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When you find yourself short for time or in a pinch, having a well-stocked pantry can save the day. It can also save you time and money! There are a ton of soup recipes and pasta recipes that can be made with basic pantry staples, and by planning ahead of time, you’ll be thanking yourself profusely.
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Having important pantry staples on hand is key to making mealtime easier, faster, and more flexible. Items like canned beans, pasta, rice, spices, oils, and broth form the foundation of countless meals, and they can turn a nearly empty kitchen into a space full of possibilities!
In this post, I’m going to share my personal basics with you. These will help you whip up everything from quick weeknight dinners to hearty soups and stews, even when fresh ingredients are running low. Stocking your pantry with reliable staples not only saves time and money, but it also reduces stress by giving you the tools to create balanced flavorful meals at a moment’s notice. Take it from me—a mom on-the-go. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shouted in victory after finding a few simple ingredients in my pantry that I could turn into a quick meal before having to pack up and head out for whatever sports practice is that night.
So, let’s get to it. Here are the ultimate pantry staples that I truly recommend.
Oils & Vinegars
Let’s start with the most important ones: oils and vinegars. You can’t get far in cooking without oil, and vinegar lends itself in so many ways—from simple homemade vinaigrettes to turkey brine.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Sesame oil
- Avocado oil
- Canola oil—I don’t cook with this, but it’s perfect for seasoning your grill.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Distilled white vinegar
- Rice vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- White wine vinegar
- Balsamic glaze
Shopping Tip
When stocking up on pantry staples, try to buy oils that are stored in dark glass bottles. The dark glass protects the oil from light exposure, which can lead to oxidation and deterioration—especially in essential oils and food oils like olive oil. Amber glass is particularly effective at blocking harmful UV rays, which can destroy the oils quality.
Dried Pasta, Grains, and Rice
Pasta is a bit personal—everyone has their favorite shapes. I like to cover several bases with what I have in my pantry, with possibilities for slurp-worthy pasta dishes or tiny pastas for soups. And note the pre-cooked rice packets on my list. They’re SO handy, and they help streamline some of my favorite weeknight dinners like these rice bowls with salmon or these healthy burrito bowls.
- Penne
- Acini de Pepe or Ditalini (great for soups, like Italian Wedding Soup With Chicken Meatballs)
- Spaghetti
- Elbows or shells
- Pappardelle
- Basmati rice
- Jasmine rice
- 90-Second Pre-cooked rice packets (Basmati or jasmine)
- Couscous
- Quinoa
- Oats
Jars & Cans
Some of the longest-lasting things you can keep on hand come in jars and cans. Though you still need to check expiration dates, these foods tend to last a few years if unopened.
- Italian plum tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste (I choose tubes over cans since the cans can have an overly acidic and tinny taste)
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Pesto
- Green and black olives (I usually opt for Castelvetrano olives when it comes to green olives)
- Capers
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Black beans
- Green chiles
- Salsa
- Hot sauces (Mexican, Asian, and Frank’s!)
- Dijon or stone ground mustard
- Natural peanut butter
- Jam (I’m a Bonne Maman fanatic)
- Canned tuna and salmon
- Soy sauce (Low-sodium Kikkoman is my go-to)
- Better Than Bouillon soup base (chicken and beef)
- Chicken, beef, and vegetable broth
- Breadcrumbs (panko and Italian)
- Raw honey
- Real maple syrup
- Nutritional yeast (my go-to way to amp up oven-roasted broccoli)
Shopping Tip
Slightly dented cans, typically on sale, are generally safe as long as the dent isn’t affecting the rim or the seal. Avoid cans with deep dents that are sharp or close to seals as there may be small punctures that can introduce bacteria. When it comes to cans with bulges, avoid them at all costs.
Dried Herbs & Seasonings
My spice collection is pretty extensive because, hello, my job includes recipe development. That calls for a lot of different seasonings! But you don’t have to go crazy with this stuff. Even with the most basic spices and herbs, you can create dishes with big flavor and create your own blends—like a tasty taco seasoning or homemade Italian seasoning. Here are the basics I suggest having on hand:
- Salt (fine sea salt and coarse salt)
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Smoked paprika (if you tend to enjoy smoky flavors)
- This is a suitable substitute for Hungarian paprika, commonly used in chicken paprikash.
- Chili powder
- Cayenne
- Crushed red pepper/chili pepper flakes
- Cumin
- Bay leaves
- Dried herbs: parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage
Baking Supplies
I’m not much of a baker, but I dabble; I crank out a batch of whole wheat dark chocolate chip muffins once in a while! (I’m full of surprises.) Here’s what I tend to have on hand, and I’ve always managed to get basic baking done:
- All purpose flour
- Bread flour
- Instant yeast (a must for homemade pizza recipes)
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Chocolate chips
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cane sugar
- Brown sugar
- Pure vanilla extract
- Corn starch
Pantry Organization
A stocked pantry is great, but the benefits can be rendered useless if not well-organized. Things get lost, pushed behind other items, and ultimately are forgotten about until that big spring cleaning! And by then, they’re expired. Woops.
Here are some of my favorite pantry organization items that have helped me keep my pantry tidy, easy to navigate, and pretty! (That matters a little, right?)
- Glass spice jars
- Glass containers
- Can racks
- Woven pantry baskets
- Bamboo pantry storage
- Stackable Wire Basket
- Over-the-door pantry organizer
- 3-tier spice shelf
- Labels (Some containers come with pages of labels, so be sure to check on that before buying them separately.)
What Materials Are Best for Food Storage?
When it comes to food storage, glass, stainless steel, ceramic, and silicone are the safest and most durable choices. These non-reactive materials won’t leach chemicals or absorb odors and stains, and they’ll help maintain your food’s freshness, flavor, and quality over time.
Check Out My Seasonal Produce Guides!
Seasonal Produce Guide
Spring Produce & What to Make With It
Seasonal Produce Guide
Summer Produce & What to Make With It
Did you find this post on pantry staples useful? Let me know in the 📝 comments below!
I love this and its so helpful. I have most basics but need a few more items to elevate my pantry. I will start using the tube tomato paste(great recommendation) and I need to find nutritional yeast as well . Thank you for sharing!