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If you’re trying to plan what eating at home might look like for the next few weeks, I thought I’d share what my family is stocking up on in our pantry, as well as some easy recipe ideas for how to use them!
Recipes Using Pantry Ingredients
If you want to skip my shopping list and go straight to the recipes, click on the links below to jump:
- Dinner Recipes
- Breakfast Recipes
- Dessert Recipes
- Staples You Can Make at Home (Usually cheaper!)
My Go-To Pantry Staples
Below you’ll find a list of everything I like to keep on hand in my pantry. You can download a convenient shopping list here if you want to print it off and take it to the store with you!
The amount you need to buy of these items will vary based on what you already have on hand, and the number of people in your home, so I’ve only listed the ingredients I keep in stock– not necessarily the amount you need of each one.
Fresh Produce
To go along with the pantry items on this list, I like to keep some fresh produce on hand to complete our meals. If you don’t have access to fresh produce, frozen will work in many cases, too. (Keep in mind that you can freeze things like chopped onions, carrots, and celery in easy portions for later, so save anything you don’t use right away.)
Here are my favorites:
- Lemons (or limes)
- Apples or pears
- Bananas
- Fresh spinach
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrots
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Sweet potatoes
- Yukon Gold potatoes
- Medjool dates (I’m seriously stocked up on these)
Dinner Recipes
Perfect Red Lentil Soup
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Dry red lentils, canned coconut milk, and canned tomato paste.
You’ll also need some basic fresh produce, like onions, carrots, and celery, but you can use frozen if you need to. (This soup also freezes well!
Instant Pot Spaghetti (with or without meat!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Dry spaghetti, jarred marinara sauce, and dry red lentils.
With this recipe you literally dump these ingredients into the Instant Pot a press a button. If you want to use ground beef instead of the lentils, there are instructions for doing that, too.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Canned Pumpkin, coconut milk, and maple syrup.
Slow cooker pumpkin soup is an easy “dump” meal that’s packed with flavor and nutrients, thanks to the canned pumpkin. Serve it with crunchy pumpkin seeds on top!
Vegan Coconut Curry (an Easy Weeknight Dinner!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Canned coconut milk, curry powder, spices, maple syrup, and rice or quinoa, for serving.
Coconut curry makes an easy weeknight meal, and you can use up any vegetables you happen to have on hand– fresh or frozen!
Instant Pot Quinoa Burrito Bowls (Vegan!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Dry quinoa, salsa, canned black beans, and spices.
These quinoa burrito bowls are the perfect recipe for a pressure cooking beginner. All you have to do is press a button and walk away!
Quinoa & Black Bean Salad
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Dry quinoa, canned black beans, and spices.
This is probably my favorite make-ahead salad of all time. It’s super flavorful, and it lasts in the fridge for an easy packed lunch.
Instant Pot Vegan Chili
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย canned black beans, canned kidney beans, diced tomatoes, dry red lentils, and spices.
Vegan chili is a hearty meal made with plant-based protein, and it uses the convenience of canned beans. I love to serve this with my vegan cornbread— which technically isn’t made with corn, but it tastes like it is.
Vegan Tuscan Pumpkin Pasta
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย canned pumpkin, crushed or strained tomatoes, coconut milk, and spices.
This pumpkin pasta sauce is made with canned pumpkin and strained tomato– which is similar to crushed tomatoes or canned tomato sauce, if that’s what you have on hand. It’s addictive over your favorite pasta!
Chipotle Burrito Bowls (in the Instant Pot!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย dry black beans, dry brown rice, and spices.
Make affordable Chipotle burrito bowls at home, and then serve them with a variety of toppings for a build-your-own-bowl situation!
Vegan Meatloaf (Easy Lentil Loaf)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย dry green lentils (or canned), quick cooking oats, ground flax, tomato paste, and spices.
When you need some vegetarian comfort food, this “meatloaf” is a hit! I love the combination of textures and flavors.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup (Vegan)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย dry green lentils (or canned), diced tomatoes, and spices.
This lentil soup is hearty and filling, and takes no time to throw together in your pressure cooker! Stove top directions are included as well.
The BEST Vegan Mac and Cheese (A Fan Favorite!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย cashews, dry pasta, nutritional yeast, and spices.
This Vegan Mac n’ Cheese comes together in minutes! You can blend a handful of ingredients in your blender as the pasta cooks, then simply stir it all together for a comforting dish.
Lentil Salad (Perfect for Make-Ahead Meals!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Dry green lentils, vinegar, and spices.
This lentil salad is hearty, yet refreshing, and will last in the fridge for several days after you make it, so it’s perfect for meal prepping ahead of time.
Vegan Chickpea Salad
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Canned chickpeas and spices.
This Vegan Chickpea Salad is filled with fresh Greek-inspired flavors, and takes just minutes to stir together!
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad with Chickpeas
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Canned chickpeas, dry pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and spices.
When you pair sun-dried tomatoes with pasta, it’s hard to go wrong flavor-wise. You can stir in any veggies you happen to have on hand, to make this salad nutrient-packed!
Vegan Black Bean Burgers (Veggie Burgers)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Canned Black beans, rolled oats or oat flour, BBQ sauce, and spices.
When I make veggie burgers, I want them to be flavorful and EASY to prepare. These are both! You don’t even need to break out the food processor to make them.
Breakfast Recipes Using Pantry Staples
Healthy Granola (Oil-free!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Rolled oats, shredded coconut, pumpkin seeds, maple syrup, and spices.
Homemade granola is a great make-ahead meal, so it makes for an easy breakfast. Serve it with homemade almond milk and fresh or frozen fruit.
Best Homemade Granola Bars
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Rolled oats, peanut butter, honey or maple syrup.
Homemade granola bars require just 4 ingredients that your probably have on hand! Feel free to mix up the nut butter you use, along with any add-ins, to change the flavor.
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats (Fool-Proof Method!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Steel cut oats, and any toppings you like.
This is the only way I cook steel cut oats now. Just add the oats and water, press a button and walk away!
Chia Pudding Recipe
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Chia seeds, almond milk or rice milk.
Chia pudding is an easy and filling breakfast, loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. You can flavor it however you’d like to!
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding (only 4 ingredients!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Chia seeds, cacao powder, almond milk or rice milk, and maple syrup.
Chocolate chia pudding is like having a rich chocolate dessert, for breakfast or a snack! You can sweeten this one with fruit or maple syrup.
Vegan Overnight Oats (Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Rolled oats, maple syrup, and almond milk.
Overnight oats make an easy meal prep option, if you don’t mind eating oatmeal more like a chilled bowl of cereal. You can get creative with the toppings, using frozen fruit, cinnamon, or crunchy walnuts.
Crispy Almond Flour Waffles
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need:ย Almond flour, olive oil, maple syrup, baking powder, and eggs (or tapica starch for an egg-free version).
Almond flour waffles are extra-filling, thanks to the natural fat in almonds, and you can make these ahead for an easy freezer waffle. My kids love these!
Dessert Recipes
Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Canned black beans, coconut sugar, chocolate chips, and ground flax.
If you’re stocking up on black beans, you might as well make the most of it with these rich & fudgy brownies!
Vegan Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Canned chickpeas, coconut sugar, oat flour.
You can’t even tell there are chickpeas in these cookies, but they act as a great binder without using eggs, and keep these cookies moist.
Chocolate Aquafaba Mousse (Vegan!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Liquid leftover from canned chickpeas, chocolate chips, cream of tartar.
If you’re already opening up a can of chickpeas, you might as well make the most of the liquid in the can, too! It makes the most amazingly fluffy vegan chocolate mousse.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (5 ingredients!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Peanut butter, cacao powder, coconut oil, almond flour, and maple syrup.
These bars are a staple in my home because we always have these ingredients on hand! They are rich & decadent, so be warned– they go fast!
Chocolate Pots De Creme (Egg-free!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Raw cashews, coconut oil, cacao powder, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Who knew that one of the most decadent desserts can be made with simple pantry staples? This is my show-stopping dessert that I made for parties and guests. It’s always a hit!
Staples You can Make at Home:
How to Make Almond Milk (Better than Store-Bought!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Almonds.
It takes just minutes to make your own almond milk at home, and it tastes better than store bought! I recommend keeping a nut milk bag on hand to make this easily. (Try my 2-Minute Almond Milk to skip the need for straining.)
How to Make Oat Milk
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Rolled oats.
I’ve tested this method to help you make it as NOT slimy as possible, and it’s the cheapest non-dairy milk option around!
Hemp Milk
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Hemp hearts and dates or maple syrup, for sweetness.
Hemp hearts are a complete source of plant-based protein, and make a super-creamy milk that you don’t have to strain.
How To Make Almond Butter (No Added Oil!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Almonds.
You can make your own almond butter using only 1 ingredient! You just need patience as they break down in your food processor.
Homemade Peanut Butter (No Oil!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Peanuts.
You can make peanut butter at home in just about 5 minutes, without added oil or sugar. It tastes amazing!
Homemade Ketchup (5-minute recipe!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Tomato paste, dates, vinegar, mustard, and spices.
This homemade ketchup takes just 5 minutes to make, and it tastes amazing!
How to Make Tahini (in 10 minutes!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Sesame seeds.
Tahini is a staple in my life– I use it for my favorite Lemon Tahini Dressing and Tahini Dill dressing, not to mention hummus for snacking!
How to Make Hummus (in 5 minutes!)
Pantry Ingredients You’ll Need: Tahini, canned chickpeas, and spices.
You can make a creamy and fluffy hummus in just 5 minutes using pantry staples! It makes a great dip for crackers and veggies.
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I hope this collection of recipes will be helpful for you in the near future. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you make!
Reader Feedback: What are your go-to pantry meals on a busy weeknight?
laura
THIS IS AMAZING! thank you!
Mui
Thanks very much! This comes in so handy in this trying time.
Jody Johnson
Thank you so much! I have been using your recipes for a little while now, and these recipes have really taken so much stress off of some of my meal planning around homeschooling four children! Thank you so much for all your hard work–what a gift to be able to have a forerunner as yourself helping people have healthier recipes that are delicious and easy to prepare! You are doing a great work, and now how you have compiled these recipes under “emergency” or busy weeknight is just so very thoughtful! My children are learning more how to be cognizant of the healthier versions of things, and my fourteen year old son knows that there is some “secret” healthy ingredient in snacks…but he smiles and enjoys them–and a mother who can whip it up quickly thanks to you! Our family season now is difficult, and one of the burdens of meal preparations is lifted a bit because of all your good efforts! I do really appreciate all of your labors of love in this website!
Pat
Love this format. It’s very handy.