Make budget-friendly meals with ingredients that you have in your pantry! With a well stocked pantry, you can make inexpensive recipes without needing to meal plan. These pantry staple recipes will show you how to turn basic pantry items into delicious meals. There are frugal pantry recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and side dishes.
Let’s start off with a checklist of common ingredients that are used in most recipes:
Fridge:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheese)
- Butter
- Sour Cream
- Cream Cheese
- Basic condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard, hot sauce, salad dressing, jam or jelly, maple syrup)
Pantry:
- Rice
- Pasta
- Oats
- Cornmeal
- Oils (cooking oils, olive oil, non stick spray)
- Lentils
- Peanut butter
- Soy sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Salt & Pepper
- Seasonings (garlic, onion, chili, cumin, red pepper flakes, seasoned salt, dried parsley, cinnamon, italian seasoning)
Bakery:
- Crackers
- Tortillas
- Bread
- Breadcrumbs
Fruits & Vegetables:
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Celery
- Bell Pepper
- Lettuce
- Garlic
- Corn (canned or frozen)
- Bananas
- Apples
- Frozen mixed vegetables
Canned Foods:
- Canned tomatoes
- Salsa
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste
- Canned beans (refried, pinto, black beans, white, etc.)
- Canned meats (corned beef, Spam, etc.)
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Canned vegetables (corn, green beans, spinach, etc.)
- Broth or stock (Chicken, beef or vegetable)
Baking:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda & powder
- Pure vanilla extract
- Honey
For a complete list, please see my other post on: 100 budget-friendly non-perishable foods
Breakfast Pantry Staple Recipes
- Basic Crepes from Allrecipes
- Baked Eggs in Hash Brown Cups from Food Network
- Peanut Butter Pancakes from MyRecipes
- Cheese Grits from Food Network
- Fried Cornmeal Mush from Allrecipes
- Potato Hash With a Fried Egg from NYT Cooking
- Egg and Cheese Muffins from The Seasoned Mom
- Peanut Butter & Honey Cereal Bars from Healthy Food for Living
- Classic Hash Browns from Allrecipes
- Baked Cheddar Eggs & Potatoes from Taste of Home
- Potato and Onion Frittata from NYT Cooking
- Scones from Allrecipes
- Breakfast Cookies from A Fit Philosophy
- French Toast from Allrecipes
- Easy Waffles from Martha Stewart
- Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal from Delish
- Apple Toast from Allrecipes
- Cheese Omelette from Food Republic
- Spanish Omelette from Food.com
- Egg and Potato Breakfast Casserole from Ahead of Thyme
- 3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes from Whole Foods Market
- Easy Oatmeal Muffins from Allrecipes
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal from Food.com
- Belgian Waffles from Taste of Home
- Scrambled Egg Sandwich to Go from Kraft
- Fried Egg Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Great Grub, Delicious Treats
- Basic Biscuits from Allrecipes
Lunch Pantry Staple Recipes
- Caramelized Banana and Peanut Butter Quesadillas from Budget Bytes
- Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches from Food Network
- Grilled Cheese Rollups from Damn Delicious
- Egg Salad Sandwiches from Food.com
- Tuna Melts from Allrecipes
- E.L.T. Sandwich from Kraft Recipes
- Italian Grilled Cheese from Tastes Better from Scratch
- Simple Tomato Soup from Taste of Home
- Apple and Peanut Butter Wrap from Ready Set Eat
- Cheese Quesadilla from Food.com
- Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla from Dashing Dish
- Cheesy Mermaid from Kraft Recipes
- Loaded Potato Soup from Allrecipes
- 10 Minute Black Bean Tostadas from Well Plated
- Grilled Mac and Cheese Sandwich from Kirbie’s Cravings
- Cuban Black Bean Soup from Kraft Recipes
- Cheddar Cheese Soup from Allrecipes
- Tuna Salad Sandwiches from Betty Crocker
- Tomato Sandwiches from NYT Cooking
- Peanut Butter Banana + Honey Roll Ups from Nutrition Expert
Dinner Pantry Staples Recipes
- Bean and Rice Burritos from Taste of Home
- Mexican Rice from Eating Well
- Easy Fried Rice from The Recipe Critic
- Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Parmesan from Martha Stewart
- Homemade Mac and Cheese from Allrecipes
- Simple Pasta from RecipeTin Eats
- Spanish Rice from Food.com
- Fried Pasta from Martha Stewart
- Hearty Black Bean and Corn Chili from Spoon University
- Tuna Noodle Casserole from Scratch from Allrecipes
- Tuna Pasta Salad from Food.com
- Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles from Foodie Crush
- Easy Tuna Patties from Allrecipes
- Cheesy Spaghetti from Food.com
- Tomato-Garlic Spaghetti from Martha Stewart
- Penne Parmesan Alfredo from Food Network
- Tuna Quesadilla from Food.com
- To Die for Fettuccine Alfredo from Allrecipes
- Tuna Tomato Pasta from Martha Stewart
- Pasta With Parmesan from Food.com
Dessert Pantry Recipes
- Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas from Dizzy, Busy and Hungry
- Soft Oatmeal Cookies from Allrecipes
- Simple Vanilla Cupcakes from Food.com
- Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies from Allrecipes
- Easy Peanut Butter Cookies from Popsugar
- Flan from Martha Stewart
- Apple Crisp from Allrecipes
- Banana Ice Cream from That Clean Life
- Butter Cookies from Cup of Jo
- Easy Oatmeal Muffins from Allrecipes
- White Cupcakes from Epicurious
- Classic Apple Tart from Food Network
- Virginia Apple Pudding from Allrecipes
- Basic Vanilla Custard from Food.com
- Butter Cookies from Epicurious
- Easy Sugar Cookies from Allrecipes
- Vanilla Pudding from Betty Crocker
- Oatmeal Lace Cookies from Add a Pinch
- Banana Bread from Allrecipes
- Classic Shortbread Cookies from Food Network
- Sour Cream Sugar Cookies from The Recipe Rebel
- Yellow Cupcakes from Taste of Home
- Crustless Custard Pie from Holly’s Cheat Day
- Classic Spritz Cookies from Betty Crocker
- Easy Peanut Butter Fudge from Food.com
- Creamy Rice Pudding from Allrecipes
Side Dish Pantry Staple Recipes
- Oven Fries from Taste of Home
- Golden Sweet Cornbread from Allrecipes
- Classic Potato Pancakes from Epicurious
- Rice Pilaf from Allrecipes
- Grilled Corn Cakes from Food Network
- Perfect Mashed Potatoes from Allrecipes
- Twice Baked Potatoes from Betty Crocker
- Classic Potato Salad from Food.com
- Seasoned Rice from Budget Bytes
- Corn Fritters from Allrecipes
- Fried Potatoes and Onions from Food Network
- Potatoes au Gratin from Kraft Recipes
- Creamy Macaroni and Cheese Casserole from Spend with Pennies
- Almost-Famous Hushpuppies from Food Network
- Sauteed Apples from Allrecipes
Snack Pantry Recipes
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oat Squares from Listotic
- Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips from Budget Bytes
- Homemade Potato Chips from Allrecipes
- Deviled Eggs from Food.com
- Black Bean and Corn Salsa from She Wears Many Hats
- Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie from Allrecipes
- Easy Hummus from Allrecipes
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars from Budget Bytes
- Homemade Applesauce from Allrecipes
100 Budget-Friendly Non-Perishable Emergency Foods
jerry says
Great idea generating page! Thank you. Great ideas.