30+ Pantry Recipes To Help You Save Money (2024)

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Having a list of pantry recipes you can make in a pinch can help you save money and time. No need to run out for take-out, just turn to the pantry and cook up a pantry meal.

I’ve rounded up 30+ pantry recipes that rely mostly on shelf-stable ingredients. Keep reading for what ingredients to keep on hand and what pantry substitutes you can use instead of certain fresh ingredients.

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Why It Matters
Ingredients to Keep on Hand
Types of Pantry Recipes
Pantry Recipes
What are your favorite pantry recipes?

Fridge busted? Kitchen remodel? Difficulty stocking up on fresh items?

There are myriad reasons why you might want to prep pantry recipes instead of fresh, farmer’s market type fare, including but not limited to supply chain issues, lack of refrigeration, or simply more storage space for shelf-stable groceries.

But what can you make that calls for shelf-stable ingredients? Having an arsenal of pantry recipes is a great money-saving strategy.

Why It Matters

There are lots of reasons to cook from your pantry. You can save time, money, and a whole lot of stress when you keep some basic pantry staples on hand for easy pantry recipes.

When you find yourself staring into the cupboard wondering what to make for dinner, you can relax, knowing that you can pull together a great meal, no matter what’s in the fridge.

Jot down your favorite pantry recipesmade with pantry staples and tack it inside the cupboard.Mischief managed!

Ingredients to Keep on Hand

You might not normally give thought to keeping shelf-stable ingredients on hand and focus on filling the fridge.

You certainly don’t need to buy a case of these pantry items, but just a few of these ingredients worked into your regular shopping will make it easier to make great meals on the fly — at any time.

Keep the following on hand for prepping pantry recipes:

beans (dried and canned)
noodles (ramen, spaghetti, penne, macaroni, etc)
grains and cereals such as rice, oats, and quinoa
crackers, pretzels, and bread crumbs
olive and nut oils
canned tuna and chicken
canned tomato products (sauce, paste, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes)
spices and herbs
dried fruits and vegetables such as onion flakes, celery flakes, dried cranberries, raisins
canned fruits and vegetables
nut butter, nuts, and seeds
milk or cream in aseptic containers or canned coconut milk
stock or bouillon

These ingredients are generally very affordable and easy to keep on hand since they require no refrigeration. They may even be cheaper than their fresh counterparts.

They are the perfect building blocks to aFrugal Pantry and essential to an emergency 14-day supply.

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Types of Pantry Recipes

Here’s a review of nine types of pantry recipes that you can include in your repertoire of emergency meals:

Beans and Rice, Rice and Beans

This traditional budget meal, Beans And Riceis super tasty and easy pantry recipe to make. Don’t think it’s fancy enough? Pile on the toppings! That’swhat Chipotle does, and they call it a “burrito bowl”. Who knew something so easy and cheap could cause people to stand in line and fork over 8 bucks?

Make enough to feed an army with your eight dollars!

Mix it up with Mexican Rice, Homemade Pintos or Instant Pot Black Beans, freshly made Salsa, and other fun toppings.

Everyday Marinara Sauce

Pasta is a go-to meal for being hearty as well as inexpensive. You can easily find pasta for $1.00/pound or less — even organics. Stock up!

While you’re at it, load up on canned tomato products, such as crushed tomatoes so that you can whip up a homemade marinara sauce in minutes.

This Everyday Marinara Sauce is such a simple pantry recipe, you’ll wonder why you ever purchased commercial spaghetti sauce. Add meat or a sprinkling of parmesan or keep it simple for a filling, yet frugal meal.

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Homemade Pizza

If you’ve got flour and yeast on hand, you’ve got the makings of pizza! I know, pizza might not be first pantry recipe on your mind when you look in the pantry, but when you make my favoriteBurrito Pizza, you’re just a handful of cheese away from an awesome pantry meal.

Alternatively, whip up a quick pizza sauce and you’ve got the start to a traditional pie.

Pro tip: Don’t restrict your pantry recipes to just nonperishables. Shredded cheese is easy to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer, so you can basically make pizza whenever you like!

Tuna Sandwiches

Tuna salad is a mainstay pantry recipe when you’re eating on a budget or with a limited kitchen. That humble can of tuna can do wonders in aTuna Saladthat you can stuff into Pita Pockets, tuck into a sandwich, or meld into a panini with cheese.

You can dress up or dress down your tuna sandwiches, depending on what you have on hand and how your mood strikes.

Fried Rice

Fried Rice is God’s gift to pantry challengers. All you need for this pantry recipe is cold cooked rice and a few mix-in’s, such as ham, veggies, and an egg.

You can vary the mix-in’s based on what you have on hand — go vegetarian or make it meatier with a bit of chicken.

Drizzle on some soy sauce or sriracha for a little extra pizazz. Fried Rice is a cheap and filling meal you’ll want to put on repeat.

Snacky Lunch/Dinner

Snacky lunches and dinners are some of the best pantry recipes. You don’t need large amounts of any one ingredient because everyone can grab little bits of what they like here and there. It’s a perfect pantry meal.

Raid the fridge for whatever meats, cheese, veggies, fruits, eggs, and pickles you have on hand and clear out all those boxes of crackers, spreads, pickles, and olives you’ve been collecting in the pantry.

If the veggie bin is on point, you can whip up a small batch of English pickle for some extra zing!

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Vegetable Soup

Soup is a fantastic pantry meal — without a red label in sight! It’s incredibly easy to stir up a pot of soup with a can of beans, a tin of tomato sauce, and some veggies from the basket.

ThisEasy Vegetable Soupmixes up quickly and easily in a matter of minutes! Add a few buttered crackers on the side and you’ve got the perfect pantry recipe for dinner!

Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast for dinner is a winner of a pantry dinner. And Breakfast Burritosare no exception to the rule.

Fry or scramble some eggs and tuck them into tortillas with whatever meats and cheeses you have on hand. Breakfast never looked so good.

Don’t forget to blend up a batch ofSuper Easy Salsato add a little kick.

Tuna Mac

Macaroni salads come together in a matter of minutes, thanks to quick-cooking pastas. Make yours a little more by tossing in a can of tuna and some seasonings and vegetables.

You’ll be amazed how satisfying thisTuna Macaroni Saladis for breakfast or lunch. And it’s super easy on the wallet.

Got your list ready to tape to the cupboard door? I’d love to hear what pantry meals you’ve included.

Pantry Recipes

Want a little more direction? Check out these

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Enjoy this Tuna Macaroni Salad as a cool main dish this summer or as a substantial side dish at your next barbecue. It packs super well for lunch on the go.

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Easy Tuna Melt Sandwiches

A tuna salad sandwich and a grilled cheese sandwich get married, making this easy tuna melt, a perfect meal for busy nights or when you want some comfort food.

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