19 Pantry Recipes When You Can't (or Don't Want to) Make a Market Run (2024)

FAQs

What can I make when I don't have a lot of groceries? ›

Pesto-topped pasta with beans and leftover veggies

Even if you're basically out of fresh groceries, you likely have a box of pasta and a can of beans hiding out in the pantry. Once the pasta is cooked, mix it with the beans (drained and rinsed) and add any fresh or frozen veggies you happen to have on hand.

It's called a pantry challenge, and it's definitely within reach for most families. Simply organize your pantry, make a meal plan, and pledge to eat everything you buy. You'll save money, you'll save on waste, and you'll probably benefit from healthier eating habits while you're at it.

Decide what you'll eat for a week, or even a month, and plan meals based around low-cost staple foods like oats and eggs for breakfast; tuna, peanut butter, cheese and nonfat plain yogurt for lunch; and inexpensive cuts of meat like chicken thighs or flank steak and dried beans and grains like brown rice that you can ...

A traditional pantry typically has an interior door that matches the rest of the doors in the house, while a hidden pantry has cabinetry paneling on it that looks like more cabinets. It typically has one big handle, and when you pull that handle, the whole head-height door swings open, revealing the pantry behind it.

You can always include lower cabinets or open shelves as walk-in pantry ideas. However, pull-out drawers will make storing and retrieving food items a breeze. Line up boxes, bags, and cans and use narrow baskets to group flimsier packages, such as bread or nuts.

What food can you eat unlimited? ›

Rice Bowls are so easy and versatile. You can top them with whatever little bits of meat, cheese, beans, and veggies you have on hand. Depending on which rice you buy, dinner can be ready in 20 to 45 minutes. Cook some rice, assemble your toppings, and get to good eating!

Make meals that center around a healthy carb, like potatoes, rice, and pasta. Use meat like a condiment, not like a main course. Focus on the really budget-friendly vegetables where you live and only supplement with the expensive ones. Learn how to cook some basic foods from scratch.

You will want to purchase cheap foods that are filling! Oatmeal, rice, beans, bread, and other starches are filling and will keep you full until your next meal. Beans and rice are also super versatile foods, and you can take them and transform them into easy meals you will actually enjoy!

People who experience food insecurity are more likely to experience malnutrition and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.