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This collection of pantry staple recipes features treats, dinners, pastas, and sides that are all made from basic pantry ingredients.
More Collections: 3 Ingredient Recipes, 5 Ingredient Recipes, Easy Dinner Ideas
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Pantry staple recipes come in handy during weeks when the budget is tight, or in cases of emergency where you can’t get to a grocery store (or there isn’t much at the store).
Why we love pantry staple recipes:
- Waste not. It’s the best way to go through all of your groceries rather than just acquiring more than you need and letting stuff expire.
- Flavor. None of these recipes skimp on flavor! They are all delicious.
- Meal planning. Using pantry staples also gives you the chance to be creative with your meal planning!
What kinds of food to keep in the pantry?
“Pantry” refers to a food storage area in the home that is at room temperature such as a kitchen pantry, a closet, or a cupboard. Any items that do not need to be refrigerated or frozen can be stored in the pantry.
This includes, but isn’t limited to items like:
- dried, dehydrated, and freeze-dried food and spices
- unopened canned goods like fruits, vegetables, soups, beans, or meats
- oils, shortening, vinegar
- unopened condiments, sauces, and jams
- nuts, nut butter, and peanut butter
- unopened bottles of water, juice, and some milk (almond or coconut milk)
- cereal, oats, crackers, cookies, pasta
- dried beans, lentils, rice, grains
THIS POST has a more comprehensive printable list of pantry staples! Be sure to check it out!!
A Good Process to Follow
When stocking up your pantry use the following tips:
- Use what is on hand. Include leftovers (cut-up veggies etc). Use items that will expire or go bad first (raw meat, eggs).
- Look at the fridge first. Take note of perishable items like meat, cheese, fresh fruit, and veggies.
- Then the pantry. Think of shelf stable dry goods you can pair with perishables like pasta, rice, bread, or other grains.
- Then the freezer. Frozen meat or veggies.
- Make it simple, but use your spices to make it fun and flavorful!
- Jalapeños or chili powder are great for spice.
- Chopped garlic or dried onion can create classic flavors.
- Don’t underestimate the power of delicious sauces like enchilada sauce or marinara!
store meats in the pantry
Having some meat stored in the pantry is a good idea. They are really useful because they are already cooked and can last without electricity and ensure you have protein on hand.
- Dried/dehydrated. A prime example of this is beef jerky.
- Freeze-dried. Add a little water to revive it and use it in any recipe requiring cooked meat.
- Canned. Tuna and chicken are often on my grocery list, but you can also buy canned beef, SPAM, crab meat, chunk ham, sardines, salmon, or Vienna sausage. Canned meat can last for 2-5 years before losing nutritional value. It is often safe to eat for longer but use caution.
- Bottled. I like bottled chicken and beef best. They are easy to use in stews, casseroles, and even for pulled BBQ sandwiches. I once tried to bottle ground beef but didn’t care for the texture. Home-bottled meat can safely last for 1-2 years. Use caution when consuming after.
Tips for Rotating food in the pantry
It’s important to implement something so that you know what you have, what you need, and so items don’t get forgotten in the back corners and then go bad.
- DON’T STORE FOOD YOU ARE NOT GOING TO EAT!
- How much of each item. Make a list of pantry staples used in 2 weeks, then multiply it depending on how much you want to have stored. I try to have a 3 month supply on hand of daily pantry staples.
- Build up your supply slowly. Not only is this easier on the pocketbook, but it helps naturally rotate the food. If you spread out purchases, the use-by dates will also be spread out.
- Have a master list of what you have and where it is kept. When you use or open an item add it to your next grocery trip so it can quickly be replaced and your list is kept up to date.
- Label. Use a permanent marker and write the expiration/”best by” date in a visible place. This will make it easier to identify which items need to be used first.
- Implement a rotation tool like a Can Tracker or even by hand by placing recently purchased food items behind similar older items.
- Store long-term food buckets in the back of the pantry and place food items you will be rotating through regularly in the front. Long term food storage can also be stored in other areas of the house while day-to-day food storage can be kept in the kitchen area.
Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas
If you need a quick dinner, don’t have time to run to the store, or are working to stick to a budget, these easy dinner ideas are for you! They all use pantry staples, and all are delicious.
1 Taco Soup Recipe
2 Green Chili Smothered Burritos Recipe
3 Fry Bread Recipe
4 Sopa de Fideo Recipe
5 Best Chili Recipe
6 Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe
7 Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
8 Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe9 Tostadas Recipe
10 Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipeMore Pantry Staple Recipes
These breads and sides are made with simple ingredients that you most likely already have on hand!
11 Easy Yeast Roll Recipe
12 Flour Tortilla Recipe
13 White Bread Recipe
14 Cornbread Casserole Recipe
15 Crock Pot Pinto Beans Recipe
16 Spanish Rice Recipe
17 Jiffy Corn Casserole Recipe
18 Lemon Rice Recipe
19 Crockpot Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe20 Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Pantry Desserts
Don’t forget the treats! Many desserts use common ingredients that are always on hand and ready for baking when the craving hits.
21 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
22 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookie Recipe
23 Haystack Cookies
24 Easy Shortbread Cookie Recipe
25 Peach Dump Cake Recipe
26 Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
27 No Bake Cookies Recipe
28 Energy Balls Recipe
29 Amish Sugar Cookie Recipe
30 Sweet Chex Mix Recipe
31 Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
32 Puppy Chow Recipe
33 White Trash Recipe (White Chocolate Trail Mix)
Recipe Video
Get the recipe34 White Chocolate Popcorn Recipe
35 Cake Mix Snickerdoodles Recipe
Taco In A Bowl!
Who doesn’t love tacos?! Now you can enjoy our favorite Mexican dish in soup form with this Taco Soup recipe.
This easy Taco Soup is one I make more often during the winter when it’s cooler, but is also still great all year long!
Here is the recipe:
30+ Pantry Staple Recipes
Ingredients
- 3 (15-ounce) cans chili with beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce_ can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- 3 tablespoons ranch dressing mix, (or 1 packet)
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, (or 1 packet)
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- ½ cup water
Toppings
- sour cream, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, cilantro
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm with your desired toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipes you Have on Hand!
You will be amazed at the tasty, easy dishes you will be able to whip up with ingredients that you already have on hand. This is sure to be a list that you will come back to again and again!
More Collections: Healthy Dinner Ideas, Crock Pot Dinner Ideas, Dinner Ideas for Kids
