There’s nothing I love more than a little shortcut for weekday lunches! Making a tasty lunch every day when I’m busy working is tough, but I found the perfect hack to save some time. I cook a lot of chicken around here, but when I don’t have time? I use canned chicken for these easy lunch ideas, and it’s so quick and convenient!
Move over, tuna! Canned chicken is about to be the new lunchtime hero.
I know, I know. Canned chicken breast might not be on your usual grocery list–but it should be! It’s an underrated lazy meal ingredient if you ask me. White meat chicken that’s already fully cooked and ready to eat, plus it’s shelf-stable and budget-friendly! It’s good for at least 2 years, so don’t be afraid to buy in bulk.
This simple pantry ingredient is a great way to add protein to all kinds of meals (salads, pastas, sandwiches) without extra cooking. It’s like having an endless source of diced chicken breast on hand in a moments notice. Keep this canned protein in the pantry so you can make these recipes in a pinch!
You can use any canned chicken or chicken pouches to make recipes that typically call for shredded chicken, cooked, diced, cubed, leftover, or rotisserie chicken. It’s an especially great option for easy workday lunches, when you need to throw something together fast. Just be sure to drain and rinse the chicken first. Tossing it in some spices or browning it in a pan can give it an extra flavor boost too!
Stock up on canned chicken so you can make these recipes next time you need a quick lunch!
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Anything-but-Boring Chicken Salad
This might be the most obvious lunch idea, but there’s so much you can do with chicken salad. Add cucumber, avocado, or fresh mango. Make sandwiches or serve with salad greens. Or recreate that Panera chicken salad we all miss so dearly. Just mix canned chicken with a few other ingredients, and it’s ready to eat or meal prep!
Quick and Easy Chicken Quesadillas
Cheesy quesadillas are quick to make for lunch with pantry staples and a few simple steps. My classic chicken quesadillas take less than 30 minutes with canned chicken, and taste just as good as if you made them from scratch. Want to switch it up? Toss the chicken with buffalo sauce or BBQ sauce for more jazzy flavor!
Meal-preppable Chicken Wraps
Toss some cooked chicken into a tortilla with lettuce, bacon, ranch dressing, and cheese, and lunch is ready! These bacon ranch chicken wraps are super easy to make ahead of time too, so you can make one the night before and grab it for lunch without thinking about it again.
Shortcut Chicken Stir Fry
This honey soy chicken stir fry comes together in just 30 minutes with simple ingredients. When I’m short on time, I use bottled sauce and canned chicken to cut down on prep. This makes it more manageable for weekday lunch breaks, but it’s a good meal prep lunch too.
Creamy Chicken Gnocchi in Minutes
Did you know that gnocchi cooks in just a few minutes? Add some canned chicken to this recipe, whip up a luscious (but really simple) sauce, and this creamy chicken gnocchi will be ready in under 20 minutes!
Whether you’re working from home, headed to the office, or just trying to make time for lunch in your busy schedule, I hope these simple canned chicken recipes help get you through the week.
While you’re here, tell me your favorite lunch hacks!
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