We
independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
When it comes to whipping up quick and comforting meals, pantry staples are your friend. These are the items you keep stashed in the back of your pantry for off-the-cuff cooking, and they are the items that will come in handy when cooking more at home — as we all are right now. With a little bit of creativity, you can turn these staple ingredients, like canned tomatoes and tuna, into complete meals that are comforting, filling, and delicious.
Kitchn’s Guide to Turning Pantry Staples into Meals
We’ve picked 10 of the most common pantry staples as your starting point and provided recipes and suggestions for how to transform each into a quick and comforting meal. But you should also feel free to riff on any of these suggestions; every recipe is flexible and highly adaptable for whatever you have on hand, so definitely don’t fret if you don’t have all the ingredients on hand. Use this guide as a jumping off point.
Without further introduction, here are 100 simple ways to turn pantry staples into complete meals.
Canned Chickpeas
Canned chickpeas are one of the most versatile pantry ingredients. They are packed with protein, mild in flavor, and can be eaten straight out of the can. You can purée them into a savory spread (like hummus) or add them to soups, stews, and pastas for a pop of protein. For a simple snack, you can toss them onto a sheet pan with a splash of olive oil and roast them until crispy. The possibilities are endless.
3 / 10
Smashed Chickpea Salad SandwichesThis vegetarian take on tuna salad is made with a base of hearty chickpeas and crunchy vegetables. The real heroes, however, are the gut-friendly fermented pickles and creamy Greek yogurt.
Go to Recipe 4 / 10
Vegan Slow-Cooker Chickpea Tikka MasalaTikka masala — a rich mix of spiced chunks of meat (usually chicken) swimming in a creamy tomato sauce — is one of the most beloved Indian takeout dishes, but the dish as we know it now actually originated in the U.K., with many restaurants laying claim to it.
10 / 10
CholeWith a base of caramelized onions, spices, and a touch of tomato paste, chole is a transformative way of using up a can of chickpeas.
Go to Recipe Canned Black Beans
A can of black beans can go a long way. Add a can to stews (liquid and all) to thicken them up, rinse them off and toss them into a salad, purée them into a thick soup or dip, or add them to enchiladas to bulk them up. You can even throw them on top of a bag of chips along with whatever toppings you have on hand to create hearty nachos that are filling enough to be considered dinner.
4 / 10
Slow Cooker Black Bean SoupLike any good drop dinner, this one starts with next to no prep work — meaning you get to skip the time-consuming task of soaking dried beans. An all-day simmer of eight to 10 hours in the slow cooker is ample time to soften the beans, so that by the time you’re setting the table, they’ve reached perfect tenderness.
Dried Lentils
Dried lentils can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never cooked with them before, but they’re actually insanely easy to make. You can add them to stews, soups, veggie burgers, and all sorts of dishes. Red and yellow lentils are best suited for recipes that cook for a long time so they break down (like dal and puréed soups), while brown and green varieties are best for dishes where you want them to retain their shape. (You can read all about the differences here.)
2 / 9
Sausage and Lentil SoupWe know you’ll fall in love with how easy it is to pull off this hearty, protein-packed dinner. But what will really win you over is its savory, smoky flavor, which leaves just the faintest hint of spice on your tongue. It’s inspired by sausage and white bean soup, but we gave it a Southern twist by adding a pack of Andouille chicken sausage. Best of all, there’s next to no prep work needed, meaning your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting to bring dinner to the table.
5 / 9
Cheesy Lentil, Mushroom & Rice BakeAdding lentils to the dinner roster is a good way to eat meat-free, but all too often they can be boring. This recipe — which adds cheese, meaty mushrooms, nutty brown rice, and plenty of fresh parsley to the mix — solves this. It transforms protein-rich lentils into a comforting baked casserole that really doesn’t need anything else to call it a meal (although a simple green salad on the side would be welcome).
6 / 9
Slow-Cooker Dal When fall arrives, nothing is better than cozying up with a regular rotation of warm meals. While soup and stew certainly get the job done, sometimes dinner begs for something different, like this recipe for dal, a type of lentil soup, which we’re making in the slow cooker.
Dried Pasta
If you have a pound of pasta in your pantry right now, you have endless dinner options you can whip up with just a few simple ingredients. All of these recipes can be made with any shape of pasta. And keep in mind that a pound of pasta can feed about four to six people, so you’ll have plenty of leftovers if you’re only cooking for yourself.
3 / 10
Cacio e PepeWhen I say that this step-by-step recipe is foolproof, I mean it. I’ve cooked my way through basically every cacio e pepe recipe out there, and that has led me to this easy-as-can-be version that works every time. Here’s everything you need to know.
6 / 10
Cajun Chicken PastaThis weeknight-friendly pasta dish — packed with smoky chicken, cheesy sauce, and juicy tomatoes — is inspired by a cult-favorite dish at Chili's.
Go to Recipe Canned Tomatoes / Marinara Sauce
Canned tomatoes come in many different forms, shapes, and sizes. Diced tomatoes are great for recipes where you want their shape to remain intact, like enchilada filling. Tomato sauce and jarred marinaras are good for making quick homemade pastas, lasagnas, or thick soups. Canned plum tomatoes are whole, uncut tomatoes that have been peeled. For most recipes, you’ll have to crush them by hand or with a spoon. (You can see a complete guide to the differences here.)
1 / 10
Roasted Tomato SoupTurn on your oven, toss those canned tomatoes in, and roast them until they’re caramelized and sweet, and you’ve got the base for a killer tomato soup that will warm you up all fall and winter long.
7 / 10
Easy One-Pot Beef GoulashFrom the sauce-slicked macaroni to the crumbles of ground beef and pockets of melted cheddar, one-pot beef goulash is as comforting as it is easy to get on the table.
Go to Recipe Rice
For all of these recipes, feel free to use whatever variety of rice you have on hand. Note that the cooking time and amount of liquid needed to properly cook the rice might change — which you can read all about here if you need a refresher.
2 / 10
Stuffed Pepper SoupFrom the tender bell pepper to the ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning, this is everything you love about stuffed peppers, in soup form.
Go to Recipe 4 / 10
Chicken, Broccoli & Brown Rice CasseroleIt doesn’t take much to build a delicious, budget-friendly casserole from the ground up. For big flavor, I prefer to cook my rice (I used brown rice for this dish and cooked it al dente since it will finish cooking in the casserole), and all my grains for that matter, in low-sodium chicken stock. I also used an easy but oh-so-delicious white sauce made with cow’s milk, Greek yogurt and infused with herbs – yum, more on that soon.
7 / 10
One-Pot Weeknight Dirty RiceDirty rice is a traditional Cajun or Creole dish named for the color it takes on, thanks to key ingredients like chicken giblets and liver. It’s earthy, heavily spiced, and hearty.
Canned Soup / Stock
Canned soup is not only a meal in itself, but a shortcut ingredient that can help turn a handful of simple ingredients into a complete dinner. If you have a can of cream of chicken or tomato soup on hand, you’re one step away from a comforting meal. Stock and broth also comes in handy, and if you have a carton of broth on hand you can turn pretty much any vegetable into soup.
2 / 10
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle SoupMade in the Instant Pot, this chicken noodle soup is just like the classic, loaded with juicy pieces of chicken, chunky vegetables, just-tender egg noodles, and a rich, herb-flecked broth.
Go to Recipe 6 / 10
Stuffed Pepper SoupFrom the tender bell pepper to the ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning, this is everything you love about stuffed peppers, in soup form.
Go to Recipe 7 / 10
Kale and Cannellini Bean StewThe Parmesan-garlic broth that’s the base of this wholesome stew is going to be your new BFF when you need deep flavor without meat. You can use it in other stews, soups, risotto, and pasta. It’s also rich and full-bodied enough to sip solo as a light meal or pick-me-up on a chilly afternoon.
Canned Tuna
Canned tuna comes in a few different varieties, and all are perfect for building a meal around. “Solid tuna” is an entire piece of tuna that is firm and steaky. “Chunk” or “flake” tuna is made up of smaller pieces of tuna that have been shredded into tiny pieces. Any variety can be used in these recipes.
1 / 9
Tuna Poke BowlIf you’re looking for a quick, cheap lunch and want new ways to fancy-up canned tuna, this recipe is for you! Tuna is tossed with an orange-ginger dressing, creamy avocado and served with rice and vegetables. It’s a simple yet satisfying budget recipe that makes for a great lunch.
2 / 9
Classic Tuna Macaroni SaladThis pasta salad has it all: tender macaroni, genereous pieces of tuna, crisp celery, peppers, and red onions, finished with a tangy, peppery, creamy yogurt dressing.
Go to Recipe 4 / 9
Pasta Salad with Roasted Peppers, Tuna, and Oregano VinaigretteIf you’re going to a Memorial Day gathering, chances are it’s a potluck. This year, bring a pasta salad that will please adults and kids alike. With silky roasted red peppers, oil-packed tuna, and an herbaceous vinaigrette, this one’s got lots of Mediterranean flavor, and it comes together quickly with just a few ingredients from your pantry.
5 / 9
Tuna SaladTuna salad is lunchtime comfort food. This basic recipe is the perfect mix of creamy and crunchy, with a mix of tuna, mayo, pickle relish, celery, shallot, and lemon juice.
Go to Recipe Jiffy Cornbread Mix / Bisquick
These shortcut baking mixes can make so much more than just cornbread, muffins, and biscuits. They’re great for casseroles, puddings, cookies, and so many other quick meals — both sweet and savory. The great thing about both Jiffy and Bisquick is that they already contains leaveners (aka baking soda/powder), so it allows you to create a quick off-the-cuff meal without having to add a ton of additional ingredients.
Oats
Oats can make so much more than just oatmeal. Think savory porridges, cookies, breads, pancakes, and bars. The most common varieties sold in stores are instant, steel-cut, and rolled oats. They each have a slightly different texture, so make sure to check the packaging before you start cooking one of these recipes. (You can read more about the differences between them here.)
3 / 10
Homemade Granola BarsThe granola bar recipe I’ve outlined below has my favorite ratios of oats, crispy cereal, nuts, and dried fruits, but it’s really just a template. The important thing is to use 3 1/2 to 4 cups TOTAL granola bar mix.
4 / 10
Overnight OatsOld-fashioned oats are mixed with milk and yogurt for a portable, make-ahead breakfast that's cool, creamy, and subtly sweet.
Go to Recipe 5 / 10
Easy Muesli This healthy muesli recipe is packed with whole grains, nuts, and seeds for an easy, satisfying breakfast.
Go to Recipe 6 / 10
Easy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip CookiesThese particular cookies are soft and dense, with lots of buttery flavor and the ease of a no-mixer, nearly one-bowl method. They are very likely going to become one of your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes, too.
8 / 10
Apple Pie Granola BarsThese chewy, buttery granola bars are packed with grated apples, warming spices, and toothsome oats — perfect as a lunch-box treat or as breakfast.
Go to Recipe 
