45 Tasty Meals Using These 9 Canned Meats!

Whether you live alone or have a house full of kids, canned meat has been used for many years as a staple in many different types of meals. The list really is endless when it comes to ways to prepare your canned meat. From canned tuna, to vienna sausages, to spam, this is the recipe list created to help home cooks find new foods to try!

You would be surprised at the amount of recipes that exist just for using canned meats! Try your hand at one of the recipes in this list and see what you can make. It might even be a great idea to simply swap out ingredients to make a new dish as well.

Simple Canned Meat Sandwiches

Canned meat can sometimes be the best ingredient that is missing from your sandwich! We have found the best recipes on the web that will help you step out of your comfort zone and try something new for lunch. Take your pick between these yummy salads or a vienna sausage spread to make your sandwich a little easier!

Tasty Salad Sandwiches

These 5 tasty sandwiches can be served on your favorite bread, buns, or even crackers! Plus, each recipe takes a maximum of 15 minutes to make!

1. Tuna Salad Sandwiches from the Betty Crocker Kitchen team

This is a great tuna recipe from Betty Crocker using onion, celery, salad dressing or mayonnaise, some lemon juice and seasonings of your own preference.

2. The Chicken Salad of My Childhood from 100 Days of Real Food, created by Lisa Leake

Similar to the tuna sandwich above, this chicken recipe from 100 Days of Real Food also requires relish or pickles, mayonnaise, garlic salt, and some relish or pickle juice! 

3. Perfect Turkey Salad Sandwich from The Spruce Eats, created by Diana Rattray

If you prefer turkey over chicken or tuna, this recipe from The Spruce Eats is perfect for you. Make this salad using celery, red onion, parsley, lemon juice, mayonnaise, and some seasonings. 

4. Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad from Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen, created by Carrie Palladino Farias

Another great idea from Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen is to change up your turkey salad by including pecans and cranberries in the mix! This recipe can be made in just 10 minutes.

5. Ham Salad from Spend With Pennies, created by Holly Nilsson

This is another alternative from Spend With Pennies where canned ham is the main ingredient in the recipe! Simply add some mayonnaise, celery and pepper to the ham and mix it together for a tasty snack.

Vienna Sausage Sandwich Spread from Food., created by user Chef shapeweaver

If you are looking for a way to use up some of those vienna sausages in the cabinet, this is a great recipe for some yummy sandwiches. Include some deviled eggs, sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise and sugar in your spread. Finish off with some salt, pepper and garlic powder for extra flavor!

Chill for at least 2 hours and serve on bread, crackers or with chips!

Delicious Green Salads and Pasta Salad for Canned Meats

Salads are a great healthy alternative to have for lunch or dinner. Try stepping up your standard salad combination by adding in a new dressing or some canned meat!

Green Tuna Salad from Enjoy Your Cooking, created by Julie Volhina

Consisting of only ingredients that home cooks will most likely have on hand, this recipe from Enjoy Your Cooking provides a new way to enjoy canned tuna! Using your preferred type of lettuce, add in some tuna, tomatoes, kernel corns and olives. Top with olive oil and salt, or your favorite salad dressing and serve for lunch or as a light dinner. 

Try this dish with canned chicken, turkey or ham as well to give it a new flavor every time you make it!

Simple Tuna Pasta Salad from Food., created by user PanNan

All that you need for this tuna pasta recipe from Food. is some pasta shells of your preference, canned tuna, celery, green peas, and mayonnaise or miracle whip. Chill the dish for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Remember that the pasta will absorb the mayonnaise, so more pasta may be added as necessary.

Use Canned Meat in Pastas and Rice Meals

Whether you are a pasta or rice fan, these are the perfect recipes for you to make for your family. Not only are they filling, but they also make a lot of food! Perfect for leftovers to serve the following day or to mix into something else and make it new again.

Easy Canned Tuna Pasta from Salt and Lavender, created by Natasha Bull

This is an easy, quick and healthy recipe utilizing canned tuna as the main ingredient. Using olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, pasta and seasonings of your liking, you too can make this yummy tuna pasta dish from Salt and Lavender in just 15 minutes! Add some parmesan or lemon zest on top once finished for flavor.

Creamy Tuna Pasta with Peas and Parmesan from Budget Bytes, created by Beth Moncel

This is another great recipe from Budget Bytes that uses canned tuna as its main ingredient. Although similar to the previous recipe, try adding in some butter, frozen peas, half and half, and shredded parmesan to the mix! Serve in just 20 minutes with some bread or your favorite crackers. 

Mediterranean Tuna Pasta from Simply Recipes, created by Elise Bauer

If you are not a big fan of creamy pasta sauces, this is a good alternative option for those who prefer something a little saucier. Use this recipe from Simply Recipes to make a delicious mediterranean style pasta dish! The ingredients list calls for canned tuna, red onion, olives, lemon, and cheese. Try this meal out in just 15 minutes!

Cheesy Chicken Pasta Skillet from Inside BruCrew Life, created by Jocelyn 

This is a great pasta recipe using canned chicken and lots of cheese that home cooks will be able to make in under 30 minutes. Slowly combine the ingredients together in just 6 easy steps! This is a super flavorful dish from Inside BruCrew Life that can be quickly altered according to preference.

Chicken Spaghetti from Gonna Want Seconds, created by Kathleen 

Although this recipe requires a few more ingredients than previous dishes, home cooks can make this yummy chicken spaghetti from Gonna Want Seconds within 30 minutes! This is a convenient meal that utilizes canned chicken and canned soups to help speed the cooking process along.  

It is suggested to refrain from rinsing the pasta as the starch left behind will help make coating the noodles with sauce easier. This recipe also uses diced tomatoes with green chilis, but you can always switch these out for something more mild in flavor or spicier!

Chicken and Rice from Allrecipes, created by R.E. Vincent

This is a very simple chicken and rice recipe to make as a quick snack or a small lunch. Using only instant rice, canned chicken and a can of chicken soup, you can prepare this dish from Allrecipes in just 2 easy steps. Simply prepare the rice and once finished, hear everything together over low heat and your meal is ready!

Zesty Chicken and Rice from the Campbell’s Kitchen team

This is another canned chicken and rice recipe that uses only ingredients you can find in your pantry and some frozen green peas. Feel free to use any vegetable you prefer though! 

In just 40 minutes, you will have a delicious zesty flavored meal from Campbell’s Kitchen for you and your family. Try playing around with the seasonings to change the flavor each time you make it.

Chicken Fried Rice from The Spruce Eats, created by Linda Larsen

This last canned chicken and rice dish is a quick version of a very popular asian cuisine in less than 30 minutes! Try using this recipe when you need to find something easy and quick to prepare. 

The Spruce Eats recommends serving this dish with a green side salad or even a small fruit salad as a treat.

Corned Beef and Rice from Just a Pinch, created by Susan Din

Just a Pinch recommends this 30 minute recipe for families seeking something quick and easy but filling! Utilizing canned corned beef, all you will need is some yellow onion, tomato, garlic, oil and seasonings. Follow these 4 easy steps and you will have a new family favorite dish!

Hearty Beef and Noodles from the Keystone Meats team

For those who enjoy beef stroganoff or a simple canned beef base sauce, this is a great recipe from Keystone Meats to follow and create your own version of this dish! Use only canned meat, broth or soup base, noodles, a little bit of flour and some salt. 

Try serving this dish over some mashed potatoes as recommended on the instructions.

Italian Spaghetti with Ham from Allrecipes, created by user KBABB

Another easy and delicious recipe for anyone to make! Try giving this Allrecipes dish a try using canned ham as the main ingredient with just 3 steps to make it. If you want to substitute the eggs and black olives, try adding in some bell peppers or other vegetables instead! 

Creamy Ham ‘n’ Macaroni Recipe from the Taste of Home team

If you are looking for a way to change up your standard box of macaroni and cheese, try adding in some canned ham, flour to thicken the cheese sauce and some bouillon cubes for flavor. 

Top with parmesan cheese or some bread crumbs if you have some on hand, then pop it in the oven to crisp. This Taste of Home recipe is perfect for large families with children!

Sausage Mac and Cheese from the Ready Set Eat team

Another great alternative for macaroni and cheese is to use canned vienna sausages with some canola oil, green bell peppers for color, black beans and a little bit of cumin! Try this recipe from Ready Set Eat that can be made in less than 30 minutes and allows your family to change it up for dinner.

Fiedo with Vienna Sausage from the Ready Set Eat team

In just 3 easy steps and requiring only 8 ingredients, this is another great recipe from Ready Set Eat that utilizes canned Vienna sausage as the staple item in the meal. By adding in some pasta sauce and a few vegetables, like green bell peppers, the dish becomes something even tastier! Try serving this up for friends or family!

Spam Fried Rice from the Buns in My Oven, created by Karly

Buns in My Oven describes this recipe as being a great and economical choice for dinner, especially for larger households. Begin with a base of rice, spam, onion, garlic, giner, frozen or canned veggies, and some soy sauce and sriracha for flavor! 

Create your own version of this dish in less than an hour, plus leftovers can last for at least a day or more. 

Spam and Eggs from Allrecipes, created by user BRNEMOM

Not only is this a great meal for breakfast time, this can also double as a protein rich snack for any time of the day. Try this recipe from Allrecipes that uses canned spam, a couple of eggs, and some shredded cheddar cheese. 

The best part about this yummy meal is that it takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Turkey Tetrazzini from Lil’ Luna, created by Kristyn Merkley

If you have some canned turkey in the pantry, this is a good tetrazzini recipe from Lil’ Luna that utilizes some of the ingredients you already have just waiting to be used! It takes about 45 minutes to make this dish.

The quick preparation gives the cook an opportunity to personalize the recipe. Then, it is as simple as throwing everything together and baking it in the oven!

Yummy Canned Meat Casseroles 

Casseroles are such a quick and easy dish to make. The preparation process simply consists of chopping up your vegetables and canned meat, then throw it all into a casserole dish and pop it in the oven! 

Quick and Easy Tuna Casserole from Allrecipes, created by Jennie Ridgeway

This is another great casserole recipe from Allrecipes that is also quick, easy and health friendly! Use some egg noodles, or the pasta of your choice, with some green peas, mushroom soup, tuna, onion, cheese and sprinkle with pepper for taste. 

And, it takes only 25 minutes to make!

Grandma’s Chicken Casserole from Betty Crocker, created by Jessica Walker

The Betty Crocker recipe states that this dish is a simple 5 ingredient chicken casserole that can be made in 45 minutes with just 3 easy steps. 

The bread crumbs in this recipe make the meal crispier while the cream of chicken soup gives the casserole a more flavorful texture. 

4 Can Mexican Chicken Casserole from The Seasoned Mom, created by Blair

The Seasoned Mom shows how this delicious mexican inspired casserole can come together in just 5 minutes. You need only canned chicken, rice, corn, tomatoes, taco sauce, some green chilies and shredded cheese to make this yummy and spicy recipe. 

The Seasoned Mom also recommends topping your casserole with guacamole, olives, salsa or sour cream for a little extra taste.

Corned Beef and Noodle Casserole from The Spruce Eats, created by Diana Rattray

You will need some canned corned beef, noodles, shredded cheese, cream of chicken or mushroom soup, milk, onion, veggies, breadcrumbs and butter to make this recipe from The Spruce Eats. 

Serve with a side of fresh vegetables or your favorite type of bread!

Soups, Stews and More with Canned Meat

Another easy way to use your canned meat is to make a soup or stew! This is the best way to make a lot of food at once with very little effort. Try your hand at making one of these recipes below and see what you can create.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup from Gimme Some Oven, created by Ali

This is a super yummy way to use canned corned beef to make a hearty soup that will satisfy the whole family. Simply create a soup base with beef or chicken broth, add in some potatoes and other stew friendly vegetables, lastly season with some bay leaves, salt and pepper! 

This 3 step recipe from Gimme Some Oven makes for great leftovers as well.

30 Minutes to Quick Beef Stew for Dinner from The Hypertufa Gardener, created by Kim

This is another great recipe using canned roast beef, lots of your favorite soup vegetables like potatoes and carrots, as well as some beef stock and gravy mix to help draw the flavors together. Simmer in your crockpot, instant pot, or the stove top for a bit and you will have a delicious dish in no time!

Easy Chicken or Turkey With Dumplings from Food., created by user Kittencalrecipezazz

Make this homemade dumpling soup recipe from Food. with your choice or canned turkey or chicken to add to the mixture. Use some chicken broth, seasonings and vegetables of your choice to help fill this dish out. Cook everything together in a slow cooker, instant pot or just on the stove top. 

Serve with your favorite bread or with some soup crackers for a little extra crunch!

Ham Bean Soup from Cafe Delites, created by Karina

This is a quick 15 minute recipe from Cafe Delites that uses canned ham and white beans mixed together in a celery, carrot and onion soup broth. It is also recommended to add in some spinach or kale, zucchini, or maybe some sweet potatoes or cabbage. Doing this will help change the flavor of the soup for something different each time you make it! 

Try serving with bread or soup crackers as well.

Vienna Sausage Soup from the Ready Set Eat team

In just 40 minutes and a 2 step recipe guide, you can make this Vienna sausage soup using onion, celery, seasonings, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, kidney beans and rice. Cook the sausage and veggies very briefly, just until browned and tender. Then, add to the soup stock with the veggies and seasonings. 

Within a short time, you will have a delicious new soup using canned meat!

5-Ingredient White Chicken Chili from Gimme Some Oven, created by Ali

This is a great recipe from Gimme Some Oven that provides a good way to use canned chicken in a dish big enough to fill a family! Simply add in some salsa, one or more kinds of beans, vegetable or chicken stalk, cumin and toppings. It is suggested to use the sour cream, lettuce, cheese or other toppings that you would put on a burrito or taco!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie from MyRecipes, created by user Gooseberry Patch

Using just 7 household ingredients, any home cook can easily make this simple pot pie recipe for the family! This recipe uses canned chicken, premade pie crusts, canned mixed vegetables, cream of chicken soup, and seasonings of your choice. The MyRecipes instructs cooks to use pepper, celery flakes and poultry seasoning. 

It is also suggested that the pot pie be served with a side of mashed potatoes or a salad! There are also several alternatives for those with gluten allergies as well.

Other Yummy Foods to Make with Canned Meat

If you ever get the craving for a quesadilla, a pot pie, or maybe you are just trying to find a way to use up some of the canned meat in your pantry but have run out of ideas. These are some good options for you to give a try at making yourself. From simple dishes to more complex mexican meals, there is a long list to choose from!

Tuna Patties from Food., created by user Angel Stowe

This recipe from Food. takes about 30 minutes to make, but offers such a simple way to use some of those cans of tuna in the pantry! All you will need is some breadcrumbs, an egg, onion, salt and pepper, and some butter or oil to cook in upon preference. 

Mix everything together and form patties into ½ inch thick patties. This recipe will make about 6 to 8 patties total. Be sure to fry until golden on both sides!

Quick and Easy Chicken Quesadillas from Food., created by user miss_heyrara

Another simple and tasty recipe from Food. using canned chicken to create some yummy quesadillas as a quick snack. To make this dish, you will need some tomatoes and green chilis, shredded cheese, flour tortillas and some taco seasoning. 

You can also dress this meal up by adding in some rice, vegetables or beans! 

Chicken Patties from the Taste of Home team

This is yet another super simple and delicious recipe from Taste of Home using canned chicken that is very similar to the tuna patty recipe! Try mixing up some crushed saltines or breadcrumbs with mayonnaise, green onion or regular onion, lemon juice, pepper and vegetable oil. 

After forming the patties, fry on each side for a few minutes or until golden. 

Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage from the Ready Set Eat team

Taking only 25 minutes and just 3 easy steps, any home cook can make this 7 ingredient recipe from Ready Set Eat using canned corned beef, bacon, onion, butter, cabbage, water and pepper! It is a dish recommended to those with picky eaters in the household. 

You can also change this meal each time you make it by using different seasonings, greases and oils.

Corned Beef Hash and Eggs from the Taste of Home team

This is another great recipe from Taste of Home that requires very little work and only your favorite breakfast foods! Try making this skillet style hash using canned corned beef by combining some eggs, onion and seasonings of your choosing. After frying on the stove, add the eggs to the hash mixture and pop it in the oven for about 25 minutes. Everyone in the household will love this yummy brunch meal!

Canned Corned Beef Tacos from Recipes From A Pantry, created by Bintu

If you are looking for a flavorful way to use up some of your canned corned beef in a new way, this is the recipe for you! Recipes From A Pantry has found a way to make a delicious taco dish using only 5 ingredients, including: canned corned beef, olive oil, onions, tortilla shells and assorted toppings. It is suggested to try topping your tacos with shredded cabbage, jalapenos, radishes, avocados, sour cream or limes as a way to make it a little healthier!

Vienna Sausage Burrito from the Ready Set Eat team

This is another quick and easy breakfast recipe from Ready Set Eat that requires canned Vienna sausage, oil, onion, eggs, refried beans and cheddar cheese all wrapped up inside a flour tortilla! Simply mix together and toss into a pan to fry for a bit, then add your favorite burrito ingredients.

Try adding in some bell peppers for flavor and color, or top with some salsa or queso if you like your burritos a little messy!

Crispy Spam Steak from Panlasang Pinoy

If you like spam and you are looking for a good way to make a tasty, extra crispy spam steak, this recipe from Panlasang Pinoy will be your new favorite meal! Simply add some egg to your spam as well as some cornstarch, flour, garlic powder and a few pieces at a time fry in some oil. 

It is recommended to top with ketchup before serving as well!

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Kelsey Herbert