Pantry staples.

It doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it?

But I’m here to tell you that you can make some very delicious meals and snacks with common items you have stocked in your cupboards, pantry, fridge or freezer.

You just need the right recipes.

What Are Pantry Staples?

First, let’s define pantry staples.

Pantry staples are foods that store well, and can be used in a variety of ways. They typically have a long shelf life, so there’s no rush to use them – hence, they keep well in your pantry.

Here are some examples:

Pasta

Canned beans

Canned tuna

Canned tomatoes

Potatoes

Eggs

Peanut butter

Nuts

Lentils

Oatmeal

Oils

Spices

Vegetable, beef, or chicken stock (or bouillon cubes)

Meat (ground meats and sausage freeze well and are very versatile)

Baking essentials: Flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder

If you stock your kitchen with a variety of pantry staples, there are so many things you can make: Soups, stews, pasta dishes, egg dishes, casseroles, etc.

Here are a variety of recipes that make delicious use out of pantry staples.

Breakfasts Made With Pantry Staples

Start your day off with a breakfast made from simple ingredients like eggs and oatmeal.

Soups Made With Pantry Staples

A large pot of soup can feed a crowd – or feed a solo eater for many meals.

Side Dishes Made With Pantry Staples

These recipes go great with meat as a main course:

Main Courses Made With Pantry Staples

If you have a well-stocked pantry, you may have the right ingredients to make one or several of these recipes:

Snacks Made With Pantry Staples

Here are a variety of cheap snacks keep you satiated between meals:

Tips For Cooking With Pantry Staples

Make substitutions when necessary : It’s okay to substitute certain ingredient sin a recipe. It’s even okay to omit non-essential ingredients in a recipe. For example, in my basic chili recipe above, you can omit the fresh bell peppers. The recipe still works. This is a little more difficult/risky with baking. I don’t recommend substitutions or omissions in baking – unless you’re swapping chocolate chips for white chocolate chips in a cookie recipe, for example.

: It’s okay to substitute certain ingredient sin a recipe. It’s even okay to omit non-essential ingredients in a recipe. For example, in my basic chili recipe above, you can omit the fresh bell peppers. The recipe still works. Get creative: Check your spice drawer or pantry for forgotten ingredients/spices. For example, add some smoked paprika to homemade tomato sauce for a interesting kick.

Tips And Tricks For Saving Money On Food

What are your favorite pantry staple recipes? Pasta? Chili? Something else?

Please share your ideas in the comments section, below.