5 Groceries Our Editor-in-Chief Keeps Stocked for Impossibly Easy Family Meals
This September, Kitchn is highlighting the recipes you need to know right now: Those back-to-basics ideas that get a delicious dinner done fast. It’s something we could all use this month, as the kids head back to school and life gets busier. “We’re focusing on the staples that every home cook needs to build their portfolio of recipes,” says Kitchn Editor-in-Chief Faith Durand. “Reminder: It’s okay to keep dinner simple!”
An easy dinner starts with a prepped pantry, and Faith’s begins at Target. Their exclusive Good & Gather line is full of high-quality, highly flavorful staples that will inspire tasty meals all month long. Here are the five items that never let Faith down.
1. Chicken Broth
“There is always, always, always chicken broth in my pantry,” Faith says. “I depend on it for quick soups and pasta dishes.” Swap it for water to make a simple side dish like rice pilaf or couscous extra flavorful without extra effort.
2. Korean-Style Gochujang Sauté Pack
At Faith’s house, sweet-spicy gochujang is a VIP (very important paste). “We love gochujang,” she says. “This sauté pack is an easy start to a wholesome veggie side dish.” With fresh chopped veggies, savory bacon, and parboiled rice, it’s an all-in-one dinner that comes together in a flash.
3. Organic Honeycrisp Apples
It’s apple season, and there are endless ways to enjoy the versatile fruit. “I think we’re having apples at breakfast, lunch, and dinner right now,” Faith says. Take advantage of their seasonality by grating them into muesli or oatmeal, slicing them for salads, or baking the ultimate apple pie.
4. Signature Bucatini
“My family loves ‘fancy spaghetti,’ as we call bucatini, and this one makes pasta dishes feel extra special,” Faith says. With a coarse texture that sauce loves to cling to, this Italian import is a great pasta to pair with that summer pesto in your freezer.
5. Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips
What do you call a night when you’re not making dinner? Nacho turn to cook! “Every time I think I have nothing to cook, I remember nachos, and dinner is saved,” Faith says. “Nobody has ever turned down nachos in our house!” These classic chips are a salty, crunchy base for all your favorite toppings.