When it comes to cooking quickly, stocking your pantry with the right staples and equipment can go a long way. This method helps you feed your family without having to slave over a hot stove for hours or spend a fortune. Here are some pantry items you should always have on hand for quick, easy and cheap meals.
Pasta
Pasta is a versatile food that can be used on its own or in other recipes. Italians have hundreds of sauces to add flavor to these humble little items made out of flour, eggs and oil. Pasta can be used in soups, stews, salads, and on its own. You can make a casserole or even your own Rice-A-Roni by mixing the pasta with rice and adding whatever seasoning flavors you like. And of course, elbow macaroni is perfect for homemade mac and cheese or macaroni salad. This is one pantry item you can make endless meals with!
Noodles
Closely related to pasta are egg noodles, which are great with dishes like stroganoff, chicken noodle soup or tuna noodle casserole if that’s your thing. We all love our Italian pasta favorites, but have you tried Asian-style noodles, such as soba, udon and Rice vermicelli? You can make many easy, 20 minute meals such as stir fry, soup or use them as a simple side dish. Even ramen has a place in a busy kitchen, as long as you don’t use too much of the ultra-salty seasoning packets. You can even add your own seasonings, broth, meat and/or eggs so you can throw those seasoning packets right in the trash if you want to.
Rice
Rice offers an amazing array of tastes. White and brown rice are musts for the house. Long-grain rice is perfect for Mexican food. Jasmine or Calrose rice is great with Asian food. Arborio is perfect for risottos. Short-grain varieties include brown rice or sticky rice which is perfect for sushi. Or my favorite Basmati rice, which I pretty much use for everything. Now I know, rice is not one-size-fits-all so to speak, but I just love the flavor of Basmati so that’s why I use it no matter what flair flavor I’m cooking up for the day. Rice is another pantry item that you can prepare with almost any meal.
Canned Tuna
Tuna packed in water can be eaten hot or cold. It is a good source of Omega-3, which is important for brain, heart and eye health. Go for the solid white albacore which has the highest amount of omega-3s. If you’re looking for a healthier option, be sure to choose a tuna packed in water, not oil. Canned tuna is perfect for sandwiches, salad, tuna casserole, stuffed peppers, stuffed mushrooms, and more. Tuna is high in protein and low in calories and is a filling way to feed your family.
Eggs
Eggs are extremely versatile and something you can whip up dozens of meals with in a matter of minutes. Try scrambled, poached, fried, over easy and soft or hard boiled. Make omelets, frittatas, quiches, French toast, pancakes, crepes and more.
Beans
Canned beans are a pantry item that can really come in handy. Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, you name it. You can use beans in all kinds of meals ranging from chili to black bean burgers to hummus. Beans are great in soups, salads, or by themselves as a side dish.
Canned Vegetables
Most canned vegetables are cheap and convenient. Now I would always recommend fresh fruits and vegetables, but in a pinch, it’s better to have some on hand. One vegetable I always recommend having is canned corn. It’s great byself or give it more flavor by adding butter, salt and pepper. Toss it in your salad, throw it on your tacos or make a casserole. There are many things you can make with corn!
Frozen Vegetables
Frozen vegetables are frozen at the peak of freshness on the farms and can be added to stretch any meal. They are budget friendly and can save you on a ton of prep time. The nice thing with frozen vegetables is that you don’t have to use the entire bag at one time if you don’t need to. You also don’t have to worry about them going bad in a short amount of time.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are best when bought from your local farmers market, in small amounts when you know what you are going to use. They will have fewer pesticides on them and usually tastier than what you find in the supermarket.
Potatoes
White, red and sweet potatoes make an excellent accompaniment to a range of meals. You can keep it simple and bake them whole in the oven, or peel and cook them on the stove for mashed potatoes. You can easily make your own fries, throw them in soup or load them up with cheese or bacon for a more savory dish.
Having a well stocked pantry is like having money in the bank. With these pantry item staples, there will always be something quick and easy to cook for dinner. Not only that, but you will literally save your dollars by having food to cook at home instead of running to the drive thru to grab your family dinner. Also, I highly recommend using pantry organizers so you know when you’re running low on your stock items. Need more home organizing ideas? Check out these!
What pantry items do you keep stocked up in your home?