Quick and Easy Pantry Meals

A handful of my favorite Quick and Easy Pantry Meals. Made with on-hand ingredients and pantry essentials, these budget-friendly family favorites are perfect for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or pandemic preparation.

Pantry Essentials

I have always kept a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry –  even before the days of the Coronavirus (also known as Covid-19). Keeping my pantry filled with a variety of different grains, rice, canned goods, and pasta, plus long-lasting (or freezer-friendly) perishables (like root vegetables and ground meat), helps me stay prepared, avoid the temptation to eat out, and ultimately, save money.

To help you guys out (especially given these uncertain times), I thought I would put together a checklist of popular pantry and refrigerator essentials.

Now, I am not suggesting you go out and purchase everything on the lists below. Instead, use it as a guide when stocking up and always choose ingredients you’re familiar with and enjoy.

Pantry Dinner Recipes

Whether you’re looking for quick and easy pantry dinner recipes to help with busy school nights, you’re just learning to cook, or you’ve stockpiled your pantry with so many canned goods that you’ve lost track of what to do with it all, let me tell you – I’ve been there.

So, next time you need a fast and delicious dinner to put on the table without having to run to the market, try one of the options below!

Sensitive to spicy food? Swap arrabbiata sauce with store-bought or homemade marinara sauce.

More white bean recipes:

• Pork Green Chili Recipe with White Beans
• Smoky Tomato White Bean Soup via Vegan Huggs

If you keep a stockpile of frozen ground meat in your freezer, your family will also love my ground beef tacos or spaghetti sauce.

Easy recipes with leftover chicken:

• Easy Chicken Salad Recipe (this can also be made with canned chicken)
• Easy Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
• Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe

Eggs are one of my top five pantry must-haves. They’re delicious, versatile, and filled with protein. Learn how to make hard-boiled eggs and keep a bowl in the refrigerator for an easy snack.

Everyone’s favorite comfort food, make a huge batch of this chili and freeze the rest for later. Made with ground beef, bacon, and red kidney beans simmered in a simple, spice-filled tomato broth, chili is an awesome way to use up perishables about to go bad and stores well in the refrigerator for at least 4-5 days.

No more ground meat? Replace the ground beef with cooked lentils.

Simple, easy, no-fuss lentil soup made with a combination of pantry essentials including lentils, canned tomatoes, and chicken broth. Add chopped vegetables and fresh herbs, or keep it simple and season with a splash of hot sauce or sour cream. Get the Lentil Soup recipe.

Check out these other lentil soups :

• Curry Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk
• Lentil Stew

Easy, one-pot, and made with ground beef (or chicken), canned tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken or beef broth, and macaroni noodles. This recipe is SO easy and loved by all ages. Get the American Goulash recipe.

Filled with four different kinds of beans, crunchy vegetables, sweet canned corn, ripe tomatoes, and drizzled with a zesty red wine vinaigrette. Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free. Get the Bean Salad recipe.

More delicious bean salads,

• Three Bean Salad Recipe
• Chopped Mediterranean Salad

Fruits and Vegetables that Last a Long Time

Fresh fruit and vegetables are expensive. Stock up on the ones that last the longest.

More Quick and Easy Pantry Meals

• Red Beans and Rice Recipe
• Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles
• Kimchi Ramen Noodle Soup (30 minutes)
• Minestrone Soup Recipe (Stovetop + Slow Cooker)
• Couscous: What Is It, Recipes, and How to Cook Couscous