75 Pantry Recipes is a round up of easy pantry recipes that utilize basic pantry staples.  A handy list of healthy pantry essentials is included, along with suggested substitutions for each recipe! 

healthy pantry recipes collage

Having a well stocked pantry is always a good idea in order to whip up a meal at a moment’s notice, but it’s an absolute necessity right now with many of us living with a shelter in place.

I’m hopeful that this round up of healthy pantry recipes will be beneficial to you.  Recipes include healthy options for breakfast, snacks, soups and chili, dinner, and DIY recipes for the fridge and freezer.   

Almost all recipes can be easily customized for vegetarian, dairy free and gluten free diets.

Mexican rice casserole in a skillet

Pantry Essentials

A well stocked pantry should include refrigerator ingredients, freezer ingredients, dry goods, condiments, spices and flavorings, baking essentials, and long  lasting produce. 

Choose your favorite items and purchase in bulk depending on the number of people in your family, or just enough to have on hand to last for 1-2 weeks.

Check out the Shelf Life Chart of Pantry Foods to see how long most items generally last.  Some specialty items like whole wheat and almond flours keep for only 1-3 months, so store in the refrigerator after opening to extend the shelf life.

Always check the expiration dates on your pantry items to be sure that they’re ok to use.

Refrigerator ingredients

Stock the refrigerator with enough ingredients to last for about 2 weeks if possible.

  • Milk (dairy or non dairy) 
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Cheese (sliced, grated, parmesan, feta, goat, ricotta, fresh mozzarella)
  • Cream cheese
  • Yogurt (plain Greek, non dairy, etc.)

Freezer ingredients

Stock the freezer with your family’s favorite sources of protein, breads, vegetables and fruits. 

  • Meats, including a variety of beef, chicken, pork, bacon and ground meats
  • Fish or shrimp
  • Frozen fruits and vegetables
  • Bread (sandwich, burger and hot dog buns)
  • Tortillas (flour and/or corn)
  • Nuts (I like to buy in bulk and freeze)
  • Ginger root (freeze in plastic and grate peel and all!)

Long lasting produce

The produce below will keep refrigerated, wrapped in plastic for up to 2 weeks.  Keep in mind that they will lose nutritional value the longer they are stored.  Remember, most produce may be prepped and frozen!

  • Apples
  • Beets
  • Cabbage 
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Citrus (oranges, lemon, limes)
  • Leeks
  • Parsnips
  • Turnips

The following items can keep for a few weeks to a month stored in the pantry.

  • Potatoes (russets, gold and sweet potatoes)
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Winter squash such as spaghetti, pumpkin, acorn, butternut, delicata and kabocha will keep in a cool, dark place for up to 2 months.

See How to Store Fruits and Vegetables for more information on how to store various types of produce and how long they’ll keep.

See my Carrot, Cabbage, Delicata squash, and Kabocha squash produce guides for more information and pantry recipe ideas.

white bean turkey chili in bowl with avocado and lime on top

Dry goods

  • Oats (old fashioned, steel cut, etc.)
  • Rice (white, brown or wild)
  • Pasta
  • Quinoa
  • Grains such as farro and barley
  • Beans and lentils (dry and/or canned)
  • Tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes
  • Stock (chicken, vegetable or beef)
  • Canned wild salmon and tuna
  • Canned fruits such as applesauce and pineapple
  • Purées such as pumpkin, sweet potato and butternut squash
  • Canned vegetables (artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers, chilies, etc.)
  • Coconut milk
  • Seeds (pumpkin, chia, sunflower, etc.)

Condiments

  • Oil (olive, coconut, avocado, sesame, etc.)
  • Vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, rice wine, red wine, etc.)
  • Nut butter or sun butter
  • Jam
  • Maple syrup and/or Honey
  • Tahini
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard (regular, dijon)
  • Mayonnaise
  • Pickles/relish
  • Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, dates, apricots, figs, etc.)
  • Sun dried tomatoes
  • Olives
  • Capers 
  • Breadcrumbs (gluten free or regular)
Chia jam overnight oats in jars on a server with berries on top

Spices and flavorings

  • Salt and pepper
  • Dried herbs, such as thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, bay leaf, parsley, Italian seasoning, etc.)
  • Spices (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, turmeric, curry, red pepper flakes, etc.)
  • Tomato paste
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Hot sauce
  • Soy sauce (substitute with reduced sodium soy, coconut aminos for keto and Whole30, and tamari for gluten free)
  • Red and/or green curry paste
  • Fish sauce
  • Chili sauce
  • Extracts such as vanilla, lemon and peppermint

Baking essentials

Whole wheat and almond flours should be refrigerated once they’re opened as they can go rancid after a while.  They typically keep for up to 3 months in the fridge.

  • Flour (all purpose, whole wheat)
  • Gluten free flour (1 to 1, almond, oat, buckwheat, teff, brown rice, sweet rice, arrowroot starch, tapioca starch)
  • Cornmeal
  • Sugar (granulated, brown, confectioner’s, coconut sugar, sugar substitute)
  • Molasses
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Active dry yeast
  • Cocoa powder
  • Chocolate chips (dark, semi-sweet and white)
  • Coconut
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Evaporated milk
  • Cornstarch

I’m in no way suggesting that you stock all of these items — just your favorite or what you think you’ll use. 

Replenish your stock as needed and you will always have the ability to prepare healthy pantry recipes that are supplemented with whatever fresh produce that you have on hand.  

Healthy Pantry Recipes

There is a great variety of pantry recipes below that will be easy to prepare with the pantry essentials outlined above.  These recipes cover breakfast, snacks, dinners, soups and chili, and DIY recipes.

Each recipe includes suggested substitutions and tips.

Breakfast

healthy pantry breakfast recipes collage

These pantry breakfast recipes are all extremely customizable with make ahead options and most are freezer friendly!

Snacks

healthy pantry snack recipes

These pantry snack recipes are easy to make and nutrient dense to satisfy you in between meals. 

DIY’s for the fridge and freezer

healthy pantry diy recipes collage

Prepare these easy homemade recipes in advance and store in the fridge and freezer for emergencies!

Healthy, hearty main dishes

healthy pantry dinner recipes collage

This list of pantry dinner recipes is comprised of easy recipes that are easily customizable.  Most are freezer friendly!

Soups and Chili

healthy pantry soup and chili recipes collage

Pantry soup and chili recipes are a must.  They’re hearty, easy to make and all are freezer friendly.

I hope you find lots of pantry recipe inspiration, and feel free to contact me with questions on how to customize with what you have on hand or how to prepare it according to a special diet.

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