Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas and Recipes
These easy Pantry Dinner Ideas will help you get dinner on the table quickly by using what you might have on hand. This list of dinner ideas with pantry items will let you cook from your cupboards and use up the rice, pasta, beans and canned vegetables that you have, and serve your family a delicious dinner.
This post is full of easy dinner ideas with pantry items. It might feel like a bit of a challenge, but it is possible to put together a tasty meal for your family with on-hand ingredients.
Pantry dinner ideas for your family
Whether you’re trying to save a little money, didn’t get to your weekly shopping trip, or haven’t done any meal planning, relying on what is in our cupboards and more shelf-stable foods is a great way to get dinner on the table.
Pantry dinner ideas are really popular online and while a lot of those posts also include how to plan to use what you already have on hand. This isn’t one of those posts.
I’m in your shoes. I have a cupboard full of canned foods, and things I don’t usually use. And I’m not sure what to do about it.
Related post: Last-Minute Dinner Ideas
I reached out to some food bloggers to find out what their pantry staples recipes were so I could share them with you. And what I got back was a list of interesting recipes, with delicious flavors that will help you get creative and feed your family.
This collection includes soups, different types of chilis, and main dish ideas. While I don’t have all the ingredients to make all the things in this list, it really opened my eyes to all the yummy things I can make with what I have in my pantry.
Whether you need quick pantry meal ideas due to an emergency or want to use up what you have, this list will help you put meals together easily.
While this list includes about 45 recipes for dinners (or lunches), I also included a few breakfast recipes. These easy breakfast ideas include a few ways to use the oatmeal in your cupboard and how to change up the flavors.
And you KNOW you have a can of pumpkin hanging out in there. There is an easy pumpkin muffin recipe that your kids will love!
Pantry Staples Recipes
These easy dinner ideas let you skip the grocery store and cook from your cupboards. From a handful of homemade chili recipes to help you use up the canned beans you have, to more unique meal ideas, this list will help you challenge yourself to use what you have and put together pantry staples recipes from the rice, pasta and canned vegetables you already have on-hand.
Breakfast
Skip the cereal and try these more interesting breakfast recipes that can be made from your favorite pantry staples.
This easy muesli recipe walks you through making a homemade breakfast cereal that isn't your standard sugary flakes. It’s gluten-free, vegan, quick, inexpensive, and delicious!
This no bake granola bar recipe is the perfect solution for using up all those odds and ends taking up space in your pantry. Your kids will love these!
Overnight Oats are one of my favorite easy breakfast ideas. I make a few jars the night before and they're ready to go in the morning. The best part is that you can change the flavor up depending on what you have at home. Add fresh or frozen fruit, nut butters, coconut, chocolate chips, spices, etc. It's a simple recipe that can be made a lot of different ways.
This award-winning healthy Pecan Brown Butter Granola gets its nice caramel flavour from the brown butter, is chock-full of healthy stuff like sunflower seeds, oats, wheat germ, sesame seeds, chia, and coconut, minus the preservatives. It doesn't take long to make and is the perfect busy morning breakfast. If you don't have all these items just leave them out! Eat this on its own or over yogurt or chia pudding or quinoa.
Chocolate Pecan Pie Baked Oatmeal is an easy, delicious, healthy vegan breakfast or an ideal dish for a brunch. It could also pass as a super healthy dessert and would be delicious with a scoop of vegan ice cream.
An easy, fuss-free recipe for overnight steel cut oats with little prep and a short cook time. Unlike the no-cook or slow cooker methods that can leave the oats either too chewy or gloopy, this technique yields oats with a nice blend of chewiness & creaminess.
These Healthy Pumpkin Muffins only require a few pantry staples and a blender to make a moist pumpkin muffin the whole family will love!
Soups
Soup is one of my favorite quick dinner ideas to make with pantry staples. They are usually pretty inexpensive and really adaptable to what you have on hand. I like to serve it with a salad or add some protein to make it more filling for my family.
Delicious tomato soup made with canned tomato sauce and tomato paste. This soup can be ready in just 10 minutes. A grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect accompaniment.
One of our family’s all time favorite soups is homemade bean soup. It’s a delicious, stick to your ribs soup that will have everyone going back for seconds. And I always have a jar of the mixed dried beans on hand to make it with.
Packed with hearty plant based protein, vegetables and spices that you likely already have in your pantry, this quick and easy Black Bean Soup is perfect for a cozy weeknight meal especially if you don't have or want a meal without meat.
This hearty pumpkin soup is a perfect meal that uses all pantry and freezer ingredients. Make it on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot!
Hearty, healthy, and delicious, this minestrone soup with quinoa is an easy-to-prepare vegetarian and gluten-free soup recipe.
Easy Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe, made in the crockpot with ground beef and 8 canned goods from your pantry. This creamy soup is ready in 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. I'm always on the lookout for quick dinner ideas that I know my family will love and this is one of our favorites!
Sopa de Fideo – a savory Mexican Noodle Soup made with toasted noodles and a flavorful tomato-based broth. It’s easy to make, requires simple ingredients and it’s budget-friendly, too! The whole family will love this hearty and comforting meal!
Easy 17 minute homemade Instant Pot split pea soup that can be made with ham and veggies or just pantry ingredients!
Enjoy this Dump & Start recipe for Moroccan Chickpea Soup, that’s hearty, healthy and full of flavor. Creamy Chickpeas cooked with fire-roasted tomatoes and earthy spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon and paprika, which give this vegan and gluten-free soup it’s iconic bold and rich taste.
5 minute Tomato Basil Pantry Soup is just that… a recipe that only takes 5 minutes and all the ingredients can be found in the pantry. How easy is that!?All you need to grab is a can of tomato soup, a jar of marinara, a can of evaporated milk, and a few spices from your spice cabinet.
Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup is an easy, creamy chicken tortilla soup recipe that's so good, you'll want to lick the bowl when you're done!
A quick and easy one pot soup made with noodles, canned coconut milk, spices, and other pantry staples. A flavorful complete meal that the entire family will love!
This easy soup is one of my favorite recipes to make on a cold night and most of the ingredients can be found in the pantry. A few canned soups and salsas mix together to create a delicious flavor. With tortilla chips and jack cheese, this dinner is a family favorite. Add some chicken if you want it to be a little bit heartier!
This creamy homemade corn chowder is made with canned corn and green chiles and tastes incredible. Add chopped chicken pieces to make it a meal.
Chili
Chili is one of the best pantry staples recipes because you can make it a number of different ways, each with a totally unique flavor! I've included several recipes to show you how versatile it can be.
If you’re looking for an easy, comforting and delicious vegan chili recipe, you’re going to love this dump and start Black Bean Chili in Instant Pot! Creamy black beans simmered with tomatoes, corn, peppers and fire roasted green chilies, and seasoned with taco seasoning and a secret ingredient! YUM!
This is, not kidding, the best vegan chili I’ve made to date. It’s thick, rich, hearty, as well as easy to make and, with an Instant Pot or slow cooker, almost effortless once everything is chopped up.
Throw this Pantry Chili together with items you already have on hand in your home. Super easy and delicious!
Pasta
Since we always have pasta on hand, I wanted to share a few quick dinner ideas that your family will love! Some use classic spaghetti but others are more unique and let you think outside your standard pasta meal.
All you need is 20 minutes and a love of Italian food with this vegan Bolognese. Gently simmered with classic Italian herbs, fragrant garlic, and roasted tempeh “meat” this is sure to become your favorite vegan spaghetti sauce! Invite some guests over, turn on some Puccini and get ready to say, “Prego!”
This one pan cheeseburger pasta is a copycat Hamburger Helper. It uses simple pantry ingredients and can be served to the table in 20 minutes or less
This Mediterranean Pasta with Roasted Red Peppers and Artichokes is a quick and easy pasta dish that uses staples you probably already have in your panty.
This delicious Garlic Chipotle Pasta with (or without) chicken requires only 7 ingredients and will be on your table in 20 minutes.
Penne pomodoro is an easy pasta recipe that will please everyone in your family. Making this vegetarian pasta dish in the Instant Pot turns this meal into an easy one pot wonder, perfect for the busiest of weeknights or even for kids lunchbox
This tuna noodle casserole is a really simple recipe but you could add cheese, different vegetables or even use chicken instead of tuna. Get creative with whatever you have.
This Instant Pot Goulash is fantastically simple to make. People ask me my opinion on the Instant Pot often, and I usually tell them that recipes like this easy goulash are where the Instant Pot shines!
Pesto Chicken Pasta is an easy, 20 minute meal that’s made with just five shelf-stable ingredients. Bow tie pasta and chicken are coated in a rich and flavorful pesto sauce.
These Peanut Noodles are crazy good, slightly spicy and drenched in the best peanut sauce ever! and ready in 15 minutes!! This Thai inspired noodle dish makes an easy vegan meal or snack any day of the week.
This Vegan Red Pepper Pasta features easy roasted sweet red pepper sauce tossed with Fettuccine and a simple Olive Gremolata. It’s a super quick and satisfying recipe that you can make on a whim. Perfect for lunch or late dinner.
This is total comfort food. Pasta, mayo, tuna and season salt. That's all you need to make this simple pasta dinner. Frito's really bring this dish home. You're going to love this favorite from my childhood.
This Easy Pumpkin Tomato Sauce is ready in under 30 minutes and is a great way to enjoy a meatless meal any day of the week. This pumpkin pasta sauce is vegan, gluten-free and has no added sugar. Serve over your favorite pasta!
Main Dish Ideas
These pantry staples recipes are a little more hearty than the dishes above. Some can be served as a side dish or as a main dish (especially if you add meat). These pantry dinner ideas will let you have delicious food, even in an emergency situation.
Enchilada Rice is quick, healthy, easy and delicious dinner recipe. Bursting with your favorite Mexican flavors, this bowl will become your favorite wholesome meal.
Mexican skillet quinoa is a perfect pantry meal. It has so much flavor and gives you a break from "ordinary" flavors but is simple to make and uses ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Seasoned with garlic, ginger, and thyme, Jamaican Rice and Peas is a uniquely irresistible rice dish made with coconut milk, allspice berries, and kidney beans.
Black beans are the ultimate pantry staple, and this simple recipe will help you transform them into a flavorful meal that can feed the whole family!
Easy, sweet and tangy sauce made with pantry and refrigerator staples. Add browned ground beef and you're in business!
Instant pot Spanish Rice is an excellent side dish for just about any meal and so much tastier than boxed, and it comes together with just a few ingredients and minimal effort.
Who needs takeout when you can make this easy Chana Masala Recipe? Gluten-free, packed with protein, and ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
This simple Mexican casserole uses basic pantry items for an easy, yet delicious and wholesome meal.
This Red Lentil Coconut Curry is flavored with lots of garlic, ginger and coconut! It’s a mild, Indian inspired dish which is amazing as a main course with rice and naan.
YOU GUYS! I'm obsessed with nachos and when I saw Amiyrah's Instagram stories of her making this recipe I was like I NEED to make that right now! I'd add a little ground beef to this and I know my family would LOVE it!
This super simple dish can easily be made with pantry ingredients. Farro is one of our favorite grains. Topped with a mix of 2 pasta sauces, you get an easy dinner idea that is unique and unexpected.
InstantPot Hibachi Fried Rice is loaded with veggies and spiced to perfection. Skip the takeout and make this delicious rice in less than 30 minutes. You can substitute fresh veggies with canned mixed vegetables
The most authentic Italian homemade pizza dough recipe – You’re just 5 pantry ingredients away from making the BEST homemade pizza.
Inspired by a traditional Indian recipe that combines two tasty, high-protein legumes, this already-vegan lentil and kidney bean curry makes a filling, quick, and easy dinner.
Inspired by traditional Greek dish, Lemon Roasted Potatoes with Chickpeas is a flavorful one-dish vegan Mediterranean diet meal. Potatoes are marinated in lemon and garlic for maximum flavor along with garbanzo beans, onions, peppers, and oregano. And Kalamata olives are the perfect finishing touch.
This is the best vegan chicken salad recipe I’ve made to date. Or should I call it vegan chick’n salad? Either way, it’s full of all sorts of flavors and textures … it’s sweet, savory, creamy, crunchy, and oh so very delicious. It’s easy to make, too, and can be put together in minutes with ingredients found in most local groceries.
Top tips
Usually, I follow a recipe completely. But in this case, I’m using these pantry recipes as a starting off point. I’ve included several versions of some of the recipes (like tomato soup – the ultimate comfort food!) to show you how you can modify them with small tweaks.
I included a bunch of chili recipes because they can be made with so many different flavor profiles.
Instead of serving the same chili once a week, I can change things up. I may be freaking out on the inside, but the kids don’t need to.
For the main course section, I included things that normally I would make as a side dish as well. If you have protein, just add it to make it more of a full meal. While some of these recipes are also vegan, you can absolutely modify them to include the meats you have on hand or make them the way your family would like them.
Some of these easy dinner recipes have international flavors and ingredients. If you don’t happen to have these things, simply Google to find out if you can substitute with something else. But many of the recipes can be used as an idea and you can easily modify it with what you do have.
Use these quick pantry meal ideas to help you cook with what you have in your cupboards.
How to organize your pantry staples
Again, this post is not about the prep and planning of cooking from your cupboard. But I do have one that is. Read my 9 Tips for Organizing Your Food Cabinets.
As I set out to create pantry food recipes, I can easily see what I have on hand and mark them off as I use them.
I’m now kind of excited to challenge myself and put together recipes from what I have. But that was only after I gathered all the recipes in this list because there are such unique ideas!
Other pantry meals resources
I am not an expert with pantry meals, but there are people who are. If you need more simple recipe ideas or need more information on inexpensive meal ideas, check out these awesome sites!
I literally just saw this post by my friend Justine on Facebook and had to add it here. We’re almost out of bread and haven’t had luck finding it at the store. Did you know you can make Beer Bread?!
Justine is awesome. She shares really amazing recipes, she’s an Instant Pot expert and has lots of family activities on her site!
Side note: You should always have farro in your pantry. It’s a grain that is nutty and delicious. You can use it in place of pasta (which you might be burnt out on or it could be hard to find).
It’s a versatile grain that you can use in a variety of different ways including my favorite Roasted Veggie Farro Bowls.
More helpful sites that I love that share easy dinner ideas from pantry items:
- 4 Hats and Frugal – Amiyrah is the expert on budget meals, meal prep and so much more!
- 3 Boys and A Dog – Kelli has tons of easy recipes including lots for ground beef.
- Premeditated Leftovers – I love how Aleah creates her recipes and is able to use up lots of staples in a unique way.
Is there a site you love? Leave it in the comments so other people can check it out too.
These easy dinner ideas and pantry staples recipes will help you create family meals with what you have in your cupboard. It takes just a minute to get organized, and then you can create unique dishes with on-hand ingredients.
