Putting together dinner every night can seem like a lot of work.
But with a little bit of preparation and a few basics on hand, it is very easy to throw together a delicious family meal.
I plan out my menu for a week or month at a time so I know what’s coming up and can have the necessary ingredients on hand.
But even so, I get caught some nights needing to improvise or change things up and that’s when it’s great to have these staples on hand. I can put together any number of fast, easy, delicious homemade meals with these foods at my fingertips.
Stock your pantry with these essentials — and your fridge/freezer with these — and you’ll be ready for anything.
Pantry essentials:
1. Onions
2. Potatoes (russet, sweet, Yukon, red, any of your favorites)
3. Brown rice (here's how to make perfect brown rice every time)
4. Other grains: quinoa, barley, farro, couscous
5. Pasta (various types: spaghetti, macaroni, farfalle, rigatoni, orzo), preferably whole wheat
6. Canned beans (various types - black beans, cannelini beans, garbanzo beans, refried beans, great Northern beans, pinto beans)
7. Chicken broth
8. Bread/English muffins/wraps (preferably whole wheat)
9. Taco shells
10. Basic spices (paprika, chili powder, cumin, thyme, oregano, cinnamon, etc.)
5 bonus favorites:
1. Canned tuna
2. Canned tomatoes and marinara/pasta sauce
3. Balsamic vinegar
4. Oats
5. Bananas
What to make now that you're stocked? Here are a few of our favorite recipes using very basic ingredients:
Easy balsamic chicken - 20 minutes to a delicious dinner
Spice-rubbed pork chops - a bold spice mixture brings tons of flavor to these easy pork chops
Parmesan chicken - a simple but scrumptious weeknight meal
Fast "baked" potatoes - a weeknight staple around here
Simple farro salad - an easy, healthy side dish
10-minute chocolate cookie balls - just 6 ingredients for this snack
And here's my round-up of some healthy quick kid-friendly meals you can make last minute:
What are your favorite pantry essentials to keep on hand? How about a favorite go-to meal?
Happy home cooking!
~ Kathryn
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