19 Canned Chicken Recipe Ideas For A Simple CHEAP Dinner Tonight
When it comes to cheap family meals, canned chicken (or leftover shredded chicken) is SUCH a help to keeping costs down and making your dollar go further.
If you have chicken (fresh, frozen or canned), one casserole dish and a few other cheap ingredients, you can whip up an easy low mess dinner for your family in no time.
Welcome to Life Hacks for Moms - we hope you enjoy all our tips and tricks for busy moms! Please note that we use affiliate links and ads to generate income at no cost to you.Thanks for visiting - and please feel free to share!
I’ve been testing about 24 chicken casserole recipes that can be made with canned chicken or with leftover chicken I’ve shredded up.
The 19 casserole recipes below all turned out beautifully with canned chicken and are now on my weekly meal planning rotation.
The chicken casseroles below all get bonus points for being very budget-friendly, quick and easy to make for large families AND are easy low mess dinners made in one dish.
While SOME of these casserole recipes are “make ahead and freeze” appropriate, not ALL of them are (the others turn out better when you just throw the ingredients in a casserole dish and bake).
✅ Here are my favorite make ahead freezer meals.
Alrighty…. grab your canned chicken and a casserole dish and let’s get cooking!
Frito Chicken Casserole
Frito Chicken Casserole is an easy, 30 minute dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights! The whole family will love it and you can assemble it ahead of time – or make ahead and freeze.
Frito Chicken Casserole Recipe
Potato Chip Chicken Noodle Casserole
This chicken noodle casserole with potato chip topping is a BIG hit with my picky eaters! Love that it’s made with canned chicken – makes it SO easy to throw together!
Potato Chip Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
For a delicious and EASY meal, look no further than this creamy chicken taco spaghetti recipe.
This casserole is sure to become a family favorite, combining canned chicken (or leftover chicken), taco seasoning, and a creamy sauce. Even the picky eaters will be asking for more!
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Recipe
Chicken Casseroles
2 thumbs up for this chicken and rice casserole - so good (and EASY)!
The recipe comes together in about 10 minutes, making it a delicious way to feed your family on busy nights!
Fried Chicken and Bacon Pasta Casserole, is the perfect hearty dinner! It also gives you a great reason to clean out the fridge because you can add any leftover meat and veggies you like. Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake is another great one! This dish can be prepared in advance and baked later.
Cheesy and so creamy, this easy chicken and rice casserole recipe makes the perfect satisfying dinner! It has rotisserie chicken, soft rice, veggies, and cheddar.
Creamy chicken casserole is a very tender casserole with creamy sauce and lots of cheese. The sauce contains sour cream and milk, and this gives the whole casserole a special creamy texture.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole - Chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, onion, garlic, cream of chicken soup, top with crushed Ritz crackers
4-Can Mexican Chicken Casserole
This is a fabulous recipe especially when you crave a Mexican dish. I made the recipe as written except I added the whole cup of cheese when mixing.
I put it in fridge overnight to make a quick pre-made meal to bake the next day.
4-Can Mexican Chicken Casserole Recipe
4-Ingredient Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Canned chicken and canned biscuits make this SUCH an easy meal that is fun for my picky little eaters!
This is a VERY simple meal to throw together with just a few cheap ingredients I always have on hand!
4-Ingredient Mini Chicken Pot Pies Recipe
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Very very good! I’ve been making this casserole with canned chicken and rotisserie chicken for a few months, but tried the recipe with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving dinner and it was delicious, too!
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe
Chicken Sliders Casserole
I used 2 cans chicken, Hawaiian rolls, bacon bits and ranch (left out a lot of the ‘extra’ seasonings and the spinach) and the family gobbled these cheesy chicken sliders up!
Best of all, a cheap SIMPLE dinner was on the table in 30 minutes!
Chicken Sliders Casserole Recipe
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
This casserole turned out really good!!
I’m from the South (where we LOVE our stuffing or ‘dressing’), so I would recommend doubling the stuffing. Just one box (or 3 cups), doesn’t give you a lot of that yummy stuffing part.
Overall, delicious!
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Recipe
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Made this again for dinner tonight and it was sooooooo delicious and everyone loved it!
The only thing I did different this time was to add cooked pasta shells and put them at the bottom of the casserole dish then added the chicken mixture topped with buttery crackers crumbs. Super good!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe
Chicken Tortilla Casserole
This chicken casserole recipe is absolutely amazing and so easy! My 1 year old couldn’t get enough and neither could we.
I paired it with cilantro lime rice and black beans as recommended. So great!
Chicken Tortilla Casserole Recipe
Loaded Potato Chicken Casserole
This is the kind of meal that I can eat every day and still want more! A very satisfying and delicious casserole that is the ultimate comfort food for me!
Loaded Potato Chicken Casserole Recipe
Mexican Rice Chicken Casserole
I made this casserole ahead of time and put it in the freezer – it came out fantastic!!! I put crushed Tostitos on top and finished with sour cream….Love, love it!!!
Mexican Rice Chicken Casserole Recipe
Chicken Hashbrown Casserole
Tried this chicken hashbrown casserole and will absolutely be making it again soon because my whole family loved it.
I “cheated” with canned chicken and cheap bacon bits but still SO good!
Chicken Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole
I’ve made this casserole with leftover chicken, canned chicken AND shredded rotisserie chicken and it’s always so good – my husband LOVES it!
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole Recipe
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
I made 4 pans of this for our church potluck supper and they kept coming back for more! Big hit!! Delicious!
I have had this basic recipe for years with one difference… regular Doritos crunched up.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe
Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole
Very delicious and comfort food-style casserole. Use canned chicken or leftover shredded chicken.
I also halved the recipe a couple times when I’m cooking for just the two of us – we ate until we were stuffed and still had leftovers!
Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole Recipe
Chicken and Biscuits Casserole
With only 7 simple and CHEAP ingredients, this chicken and biscuits casserole was budget-friendly AND delicious!
Will be making this again and again!
Chicken and Biscuits Casserole Recipe
More Casserole Recipes I’ve Tried:
Ground Beef Casseroles and Large Family Dinners
Best Casseroles To Make Ahead and Freeze
More Cheap Dinner Recipes:
Best Dinner Recipes with Pork Chops
Easy Cheap Meals For Large Families On A Budget
Low Budget Pasta Dinner Recipes
Last EASY Crockpot Dump Dinners
