Easy Pantry Recipes

Worried you don’t have enough ingredients on hand to make a delicious meal or crowd-pleasing snack? You’ll be surprised what you can whip up with just a handful of basic ingredients.

Photo By: Armando Rafael ©Armando Rafael Photography

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Ray Kachatorian

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Christopher Testani

Photo By: Renee Comet

Photo By: Chantell Quernemoen | Brett Quernemoen

Photo By: Andrew Purcell

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Lisa Shin ©Lisa Shin Photography, Inc.

Photo By: Jason Clairy ©Clairy Productions Inc.

Photo By: Antonis Achilleos

Photo By: Jason Clairy ©Clairy Productions Inc.

Photo By: Christopher Testani

Photo By: Johnny Miller

Photo By: Andrew Purcell

Photo By: Matt

Photo By: Paul Sirisalee

Photo By: Matt

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Dried black-eyed peas and frozen collard greens come together in this filling and comforting soup. If you don’t have a ham hock on hand, don’t stress — a bit of extra bacon will provide the same smoky flavor.

Get the Recipe: Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe is a beloved Roman dish made with things you can easily find in your pantry, but there are as many ways to make it as there are cooks in Italy. In this version, olive oil adds a little grassiness and Parmigiano-Reggiano, in addition to the classic Pecorino-Romano, is used to round out the flavors and add an umami richness. If you don't have Parmigiano in the house, simply make the dish with all Pecorino and lower the salt in your pasta water by a tablespoon.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe

Chocolate-Pretzel Cereal Treats

Use chocolate cereal and salty pretzels for these marshmallow-bound treats for the perfect sweet-and-salty bite. Drizzle with chocolate and chill before serving.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Pretzel Cereal Treats

Senate Bean Soup

This hearty bean-and-potato soup is inspired by the one that's still served in the Senate cafeteria to this day.

Get the Recipe: Senate Bean Soup

Puttanesca with Angel Hair Pasta

Canned tomatoes, capers, black olives and anchovies combine to make a tangy and traditional puttanesca sauce. Don’t have angel hair in the pantry? No problem! Serve with any pasta you have available.

Get the Recipe: Puttanesca with Angel Hair Pasta

Buttermilk Cheddar Corn Cakes

Trisha's cheesy corn cakes can be served as a side dish for a meaty main course or eaten on their own with butter and maple syrup.

Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Cheddar Corn Cakes

Rockin' Rice Pudding

Tyler's creamy, comforting rice pudding is your go-to when you need a dessert but don't have much more than pantry staples on hand.

Get the Recipe: Rockin' Rice Pudding

Spinach Tortellini Soup

This satisfying main-dish soup is ready in just 15 minutes thanks to a few shortcut ingredients that most of us have stocked in our refrigerator or freezer.

Get the Recipe: Spinach Tortellini Soup

Chocolate-Hazelnut Paninis

Toast these chocolate-hazelnut spread-filled challah sandwiches for a from-the-pantry treat your whole family will love.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Paninis

Pasta with Escarole and Chickpeas

Chickpeas add hearty flavor and protein to this easy weeknight pasta.

Get the Recipe: Pasta With Escarole and Chickpeas

Creamy Tomato Soup

This classic tomato soup is pure comfort food, and it's almost as easy to make as the stuff from a can.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Tomato Soup

Quinoa and Rice Pilaf

Here's how to cook quinoa with rice: Put them in the pot together and let them simmer until tender. It's really as simple as that! Use the fluffy grains as a side dish or base for a grain bowl. Or try our favorite way to enjoy them — sprinkled into a salad for a hearty lunch.

Get the Recipe: Quinoa and Rice Pilaf

Applesauce Waffles

These Belgian-style waffles are crispy on the outside, but the applesauce keeps them moist and almost muffin-like on the inside. Even better, you can make them when you are out of milk and eggs.

Get the Recipe: Applesauce Waffles

Monster Cookie Dough

No eggs needed for Molly’s sweet treat — she uses milk or heavy cream to bind her crave-worthy cookie dough, which is packed with oats, peanut butter and chocolate-coated candies.

Get the Recipe: Monster Cookie Dough

Penne a la Carbonara

Most of the ingredients for Giada's hearty pasta toss are probably already in your pantry and refrigerator. Just pick up some pancetta, or swap in bacon as a substitute.

Get the Recipe: Penne a la Carbonara

Skillet Hash and Eggs

Sausage, eggs and potatoes work together in this easy-to-make hash that's satisfying anytime of day.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Hash and Eggs

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Teriyaki with Rice and Broccoli

You really can cook a whole frozen chicken breast in the Instant Pot® without thawing it first! This is a one-pot meal that comes together with little preparation. Be sure to rinse the rice until the water runs clear to ensure that it does not stick to the bottom of the pot while it cooks.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Teriyaki with Rice and Broccoli

Pantry Pasta with Romesco Sauce

Romesco is a Spanish sauce made with bread (as a thickener) and roasted peppers and nuts. This version twists those components into a kind of pesto that is wonderfully smoky and tangy. We've made it with roasted almonds and smoked paprika, but you can also try it with smoked almonds and regular Spanish paprika.

Get the Recipe: Pantry Pasta with Romesco Sauce

Chickpea Curry with Rice

This vegetarian curry could not be easier — whip up a sauce of curry powder, vegetable stock, coconut milk and honey, then incorporate a can of chickpeas. Serve over rice for the perfect pantry meal.

Get the Recipe: Chickpea Curry with Rice

Spaghetti with Oil and Garlic (Aglio Et Olio)

Olive oil, spaghetti and garlic are all that’s needed for this classic pasta dish. Dress it up with whatever you have on hand — fresh lemon and Parmigiano-Reggiano are always a good idea, but frozen peas or canned tomatoes will fit right in, too.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Oil and Garlic (Aglio e Olio)

Quick and Easy Minestrone

Soy sauce is great for more than just Asian-inspired dishes. In this hearty pantry-based soup it adds instant depth and the savory flavor called umami, which is associated with foods like Parmesan cheese and mushrooms.

Get the Recipe: Quick and Easy Minestrone

Lentil Sloppy Joes

Dried lentils are the key ingredient in this hearty take on a childhood favorite.

Get the Recipe: Lentil Sloppy Joes

Cold Curry-Peanut Noodles

Top whole-wheat spaghetti with a homemade peanut sauce made from peanut butter, curry paste and rice wine vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Cold Curry-Peanut Noodles

Spicy Three-Bean Pantry Chili

This vegetarian chili gets its rich flavor from caramelizing tomato paste and warming herbs, rather than long hours of cooking. You can amp up the heat by using a spicy salsa or some of the adobo paste (though the chile itself is pretty hot). Add corn for some sweetness, or canned hominy for a chunkier and funkier chili.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Three-Bean Pantry Chili

S'mores Bark

We've combined all the elements of a s'more into this delicious bark. It's got crunch from the graham crackers, richness from the chocolate and fire-roasted flavor from broiling the marshmallows-easier than toasting them over a campfire.

Get the Recipe: S'mores Bark

Tuna Salad

Make classic tuna salad for lunch or dinner in a pinch. Of course it makes for great sandwiches, or switch things up and serve with lettuce cups.

Get the Recipe: The Best Tuna Salad

Garlic Ramen Popcorn

Revamp your snack routine by adding garlic and ramen seasoning to microwaved popcorn.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Ramen Popcorn

Pantry Pasta

Ree whips up this pasta dish between shopping trips, using pantry staples she has on hand. Try it for a quick meal.

Get the Recipe: Pantry Pasta

Spinach with Tahini Sauce

Dress up baby spinach with a quick sauce made from tahini, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar.

Get the Recipe: Spinach with Tahini Sauce

Polenta with Roasted Tomatoes

Polenta and roasted tomatoes, two staples no kitchen should be without, are paired with fresh Swiss chard and cheese for a hearty, meatless main dish.

Get the Recipe: Polenta with Roasted Tomatoes

Black Bean Hummus

No chickpeas on hand for traditional hummus? Use canned black beans to whip up Melissa's tasty last-minute snack.

Get the Recipe: Black Bean Hummus

Agnolotti with Artichoke Sauce

Make an easy, creamy sauce for packaged agnolotti with frozen artichoke hearts. If you can't find agnolotti, ravioli works just as well.

Get the Recipe: Agnolotti With Artichoke Sauce

Peanut Butter Ramen

Trisha’s sweet-and-spicy ramen is an absolute dream. If you don’t have chicken on hand, feel free to substitute with whatever you have left in the fridge or freezer — shrimp or beef would absolutely work with her versatile recipe!

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Ramen

Curry Fried Rice

Fried rice is the ultimate pantry-raid dish: Just add whatever you have! This one is spiced up with curry powder.

Get the Recipe: Curry Fried Rice

Power Balls

Trisha whips up these peanut butter treats when she needs a quick, filling snack. She mixes in mini chocolate chips and dried cranberries, but you can absolutely use whatever you have in the kitchen.

Get the Recipe: Power Balls

Tomato-Ginger Couscous

Keep your pantry stocked with couscous, tomato paste and spices and you'll have everything on hand to make this flavorful side dish.

Get the Recipe: Tomato-Ginger Couscous

Rigatoni with Spicy Shrimp

Using fresh or frozen shrimp plus basic pantry ingredients, you'll have this tasty pasta on the table in under 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Rigatoni with Spicy Shrimp

Vegan Pancakes

You don't need eggs and dairy for super-fluffy pancakes-the extra baking powder in this recipe helps with that. We love the flavor and tenderness that coconut oil gives these easy-to-make pancakes.

Get the Recipe: Vegan Pancakes

Ravioli Alfredo with Peas

Make this decadent pasta dish in no time with prepared ravioli, frozen peas, and basic staples like cream and butter.

Get the Recipe: Ravioli Alfredo With Peas

7-Can Soup

The name says it all with Ree’s recipe. She combines canned beans, veggies and chili to make her quick and easy five-star soup — the only tools needed are a can opener and a large pot!

Get the Recipe: 7-Can Soup

Root Beer Baked Beans

Canned beans are flavored with a spicy-sweet surprise ingredient — root beer — in this fun twist on baked beans.

Get the Recipe: Root Beer Baked Beans

Turkey Chipotle Chili

With 30 minutes and staples from the pantry, Rachael cooks up a hearty and flavorful turkey chili.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Chipotle Chili with Pepper Jack Cheese Corn Cake Toppers

Carbonara Beans

Create the pantry side dish of your dreams with a few humble ingredients--eggs, bacon, Parmesan and beans! It’s everything you love about traditional carbonara, but with protein-packed cannellini in place of the pasta.

Get the Recipe: Carbonara Beans

Any Liquor Pantry Cocktail

This recipe is really just a 3-2-1 ratio with almost endless adaptations. Start with a base liquor of your choice. Add something sour -- citrus or another unsweetened, tart juice. You can even add a splash of brine from pickled vegetables or a little vinegar to take the cocktail in the direction of a shrub, which has popped up on drink menus all over because it's so refreshing. Finally, add something sweet -- basic simple syrup or just about any other liquid sweetener you have on hand. Once you are ready to shake it with ice, you can personalize it further by throwing a few herb sprigs or pieces of fruit in the shaker. Finish with a topper of seltzer, prosecco or another fizzy beverage, if you like. The proverbial cherry on top can be any garnish you have on hand -- fruit, pickles, candy, herbs, you name it. Begin with simple combinations -- see our suggestions below -- and then experiment to find the ones you like the most.

Get the Recipe: Any Liquor Pantry Cocktail

Tomato Soup Spice Cake

It sounds like a joke on paper, but this cake is the definition of “trust the process.” A can of tomato soup somehow adds a ton of moisture and vanishes into the background while a trio of warm spices—cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves—take the lead. This recipe started from Depression Era necessity with the soup providing the richness and structure, usually coming from eggs. It hit peak popularity in the 1950s and beyond, becoming a staple of home cooking for generations. With a list of common pantry items, a lightning-fast assembly and the perfect balance of flavor, it’ll quickly become your go-to cake.

Get the Recipe: Tomato Soup Spice Cake