22 Pantry Recipes You can Make with Ingredients You Have On Hand (2024)

Every cook needs a well-stocked kitchen, and with these essential pantry recipes on hand, you’ll always be able to create a delicious meal quickly and effortlessly.

22 Pantry Recipes You can Make with Ingredients You Have On Hand (1)

Lately, I’ve been getting a ton of emails with requests for pantry-items recipes, and I couldn’t be happier to help. I get it. We’re all in this together. Let’s just stay home and cook up a storm. M’kay?

We might crawl out of this with 15-pounds extra and a double chin to show for it, but we’ll worry about that later. 🙌

Thus, when you’re stuck at home because of a certain something going around, one of the first things you should do is stock up on proper groceries and pantry items (and 1000 rolls of toilet paper? 🤔) that will get you through your long stay at home.

The only trouble is, when most of us are faced with shelves full of canned tomatoes and tuna, plus dried pasta and beans, we can’t quite imagine turning all of that into something delicious. OR can we?! muahahaha 😁

    Stock Up on Pantry Staples to Make Easy and Quick Pantry Recipes

    First, I advise to take a look at our list of must-have pantry items below for ideas on what to stock in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Then, browse the pantry recipes that follow to get started with easy and delicious weeknight dinners you can whip up with just a few basics.

    Also, please remember that at the end of all my recipes, right there within the recipe box there is an option to “Shop Ingredients”. Click on that and it will give you the list of all that you need to make that recipe plus a delivery option for all the items. It’s so, so helpful. Utilize it if you can. I always do.

    Pantry Staples for the Pantry

    • Rice, lentils, whole grains, and assorted pasta shapes
    • Jarred pasta sauce and salsa
    • Canned beans and legumes
    • Canned broths and condensed soups
    • Olive oil and vegetable oil
    • Vinegars
    • Canned tomato products, including diced tomatoes and tomato paste
    • Dried Italian breadcrumbs and panko crumbs
    • Nuts and dried fruits
    • Sauces (unopened), including Soy Sauce, Tabasco, Worcestershire
    • Dried herbs and spices
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Bananas
    • Apples
    • Baking ingredients including; flour, yeast, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, and cake mixes.

    Pantry Staples for the Fridge

    • Potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, lemons, limes
    • Milk, heavy cream, sour cream, plain yogurt
    • Butter
    • Eggs
    • Mustard
    • Mayonnaise
    • Olives
    • Shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese; also grated parmesan cheese.
    • Sandwich/deli meat and bacon (maybe not a staple for many, but if you have sandwich-lovers, it’s a great idea to stock up on those)

    Pantry Staples for the Freezer

    • Frozen vegetables, including corn, peas, broccoli
    • Frozen berries and other favorite frozen fruits
    • Frozen chicken breasts, frozen whole chicken
    • Ground beef, ground turkey
    • Salmon and other fish that you or your family enjoys
    • Shrimp
    • Bagels and Bread, Dinner Rolls

    22 Pantry Recipes

    Now, please check out the recipes below, and remember to be flexible and get creative. If you don’t have a couple ingredients that the recipe calls for, you can likely do just fine without them or find a similar substitute. Or, if you’re not sure what to do about a certain ingredient or recipe, just leave a comment with your question and I’ll be more than happy to answer.

    Health and Love to you all. ❤️ Stay safe, stay home.

    Slow Cooker Beef Chili

    Comforting, DELICIOUS, and warm beef chili packed with beans, vegetables, and spices, and cooked in the crock pot.

    Mozzarella Stuffed Crockpot Meatloaf

    Easy, juicy, and deliciousCrockpot Meatloafstuffed with melty cheese and prepared in the slow cooker!

    Skillet Burritos

    One-Skillet dinner ready in 30-minutes, combining all your favorite Mexican flavors.

    One Pot Spaghetti with Sausage Sauce

    Flavorful and incredibly delicious, this easy, one pot pasta dinner recipe is on the table in just 30 minutes!

    Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice

    Bursting with buttery garlic flavor, this easy chicken thighs recipe is a one pot dinner guaranteed to impress even the pickiest eaters!

    Roast Chicken Recipe

    Simple Roast Chicken flavored with garlic, butter and herbs, then oven roasted to a golden, crispy, and juicy perfection! EASY, simple to make and flavorful, this is the BEST roast chicken, and it’s perfect for weekend or weeknight dinners.

    Oven Baked Chicken Breasts

    These juicy oven baked chicken breasts come out perfect each and every time!

    Chicken Broccoli Shells and Cheese

    Homemade, lightened-up shells and cheese, tossed with chicken and broccoli florets.

    Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

    Packed with all the Southwestern flavors that we love, this easy-to-make chili is beyond delicious!

    Stove Top Chicken Thighs

    Perfectly golden, tender, and juicy skinless, boneless chicken thighs prepared on the stove top.

    Garlic Butter Spinach Pasta

    This Garlic Butter Pasta with Spinach recipe is made with fresh spinach and bow tie pasta tossed in a creamy garlic-butter sauce.

    Creamy Tortellini Soup

    This Creamy Tortellini Soup is a quick, easy, and deliciously creamy soup packed with cheesy tortellini and fresh spinach.

    Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup

    Loaded with fresh vegetables and cozy rich flavors, this Vegetable Soup is naturally low fat, yet it’s packed with textures, taste, and comfort.

    Chicken Piccata Pasta

    Light and delicious pasta prepared in one pot with bites of chicken and a fantastic lemon-capers sauce.

    White Bean Soup

    This easy White Bean Soup is loaded with fresh veggies and will keep you cozy all winter. It’s freezer friendly too, so don’t forget to freeze some for later!

    Fiesta Rice

    Mexican inspired side dish recipe with fluffy, tender, flavorful rice and colorful veggies.

    Mushroom Rice

    Garlicky, buttery rice combined with tender caramelized cremini mushrooms. A hearty side dish prepared in just one pot & in under 30 minutes.

    No Knead Skillet Olive Bread

    Very to make, no-knead, crusty and delicious bread packed with marinated olives and garlic.

    No Rise Slow Cooker Basil Pesto Bread

    This no-rise, no-fuss, SUPER DELICIOUS slow cooker bread is packed with basil pesto and it’s probably one of the most flavorful bread recipes you will ever make!

    Banana Bread Waffles

    The sweet and delicious taste of Banana Bread in a Waffle!

    Cake Batter Funfetti Cookies

    Soft, perfectly fluffy cookies made with a cake mix and sprinkles!

    Coffee Protein Smoothie

    This easy Coffee Protein Smoothie recipe combines peanut butter and banana with iced coffee!

    22 Pantry Recipes You can Make with Ingredients You Have On Hand (2024)

    FAQs

    Is there a website where I can list ingredients and get recipes? ›

    RecipeRadar helps you to search for recipes by ingredients, plan your meals, and create food shopping lists. The service aims to be distraction-free, privacy-respecting, and is provided as free and open source software so that you can inspect and modify the code - feedback and contributions are welcome.

    What can I make with random stuff in my pantry? ›

    • Surprise Macaroni Cheese. This the best macaroni cheese ever.
    • Vegetarian Tomato, Pea and Chickpea Curry. ...
    • Super-Quick Sushi Fried Rice. ...
    • Chickpea Masala. ...
    • Rigatoni Pasta Bake with Zucchini, Salami and Mozzarella. ...
    • Pie maker spaghetti bolognese muffins. ...
    • Meatball, Zucchini and Chickpea Soup. ...
    • Cheap and Easy Vegemite Spaghetti.

    What foods should I always have in my pantry? ›

    Pasta, grains, canned goods, spices, and baking staples are the types of pantry essentials everyone should keep in their kitchen. These foods are the basis of many meals and have a longer shelf life than items you store in the refrigerator.

    What are the basic ingredients for most recipes? ›

    Baking & Cooking Supplies
    • Instant nonfat dry milk.
    • Flour (consider whole grain)
    • Sugar (white granulated, brown)
    • Seasonings & spices (salt, black pepper, garlic, minced onion)
    • Oil for cooking (such as olive, canola, vegetable)
    • Vinegar.

    Is there an app that tells you what you can cook with the ingredients you have? ›

    Unlike other recipe apps, SuperCook only shows you recipes that require the ingredients you already have.

    What is the most popular recipe site? ›

    Most Visited Cooking and Recipes Websites
    RankWebsiteCategory
    1cookpad.comFood and Drink > Cooking and Recipes
    2allrecipes.comFood and Drink > Cooking and Recipes
    3giallozafferano.itFood and Drink > Cooking and Recipes
    4kurashiru.comFood and Drink > Cooking and Recipes
    46 more rows

    How do you make a pantry out of nothing? ›

    8 Smart Ways to Create a Pantry in Even the Tiniest Kitchen
    1. Repurpose a bookshelf. ...
    2. Go between the studs. ...
    3. Use your wall. ...
    4. Slide it next to the fridge. ...
    5. Rethink the coat closet. ...
    6. Hang dry goods from your upper cabinets. ...
    7. Devote a cabinet. ...
    8. Hang shelves anywhere you can.

    What is a secret pantry? ›

    These pantries are designed to blend seamlessly into the cabinetry, making them almost invisible to the eye. A traditional pantry typically has an interior door that matches the rest of the doors in the house, while a hidden pantry has cabinetry paneling on it that looks like more cabinets.

    What food items can you make by yourself? ›

    7 Foods to Make From Scratch
    • Stock. If you only take one thing from this article, keep a container of veggie scraps in your freezer. ...
    • Bread. This one can be as easy or as complicated as you want, depending on what you are trying to make. ...
    • Hummus. ...
    • Salad Dressing. ...
    • Pasta Sauce. ...
    • Pickles. ...
    • Granola, Bars & Bites.
    May 17, 2020

    What is the most requested item at a food pantry? ›

    Specifically, food banks often need items like:
    • Peanut butter.
    • Canned soup.
    • Canned fruit.
    • Canned vegetables.
    • Canned stew.
    • Canned fish.
    • Canned beans.
    • Pasta (most prefer whole grain)
    Jan 14, 2020

    What food is good for everything? ›

    Some of the most nutritious foods you can eat are oily fish, eggs, avocados, potatoes, and green leafy vegetables. However, no food provides all the nutrients we need, so it's essential to have a varied diet that includes plenty of fresh ingredients and is as little processed as possible.

    What food should I always have on hand? ›

    What Should a Healthy Meal Include?
    • A Healthy Plate is Balanced. Think of every meal as a plate with all the nutrients in balance. ...
    • Staples to Always Have on Hand for Healthy Meals Form the Basis for Meal Planning. ...
    • Whole Grains and Pastas. ...
    • Canned Beans. ...
    • Canned Fish. ...
    • Nut Butters. ...
    • Nuts and Seeds. ...
    • Sweet Potatoes.
    Apr 1, 2021

    What is the most simple thing to cook? ›

    Our Go-To Easy Dinner Idea? Soup!
    • 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup. As simple and easy as it sounds. ...
    • Taco Soup. Like tacos, but soup! ...
    • Tikka Masala Soup. Your favorite Indian chicken recipe, soup-ified. ...
    • Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale. Can we just call this “The Soup”?

    What is the most basic meal to cook? ›

    Here's what they had to say about practicing essential techniques and base recipes.
    • 01 of 10. Cream-Based Soup. Victor Protasio. ...
    • 02 of 10. Roast Chicken. Julia Hartbeck. ...
    • 03 of 10. Pizza. ...
    • 04 of 10. Pasta Carbonara. ...
    • 05 of 10. Whole Roasted Fish. ...
    • 06 of 10. Risotto. ...
    • 07 of 10. Garden Salad. ...
    • 08 of 10. BLT Fried Egg-and-Cheese Sandwich.
    Feb 1, 2024

    Is there an app that takes recipes and makes grocery list? ›

    Five Star favorite app

    I've been using Whisk for a while now, having started by downloading it and using it on my desktop as well to save all my recipes. I'm slowly building up my database, and along the way started using the meal planner and grocery list creator.

    What is the cooking show where you buy your ingredients? ›

    In this kitchen contest, home cooks bid on ingredients to create dishes that will impress celebrity guest judges — and win the cash left in their bank. Watch all you want.

    Is there an app for collecting recipes? ›

    RecipeBox is your ultimate kitchen companion. Built with the at-home cook in mind, RecipeBox allows you to save your favorite recipes in one place. It's your all-inclusive kitchen assistant. With RecipeBox, you can organize recipes, plan your upcoming meals, create your grocery list, and even grocery shop in the app.

    How do food bloggers get their recipes? ›

    Where Do You Get The Inspiration For Your Recipes?
    1. friends and family.
    2. restaurants.
    3. magazines.
    4. seasonal produce.
    5. other blogs.
    6. my constant food cravings.

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