15 Ways To Elevate Canned Chicken (2024)

Canned food has come a long way. The industrialization of food processing has allowed us to access more food outside of the growing season, preserve it for a longer period, and get it for a relatively low cost.But one canned food that has piqued our culinary interest and inspired numerous recipes is none other than canned chicken.

You should always have canned chicken in your pantry because of how versatile it is as an ingredient and how long it can stay on your shelf without going bad. The chicken breast is essentially cooked and stored in water, similar to canned tuna, so it retains its nutritional profile. Since it's pre-cooked, adding it to your favorite meals is relatively easy. You can even eat it straight from the can for a protein-dense snack.

Despite all the perks of convenience, canned chicken does come with some downsides. Like any canned food product, it will lose some of its texture and flavor with time. But, with a couple of simple, flavorful boosts and alterations to preparation methods, you can elevate this canned meat to all of its protein-rich glory.

Read more: 20 Popular Canned Soups, Ranked Worst To Best

Pair It With Textured Ingredients In Chicken Salad

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One of our biggest qualms with canned chicken is that it has a mushy profile. In order to improve the taste of this canned protein, you need to add texture to it. For example, add cranberries and pecans to your next chicken salad for a textural boost. Toss your drained canned chicken in a bowl with mayonnaise, dried cranberries, pecans, and a scant amount of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. You can also add chopped celery for a snappy bite. And after all, will you notice the metallic taste of the chicken if it's slathered in mayonnaise?

Your upgraded chicken salad can be served on crispy crackers or our favorite vector for sandwiches: crispy ciabatta. The subtle pull of the bread and its soft interior is a sublime choice for sandwiches. We also love adding a bit of crunch from crispy kettle chips tucked underneath the bread.

Smother It With Cheese And Seasonings For A Perfect Dip

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Another way to make canned chicken more pleasurable to eat is to slather it underneath a mixture of cheese and seasonings in a dip. Although some people argue you should avoid using canned meat in buffalo chicken dipbecause the chicken is already mushy,it's really only a caveat if you make your dip in the slow cooker. The long cooking process denatures the protein and can cause it to come out rubbery. But, if you're making a rendition of the recipe outside of this kitchen appliance, canned chicken is a safe, relatively inexpensive go-to.

We recommend sticking with canned chicken for fresh dips, too, since it's already pre-cooked and requires minimal preparation. You can combine seasoning packets (like ranch) and cheese with your canned chicken to make an appetizer-ready dip in under five minutes and without having to turn your stove on at all.

Fry It To Give It Extra Texture

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Let's face it: Canned chicken can sometimes be a tad mealy. If you want to give new life to canned poultry, you should try frying it. Canned chicken will make deliciously crispy patties, and it's super convenient and will come out much tastier than the store-bought versions.

To make this recipe at home, combine your canned chicken with binders like eggs and flour, herbs, and grated cheese. Once you've assembled your patties, you can coat them in a layer of breadcrumbs and shallow-fry them on the stove or pop them in your air-fryer to cut down on the extra oil. It's important to remember to always drain the canned chicken well and rinse it to remove any of the astringent, metallic flavors. In addition, you'll also want to focus on channeling the moisture in your patties with your binders or potentially even adding a scoop of mayonnaise to keep the chicken moist while it's frying. Panko, traditional breadcrumbs, and cornflakes are all great coatings for these budget-friendly chicken patties.

Mix It With Other Fillings For A Flavorful Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is a homestyle staple during the cold winter months, and canned chicken is just one way to make it a bit easier on yourself. The benefit of using canned chicken for this recipe over fresh chicken is that you won't have to pre-cook it in advance. This can cut down on the time you have to spend making dinner and allows you to channel your energy into the real star of the show: the crust.

Canned chicken is mealy and soft, so you'll need to infuse your pot pie with lots of diverse textures and flavors to make up for this pre-cooked protein. Like other preparations of this meat, you'll need to drain the water out of the can before tossing it with your veggies and herbs. We love using frozen peas and carrots for pot pie and pairing it with bold spices like tarragon.

Pair It With Fresh Herbs

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One of the reasons why people may be opposed to utilizing canned chicken more often for their recipes is because it doesn't always have a very pronounced meaty flavor. The easiest way to brighten up your canned chicken, regardless of the recipe you're making, is to incorporate more herbs. Fresh dill makes all the difference in a canned chicken salad because it has a very grassy and almost lemony flavor that pairs well with the mayonnaise and other heavy ingredients. In a soup, you may consider using one of our favorite (and most underappreciated) herbs: tarragon. Like dill, it has citrus undertones with bright notes of fennel and licorice.

It's important to note that dry herbs can be substituted for fresh onesbut should be added earlier in the cooking process to flavor the meat. In contrast, fresh herbs should be reserved for within 30 minutes of serving; otherwise, they can develop bitter flavors.

Make A High-Protein Pizza Crust

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People who are looking to maintain their protein intake are going to love this hack. Instead of layering the top of your pizza with canned chicken, you can make a crispy pizza crust out of it. Although it will never resemble a thin-crust Neapolitan-style pie, it is a high-protein, low-carb option that you can top with your favorite traditional pizza toppings.

The hack, which was unsurprisingly shared on TikTok, shows how the canned chicken should be mixed with an egg and low-moisture grated Parmesan. This is one of the only times when using the shelf-stable stuff in the green canister is acceptable since it will impart a cheesy flavor to the crust without causing it to fall apart. Once the mixture has been combined and flattened into a pizza-like shape, it should be par-baked before you top it with your favorite pepperoni or melty mozz.

Although it might seem weird to use canned chicken for this recipe, its blandness really gives it an advantage. While almond crusts can be too nutty and cauliflower crusts just plain disintegrate, the canned chicken crust holds together and bakes easily.

Add Store-Bought Stir Fry Sauce For An Easy Weeknight Dinner

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It's true. No one will know it's canned chicken if you slather it in stir-fry sauce and toss it with crunchy veggies. Stir fry is brimming with notes of sesame, garlic, and ginger, which infuse into the chicken and brighten its flavor. Plus, the vegetables have a crisp texture that contrasts the softness of the meat and makes for an exciting (and relatively inexpensive) dinner option.

The trick to making canned chicken stir fry at home is all about the order in which you add the ingredients to the pan. Hard veggies like carrots and broccoli will require the most cooking time, while softer veggies like bell peppers and snap peas should only be cooked enough to soften them while still retaining their crunch. The canned chicken should be added last because it's already pre-cooked, and leaving it in the pan too long may cause it to go limp.

Maximize The Crunch By Serving It In A Lettuce Wrap

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Canned chicken was made to be stuffed in a lettuce wrap. While many folks will venture to wheat wraps for their chicken salads, we recommend going for a crisper option that will complement the mushy and limp texture of canned chicken much better. The best type of lettuce to hold up a wrapis bibb lettuce, rather than the popular romaine or iceberg. Although the leaves are soft and tender, the ribs are thick enough to hold the weight of your chicken salad without breaking.

You can also use your canned chicken for Asian-inspired chicken lettuce wraps. Cook the chicken with crisp water chestnuts, ginger, onion, and crunchy veggies until aromatic and flavorful then spoon the mix into your lettuce boats. We recommend topping each with a sprinkle of cashews or peanuts for added crunch and to contrast the softness of the filling.

Scoop It Into Your Tacos And Let Your Toppings Do The Work

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We're leaving taco meat in our rearview mirror and going with all things poultry this year. Chicken tacos couldn't be quicker with canned chicken, and the use of aromatics and bright flavors really helps balance out the meat in your favorite corn or flour tortillas. One of our favorite ways to prepare the chicken for this dish is to simmer it in salsa to infuse it with flavors. Although it might make you think twice about simmering already soft meat in liquid, salsa is an easy way to infuse umami and acidic notes into the chicken and give it an unexpected bite that just plopping it into a shell wouldn't do.

You'll only want to simmer the chicken in the salsa until the mixture has thickened and bubbles. Then, you can spoon it into your awaiting tortillas and top with guacamole, crunchy lettuce, and chopped red onions.

Use It As A Topping For Your Ramen

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Instant ramen is already an easy dinner idea that can be embellished with whatever Asian ingredients you have on hand in your kitchen -- and a little help from canned cream of chicken soup. The cream of chicken soup makes the ramen broth much thicker and adds more flavor while also providing a more meaty undertone to amp up the chicken. Some people add grated cheese or chopped baconto their cream of chicken ramen for extra flavor, but we really draw the line at the soup base.

This comforting dish should be made methodically with the rinsed canned chicken added right before serving. Cooking it for too long will cause it to get waterlogged and fall apart in the soup while adding it at the end of the cooking time will ensure it stays together in discernable pieces. It's a great meal for college students working with limited cooking tools and a limited budget or folks who need a simple lunch idea.

Add It To Sliders

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Ready, set, hike! Game-day sliders are an easy meal to make in bulk and are even easier to bring together with canned chicken. Although freshly shredded chicken or your leftover rotisserie bird are the top choice for making these sandwiches, canned chicken will work in a pinch -- especially when you don't want to make an extra trip to the grocery store.

Since the chicken is already cooked, drain it and give it a quick rinse to remove as much of the saltiness as possible. Then, toss it with your sauce and slather it on the base of your slider buns. You can stick with a traditional barbecue sauce or add a spicy buffalo sauce. Then, layer cheese on the buns and tuck them into the oven to bake. There's no need to pre-cook the fillings, saving you extra time on game day.

For the best results, we recommend pairing the canned chicken with a crunchy slaw and adding an extra layer of garlic butter on top of the buns before baking. It will tie the sandwich together and make you forget you used canned chicken.

Mix It With Enchilada Sauce For Extra Flavor

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Enchilada sauce and canned chicken are a match made in heaven. Canned chicken is your go-to for simpler enchiladas, but the key is to really go hard with the sauce. The canned chicken is already in small pieces, so you won't have to worry about pre-cooking and shredding your protein until it reaches the perfect consistency. Since the meat doesn't have a particularly strong flavor, it will soak in the enchilada sauce like a sponge and be a vector for flavor.

To add your canned chicken to the enchiladas, first, cook the veggies and aromatics until soft before adding your drained canned chicken. Add your favorite spices like cumin and chili before pouring in some enchilada sauce to coat the chicken. Thicker enchilada sauce may need more time to reduce before you tuck it into the tortillas; otherwise, you risk a soggy mess.

Use It For A Casserole Dish

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Homestyle dishes like casseroles and canned chicken can go hand-in-hand, but you'll have to do some extra legwork to ensure that your protein is the star of the show. This mainly involves adding different textures to complement the softness of the chicken and brightening the dish with herbs for a sophisticated finish.

For a simple, classic chicken casserole, toss the chicken into a bowl with your pre-cooked egg noodles, cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups, and dried herbs. Oregano and thyme are two herbs that really complement the chicken well and can be added fresh as a garnish after the casserole is finished baking. We also recommend using a flavorful, crunchy breadcrumb for your topping on this pasta dish since it will complement the softness of the chicken. Since canned chicken often contains salt, you may also want to tweak the recipe to use low-sodium soups to prevent shifting your recipe out of balance.

Season It With Asian Spices For A Great Fried Rice

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Fried rice is the ultimate way to use the medley of leftovers in your fridge. If you're looking for an easy protein, besides the eggs, to make your dish a bit healthier, grab a can of chicken. Start by frying your veggies in a pan with oil to get them soft. The secret to a delicious chicken fried riceis adding a tablespoon of ketchup to your veggies to balance the salty flavor of the soy sauce and the chicken. From that point, you can add your additional Asian seasonings, drained chicken, and egg into the pan to cook.

We love using canned chicken for fried rice because the meat soaks up all the soy sauce and Asian flavors beautifully. As long as it is not overcooked, the meat will add texture to your dish and is much more convenient than having to cook chicken breasts separately.

Use It For A Boost Of Protein In Your Nachos

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If you cover your nachos in sour cream, spicy jalapeños, and layers of gooey, melty cheese, it will be hard to tell what your exact choice of protein was underneath all that goodness. The inclusion of all these diverse textures and bright, fresh ingredients means that canned chicken can slip underneath the radar.

For a hearty plate of nachos, season your drained canned chicken with Mexican spices like cumin and smoky ancho chili. Then, spread it on the layer of tortilla chips and cover with gooey, sharp cheese like colby or cheddar. Once your nachos have cooked slightly, tower them with your favorite spreads and salsas, and don't forget a fair amount of heat from the peppers and spicy taco sauce. We prefer using canned chicken over shredded chicken for nachos because the shreds tend to dry out, while the canned chicken stays moist tucked under the cheese.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.

15 Ways To Elevate Canned Chicken (2024)

FAQs

How do you jazz up canned chicken? ›

In order to improve the taste of this canned protein, you need to add texture to it. For example, add cranberries and pecans to your next chicken salad for a textural boost. Toss your drained canned chicken in a bowl with mayonnaise, dried cranberries, pecans, and a scant amount of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.

What are the different ways to season canned chicken? ›

What are some popular seasoning options for canned chicken breast? Some popular seasoning options for canned chicken breast include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, chili powder, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, and poultry seasoning.

How do you elevate store bought chicken? ›

Use your favorite preserves, chutney, barbecue sauce, or build your own thick and sticky concoction to coat the bird with. Think honey and lemon or brown sugar and soy sauce; just be mindful of how much salt the glaze contains as most store-bought rotisserie chickens are already seasoned with salt.

Should I rinse canned chicken breast? ›

For instance, one common mistake is not draining or rinsing the chicken before use, which can result in a more processed taste. To help alleviate this, it's suggested to rinse the chicken under cold water after removing it from the can.

How do you make canned meat taste good? ›

To bring out the taste of more full-flavored canned meat like Spam, your best move is to brown it in a frying pan or oven. This caramelizes the meat and intensifies the distinctive taste.

How to make chicken more flavorful? ›

Italian seasoning, a mix of rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, and dried parsley, pairs well with chicken. Marinades: Tenderize the meat with a marinade, which will also infuse the chicken with flavor before you cook it.

How do you eat chicken in a can? ›

You can definitely eat your canned chicken plain, but if you want to make it a bit more appealing, add some salt and pepper to the can, and maybe even sprinkle on some furikake or a few drops of your favorite hot sauce. Enjoy it with a fork, or spoon it into your mouth using chips or crackers.

Is canned chicken healthy? ›

For the most part, yes. As quick-prep meals go, canned chicken is healthier than most pre-packaged options that tend to be loaded with junk. “Canned chicken is an excellent and convenient source of high-quality protein,” registered dietitian Jessica Levinson, M.S., R.D., C.D.N. explains.

How do you increase the flavor of chicken? ›

Marinade overnight

Marinating your chicken is arguably the most effective way of adding loads of flavor to it. Effectively, you cover your chicken in a marinade, then leave it overnight. The flavors all seep into the meat, making it so juicy and delicious.

How to make can chicken taste good? ›

Canned chicken can be very bland, to say the least. A little salt or other seasoning will work wonders for the flavor, but slightly browning it after seasoning is even better. I like to buy those chicken fried rice packets for about a buck and mix it in that, along with an egg and soy sauce.

What is the liquid in canned chicken? ›

Chunk chicken, water, contains 2% or less of the following: chicken broth, flavorings, modified food starch, salt, sodium phosphates.

Is canned chicken already cooked? ›

100% all-white meat chicken breast and fully cooked. Its versatility means it's great as an entrée, a snack, or in a recipe.

What can I add to canned chicken soup to make it better? ›

If you love food with some zing to it, drizzling in some hot sauce can be a great way to bring on the heat and give your soup an extra edge. Or, mix in some parsley, dill, or other fresh herbs to lend different tasting notes to your meal.

How do you enhance canned chicken broth? ›

Soy sauce, fish sauce, hot sauce, or chili paste can quickly and efficiently flavor store-bought broth — a little bit goes along way with these ingredients. We often add a few drops of fish sauce to chicken broth before making wonton soup.

How do you eat canned chicken at home? ›

Instead, homemade fresh canned chicken is moist and flavorful and perfect for any meal that needs shredded chicken in it. It's great for chicken soups, chili, enchiladas and tacos, pasta dishes, pot pies, pizzas (it's great on my delicious homemade pizza crust), and anything else where you need cooked shredded chicken.

How do you make canned taste good? ›

Use seasonings

Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, and chili powder can be used in different combinations to give your vegetables an extra kick of flavor without adding extra calories.

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