- Buffalo Chicken Dip

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Buffalo chicken dip is the ultimate game-day appetizer, and making it with canned chicken means you can throw it together in minutes!

It delivers all the spicy, tangy flavor of hot wings mixed with gooey, melted cheese, minus all the messy prep work. Just grab a bag of tortilla chips or some crisp celery sticks and watch the whole pan disappear.

Instructions:

1. Preheat & Prep: Heat your oven to 350°F. Drain your canned chicken completely and use a fork to flake it apart.
2. Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together a block of softened cream cheese, your favorite buffalo hot sauce, and a big splash of ranch dressing until it is nice and smooth.
3. Combine: Stir the flaked chicken and a big handful of shredded cheddar cheese right into the creamy buffalo mixture.
4. Spread & Top: Spread the dip evenly into a small baking dish and sprinkle a little extra cheddar cheese all over the top.
5. Bake: Bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese is totally melted, hot, and bubbly around the edges!

8- Cold Chicken Pasta Salad

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If you need a quick prep-ahead lunch for the week or a last-minute side dish for a weekend barbecue, this Cold Chicken Pasta Salad is an absolute lifesaver.

Tossing in a can of chicken adds the perfect amount of protein without you having to cook and chop a whole chicken breast!

The best part is that it actually tastes even better the next day after all that tangy dressing soaks into the noodles and crunchy veggies.

Instructions:

1. Boil & Cool: Cook a box of your favorite short pasta (like rotini or bow ties) according to the package. Drain it and rinse it under cold water until it is completely chilled.
2. Prep the Chicken: Drain your canned chicken thoroughly and use a fork to flake it apart in a large bowl.
3. Chop the Veggies: Dice up whatever crunchy veggies you have in the fridge! Bell peppers, cucumbers, black olives, and halved cherry tomatoes are all fantastic in this.
4. Toss it Together: Add your cold pasta and chopped veggies to the bowl with the flaked chicken.
5. Dress & Chill: Pour a generous amount of your favorite bottled Italian dressing all over the top. Give it a really good stir to coat everything, then pop it in the fridge until you are ready to eat!

9- Chicken Caesar Wraps

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Wraps are a fantastic replacement for heavy sandwiches, and it honestly doesn’t get any easier than tossing a can of chicken with a store-bought bagged salad! These Easy Chicken Caesar Wraps are the ultimate 5-minute meal for a quick weeknight dinner, and they pack perfectly into school lunch boxes the next day.

Instructions:

1. Prep the Chicken: Open and thoroughly drain your canned chicken so your wraps don’t get soggy.
2. Mix the Salad: In a large bowl, toss the flaked chicken together with a complete, store-bought Caesar salad kit.
3. Add Extra Cheese: Sprinkle in an extra 1/2 cup (or more!) of shredded parmesan cheese to make it extra savory and delicious.
4. Stuff & Roll: Scoop the mixture evenly into your favorite large tortilla wraps, roll them up tight, and enjoy! (This recipe makes enough for about 4 wraps).