If you are trying to save money and stay in, you’re like the rest of us right now so you’re in good company. I’ve got a list of Pantry Meals that you can make at home, hopefully with ingredients you already have on hand.
Also, these meals are easily modified and I’ve listed substitution ideas with each one, to give you some ideas and a place to start from when you are trying to decide what’s for dinner, or lunch, or 2nd lunch, right now.
Cheap, Easy, Pantry Meals
You and your whole family are not going to hate these 16 dinners, even if you ARE eating them with them...AGAIN.
Nothing is better or more well-loved than a big bowl of farfalle with meat sauce. One of my favorite hot dishes, and an easy weeknight dinner that your whole family will love.
This recipe includes instructions for making your own sauce from scratch, but the whole scratch cooking crap lost its appeal like t-4 days ago.
If you have pre-made canned sauce, that can definitely be substituted. The fresh onions and garlic can have the dried versions swapped in if you don't have any fresh at the moment. Really, you can just throw any tomato product besides maybe ketchup at this recipe and it'll still be edible.
Even if it isn't, who cares cause you know they are eating it anyway AND all the leftovers because WE DO NOT WASTE FOOD during times like these.
Simple beef and bean burritos with rice all made in a skillet! Load up a flour tortilla or serve with a big bowl of chips. Easy family dinner!
If you don't have one of the ingredients, just leave it out or sub in the next closest thing you have for it. Now is the time to experiment and be inventive. It is like Chopped but with none of the applause or prizes. You're suddenly going to be really glad you have a spice problem. At least you can make rice taste a lot of different ways every day.
Admittedly, these have some ingredients that normal people MIGHT not have in their pantry. Like yeast and buttermilk powder. You CAN skip the buttermilk but you can't skip the yeast, so if you haven't laid your hands on any of that yet, call one of your friends that has baked and also loves her some pre-crazy Costco.
10/10 of them will have a giant-ass pouch of yeast in their freezer and if they won't put some in a canning jar for you and do a trade-off of the sterilized jar with kitchen tongs, I wish on them multiple kids who need to use 37 squares of toilet paper for one poop.
You can cook these in the oven if you don't have your grill fired up.
All you need for this is some fish. If you don't have a freezer full of fish that you are pulling out on the reg, any fish will do. Probably not canned tuna though. Do not recommend.
If you aren't a weirdo like me, chances are likely you won't have a giant hunk of Chinese BBQ Pork in your fridge or freezer. If that's the case, you can use any meat you have laying around. Seriously. Even spam would work in this. That's the only time you'll ever see that phrase typed on this blog. Don't get used to it.
So this is a recipe I really love, and you likely have most of the insanely long ingredient list in your pantry even if you don't have a pantry as big as a bedroom. If you are also lucky enough to have chicken breasts or tenders hanging around at your house, definitely make these.
They are legit delicious.
If you don't have saltines, substitute in a different kind of cracker. Ritz or any kind of party crackers would be bomb.dot.com.
Hearty wild rice is the star of this flavorful, homemade wild rice pilaf. This side dish goes well with almost any big meaty main, so it really is a no-fail dish to serve at any meal.
Easy Grilled Crab Cakes are mixed up and cooked in a cast iron pan on your grill. Use a pellet grill to add a touch of wood-fired flavor to this classic dish.
My grilled bean tostadas are cooked on the pellet grill to give them a little wood-fired flavor and served with your choice of toppings. SUPER easy dinner or lunch and very popular with the small people set.
Homemade mac and cheese is simple to make, is cooked in one pot, and is one of my family's favorites! Make it as a side or as the main meal, either way you're going to want to get this cooking.
These simple buttered noodles have tender egg noodles, melted butter, salt, garlic powder, and fresh herbs.
This simple salsa uses almost all canned ingredients, requires no cooking, and is a delicious restaurant-style salsa!
Savory and delicious pasta cooked in one pot in a mushroom cream sauce. Super easy and flavorful side dish!
Homemade Creamy Pasta Salad is the perfect side to accompany any bbq main you can throw at someone. Super versatile, so throw in any vegetables you have laying around and make it your own!
This easy one-pot pasta is full of creamy parmesan cheese and fresh asparagus.
Easy Bacon and Egg Breakfast Wraps are one of my favorite breakfasts, and easy to make ahead and freeze for a quick meal for kids!
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.