The humble pantry staple can go a long way. These inventive dishes show you how to make the most of your cupboard stores, using old ingredients in new ways. From gorgeous soups to cozy casseroles, there’s so much to love on this list of 25 pantry staple recipes. And they’re ideal for any meals or courses. Try pancake muffins for breakfast, lentil soup for lunch, and a big bowl of pasta puttanesca for dinner. Still hungry? Whip up a plate of cornflake cookies for dessert or a rich and moist peanut butter cake! Time to raid the pantry for some tasty treats!
1. Pancake Mix Muffins
These sweet snacks aren’t complicated. In fact, they’re exactly what the name suggests – muffins with the airy taste and texture of pancakes! You can enjoy these beauties with any kind of mix-in ingredients or toppings, so prepare to go crazy. I like to toss in candy or chocolate chips, but that’s just me. If you’re looking for a healthier breakfast option, try raisins or nuts.
2. Oatmeal
Mushy oatmeal is gross. Don’t do that to yourself. Make this delicious oat recipe instead. It’s chewy, flavorful, and very cozy. It’s also super easy, made with toasted old-fashioned oats, butter, milk, and a touch of cinnamon. The secret here is the technique. You’ll toast the oats first to unlock their nutty flavor, then add the other ingredients before stirring everything together on the stovetop. This is the perfect breakfast bowl for frosty mornings.
3. Bisquick Waffles
Good news – if you have Bisquick waffle mix, only 10 minutes stand between you and perfectly crisp and fluffy waffles. These yummy crunchy treats make a great kid-friendly breakfast. Top them with fresh fruit in the summer, drizzle them with hot syrup in winter. They’re so versatile, you’ll eat them year-round!
4. Pancakes
Inspired by Cracker Barrel’s legendary breakfast, this recipe shows you how to recreate pancake perfection in your own kitchen. They’re made with just 7 ingredients and come together in 15 minutes, so there’s no excuse not to make them. Whether you’re lingering over a long brunch or hurrying to get out the door on a Monday morning, start your day with a stack of fluffy pancakes and live the dream!
5. Scones
You cannot go wrong with a simple scone recipe, and this one is a baker’s dream. This basic but delicious version sticks to the traditional formula – flour, butter, sugar, egg, and sour cream or buttermilk. Whisk everything together, add raisins if you’re feeling fruity, and you’ll have a delicious any-time snack.
6. Pantry Soup
Fast food doesn’t have to be terrible for you. This hearty and healthy pantry soup is full of wholesome ingredients and crave-worthy flavors. It’s made with vegetables, beans, dried herbs, and spices, all simmered in a rich vegetable broth. This economical stew is also low-fat, vegan, and gluten-free, so it’s ideal if you’re serving diet-conscious soup fans!
7. 15 Bean Soup
Thick, chunky, and bursting with beans, this is a feel-good soup that’ll warm you up on cold nights. There are too many beans to list (15!), but you’ll enjoy the hearty taste and soft texture of kidney beans, black beans, yellow peas, lentils, and pinto beans, to name a few. Add in some salty, savory ham hock and you’ll have a party in a bowl!
8. Lentil Soup
There are a lot of lentil soup recipes out there, but save yourself some time and just make this one. Made with fire-roasted tomatoes, coconut milk, and curry powder, it’s in a class of its own. The tangy tomatoes, creamy coconut, and aromatic curry flavors mingle perfectly with the thick lentil base. This is great for meal preppers, too. Make extra and freeze the rest for quick and easy midweek meals!
9. Linguini with Clam Sauce
Dig out and dust off those canned clams at the back of the pantry, because this recipe is a must-make. Tender linguini noodles are tossed in a succulent, white wine clam sauce and garnished with fresh parsley. This elegant main is impressive enough to wow the crowd at your next dinner party, but it’s also great when you just want to treat yourself. So go ahead, you deserve it.
10. Easy Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce
Lacking dinner inspiration? Need something quick and easy mid-week? Try this 10-minute spaghetti, and you’ll have dinner on the table so fast, your family will applaud you. Actually, they’ll probably be too busy chowing down on tangy tomato spaghetti and melted parmesan to applaud, but it’s the thought that counts.
11. No-Peek Chicken
There’s no peeking necessary for this fuss-free chicken. Just shove it in the oven, walk away, and come back when it’s baked to bubbly perfection. This is a five-ingredient casserole, made with wild rice, cream of mushroom soup, celery soup, and chunks of chicken. You probably have everything in the pantry already, so pick up some chicken and start cooking!
12. Rice
Think you know how to cook rice? Think again. This instructional recipe gives you all the info you’ll need to make perfectly tender rice every time. The tried-and-tested formula works with short, medium, and long-grain rice. Using this simple steamed technique, there’s no rinsing or no fussing about with sieves. And there’s no fretting over whether it’s done or not. Bookmark this foolproof DIY recipe and never serve burned, mushy, or gluggy rice again!
13. Chicken Noodle Casserole
Creamy and decadent, this dreamy casserole is lip-smacking good. It’s made with soft egg noodles and tender chicken stirred together in a creamy sauce and topped with buttered breadcrumbs. And there’s no need to sweat over the prep for this easy dinner. You’ll just dump all the ingredients into a baking dish and then let the oven do the work. Serve it with a fresh green salad if you’re trying to impress, or eat it straight from the dish with a spoon.
14. Pantry Pasta
This vegan crowd-pleaser is everything you’ll want from a pasta dish. It’s creamy, smoky, flavorful, and very tasty. The tangy flavor comes from ingredients like soy sauce, tahini paste, smoked paprika, and dijon mustard. It’s easy to adapt, too! You can keep things vegetarian or go carnivore by adding in some beef, chicken, or shrimp.
15. Black Bean Soup
This super nutritious, and super-tasty Mexican dish is perfect for plant-based eaters. It’s full of protein-rich legumes and antioxidant-loaded spices for a wholesome bowl of goodness. Serve this one with a dollop of sour cream and crusty bread for a winning weeknight feast.
16. Pantry White Bean Salsa Verde Soup
When the fridge is bare and you can’t be bothered cooking, turn to this easy yet delicious dish. It’s a 10-minute meal that’s loaded with plant-based goodness, simmered in a savory broth. If you’re looking for a satisfying lunch on a cold day or a healthy appetizer for a party, this soup is your best bet. If you’re looking to dress it up for dinner, stay with the South American theme and serve it with tortilla chips and/or sour cream and cheese.
17. Bisquick Cornbread
Soft, buttery cornbread is the ultimate side. Thankfully, all you need to make this southern-style favorite is a Bisquick mix, cornmeal, eggs, and milk. You can serve this one with a savory main or save it for dessert. Sweeten it with a syrupy glaze, and it’ll taste like cornbread cake!
18. Pantry Pasta Puttanesca
An Italian classic, puttanesca was created in Naples in the 1900s. It’s known for its rich, tangy taste – made with tomatoes, olives, capers, and garlic. This wonderfully fragrant dish is a winner at every table. Serve with cheesy garlic bread and watch it disappear.
19. Pantry Chili
Chili is a wonderful throw-anything-in-the-pot kind of meal. This one relies on pantry staples, with canned beans, lentils, and tomatoes providing the flavorful, aromatic base. It’s rounded out with onion, bell peppers, and a whole lot of tongue-tingling spices. You can adjust the heat to taste and serve with the usual chili sides – tortilla chips, guacamole, and salsa.
20. No-Bake Cookies
Cookies that you can make without turning the oven on are my favorite kind of cookies. These gorgeous treats contain just 7 ingredients and are ready in 20 minutes. They’re made with crunchy oats, nutty peanut butter, and dark cocoa powder for a snack that’s rich, chocolatey, and insanely addictive.
21. Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
If you have too much breakfast cereal in the cupboards, turn that excess into delicious cookies (the kids will thank you). These crunchy cornflake cookies are an addictive blend of cornflakes, corn syrup, and peanut butter. No corn syrup? No problem! You can easily replace it with maple syrup for a more treacle-like flavor. Either way, these irresistible cookies are a guaranteed hit. No one in the house will be able to say no to this nutty, chewy, crunchy goodness.
22. Peanut Butter Cake
This cake is all about the nutty goodness. The fluffy, airy cake contains peanut butter right in the batter and the whole thing is topped with a peanut butter glaze. It’s a peanut lover’s dream!
23. Bisquick Donuts
Life is much better when there are donuts involved, especially fluffy, soft donuts, warm from the oven. This recipe gives you amazing donuts, without the work. They’re quick, convenient, and made with basic ingredients like Bisquick mix.
24. Baked Oatmeal
This fun recipe is basically oatmeal cake. It’s a thick slab of buttery, crunchy oatmeal, baked until firm and golden brown. I love to serve this one with fruit and ice cream for a unique dessert, but it’s just as good eaten plain for breakfast.
25. Depression Cake
This cake is named for its frugal ingredients – which made it a popular choice in the depression era when household budgets were tight. But I like to think it also earned its nickname putting a smile on people’s faces. Trust me, one slice of this heavenly cake will definitely lighten your mood. It’s a dairy-free chocolate cake that somehow manages to be dense, rich, and beautifully moist, without any eggs or milk. Because dessert is important, even in hard times. Click on a star to rate it!
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