Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (2024)

By: Denise BustardLeave a Comment
Posted: 3/18/20Updated: 8/21/20

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This is the ULTIMATE pantry staple meals and freezer meals list. 100 easy meals that you can make with ingredients you have in your pantry or freezer, broken down by ingredient type.

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (1)

Friends, these are trying times. If you are in quarantine, you might be struggling with what to cook...and I've got your back!

I'm sharing meals that you can make with the pantry staples you have on hand, as well as with ingredients you might have in your freezer.

Before we get started, feel free to check out my go to pantry staples for meal prep, grab your own printable shopping list while you're there!

For each of these recipes, they are classified as:

  • (Fg)- Fridge friendly (stores up to 4 days)
  • (Fz)- Freezer-friendly (freeze up to 3 months after cooking)
  • (FzIP)- Freezer Instant Pot (assemble ahead and freeze before cooking- up to 3 months)
  • (FzCP)- Freezer Crock Pot (assemble ahead and freeze before cooking- up to 3 months)
  • (FzSO)- Freezer to Stove or Oven (assemble ahead and freeze before cooking- up to 3 months)
  • (V)- Vegan
  • (GF)- Gluten-Free

Ex: (FzIP; Fz; V; GF)- this recipe can be assembled ahead and frozen (before cooking in the Instant Pot) OR it can be cooked ahead, portioned out and frozen after cooking. It is also vegan and gluten-free

For specific storage or meal prep directions, please check the recipe card for each of the recipes.

To jump to a specific ingredient, click the link below:

    • pulses + beans
    • chicken
    • beef, pork + ground turkey
    • rice + quinoa
    • eggs
    • fish
    • oatmeal

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (2)

Pulses/Beans

Lentils

  • Hearty Lentil Soup (Fz; V; GF)
  • Moroccan Instant Pot Lentils (FzIP; Fz; V; GF)
  • Red Lentil Dal (Fz; V; GF)
  • Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Lentil Curry (FzCP; Fz; V; GF)
  • Harvest Lentil Salad (Fg; GF)
  • Breakfast Burritos with Lentils + Zucchini (Fz)
  • Mushroom Lentil Bruschetta Burgers (FzSO; GF)
  • Southwestern Sweet Potato Lentil Jar Salads (Fg; GF; V)

Chickpeas

  • Instant Pot Chickpeas (from dried chickpeas) (Fz; V; GF)
  • Chickpea Meal Prep 3 Ways (turn 1 lb chickpeas into 3 meals)
  • Vegan Moroccan Chickpea Skillet (FzSO; GF)
  • Spicy Roasted Chickpeas (V; GF)
  • Chickpea, Butternut Squash, Barley Jar Salads (Fg)
  • Smoky Sweet Potato Chickpea Chili (FzCP; Fz; V; GF)
  • Chopped Chickpea Salad (Fg)
  • Instant Pot Chickpea Curry (FzIP; Fz; V; GF)
  • Chickpea Salad Bento Box (Fg; V; GF)
  • Sun Dried Tomato One Pot Pasta (FzSO; Fz)
  • Slow Cooker Chickpea Tortilla Soup (FzCP; Fz; V; GF)
  • Chickpea Butternut Squash Fajitas (FzSO; Fg; V)
  • 7 Amazing Hummus Flavors (V; GF; Fz)
  • Vegan African Peanut Stew (V; GF; Fz; FzCP)

Black Beans

  • Perfect Black Beans (dried black beans) (Fz; V; GF)
  • One Pot Black Bean Fajita Pasta (FzSO; Fg)
  • Black Bean Baked Taquitos (Fz)
  • Black Bean Hummus (V; GF; Fz)
  • Fudgy Black Bean Brownies (GF; Fz)
  • Slow Cooker Black Bean Sweet Potato Stew (FzCP; Fz; V; GF)
  • Black Bean Quinoa Salad (V; GF; Fg)
  • Vegan Crockpot Chili (V; GF; FzCP; Fz)

White Beans

  • Sausage and White Bean Soup (Fg)
  • Smashed White Bean + Spinach Quesadillas (Fg; Fz)
  • White Bean Hummus (V; GF; Fg; Fz)
  • One Pan Gnocchi With Sun Dried Tomatoes + White Beans (Fg)
  • One Pot White Bean Pasta (Fg)

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (3)

Chicken

All of these meals can be assembled before cooking as 'freezer packs'. Most of them can also be cooked ahead, portioned out and frozen for easy 'microwave meals'.

Freezer Crockpot (all FzCP + Fz)

  • 7 No Sautee Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
  • Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Crockpot White Chicken Chili
  • Slow Cooker Honey Lime Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
  • Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
  • Freezer Asian Peanut Chicken
  • Crockpot Salsa Chicken
  • Crockpot BBQ Chicken
  • Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
  • Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
  • Sticky Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Freezer Instant Pot (all FzIP + Fz)

  • Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry
  • Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Stew
  • Mexican Chicken Stew
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
  • Freezer Asian Peanut Chicken
  • Instant Pot Soy Ginger Chicken
  • Instant Pot Coconut Sweet Chili Stir Fry
  • Instant Pot Chipotle Lime Chicken
  • Instant Pot Chicken Breasts with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
  • Instant Pot Creamy Lemon Chicken Breasts
  • Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
  • 7 Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (4)

Beef, pork + ground turkey

All of these meals can be assembled before cooking as 'freezer packs'. Most of them can also be cooked ahead, portioned out and frozen for easy 'microwave meals'.

Freezer Crockpot (all FzCP + Fz)

  • Crockpot Taco Soup
  • Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
  • Slow Cooker Smoky Turkey Chili
  • Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Beef + 3 Recipes
  • Slow Cooker Roasted Red Pepper Chili
  • Slow Cooker Korean Beef

Freezer Instant Pot (all FzIP + Fz)

  • Instant Pot Pulled Pork
  • Instant Pot Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
  • Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps
  • Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef (taco meat + korean beef)
  • Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Soy Ginger Sauce

Other

  • Mini Moroccan Meatloaf Cups (Fg; Fz)
  • Hoisin Turkey Meatloaf (Fg; Fz)
  • Baked Beef Taquitos (Fg; Fz)
  • Healthier Beef + Barley Soup (Fg; Fz)
  • Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps (Fg; Fz; GF)
  • Turkey Taco Meal Prep Bowls (Fg; GF)

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (5)

Rice + Quinoa

  • Instant Pot Fiesta Rice Bowls (FzIP, Fz, GF)
  • Instant Pot Cajun Rice + Sausage (FzIP, Fz, GF)
  • Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf (Fg; Fz; V; GF)
  • Meal Prep Vegetarian Fried Rice (Fg; Fz; GF)
  • Broccoli Quinoa Casserole (Fg; Fz; GF)
  • Quinoa Egg Breakfast Muffins (Fg; Fz; GF)
  • Caprese Quinoa Salad (Fg; GF)
  • Broccoli Salad With Quinoa + Almonds (Fg; GF)
  • Instant Pot Enchilada Quinoa Casserole (Fg; Fz; GF)
  • Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Casserole (Fg; Fz; GF)
  • Cheesy Spinach Quinoa Cups (Fg; Fz; GF)

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (6)

Eggs

All of these recipes can be cooked ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer.

  • Meal Prep Baked Eggs
  • Quinoa Egg Breakfast muffins
  • 7 Breakfast Egg Muffins
  • Frozen Breakfast Taquitos
  • Ultimate Breakfast Burritos
  • Broccoli Cheese Crustless Quiche

Fish

  • Thai Salmon Patties
  • Tuna Protein Box (Fg)
  • Wasabi Tuna Salad (Fg)

Oatmeal

  • Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
  • Fruit on the Bottom Overnight Oats
  • 5 Minute Overnight Oats
  • 7 Steel Cut Oats Flavors

* This list will be continually added to. Let me know below if you have any questions.

XO

Ultimate Pantry Staple Meals List (7)

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

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