45 Easy Pantry Recipes That Make Weeknight Cooking a Breeze

Cooking a satisfying family dinner doesn’t mean you have to run out to the grocery store for fancy ingredients. Sometimes the heartiest, most comforting meals are made from humble, unfussy pantry staples like beans, pasta, canned tomatoes or tinned tuna. Stocking versatile pantry staples and canned goods can help busy weeknight meals come together quickly and easily. The best part? Pantry recipes are super affordable.

This list of recipes is packed with shelf stable or freezer-friendly ingredients. That means you can whip up a simple soup or bowl of baked beans using the few ingredients you have on hand, no trip to the store needed.

Hearty, healthy and totally affordable, this soup is made completely of ingredients that are easy to keep on hand. If you’re looking for a filling dinner that makes use of the humble black-eyed pea, this soup does just that. Thick-cut bacon and a smoked ham hock add extra meaty flavor.

Cacio e pepe is one of the most famous pantry dishes out there. Calling for just five ingredients, this version relies on olive oil to add a little grassiness and Parmigiano-Reggiano, in addition to the classic Pecorino-Romano, to round out the flavors and add an umami richness. Perfect as a dish on its own, this dinner can also be served with a light side salad or hunk of bread.

It sounds like a joke on paper, but this cake is the definition of “trust the process.” A can of tomato soup somehow adds a ton of moisture and vanishes into the background while a trio of warm spices—cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves—take the lead. With a list of common pantry items, a lightning-fast assembly and the perfect balance of flavor, it’ll quickly become your go-to cake.

Create the pantry side dish of your dreams with a few humble ingredients; eggs, bacon, Parmesan and beans! It’s everything you love about traditional carbonara, but with protein-packed cannellini in place of the pasta. Serve it as a filling and nutritious side dish at your next big dinner party.