100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (2024)

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100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (1)

Make budget-friendly meals with ingredients that you have in your pantry! With a well stocked pantry, you can make inexpensive recipeswithout needing to meal plan.These pantry staple recipes will show you how to turn basicpantry items intodelicious meals. There are frugal pantry recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and side dishes.

Let’s start off with achecklist 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

100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (2)

  1. Basic Crepes from Allrecipes
  2. Baked Eggs in Hash Brown Cups from Food Network
  3. Peanut Butter Pancakes from MyRecipes
  4. Cheese Grits from Food Network
  5. Fried Cornmeal Mush from Allrecipes
  6. Potato Hash With a Fried Egg from NYT Cooking
  7. Egg and Cheese Muffins from The Seasoned Mom
  8. Peanut Butter & Honey Cereal Bars from Healthy Food for Living
  9. Classic Hash Browns from Allrecipes
  10. Baked Cheddar Eggs & Potatoesfrom Taste of Home
  11. Potato and Onion Frittata from NYT Cooking
  12. Scones from Allrecipes
  13. Breakfast Cookies from A Fit Philosophy
  14. French Toast from Allrecipes
  15. Easy Waffles fromMartha Stewart
  16. Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal from Delish
  17. Apple Toast from Allrecipes
  18. Cheese Omelette from Food Republic
  19. Spanish Omelette from Food.com
  20. Egg and Potato Breakfast Casserole from Ahead of Thyme
  21. 3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes from Whole Foods Market
  22. Easy Oatmeal Muffins from Allrecipes
  23. Peanut Butter Oatmeal from Food.com
  24. Belgian Waffles from Taste of Home
  25. Scrambled Egg Sandwich to Go from Kraft
  26. Fried Egg Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Great Grub, Delicious Treats
  27. Basic Biscuitsfrom Allrecipes
    100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (3)

    Lunch Pantry Staple Recipes

  28. Caramelized Banana and Peanut Butter Quesadillas from Budget Bytes
  29. Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches from Food Network
  30. Grilled Cheese Rollups from Damn Delicious
  31. Egg Salad Sandwiches from Food.com
  32. Tuna Melts from Allrecipes
  33. E.L.T. Sandwich from Kraft Recipes
  34. Italian Grilled Cheese from Tastes Better from Scratch
  35. SimpleTomato Soup from Taste of Home
  36. Apple and Peanut Butter Wrapfrom Ready Set Eat
  37. Cheese Quesadillafrom Food.com
  38. Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla fromDashing Dish
  39. Cheesy Mermaid from Kraft Recipes
  40. Loaded Potato Soup from Allrecipes
  41. 10 Minute Black Bean Tostadas from Well Plated
  42. Grilled Mac and Cheese Sandwich from Kirbie’s Cravings
  43. Cuban Black Bean Soup from Kraft Recipes
  44. Cheddar Cheese Soup from Allrecipes
  45. Tuna Salad Sandwiches from Betty Crocker
  46. Tomato Sandwiches from NYT Cooking
  47. Peanut Butter Banana + Honey Roll Upsfrom Nutrition Expert
    100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (4)

    Dinner Pantry Staples Recipes

  48. Bean and Rice Burritos from Taste of Home
  49. Mexican Rice fromEating Well
  50. Easy Fried Ricefrom The Recipe Critic
  51. Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Parmesan from Martha Stewart
  52. Homemade Mac and Cheese from Allrecipes
  53. Simple Pasta from RecipeTin Eats
  54. Spanish Rice from Food.com
  55. Fried Pastafrom Martha Stewart
  56. Hearty Black Bean and Corn Chilifrom Spoon University
  57. Tuna Noodle Casserole from Scratch from Allrecipes
  58. Tuna Pasta Salad from Food.com
  59. Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles from Foodie Crush
  60. Easy Tuna Patties from Allrecipes
  61. Cheesy Spaghetti from Food.com
  62. Tomato-Garlic Spaghetti from Martha Stewart
  63. Penne Parmesan Alfredo from Food Network
  64. Tuna Quesadilla from Food.com
  65. To Die for Fettuccine Alfredo from Allrecipes
  66. Tuna Tomato Pastafrom Martha Stewart
  67. Pasta With Parmesan from Food.com
    100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (5)

    Dessert Pantry Recipes

  68. Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas from Dizzy, Busy and Hungry
  69. Soft Oatmeal Cookies from Allrecipes
  70. Simple Vanilla Cupcakes from Food.com
  71. Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies from Allrecipes
  72. Easy Peanut Butter Cookies from Popsugar
  73. Flan from Martha Stewart
  74. Apple Crisp from Allrecipes
  75. Banana Ice Cream from That Clean Life
  76. Butter Cookies from Cup of Jo
  77. Easy Oatmeal Muffins from Allrecipes
  78. White Cupcakes from Epicurious
  79. Classic Apple Tart from Food Network
  80. Virginia Apple Pudding from Allrecipes
  81. Basic Vanilla Custard from Food.com
  82. Butter Cookies from Epicurious
  83. Easy Sugar Cookies from Allrecipes
  84. Vanilla Pudding from Betty Crocker
  85. Oatmeal Lace Cookies from Add a Pinch
  86. Banana Bread from Allrecipes
  87. Classic Shortbread Cookies from Food Network
  88. Sour Cream Sugar Cookies from The Recipe Rebel
  89. Yellow Cupcakes from Taste of Home
  90. Crustless Custard Pie from Holly’s Cheat Day
  91. Classic Spritz Cookies from Betty Crocker
  92. Easy Peanut Butter Fudge from Food.com
  93. Creamy Rice Pudding from Allrecipes
    100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (6)

    Side Dish Pantry Staple Recipes

  94. Oven Friesfrom Taste of Home
  95. Golden Sweet Cornbread from Allrecipes
  96. Classic Potato Pancakes from Epicurious
  97. Rice Pilaf from Allrecipes
  98. Grilled Corn Cakes from Food Network
  99. Perfect Mashed Potatoes from Allrecipes
  100. Twice Baked Potatoes from Betty Crocker
  101. Classic Potato Salad from Food.com
  102. Seasoned Rice from Budget Bytes
  103. Corn Fritters from Allrecipes
  104. FriedPotatoes and Onions from Food Network
  105. Potatoes au Gratin from Kraft Recipes
  106. Creamy Macaroni and Cheese Casserole from Spend with Pennies
  107. Almost-Famous Hushpuppies from Food Network
  108. Sauteed Apples from Allrecipes
    100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (7)

    Snack Pantry Recipes

  109. 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oat Squaresfrom Listotic
  110. Homemade Baked Tortilla Chipsfrom Budget Bytes
  111. Homemade Potato Chipsfrom Allrecipes
  112. Deviled Eggs from Food.com
  113. Black Bean and Corn Salsa from She Wears Many Hats
  114. Peanut ButterBanana Smoothie from Allrecipes
  115. Easy Hummus from Allrecipes
  116. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars from Budget Bytes
  117. Homemade Applesaucefrom Allrecipes

Related Post

100 Budget-Friendly Non-Perishable Emergency Foods

100 Cheap and Easy Pantry Staple Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest meal you can make? ›

65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  • Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. tasty.co. ...
  • Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. tasty.co. ...
  • Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. ...
  • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
  • Chicken Alfredo Penne. ...
  • Avocado Quinoa Power Salad. ...
  • Tofu Scramble. ...
  • Egg Pizza With Scallions.
Dec 21, 2023

What is the cheapest food staple? ›

10 Budget-Friendly Pantry Staples
  1. Brown Rice. Brown rice is a whole grain and has more nutritional value than white rice. ...
  2. Canned Beans. Beans are a great way to add protein to any meal — and they're cheap. ...
  3. Pasta Sauce. ...
  4. Canned Meat. ...
  5. Stock. ...
  6. Peanut Butter. ...
  7. Oil. ...
  8. Garlic.
Aug 9, 2021

What foods are considered pantry staples? ›

These include items like whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, nut butters, dried fruits, and vegetables. You can also stock up on canned foods like beans, tuna, salmon, and chicken, which last for a long time and help avoid wasteful spending.

What can I make out of stuff in my pantry? ›

15 Budget-Friendly Dinners Using Pantry Ingredients
  1. 01 of 15. Lentil Soup. View Recipe. ...
  2. 02 of 15. Red Lentil Curry. View Recipe. ...
  3. 03 of 15. Vegan Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry. View Recipe. ...
  4. 04 of 15. Black Bean Chili. ...
  5. 05 of 15. Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl. ...
  6. 06 of 15. Black Bean Tacos. ...
  7. 07 of 15. Vegetable Fried Rice. ...
  8. 08 of 15. Salmon Patties.
Jan 20, 2023

What is the poor man's meal? ›

Potatoes were also inexpensive and used extensively. Some meals even used both. One of these meals was called the Poor Man's Meal. It combined potatoes, onions, and hot dogs into one hearty, inexpensive dish, which was perfect for the hard times people had fallen on.

What to make for dinner when you're broke? ›

Macaroni and cheese (or any type of pasta) - boil pasta, mix cheese and butter (can find more in depth easy recipes online for cheese sauce) OR you can do any pasta with a pre-made pasta sauce. Just boil pasta and heat up sauce, add some pre-grated cheese for like 4 bucks a bag from Safeways and you got it.

How do I stock my pantry on a budget? ›

GOBankingRates consulted a number of grocery and money experts to learn their favorite tips for stocking up one's pantry on a budget.
  1. Use Simple Items for Meal Prep. ...
  2. Buy What You'll Use in Bulk. ...
  3. Substitute Seasonings. ...
  4. Be Honest With Yourself About What You Want To Eat. ...
  5. Go Generic. ...
  6. Check Clearance Shelves.
Jun 14, 2022

What are the top 3 staple foods? ›

Cereal grains and tubers are the most common food staples. There are more than 50,000 edible plants in the world, but just 15 of them provide 90 percent of the world's food energy intake. Rice, corn (maize), and wheat make up two-thirds of this.

What is the number 1 staple food in the world? ›

An infograhic showing the most important staple foods in the world, Maize(Corn) appears to be the most important staple food across the globe, followed by rice, wheat, cassava, soyabeans, potatoes. and the least is Plantain.

What spices to keep in pantry? ›

Pick up cumin, cinnamon, ginger and paprika. Bright and herbaceous seasonings: These seasonings add vibrancy to your dishes. Grab oregano, bay leaves and parsley. Savory seasonings: Onions and garlic are essential in virtually any cuisine, so add onion powder and garlic powder to your arsenal for easy seasoning.

How do I stock my pantry for a month? ›

The Pantry
  1. Root Vegetables and Hardy Vegetables.
  2. Stocks and Broths.
  3. Canned or Jarred Fish.
  4. Canned Vegetables.
  5. Canned Soup.
  6. Crackers, Crispbreads, Rice Cakes.
  7. Cooking Oil and Condiments.
  8. Tip: Learn how to make your own salad dressing to save money and space.
Oct 18, 2021

How do you make a cool pantry? ›

To keep your larder cooler, you can drill holes in the foundation to allow cool air in and warm air out. Additionally, install hit-and-miss vents for further ventilation before placing one or two shelves with stone slabs over them. Doing this will ensure that your food remains chilled at all times!

Is there a website where I can list ingredients and get recipes? ›

RecipeRadar helps you to search for recipes by ingredients, plan your meals, and create food shopping lists. The service aims to be distraction-free, privacy-respecting, and is provided as free and open source software so that you can inspect and modify the code - feedback and contributions are welcome.

How can I make my pantry beautiful? ›

One easy way to dress up your pantry? Paint it a pretty color. Stick with a light shade to keep the space bright and clean, and remember that you don't need to paint every inch of the room. A few colorful cabinets should be enough to liven up your pantry, even if the rest of the space is white.

What kind of food can you afford on $1 a day? ›

More $1 Meal Ideas
  • A boiled egg, brown rice, and raisins with milk.
  • Whole wheat pancakes and a side of fruit or juice.
  • Oatmeal pancakes and applesauce.
  • Scrambled egg, toast and juice.
  • Hash browns, eggs, and fruit.
  • A green smoothie with a side of toast.
  • A muffin with a side of banana and yogurt.
Dec 7, 2022

How do you feed a family of 4 on $10 a day? ›

Ten Healthy Family Meals Under $10
  1. Healthy Fried Rice.
  2. Pasta Salad.
  3. Fettuccini Alfredo… or Bowtie, or Shells, or Rotini.
  4. Rosemary White Bean Soup or Turkey White Bean Chili.
  5. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos.
  6. Black-eyed Peas and Pork…with Kale.
  7. Enchilada Casserole.
  8. Down-home Macaroni and Cheese.

How can I eat if I have no money? ›

Your local food bank can help you find food today, even if you need temporary help. They partner with food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs in your local community to give away free food. Enter your zip code to find the food bank partnering with Feeding America.

What can I cook for under $30? ›

30 dinners under under $30 the whole family will love
  • Pumpkin soup. ...
  • Risotto carbonara. ...
  • Tuna and caper pasta with crispy breadcrumbs. ...
  • Matt Preston's French onion soup. ...
  • Spaghetti in cherry tomato sauce. ...
  • Roasted sweet potatoes with chilli and seeds. ...
  • Quick and delicious mushroom and thyme soup. ...
  • Cauliflower soup.

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