22 Simple Meals Using Canned Food for the Win on Lazy Weeknights

Save this

When dinner feels like a chore, canned food can save the evening without making it feel like a compromise. It’s fast, reliable, and doesn’t require a trip to the store or much effort in the kitchen. With a few go-to combinations, you can turn pantry staples into meals that work hard without looking like it. This is where simple meals using canned food actually shine—they’re low-lift and still feel like you pulled it together. No shame in choosing the easiest option that still gets the job done.

Hearty Vegan Bean Chili Recipe

A bowl of chili topped with avocado slices, cilantro, jalapeño, and a tortilla chip, with more chili and fresh avocado in the background.
Hearty Vegan Bean Chili Recipe. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

You can turn a couple of dusty cans of beans into this bold, belly-warming chili without breaking a sweat. It’s one of those simple meals using canned food that actually feels like dinner.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Vegan Bean Chili Recipe

Turkey Chili Pie

A skillet with a partially served vegetable and bean casserole, two bowls with portions topped with sauce, and fresh cilantro garnish on a blue cloth.
Turkey Chili Pie. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Canned turkey and pantry staples join forces under a layer of cornbread to fake something fancy. It’s proof that simple meals using canned food don’t have to look like they came from a can.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Chili Pie

Easy Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup Recipe

A creamy orange soup in a white bowl with chunks of vegetables and pieces of red garnish, placed on a dark napkin. A spoon rests in the bowl.
Easy Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Grab canned black beans and broth, toss in some sweet potatoes, and call it a plan. It’s a go-to when you want simple meals using canned food that don’t taste like shortcuts.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup Recipe

Keto Chicken Nuggets

A plate of breaded chicken nuggets is served with a small cup of dipping sauce.
Keto Chicken Nuggets. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

These nuggets use canned chicken and a short list of odds and ends, but no one will guess that from the first bite. They’re perfect for folks who want simple meals using canned food without sacrificing crunch.
Get the Recipe: Keto Chicken Nuggets

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

A white plate with a serving of scrambled eggs mixed with chopped vegetables and herbs, garnished with fresh cilantro, on a white surface.
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

With canned chicken, a box of stuffing, and no patience, you’ve got comfort food in under an hour. This one’s a secret weapon for nights when simple meals using canned food save your sanity.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Canned Chicken Patties

Two golden-brown patties and a serving of steamed broccoli on a white plate.
Canned Chicken Patties. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Mix, smash, and fry—these chicken patties don’t waste time. If you’re after simple meals using canned food and a frying pan, this one keeps it real.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties

Smashed White Bean and Kale Quesadillas with Creamy BBQ Dip

A plate with two spinach and cheese quesadilla wedges, next to a bowl of dipping sauce.
Smashed White Bean and Kale Quesadillas with Creamy BBQ Dip. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Canned white beans and a little kale come together to fake something a lot fancier than it is. This quesadilla is what happens when simple meals using canned food decide to show off.
Get the Recipe: Smashed White Bean and Kale Quesadillas with Creamy BBQ Dip

One Pot Steak and Black Bean Chili

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and avocado slices, served with a piece of cornbread.
One Pot Steak and Black Bean Chili. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Some canned beans, a few spice cabinet friends, and leftover steak get cozy in one pot. It’s an easy win when you need simple meals using canned food but also want to feel like a grown-up.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Steak and Black Bean Chili

Tuscan White Bean Skillet with Kale

A black plate with white beans, chopped tomatoes, and kale, served with a piece of bread. More bread is on a metal tray beside it.
Tuscan White Bean Skillet with Kale. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Canned white beans and shelf-stable broth turn into something rustic and oddly impressive. It’s a smart move for anyone building their go-to list of simple meals using canned food.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Skillet with Kale

The Best Vegetarian Chili

A person holds a bowl of chili topped with sour cream, sliced red onions, and chopped cilantro; another similar bowl is nearby on the table.
The Best Vegetarian Chili. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

It’s called “the best” for a reason, and yes, the reason is beans. All you need is a can opener and a little heat, which puts this firmly in the simple meals using canned food camp.
Get the Recipe: The Best Vegetarian Chili

Easy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

A skillet filled with pasta, ground beef, and tomato sauce, garnished with chopped parsley.
Easy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Canned tomatoes and broth help this one-skillet wonder punch above its weight. This one’s a no-brainer for simple meals using canned food when the clock’s working against you.
Get the Recipe: Easy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Vegan White Chickpea Chili

Bowl of creamy soup with chickpeas and corn, topped with sliced jalapeños, tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro.
Vegan White Chickpea Chili. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Chickpeas and coconut milk from the pantry somehow pull off something creamy and bold. It’s a reliable pick for simple meals using canned food that don’t taste like a backup plan.
Get the Recipe: Vegan White Chickpea Chili

Corned Beef Hash Casserole

A square baking dish filled with a casserole topped with a layer of crumbled crackers, placed on a light-colored surface with a floral-patterned cloth nearby.
Corned Beef Hash Casserole. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Toss canned corned beef into a casserole and suddenly breakfast-for-dinner starts to make sense. It hits the mark when you’re after simple meals using canned food with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Hash Casserole

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

A pot of creamy tomato soup topped with grated cheese and parsley, with a wooden spoon inside. A bowl of chopped greens and grated cheese are beside it on a white surface.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

A few pantry cans, a splash of cream, and some sausage give you a soup that’s surprisingly hard to mess up. It’s a keeper for folks who like their simple meals using canned food with a little flair.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Slow Cooker Chili Mac Recipe

A bowl of chili mac topped with melted cheese and chopped green onions, surrounded by tortilla chips, bell peppers, and green onions on a patterned surface.
Slow Cooker Chili Mac Recipe. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Canned tomatoes, beans, and pasta go low and slow until it’s time to eat. This one practically cooks itself and still counts as one of the better simple meals using canned food.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chili Mac Recipe

Tuna and Tomato Pasta

A close-up of a plate of pasta with tuna, tomatoes, onions, and herbs.
Tuna and Tomato Pasta. Photo credit: Honest And Truly.

Canned tuna and tomatoes tag-team their way into a surprisingly decent weeknight pasta. It’s a fast fix when you need simple meals using canned food and zero stress.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta

Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

A skillet filled with melted cheese, ground meat, black beans, and vegetables, garnished with cilantro. Tortilla chips and cilantro leaves are on the side.
Mexican Ground Beef Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

With canned corn, beans, and tomatoes doing the heavy lifting, this skillet has no business being so good. It’s a lifesaver when you’re scraping together simple meals using canned food on short notice.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats

Cucumber halves topped with a mixture of shredded chicken, bacon bits, and herbs are arranged in rows on a white plate.
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Canned chicken and pantry ranch seasoning give these cucumber boats their bite. When you want simple meals using canned food but still feel kinda fancy, this one’s got your back.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats

Easy Keto Corned Beef Hash

A plate with a fried egg and a serving of cooked corned beef hash with visible chopped onions.
Easy Keto Corned Beef Hash. Photo credit: Keto Cooking Wins.

Corned beef from a can has never worked so hard. This keto hash proves that simple meals using canned food can still bring the crunch.
Get the Recipe: Easy Keto Corned Beef Hash

Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties

Close-up of several baked sweet potato patties topped with a creamy sauce, fresh dill, and chopped green herbs.
Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Canned salmon turns into crispy, spicy little patties that punch way above their weight. They’re a clever trick for keeping simple meals using canned food from getting stale.
Get the Recipe: Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties

Easy Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole

A serving of baked chicken breast topped with cooked rice, mushrooms, and herbs on a blue plate with a fork.
Easy Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Canned soup and chicken get cozy under a cheesy layer in this comforting bake. It belongs on every list of simple meals using canned food that still hit the spot.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole

Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole

A plate of cheesy rice casserole with sliced sausage, garnished with herbs, is served on a white plate with a blue rim.
Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

With canned soup and sausage, this cheesy casserole comes together faster than your last excuse. It’s a solid standby for simple meals using canned food that don’t feel like a chore.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Sausage and Rice Casserole

Save this