Here we are. We are in a TIME, folks. It is uncharted territory for most of us. We are making the map as we go and wheeeew baby, there are a lot of feelings running us in a lot of different directions. We feel stuck and restless and unsure and tired and wired and ok-maybe-actually-enjoying-some-dedicated-time-together but also worried, anxious and please let me watch this show by myself and oh no what day is it.
But we are staying home because it is an act of love. An unprecedented act of love to take care of each other. To make the world safer for each other. To help build the world back up to a new normal, for each other.
We know cooking can get very tricky these days this with limited access to grocery stores and sometimes even more limited items on shelves, so we pulled together a collection that relies heavily on pantry staples. The ingredient lists are short and the recipes are so very very flexible, (something we’re all really trying to practice being right now – oh, hello multiple Zoom meetings in one house with children and animals and are even the plants somehow louder?).
Here we go.
3 Ingredient Creamy Tomato Shells
Trying to keep ingredient lists as short as possible these days and this comes in at a whopping three. We’re using our best pal cashews to add a creamy, velvety twist on the standard pasta, and the jar of tomato sauce we’re probably all coming to know really well right about now.
Yummy Salmon Burgers with Slaw
No, we did not mistakenly put the words salmon and burger together. Give it a crisp sear, top it with a dollop of yogurt and dill and float it on a bed of herby cabbage slaw and you’ll totally get why this pantry-friendly protein patty is worth your bravery.
Fluffiest Blueberry Pancakes
We cannot lie – these pancakes are straight up exquisite even WITHOUT blueberries, syrup or dripping buttery goodness, but if you happen to have any combination of those things at the ready, these are an absolute dream of a breakfast/lunch/dinner.
Back Pocket Stir Fry with Noodles
We call it “Back Pocket” Noodle Stir Fry because we want you to keep this simple perfect recipe in your back pocket at all times, not the beautiful noodlefull dish ITSELF. That would gross. So grab your noodles, find all the veggie stragglers in the fridge, crisp up a protein, shake up your sauce in a jar, and you are READY.
Instant Pot Coconut Tandoori Chicken
If you’ve got a pound of chicken in the freezer, a stocked spice rack, and a can of coconut milk, this is for you. Lots of coconut and curry-like flavor, but no cutting boards, no measuring cups, no fuss. Just pack it all up in a bag, freeze or refrigerate, and pop it in the Instant Pot.
5 Ingredient Vegan Vodka Pasta
If you’re not currently using your vodka as a backup disinfectant then boy do we have a delicious and incredibly easy recipe for you! We swapped out the cream for, wait for it (and trust), coconut milk to make it vegan but ALSO because you might already have a can on hand.
One Ingredient Socca
We’ve all had the same nightmare: what if we run out of crisp and wonderful carby things to serve on the side of everything? Chickpea flour to the rescue! This single ingredient (and ok fine, there’s water, olive oil and salt involved too but that’s it!) is delivering to you your new favorite gluten-free dipper.
Unbelievably Good Cashew Coffee
Cream-free but creamy-as-all-get-out and here to replace your usual coffeeshop latte. You’re free to come to the party at any time of day because literally morning, noon or night (decaf-style), it’s just a straight-up TREAT.
Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato and Kale
Isn’t it beautiful how potatoes just seem to kind of last forever? Sweet potatoes serve as the base of this spicy creamy delight – just add in some cans of tomatoes and coconut milk, a scoop of peanut butter, lots of spices, and add in some chopped kale to finish it off (which, well, also kind of seems to last forever?).
Miracle No Knead Bread
One silver-lining from this pantry-cooking situation is that everyone seems to be dipping their toes into amateur breadmaking and we are HERE FOR IT. If you haven’t considered it yet, here’s a heck of an easy intro that is going to yield you the perfectly crusted outside, soft and chewy inside loaf of your dreams. Also, carbs.
Healthy Carrot Muffins
Sure, baking might be a coping mechanism, and sometimes it has us in front of the oven, oven mitts on, praying for a warm, sweet, wholesome, unfussy and delicious treat to appear. Prayers answered, friends! Carrot muffins at the ready. And by at the ready, we mean blended up in a blender, poured into a muffin tin, baked, and ready to devour.
Instant Pot Red Curry Lentils
Lentils, amiright?! Healthy, filling, affordable and they kind of do all the work for you! We put these in the Instant Pot with some warm curry spices, a can of tomatoes and a bit of coconut milk or butter/ghee to make it a little creamy. Scoop it on top of some steamy rice and you have yourself some easy delicious comfort food, which really feels great right now.
Vegetarian Chili
This Vegetarian Chili is super cozy, deeeeply flavored and super meaty but with not one little bit of actual meat! And we’re not making up for it by just adding a bunch of beans, friends. No way! This chili uses a delicious blend of walnuts, carrots and mushrooms as a “meat” for all your hearty chili texture needs. Grab your tortillas chips and get ready.
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry
On a scale of *very* to *runs out of room screaming*, how intimidated are you by the thought of making your own curry from scratch? GOOD. You are a real person with well-adjusted fears! But you can totally do this. We believe in you. It’s easier than you think, only requires a few ingredients, and will be so, so worth it.
The Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
We all just really need a cookie right now, don’t we? The especially beautiful thing about it is that you probably already have everything you need tucked right in your pantry/fridge. Flour, sugar, butter, chocolate – staples are all here, ready to play.
15 Minute Lo Mein
If you need to clean out the last dregs of your fridge to make space of the restock, this Lo Mein Is. Your. Answer. You can toss almost any protein or veggie you have at it, we swear we won’t tell if you’re using regular old spaghetti noodles and no matter what combo you come up with, that sauce is still going to make it sing.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
There is no box situation here! (unless your noodles came in a box but, like, go with us here) There’s also not an elaborate sauce construction and hour-long bake time! Just 5 ACTUAL REAL FOOD ingredients, nothing is powdered or in a pouch, and the whole thing is creamy cheesy yours in under 15 minutes.
Detox Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Glow Bowl
If you are looking at those chickpeas on your pantry shelf and thinking, “ok but what else do they do.?…” Well, this! They’ll soak up this deep and complex Moroccan spice blend and then simmer in a fire-roasted tomato sauce to a stewy perfection. Scoop them on top of some couscous or another grain on hand, put a little cucumber salad on the side and a pop of fresh cilantro, mint, parsley if you’ve got it.
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie always seems to be an ideal scrappy sort of recipe. Potatoes keep a good long time so we usually have a couple of those laying around, you can definitely use frozen veggies for any fresh that you’re missing, and you can flex all around with quick gravy ingredients. All roads lead to something delicious, bubbling and deeply comforting coming out of that oven.
Cookie Dough Energy Bites
Maybe you need a little boost because, wheeeew, it is all…a lot to manage right now. We’re right there with you. But if you can find yourself some oats, some peanut butter, a little honey and fingers crossed, a few chocolate chips, we’ve got about 30 little bite-sized pick-me-ups headed your way.
Sesame Noodle Bowls
Here’s a little something if take-out isn’t an option for some of your favorite restaurants right now (although buy a gift card for later use if you can!). A great sesame noodle hack that is super flexible depending on what’s available, it comes together in a snap and is a great meal-prep option, you know, if you’re craving some consistency in this DEEPLY INCONSISTENT TIME! We sure are.
5-Ingredient Green Curry
If you happen to have curry paste and some coconut milk sitting on your shelves, this is a seriously delicious and easy 5-ingredient way to use up any scrap veggies or protein you might need to get through in your fridge. Listen, you can even throw some golden raisins or any other odd/interesting ingredient at it if you wanna get creative, which is definitely the name of the game these days.
No Boil Baked Penne with Meatballs
We’re always here for a no-bake situation, but honestly, just very thankful that recipes like this exist right now. Pasta and tomatoes from the cupboard, milk and butter from the fridge, and meatballs from the freezer. Grate up those scrappy pieces of cheese in the back of the drawer to top it off and get going.
The Very Best Peanut Sauce
If you can only have one sauce on hand right now, this is it. And good news! You probably have most ingredients hanging out in your kitchen already – peanut butter for creaminess, soy sauce for saltiness, sesame oil for smokiness, rice vinegar and ginger for zippiness, and sambal for that perfect spicy hit.
Cauliflower Walnut Vegetarian Taco Meat
We make no bones about it, this is straight up legit better-than-meat taco meat. In some sort of vegetarian magic spell, it manages to be crisp, spicy and oh so taco-y delicious that you forget to even marvel at all the nutritional bonus points you’re getting from good old fashioned plant-eating.
We hope this helps. We believe big time in the joy and connection food can bring, so we feel grateful to be able to help you put a little scrappy, creative joy on the table during all of this. Take care of yourselves, take care of each other. ❤️
Thank you for the amazing post. I have made at least 4 out of this round up post in the last 2 week. Cookie bowl is not included here but I am sorry I am so addicted to that recipe and made it nearly 3 times last week. I think it the 2nd most addictive recipe on your blog (#1 for me will always be coconut curry ramen w/ hoisin tofu) Absolutely need to balance all those calories with some healthy soup recipes from your blog.
Agree, Sheenam! Those cookie bowls are so good!
Ah there it is. A Mexican inspired recipe. Was starting to think it would not happen. 🙂
I really like Mexican recipes. I tried this recipe, it’s incredibly delicious.
That first paragraph is LIFE right now, isn’t it. Thanks for a great post – several of these recipes are already go-to at our house and their familiarity brings a lot of comfort these days.
Totally agree, Rebecca. Thanks for sharing!
These are all great recipes but out of all them, that Shepard’s Pie looks AMAZING! Great post thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing! Will try some this month! 🙂
I actually made the chocolate chip cookies last night, and the sweet potato stew ten minutes ago for lunch… so I guess that makes me… ahead of the curb?? 😂 next stop: 5 ingredient green curry!!
Hi Jess,
How do you prepare Sweet Potato stew? do you add various vegetables in it? Do you steam it or place it in the oven? 🙂
Oh my gosh, I need to make ALL of this, you’ve reminded me about several of my favourites that I haven’t made in a while ❤
Looking forward to dinner, just need to choose… 🙂
Enjoy!
This post is soooo helpful…THANK YOU for it! I can attest to the greatness of the salmon burgers and sweet potato curry but can’t wait to try some of the others. Thank you for continuing to fuel us with great cooking inspiration even in these tough times! xoxo
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YUM! it’s amazing what you can find in the pantry and put together when you need to!
That back pocket stir fry recipe is the best. I have been making that once, or twice, a month since it was first posted. Everyone in our family loves it!
So good, right?! Glad you and your family have been enjoying it!
I’m starting to have an acquired taste for steamed green peas with avocado oil poured over them after they finish cooking, with a tid bit of seasoning. Something I just learned within the past few months is that green peas are not only very fulfilling and suppress appetite, but they also possibly contain fiber and help balance hormones. This is why it pays to eat healthy. 🙂
I pulled some cauli-walnut taco ‘meat’ out of the freezer for dinner tonight! There were only about 2 cups worth so I added a can of black beans to bulk it up to last for multiple meals. I topped it with red cabbage, avocado, and a tomato-less pico de gallo. I’m so glad past me set future shelter in place me up for success by making nearly all the freezer meals from PoY!
Yummy! So nice when you can find pre-made stuff like that in your freezer.
Clearly, I am on to something because I have already made about 5-7 of these dishes, even some of the variations to your recipes (like protein balls) yum! Given these times, I find I have to workout and cook something every day and then I feel better! Thank you Lindsay for all of your amazingness
Number 9 – the spicy sweet potato peanut kale soup is so so good. It’s crazy how easy it is!
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At this trying time in life, it is a good idea to stock up on food for the cabinet and pantry. Which rmeinds me to re-up on Oranges and other fruit to stay immune from the Coronavirus.
Thank you! Have made a few of these over the last 3 weeks, and I see some new to try. Your recipes are always practical (easy) and delicious. So fortunate to be a reader!
Hello buddy,
Looks damn tasty. I am loving it. Your articles are really awesome and cool to be frank. it makes me crave and make my mouth water 🙂 Keep sharing much more cool content often. Cheers to you 🙂
Please provide more actual PANTRY recipes with shelf-stable foods (no greens, butter, cheese, carrots, etc) for those of us struggling to eat healthy with limited or no access to perishable or freezable foods / and with extremely small fridge/ freezer space.
Thank you! This crisis is very different if you live in a city / apartment / shared space / don’t have a car
Such great recipes! I’ve been looking for a peanut sauce and we have been playing with pasta recipes that don’t involve having to prebake the noodles. Thank you for these recipes I’m excited to get even more creative in the kitchen!
This is exactly what I needed! I’ve already made 3 of these recipes with what I have on hand and I’m making of list of things I need to get at the store next time I got to be able to make some more of these since there so much cross over (looking at you Asian dishes) thank you for posting this!!!
Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.
I just found your blog and I LOVE IT! the video is so fun to watch and makes everything look so easy that I think i can actually do this! especially during quarantine, i needed to find your blog. thanks so much.
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I finally broke out my Instant Pot after it sat in the box for a year after we received it for Christmas. It was so easy to use. I am definitely interested in giving your Coconut Tandoori Chicken and Red Curry Lentils recipes a whirl. They look amazing.
Enjoy, Brooke!
cool
These pantry recipes are a game changer! I love how simple and delicious they are – perfect for busy nights. Can’t wait to try the chickpea curry; it sounds amazing! Thanks for this great collection!