Pantry Power: What to Do With Shelf-Stable Chicken

I received some encouraging feedback for my recent post about Feeding your Family in the absence of SNAP benefits. Thankfully, the government is up and running again, for now. But the reality of slipping through the cracks remains real for millions of Americans.

I think it's important that we speak out and take action against class inequality. And I also think it's important that we brace ourselves for the reality of recession living. That's why in that Feeding Your Family post, I included a recipe for vegetable lentil stew, made entirely from low cost ingredients like you might receive at a food pantry or buy for yourself, if you're trying to shave down costs. This post includes two more recipes.

Now I beg you to keep an open mind because both recipes feature one of the most dreaded of humble ingredients: canned chicken breast. If you've ever seen it, you know it's spongy, briny, and unappetizing. But wait! I promise, promise that with spices, a splash of acid, and some creative kitchen magic, you can transform these meat-pucks into nutritious, tasty, cost-effective meals. How do I know this? Because I'm my mother's daughter, and kitchen creativity is one of the gifts she gave me. (Thanks, mom!) Also, I tested both recipes this week with my family (who are not afraid to give their honest feedback).

Besides, if you can turn-up your nose at eating what you can get, this post isn't for you. There's a certain fierce pride that comes with feeding your family economically, followed by a sense of maybe I can survive these challenging times. If you're in need of either, give one or both of these a try. I put the recipes themselves in picture form, so you can download to your phone and save for later.

Mom's Chicken Salad with an economical twist.

Pantry Crunch Chicken Salad

The first recipe is an adaptation of mom's famous chicken salad. I didn't have celery on hand, but I did have a head of cabbage in the fridge. Chopped cabbage, carrot, and onion provide the fresh crunch of this salad. Spices and a light splash of vinegar brighten everything up. This was so good, I had people coming back for seconds.

Pantry Chicken Patties

The second recipe is magical. With just a couple of ingredients, shelf-stable chicken is transformed into chicken patties that taste better than they have any right to do. Pan-fry or air-fry, you are using what you already have to create something warm and satisfying.

Tough Times, Tough Families

There can be no doubt that we're heading into a recession era, and people on the edge are already experiencing it. As the months of tariffs and corporate subsidies continue, more and more families will learn what it is to struggle.

However the answer is not to give up. It's to learn new skills, new strategies, even new recipes to help us make the most of what we do have, even when it's less than we're used to having.

And listen, none of this is about pretending that things aren’t hard. They are. But every time we take a humble ingredient and turn it into something nourishing, we’re practicing resilience. We’re refusing to let scarcity tell the whole story. So if you’re tired, stretched thin, or staring down a can of something you didn’t choose, start here. Small victories count. They keep us fed in more ways than one.

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