These healthy pantry recipes are such great staples to keep in your back pocket. They’re great for when you can’t get to the grocery store, don’t have money in the budget for fresh produce, or if things get shut down from an emergency.
This pantry meals list includes dinner recipes with beans, pastas, grains, canned fish, and breakfast ideas with nuts and whole grains.
I’ve included some non-pantry items in these recipes, including common freezer items (such as veggies and some meats), as well as fresh ingredients that don’t quickly go bad (such as eggs, celery, potatoes, carrots, and onions).
So whether you just want to use up things in your pantry or you need some healthy pantry meal ideas with canned foods, dry pasta and grains, beans, etc., check out this list of Healthy Pantry Recipes for Emergencies!
1 Grab some rice and a couple cans of black beans, along with some cumin. If you happen to have some fresh lime juice and cilantro, throw them in there, but if you don't, leave 'em out! 2 If you have some ground beef in your freezer, a jar of marinara sauce, any kind of pasta, and a hard Italian cheese like parmesan or Romano, you're good to go. You could also use another ground meat like turkey or chicken in a pinch. 3 Canned tuna, pasta, and a creamy homemade mushroom sauce are the stars here. You can leave the mushrooms out, and if you don't have cheese or milk you can use extra chicken broth and omit the cheese. 4 You'll need canned beans, dry pasta, canned crushed tomatoes, and chicken broth for this. The recipe calls for fresh rosemary, but you can use dried or leave it out. Same goes for the pancetta/bacon, celery, and carrots (although these ingredients last forever in the fridge!). 5 If you have chicken breast meat in your freezer, defrost it and coat tender-sized pieces in a simple mixture of egg, flour, salt, and pepper for homemade oven-fried chicken tenders. 6 Use canned beans, frozen spinach, breadcrumbs, and an egg as a base for these patties. Don't worry about the yogurt sauce if you don't have the ingredients for it- these patties would be delicious plain or served with ketchup! 7 If you have ham for this, great. If not, leave it out! And you can sub the kale for frozen spinach (or omit it as well). You'll need a bag of 15 bean soup mix and chicken broth for this, along with some onions, carrots, and celery. 8 I always have a bag of lentils and a can of fire-roasted canned diced tomatoes on hand to make this lentil soup. You can use dried herbs, and even water if you don't have vegetable or chicken broth on hand! 9 Grab a bag of split peas, some celery, carrots, and onion, chicken broth, and your instant pot. Use ham if you have it- if not, just leave it out. 10 This vegan recipe is great as a side dish or a main course, and it's packed with nutrients. Use dried herbs in the vinaigrette if you don't have access to fresh. You'll need an egg and some milk for these oatmeal bars, but I think water can be used instead of milk in a pinch, along with a little melted butter or olive oil to add some fat to it. 12 If you have ground beef in your freezer, all you need is spaghetti, cinnamon, an onion, and butter for this delicious recipe. Romano or parmesan cheese is recommended but not required. 13 A can of salmon transforms into these delicious salmon patties along with frozen corn, breadcrumbs, an egg, and some spices. You can leave the jalapeño out, or sub it with a little cayenne pepper for an extra kick, and use any onion you have on hand. 14 Got a bag of red beans, rice, creole seasoning, smoked sausage, and chicken broth? Make red beans and rice! You can leave the bell pepper out and if you don't have smoked sausage, just leave it out (and maybe add a little smoked paprika). 15 Grab that bag of frozen chicken and a bottle of BBQ sauce and you've got yourself the most delicious oven BBQ chicken ever. 16 You can use frozen or fresh butternut squash and spinach for this, along with canned chickpeas. The spices are what make it- you can leave out the lime juice and cilantro if you don't have any. 17 Use up lots of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits from your pantry in these easy homemade granola bars! 18 Got frozen veggie burgers and some potatoes? Make veggie burger hash browns! 19 A bag of frozen seafood, such as shrimp, transforms into this spicy traditional Italian pasta recipe along with dry linguine (or any pasta you have) and some marinara sauce. 20 Need a flavorful breakfast option? Use dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and oats from your pantry, along with ground cardamom and coconut, to make this yummy homemade granola. 21 Pasta Puttanesca uses canned anchovies, capers, and olives, along with marinara and pasta, for a briny and salty Italian pasta recipe. 22 This Greek recipe has a unique combo of cinnamon and mint in it. If you have ground beef (or turkey) in your freezer, all you need is orzo, tomato paste, an onion, and spices for this pantry recipe.
Quick and Easy Black Beans and Rice
Five-Ingredient Pasta with Bolognese Sauce
Classic Tuna Casserole from Scratch
Pasta e fa*gioli (Italian Pasta and Beans)
Three-Ingredient Crispy Oven Fried Chicken Tenders
Spinach and White Bean Patties with Yogurt Sauce
Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with Ham and Kale
Greek Lentil Soup (Fakes Soupa)
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Ham
Barley and Lentil Salad with Fresh Dill Vinaigrette
Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal Squares
Greek Spaghetti (Spaghetti with Browned Butter, Ground Beef, and Cinnamon)
Salmon Patties (aka Salmon Cakes or Croquettes)
Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
Two Ingredient Crispy Oven BBQ Chicken
Moroccan Butternut Squash, Chickpea, and Spinach Stew
DIY No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars
Veggie Burger Hash Browns
Linguine Fra Diavolo
Coconut Granola with Almonds and Cardamom
Pasta Puttanesca
Manestra (Greek-Style Orzo with Ground Beef)
