Get the recipes
A new school year and the busy schedules that come along with it can make it hard to fit in trips to the grocery store. If you’re moving full speed ahead, a well-stocked pantry can help keep everything running smoothly and ease the dinnertime scramble. But it takes a little bit of planning ahead to create a cabinet filled to the brim with easy meal makers at the ready.
So, we’ve created a shopping guide full of non-perishable items to keep in the kitchen for tasty, nutritious meals that are ready when you need to get food on the table fast. These items, plus a few refrigerated and frozen staples, are essential to making it through the week without multiple grocery store trips. Once you’ve stocked up, use our pantry-friendly recipes for inspiration so you cross dinner off your to-do list in no time.
Your ultimate pantry shopping list
Whether you’re building your pantry from scratch or just rounding out the inventory, this shopping list includes the most useful, versatile ingredients for satisfying meals. Generally speaking, unopened cans, jars, and plastic packages are safe to eat for up to a year when stored in a cool dark place, but always follow expiration dates and storage instructions on packaging.
Grains & Legumes
These items are the workhorse of the pantry because they can serve as the base for countless meals and side dishes.
- Various types of rice, such as basmati, jasmine, Arborio, and long-grain brown rice
- Various types of dried pasta, both long cuts, such as fettuccine, linguine, and spaghetti, and short cuts, such as penne, macaroni, couscous, and rigatoni
- Various types of dried legumes such as navy beans, black beans, lentils, and cannellini beans
- Additional grains like quinoa, oats, and farro
Cans, Boxes, and Jars
With a diverse supply of these ingredients in the cupboard, dinner starts by simply opening a container. Our favorite canned items are convenient sources of protein, like seafood and beans, while jars and tubes are easy-to-use flavor boosters.
- Canned fish and seafood, such as tuna, salmon, anchovies, sardines, clams, and crab
- Canned beans, such as black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and pinto beans
- Canned or boxed stock, such as chicken, vegetable, and beef
- A variety of canned tomatoes, such as diced, whole peeled, paste, and pureed
- Jarred sauce, such as marinara, pesto, and alfredo
- Olives
- Capers
Oil and Vinegar
The wide variety of oil and vinegar available at the grocery store can go a long way to switch up the flavor of everyday meals.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Neutral oil like avocado, vegetable, or canola
- Coconut oil
- Sesame oil
- Distilled white vinegar
- Rice vinegar
- Wine vinegar
- Cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
Nuts and Fruits
More than just a grab-and-go snack, pantry-friendly forms of fruit and nuts are useful for adding flavor and nutritional bulk to dishes.
- Dried fruit, such as apples, cranberries, apricots, and raisins
- Fruit preserves and chutneys
- Sundried tomatoes
- Nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, and pecans (note: while you can store nuts at room temperature, keeping them in the freezer extends their shelf life)
- Pine nuts
- Nut butter
Dried Herbs, Spices, and Seasonings
No matter what your cooking skill level, the right spices can turn any combination of ingredients into a memorable meal.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Ginger
- Paprika
- Crushed red pepper
- Cinnamon
- Chili powder
- Curry powder
- Cumin
- Bay leaves
- Barbecue or grill seasoning blend
- Italian seasoning blend
Baking Supplies
Even if you’re “not a baker,” keeping a trove of baking ingredients on hand opens the possibility for an unexpected stack of pancakes, side of biscuits, or batch of cookies (just to name a few) whenever the mood strikes.
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Cornmeal
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Vanilla extract
- Cocoa powder
Sweeteners
A touch of sweetness can go a long way to round out the flavors of all kinds of dishes, not just dessert.
- Granulated sugar
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
- Molasses
Condiments and Sauces
A diverse supply of jarred condiments and sauces in the pantry makes it easy to flavor and customize whatever’s on the menu. Follow package directions regarding refrigeration after opening.
- A variety of mustards, such as yellow, spicy brown, Dijon, and whole grain
- Soy sauce
- Hot sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Barbecue sauce
- Fish sauce
- Salad dressings, such as ranch, Italian, balsamic vinaigrette, and blue cheese
Let’s get cooking
Once your kitchen is stocked with reliable standbys, these easy, pantry-friendly meals are ready to satisfy anytime.
Pasta with Chickpeas
Three pantry all-stars—canned chickpeas, canned tomatoes, and dried pasta—help get this filling, budget-friendly dinner on the table in just 20 minutes. Fresh garlic, scallions, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a sprinkle of Parmesan dial up the flavor. Bonus: leftovers are delicious hot, cold, or at room temperature.
Clean-Out-the-Pantry Vegetarian Chili
When you want to really let your pantry shine, nothing beats this throw-it-all-in-the-pot chili. A medley of canned beans, cream-style corn, and tomatoes gets an extra dose of texture from couscous for an ultra-hearty dinner without even turning to the fridge.
Open-Faced Tuna Melts with Potato Chips
Crack open a can of tuna and white beans for a duo that is dreamy and oh-so-good. A touch of yogurt brings creaminess to the mix and melty cheddar cheese will have your kids asking for seconds. Serve with a side of chips for the perfect pantry lunch or dinner.
Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew
The only thing better than a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker meal is when you can throw it together without a trip to the store. Canned chickpeas and frozen collard greens bulk up this Indian-inspired stew brimming with the flavors of creamy coconut milk and warm spices.
Spaghetti Puttanesca
This boldly flavored pasta dish deserves a place in the weeknight dinner hall of fame. Made almost entirely from pantry staples, it sings with the flavors of briny olives and capers, juicy canned tomatoes, and umami-rich anchovies.
Linguine with Red Clam Sauce
Whisk yourself away to the Italian seaside with a classic pasta dish that’s ready in 15 minutes, thanks to a few pantry staples. Canned clams and tomato paste bring a bulk of flavor from simple ingredients to create an elegant red sauce. Toss with linguine and fresh basil for a perfect restaurant-worthy bite.
Veggie Tomato Soup with Fusilli
When chilly nights make you want to stay curled up under a blanket instead of heading to the grocery store, take five minutes to prep this simple vegetarian soup and quickly get back to cozy. A can of condensed tomato soup, diced tomatoes, and beans, along with jarred pesto, boxed pasta, and frozen veggies give this dinner a head start and a pop of freshness—all from the pantry.
Brooks Halliday is a New York-based writer, recipe developer, and classically trained chef creating things that make people hungry. Highlights include: writing for Hain Celestial Organics and Godiva, styling food for The Barefoot Contessa TV series, and testing recipes for the NY Times’ bestselling The Blood Sugar Solution: 10-Day Detox Diet cookbook. She lives in Kew Gardens, Queens with her husband, two sons, and two cats.
