When I first moved out, I had no idea what a starter pantry should look like so I stocked it with dozens of random items I thought I needed. I ended up having to throw away a lot of expired ingredients because I purchased too much and had no idea how to utilize many of those ingredients in my cooking.
After much thought, I put together a list of my favorite pantry staples that I simply can’t live without. I’ve also included some of my favorite recipes that use JUST pantry staples and a few recipes that include one or two additional ingredients from the refrigerator. If you think I missed any staples, or if you have a great recipe to add, please be sure to add them down in the comments!
Jump to RecipesFor the full shopping trip with prices and step-by-step instructions for these recipes, watch on YouTube here:
Pantry Must-Haves
Flour
Flour is great for baking, thickening sauces and soups, making gravy or roux, and many other cooking applications. There are many different types of flour – all-purpose flour, almond flour, oat flour, coconut flour, etc. Some can easily be made from scratch and some are best purchased pre-made.
In my location, a two pound bag of all-purpose flour can be purchased from Dollar Tree for $1.25 or five pounds can be purchased for around $2.50 from ALDI, Walmart, or Target. Due to the price difference and it’s many uses, I highly recommend starting with a five pound bag. It can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container to prolong its shelf life too!
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
Oats are so versatile for a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner and can also be used to thicken soups and even make bread. Blending oats in a blender or food processor makes an easy oat flour too!
I’m able to pickup 42 ounces of old fashioned rolled oats for less than $4.00 at ALDI, Walmart, or Target.
Oil
A neutral oil is SO versatile and can be used for cooking, baking, dressings, and so much more. My personal favorite is avocado oil but vegetable oil works just as well. Coconut oil is great for low heat cooking and baking and olive oil is great for low heat cooking and making dressings from scratch.
Vegetable oil is the least expensive at less than $4.00 for a 48-oz container at ALDI, Walmart, and Target.
Salt
Salt is a great way to add flavor to meals without breaking the bank. It brings out the sweetness in desserts and brings out the flavors in savory dishes. Most recipes call for salt but it’s still an optional ingredient. There are many types of salt to choose from and the most common is iodized salt. I prefer using sea salt in many of my dishes, so experimenting with different salts can help you decide which you prefer.
At my local Dollar Tree, a container of iodized salt is about .79 cents and around the same price at other stores nearby.
Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Chili Powder
Pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder are excellent starter seasonings to have on hand. I suggest avoiding the seasoning sets you can find that include a variety of spices as they’re usually expensive and include many spices you may not need and will likely throw away. Testing out a few spices to start can help you decide which spices you love and which spices you prefer to do without.
Most seasonings can be found for around $1 at any value store, except for pepper. If you can get black pepper in a set along with salt, that can be a great way to get both seasonings at a reasonable price when you’re first starting out.
Rice
Rice is an absolute must-have for a budget conscious pantry, in my opinion. It can easily add extra calories and nutrients to most dishes and is fairly easy to make. It pairs with beans to make a complete protein and is an excellent way to stretch meals.
Rice can usually be found for about $1.25 a pound or less. My local Target carries brown rice for .99 cents a pound but I prefer to purchase my favorite, Jasmine rice, in a 5 pound bag at my local ALDI for $5.89. There are many different kinds of rice so choose what fits best into your budget and nutritional needs.
Beans
Beans are an incredible food and can help keep you feeling full and satisfied on a budget. Dry beans can take some time to make from scratch but it can be worth it if you’re able to freeze the beans in smaller portions. Canned beans are a great choice too, but cost extra due to their convenience.
Most types of beans are very inexpensive when purchased in their dry form. 1 pound of beans can yield about 3 cans worth and cost less than half as much. I’m able to purchase 2 pounds of black beans for about $2.85 at my local ALDI and 12 ounces of black beans at Dollar Tree for $1.25, versus canned beans, which cost at least .87 cents per can.
Lentils
Lentils are another incredible food that can be used to stretch many meals and are also a star all on their own. I use them in their whole form to add to chili, pastas, and soups and I also love to mash them to create meatless meatloaf and meatballs. They are packed full of protein, fiber, and other nutrients, so they’re a must-have for most budget conscious pantries, in my opinion.
Lentils usually run anywhere from $1.25 to $1.92 a pound where I’m located.
Pasta
Pasta is an ingredient that I hear a lot of negative press about since it falls in the “carb” category, but many times, it boasts more protein in a serving than you may have imagined and can also contain fiber and other nutrients. PLUS, it’s very budget friendly and can easily help stretch meals. My personally favorite way to use spaghetti is to add it to a stir-fry!
A pound of pasta usually comes in at around $1 at most stores near me and Dollar Tree offers 20 ounce boxes for $1.25.
I’ve even recently seen pasta made from just chickpeas that came in at $2.69 for 12 ounces. The wonderful thing about the chickpea pasta I found (at ALDI, of course) is that it contained 19 grams of protein per serving and was gluten free. There are so many options for pasta these days, so I highly recommend shopping around and finding one that fits into your budget and fits your nutritional needs.
Tomato Sauce
Plain canned tomato sauce is a wonderful addition to any pantry as it can be used as a sauce for pasta, pizza, dipping, or as a main ingredient in chilis and soups. It can be added to rice to make a simple shortcut Spanish rice and can be turned into delicious pasta sauce or pizza sauce for a semi-homemade shortcut.
A 15 ounce can of tomato sauce is usually about $1 and an 8 ounce can is usually around .50 cents where I live. So the price is really great, considering it’s versatility.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are an excellent staple for those on a budget as they pack a good amount of protein, fiber, and nutrients into a very inexpensive package. They’re excellent as a main ingredient in wraps, soups, and chilis and can also be blended to make homemade hummus.
A can of chickpeas usually costs about $1 where I live, and you may be able to find dried chickpeas for about $2 a pound.
Bouillon
Bouillon is another great way to add flavor to any dish. I primarily like to use it instead of chicken broth or to add flavor to rice. It’s shelf stable and can really add a lot of depth to any dish.
At my local Walmart, I’m able to find a small container of bouillon cubes for around $1 and a large container of bouillon powder for around $6.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a staple in my pantry because it easily adds delicious depth of flavor in just a tablespoon or less. It’s amazing in sauces, marinades, dressings, and almost any dish as a bit of saltiness and umami flavor. It’s high in sodium and can be substituted for coconut aminos, if desired.
A bottle of soy sauce can easily be found at my Dollar Tree for $1.25 and $1.58 at my local Walmart.
Brown Sugar
Having a sweetener on hand is great for a variety of reasons. Brown sugar is excellent in baking, sauces, marinades, or as a topping for oatmeal. It adds a nice chew to baked goods and can be easily turned into breakfast syrup.
A 2 pound bag of brown sugar is usually around $2 at my local ALDI. Regular cane sugar can also be a good substitute for brown sugar.
Honey
Honey is my sweetener of choice as it works just as well in baked goods, dressings, and sauces as it’s granulated brothers and sisters. I prefer it’s flavor to most other sweeteners but it is more costly than some other sweeteners.
A small bottle of honey is usually around $4 at most stores near me, so you may want to shop around for the best value when looking for honey.
Yeast
Yeast is essential for making many types of breads and dough from scratch. Paired with flour, salt, and sweetener, you can create a seemingly endless amount of delicious recipes.
A small pack of yeast usually costs less than $1 at my local ALDI, Walmart, and Target.
Baking Powder
Baking powder is another staple that can elevate your baking. Homemade bagels, muffins, and pancakes are some of my favorite easy breakfast foods that I create often using baking powder.
A container of baking powder is usually around $2 at most stores near me.
Dry Ramen
Ramen is not necessarily the most nutritious food but it’s wonderful in an emergency or when you simply need to get a very cheap meal on the table quickly. I often add veggies and eggs to my ramen to make it a more complete meal and it has earned it’s spot in my pantry.
A pack of 6 ramen usually costs $1.25 – $3, depending on the store and the products available.
Applesauce
Unsweetened applesauce is a wonderful shelf-stable side that can be enjoyed as a treat or a snack on the go. But it’s not just perfect as-is, it’s also a great ingredient used instead of eggs in baking. I’ve made delicious banana bread and zucchini bread with applesauce as one of the main ingredients.
A large container or 4-6 individual containers are usually $1.25 at my local Dollar Tree and around $2-$3 at other stores near me.
Other ingredients
There are many other ingredients I recommend, like a variety of vinegars, sauces, and shelf-stable milks that can really level up a budget-conscious pantry. I recommend shopping every week or two with the intention of finding a new budget-friendly ingredient to add to your collection.
Keep an eye out for clearance and sale items too. Many shelf-stable items last much longer than their “best by” dates but stores can no longer sell them after that. Take advantage of these items and enjoy the savings!
Recipes
These are my favorite simple recipes that use few ingredients. You can find more simple recipes like this in my Meal Planning Guide or here on my blog!
Ingredients
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour and salt until combined. Add water and olive oil and mix until a dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead about 10 times. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Cut dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 8-10 inch circles.
- In a non-stick or greased skillet, cook tortillas over medium heat until lightly browned and bubbles form. Flip and brown on the other side. Serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Ingredients
Method
- Stack the tortillas on top of each other on a cutting board. Cut the tortillas into 8 triangle pieces.
- In a large pan, heat about 1/4 inch of oil over medium heat. Once oil is heated, carefully put tortilla pieces into oil in one even layer and fry until browned, about 4 minutes. Carefully turn over and brown on the other side, about another 1-2 minutes. Remove chips to a paper towel lined plate and season with salt. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. Serve and enjoy!
Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, honey or sugar, and yeast. Add warm water (use thermometer to make sure water is between 105-110° F before adding) and mix together with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Remove plastic wrap and turn out dough onto a well flouted surface. Fold the edges over until the dough feels a little tighter and holds its shape.
- Lightly flour the top of the dough and then transfer to parchment paper, smooth side up. Cover loosely with plastic wrap as the oven preheats.
- Place a Dutch oven with the lid into the oven and preheat the oven to 425° F. (Make sure your Dutch oven and lid are safe for the oven before doing this)
- Once the oven has preheated, CAREFULLY remove the Dutch oven (it will be extremely hot!!) and place the dough, along with the parchment paper, inside the Dutch oven. Cover with the lid and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Then carefully remove the lid and bake, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, or until the bread reaches your desired level of doneness (as light or dark as you like).
- Remove from the oven and carefully lift out of the Dutch oven and place on a cooling rack for at least 20-30 minutes before serving. (This step is extremely important to allow the bread to finish cooking, otherwise the bread will be doughy still in the middle.)
Easy Black Beans
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pot or bowl, add dry beans and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Allow to soak overnight or at least 6 hours. Strain.
- Add soaked and drained beans to a large pot and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Add garlic, red onions, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 60-90 minutes or until beans can easily be smashed with a fork.
- Once beans are cooked, smash garlic with a fork and stir. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or separate into 2 cup portions and freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large, heavy pan over medium heat (cast iron would work well but any large pan will work). Once the oil is hot, add cumin, and stir. Then carefully ladle the beans into the skillet. Cook beans in the pan, while mashing with the spoon or a potato masher. Add more bean broth, as needed to reach desired consistency. Serve warm or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Ingredients
Method
- Pick through beans and throw out bad beans and rocks. Rinse and add beans to a large pot or bowl. Cover with 6-8 cups of water and soak for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Drain and rinse the beans and add to a large pot. Cover with water and add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.
- Uncover, stir, and continue to simmer for 45-60 minutes or until beans are soft and most of the water is gone.
- Add tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder, stir until completely combined. Allow to simmer for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve immediately or separate and freeze for later.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder.
- Add in 1 cup of yogurt and mix until combined. Add more yogurt and mix until you end up with a dough that just barely starts coming away from the sides of the bowl. It should still be a little sticky.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and need for 3-4 minutes. If the dough is too sticky to work with, add more flour as needed. Shape into a ball and divide into 8 pieces.
- Roll each piece into a ball and poke a whole in the center. Stretch and work the dough to create a uniform ring shape.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Brush each bagel with water.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, then increase the temperature of the oven to 400° and continue baking for 3-5 minutes or until the tops have browned.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 20 minutes. Slice and serve. Bagels can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium pot, combine brown sugar and water and stir. Heat over medium heat and continue stirring until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add butter and stir until melted. Take off the heat and allow to stand 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
I hope you enjoy the recipes and at least get a few ideas for meals to make in your home! Please let me know if you try anything and what you thought!
Happy Cooking!
Disclaimer: This post is the opinion of the author. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise plan or changes to your lifestyle or diet. The information provided in this post is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal, or other professional advice. Read and/or use any of the information from this post at your own risk. Some or all of the links displayed on this site may be affiliate links.
I love getting pantry items on sale at the grocery stores and stocking up. It really saves money in the long run. Jewel had sales on 1 pound dried beans and legumes for $.69 when the weather was cooler. They even had 2 pounds of dried pinto beans for $.79 on clearance.
Oh wow! Those are some incredible prices!