A variety of easy pantry recipes that feature dried pasta, shelf-stable ingredients, freezer items, and basic baking recipes to get you through uncertain times.

pantry (and freezer) friendly recipes

Here it is! A round-up of meals from pantry ingredients that you can adapt to what you have on hand. Whether it’s from your shelves or your freezer, you’ll find a variety of simple pantry meals here.

You’ll also find recipes that can easily substitute vegetables you have on hand for healthy meals with no food waste. I call that a win!

If you make any recipes with or without substitutions, I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below or on the recipe itself to help others in similar situations. Thanks – and sending you lots of love!

DRY PASTA RECIPES

Shrimp Scampi for Two If you have frozen shrimp on hand, then this will be a breeze. No shrimp? Use the sauce as a base! No white wine? Sub any light stock you have on hand (like vegetable, chicken, or seafood). It’s quick and easy!

Mediterranean Pasta Salad – This recipe uses a lot of dried herbs for flavor, and you can use any small shaped pasta you have. Substitute whichever ingredients you have on hand – like olives and other jarred products you may have in your fridge.

white bowl of bow tie pasta with mediterranean toppings

Red Wine Spaghetti – I know you’re stocked up on wine (right, right?!), so combine our shared love of carbs and wine in this easy dinner recipe. No pine nuts? Sub walnuts, or just omit.

Vegetable Loaded Baked Pasta – this is easily made with whatever fresh veggies and cheese you have on hand! A satisfying meal indeed.

Spring Vegetable Fusilli – use up those frozen veggies (peas!) and dried pasta to make this quick dinner. No shallots? Sub yellow onion.

SHELF-STABLE OR FREEZER-FRIENDLY INGREDIENTS

Easy Teriyaki Salmon – you likely have everything you need on hand for homemade teriyaki sauce. Slather it on frozen salmon, shrimp, tofu, or chicken!

tuna orzo pasta salad in white bowl with spoon by fork in the kitchen

Simple Tuna Orzo Salad – with a few pantry staples (dried pasta – you could use any small-ish shape!) and canned tuna, this super simple salad mixes things up. Add in what you have on hand!

Instant Pot Refried Beans – if you have dried beans on hand, you’ve got to try these vegetarian refried beans!

Vegetarian Tater Tot Hot Dish – if you have cream of mushroom soup on hand, along with some frozen veggies and tater tots, this comforting meal was made for you! Use the frozen veggies you have. Any cheese will work, too.

spicy vegetarian bean chili with avocado, jalapeno, and sour cream in white bowl with bread by fork in the kitchen

Spicy Chili – with or without meat! – use up those canned beans with this classic chili made using tomato soup. You can make vegetarian chili or add in ground beef.

Double Bean and Corn Enchiladas – I’d normally recommend making your own enchilada sauce, and while you may have time for that now, you may not have the ingredients. So use what you have as far as that’s concerned. Grab the beans you have in your pantry (the recipe uses black beans but you can grab whichever), and frozen corn, for a delicious dinner.

Pineapple Fried Rice – sub what you will! Canned pineapple and rice are the basics for what you need in this recipe.

Winter Wheat Berry Salad – you can easily sub out any dried grain you have on hand for this salad. The dried fruits are shelf-stable, and add in the veggies you have on hand, too. Spinach would be great, as would celery.

EASY SNACKS

Tray of homemade cinnamon granola with spoon

Homemade Cinnamon Crunch Granola – a completely adaptable recipe! Add in whichever nuts or dried fruit you have on hand for a cinnamon-filled breakfast or snack.

Cherry Almond Granola Bars – sub dried fruits, sub nuts, make these with whatever you have on hand! Other granola bar recipes to check out include high fiber granola bars and no-bake apple granola bars.

3 Ingredient Energy Bites – if you have dried apricots, dates, and cashews, then this recipe was made for you! I haven’t personally tried it with other dried fruits, so let me know if you do!

SWEET TREATS

overhead bars spread around with one on its side showing gooey chocolate next to a knife

Molly Beth Bars – these chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie bars are one of THE BEST ways to both 1) use baking as a form of therapy and 2) enjoy comfort food.

Apricot Pistachio Cookiesif you have dried apricots and pistachios on hand, you have to make these cookies! If not? I’d love to hear how they turn out with other dried fruit and nut combinations!

Mocha Brownies – you know that espresso powder you bought a long time ago that’s sitting in your pantry? Yeah, use it and make these. You won’t regret it.

side view of mocha brownie with espresso ganache

M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies – don’t shy away from these if you don’t have M&Ms because I make them with just chocolate chips basically all the time and they are spot-on perfection. So easy to make, which makes them perfect for a quick treat!

BAKING THERAPY

homemade rosemary bagels in pan with white linen

Rosemary Bagels – if you have yeast and bread flour, I highly recommend you take the extra time on hand to make these homemade bagels. No fresh rosemary? Use dried, or substitute in another flavor. Garlic? Everything Bagels? Salt?

3 Ingredient Beer Bread – stocked up on beer? This bread is easy to make and is a cozy side!

Small Batch Banana Chocolate Muffins – comfort in a bite! Grab all the bananas you can (without hoarding ;)) because the extra ripe ones can turn into deliciousness… like these too:

top down of baked banana carrot muffins in muffin tin

Banana Carrot Muffins – an all-time fan favorite! Carrots last super long, too, so be sure to have extras on hand.

Homemade Hazelnut Monkey Bread – leave out those hazelnuts or swap what you have on hand for this deliciously sweet breakfast treat!

This round-up of easy pantry meals is just the start. Please let me know if you need any suggestions for making more easy pantry dinners. Come join us over on Instagram, where I’m going to be sharing ideas daily!