Yes you can get dinner on the table without making a trip to the store! Pantry recipes can save the day when you're short on time and fresh ingredients. Raid your shelves, grab a few fresh and freezer ingredients, and you're just a few steps away from a low-stress and budget-friendly easy pantry meal.
Slow Cooker Cheesy Chili Mac
Pantry meal staples: Onion, Garlic, Beef Broth, Kidney Beans, Diced Tomatoes
Chili or mac and cheese? We say, why choose one when you can enjoy two meals in one marvelous mash-up with this set-and-forget pantry recipe? A full 8 ounces of cheddar (conveniently, the amount in one of those vacuum-packed bricks that's all set for shredding) offers the luxurious texture you love in mac and cheese while chili powder, beans, beef, and canned tomatoes crank up the spice.
Sweet Potato-Black Bean Huevos Rancheros
Pantry meal staples: Corn Tortillas, Black Beans, Vegetable Oil, Sweet Potatoes, Onion, Garlic
Vegetarian-friendly, quick pantry dinners do exist … and can be something even meat-eaters will crave. These smoky, citrus-spiked bean and vegetable huevos rancheros are proof. The only fresh ingredients, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro, are completely optional if you can't make a trip to the grocery store. Substitute a jar of store-bought salsa instead.
Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie
Pantry meal staples: Frozen Mixed Vegetables, Jarred Alfredo Sauce, Canned Pizza Dough
While it looks and tastes like this pot pie took all day to prep, the pantry dinner can be on your table in just 45 minutes. Yes, really! The all-star here is a package of refrigerated pizza dough. Alongside the other staples, you only need shredded chicken and Italian cheese and the cozy casserole is ready for the oven.
Slow Cooker Jalapeño Popper Chili
Pantry meal staples: Onion, Garlic, Pinto Beans, Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, Chicken Broth, Taco Seasoning
If jalapeño poppers are one of your favorite party apps (our hands are raised HIGH for that!), this easy pantry dinner is designed with you in mind. The hearty slow cooker recipe features the same spice and cream cheesy goodness, just in spoonable, supper-appropriate form. A packet of taco seasoning mix is a simple way to step up the spice without adding dozens of ingredients to the line-up.
Chili-Pasta Skillet
Pantry meal staples: Onion, Kidney Beans, Canned Tomatoes, Dried Pasta, Canned Green Chile Peppers
Start a small shopping list (or shop your fridge and freezer): A pound of ground beef, shredded cheese, and then add the staples. A family-friendly dinner will be on your table in a flash. Plus our pantry recipe is loaded with 23 grams of protein and plenty of nutrients!
Skillet Taco Pie
Pantry meal staples: Black Beans, Tomato Sauce, Salsa, Taco Shells
Grab a skillet and carve out 25 minutes. That's nearly all you need to tackle this easy pantry dinner, well, besides your Mexican-inspired ingredients! This speedy skillet supper is a flavor fiesta thanks to a few staples, a handful of spices, shredded cheese, and some optional fresh green onions and salad fixings for a garnish.
Sloppy Chili Joes
Pantry meal staples: Onion, Tomato Sauce, Hamburger Buns
Sloppy joes = a clutter-free grocery list. This kid-favorite sandwich calls for oodles of ingredients with long shelf lives or fridge lives. For a gluten-free and lower-carb variation on this dinner recipe with pantry staples, serve the meat mixture over steamed cauliflower rice (which is a cinch to stock in the freezer).
Ham and Sweet Potato Mini Flatbreads
Pantry meal staples: Sweet Potatoes, Orange Juice, Whole Wheat Thin Sandwich Rolls
In a hurry? Grab a can or refrigerated package of mashed sweet potatoes to make this sandwich even quicker. For a change of pace, try turkey deli meat instead of ham atop this quick pantry dinner idea.
Best-Loved Fried Rice
Pantry meal staples: Eggs, Soy Sauce, Garlic, White Rice, Frozen Peas
Make your own takeout with this easy one-pan recipe. Dig for celery, mushrooms, and carrots in the back of your produce drawer (bet these common vegetables are hiding in there!) and sauté this fried rice recipe. Add grilled shrimp or chicken to make it a pantry meal (rather than a side).
Irish-Italian Spaghetti
Pantry meal staples: Spaghetti, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Canned Tomato Soup, Bottled Hot Pepper Sauce, Onion
The sauce in this pantry recipe calls for a pound of ground beef, chopped onion, and a pair of canned soups. The finished dish is the perfect combination of creamy sauce and al dente pasta. A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top doesn't hurt!
Lemon-Basil Pasta
Pantry meal staples: Linguine, Cannellini Beans
Come summer, this is one of our go-to quick pantry dinners. The five-ingredient recipe is easy, fresh, and flavorful. Lemon, basil, and olive oil make a garden-inspired sauce for linguine and cannellini beans.
Mexican Skillet Dinner
Pantry meal staples: Frozen Corn, Canned Tomatoes, Instant Rice, Pinto Beans
This cheesy skillet meal is almost entirely made of pantry staples. Round out the meal with ground chorizo and shredded cheese. Fresh lime wedges and cilantro are totally optional but delicious toppings.
Ramen Noodle Frittata
Pantry meal staples: Ramen Boodles, Canned Coconut Milk, Vegetable Oil, Rice Vinegar
A couple packages of ramen noodles go a long way in this easy pantry recipe. A frittata is a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Here, we've added bell pepper, napa cabbage, and cilantro.
Buffalo "Chicken" Pasta
Pantry meal staples: Pasta, Frozen Meatless Chicken Breast, Jarred Alfredo Sauce, Bottled Hot Pepper Sauce
This vegetarian dinner idea makes delicious use of inexpensive pantry staples like dried pasta and jarred alfredo sauce. Spice it up with your favorite hot sauce (our Test Kitchen likes Frank's Red Hot). We're topping the dish with shredded carrot and finely chopped celery but you can skip if you don't have them on hand.
Dump and Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Pantry meal staples: Pasta, Jarred Sauce, Dried Bread Crumbs
This pantry recipe is about as easy as they get. Dump pasta, sauce, raw chicken, and water to a baking dish and bake. As the ingredients cook, the flavors melt and the pasta becomes tender. Once the chicken is completely cooked, top the casserole with bread crumbs and shredded cheese.
Enchilada Verde Casserole
Pantry meal staples: Cream Cheese, Canned Diced Green Chiles, Canned Green Enchilada Sauce, Black Beans, Frozen Corn, Corn Tortillas
Layers of corn tortillas, shredded chicken, beans, corn, and cheese make up this pantry casserole. If you want a bit of freshness, top the finished dish with diced avocados and fresh cilantro.
One-Pot Giardiniera-Pepperoni Pasta
Pantry meal staples: Tomato Paste, Pizza Sauce, Pasta, Giardiniera
You're looking at a a one-pan dish that the whole family will love. Favorite pizza toppings like pepperoni and cheese are here, along with vinegary giardiniera. If you're looking for less heat, choose a mild giardiniera blend and don't add any crushed red pepper.
Chicken Cobbler Casserole
Pantry meal staples: Frozen Mixed Vegetables, Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix, Cream of Chicken Soup, Broth, French-Fried Onions
Making this chicken casserole is all about layering ingredients. Start with shredded chicken and top with frozen veggies. From there, prepare the biscuit mix and pour it on. Finish prepping the dish by pouring over the soup and broth.
