"A well-stocked pantry can come in handy, whether it’s a regular weeknight with your hungry kids and no time to get to the grocery store, or if you’re in our current situation of social distancing and staying home as much as possible.
Pantry staple meals might not sound super exciting, but there’s actually a lot of delicious things that you can do with a box of pasta or a can of tuna. It’s all about being creative and thinking outside the (mac and cheese) box.
The below recipes showcase how you can take bland pantry staples and turn them into culinary masterpieces—ones that you and your kids will truly enjoy. While the recipes use pantry staples as the base, there are some fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are also used.
If you don’t have an ingredient, don’t dismiss the recipe altogether. Many recipes are just as good if you are missing an item or two. If you don’t have fresh herbs, use dried. And if you’re missing fresh vegetables, frozen typically works just as well. If a meal calls for salad and you’re out of fresh greens, consider plating your dish over rice or quinoa.
Some missing items can be replaced with similar flavors or textures that you might have on hand. If you don’t have an item, google what you can use as a replacement. For example, if you don’t have eggs, you can make an egg substitute using flax seeds. Or if you don’t have milk or a milk alternative, you can easily make your own oat milk (scroll to the bottom of this post for both of those recipes!).
Cooking with pantry staples is all about being flexible. Have fun with it and get your kids involved in the process. Now, take a look into the dark depths of your pantry and get inspired to put that can opener to use!
1. Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Source: Foolproof Living
2. Savory Pumpkin Hummus
Source: As Easy As Apple Pie
3. Black Bean Burgers With Mango Salsa
Source: A Sassy Spoon
4. Healthy Tuna Casserole
Source: The Endless Meal
5. Black Bean, Sweet Plantains, and Avocado Arepas
Source: A Sassy Spoon
6. Instant Pot Vegan Red Lentil Soup
Source: Fox and Briar
7. Vegan BBQ Pizza With Quinoa Crust
Source: Simply Quinoa
8. Curry Chicken Salad
Source: Wholefully
9. 15-Minute Shrimp Stir Fry
Source: Hello Spoonful
10. The Easiest No-Boil Baked Pasta Recipe
Source: Rachl Mansfield
11. Southwest Quinoa Salad
Source: Kristine’s Kitchen Blog
12. 30-Minute Vegetarian Meatballs
Source: Pinch of Yum
13. Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
Source: The Rustic Foodie
14. Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Source: Eating Bird Food
15. Instant Pot Chili
Source: Savory Nothings
16. Healthy Taco Pasta Salad
Source: Fit Foodie Finds
17. Peanut Butter Granola
Source: The Clean Eating Couple
18. Easy Granola Bar Recipe
Source: Show Me The Yummy
19. Healthy Cookie Dough
Source: 40 Aprons
Bonus: How to Make Oat Milk
Source: Simple Vegan Blog
Bonus: How to Make a Flax Egg
Source: Simple Vegan Blog
Read More: 15 One-Pot and One-Pan Meals for Easy Dinner Clean-Up