If you want to up the ante with protein, stir in some scrambled eggs or strips of omelet at the end. Having canned salmon in your pantry is a wonderful and affordable way to get more fish into your diet without breaking the bank. These patties come together start to finish in 25 minutes, making it a perfect after-work meal.

You can serve with rice or potatoes, on top of a salad, or even put on buns for a version of salmon burgers. Ask any Italian what they cook when they need something fast and easy out of the pantry, and chances are they will say spaghetti aglio e olio.

Pasta in garlic-scented oil topped with Parmesan cheese can be a main dish or a side and is perfect in its simplicity. The key is not to rush the toasting of the garlic: if it burns, the dish will taste acrid and unpleasant. We love to keep couscous in the pantry — needing only a steep in boiling water to bring it to life, it is the fastest carb to prepare.

Add in some canned and frozen vegetables and a punchy lime vinaigrette and you have a salad that eats like a meal. If you have rice, onions, and canned tomatoes in the pantry, Italian sausage in the freezer, and some bell peppers in the crisper drawer, you are a half hour away from popping some killer stuffed peppers into your oven.

Have any leftovers after dinner? Chop them up and make a hash, and top with fried or poached eggs for a hearty breakfast. A great savory casserole to serve up on a brisk fall or winter evening, this one-dish pantry wonder only needs a little salad on the side to turn into an amazing dinner. This recipe stretches one pound of ground beef and some pantry ingredients into a meal that can serve people.

Have a craving for tomato soup but no cans of soup in the cupboard? If you have canned tomatoes, you are 30 minutes away from fresh homemade soup that cries out for a grilled cheese for dunking. This is so easy to make, you may never go back to canned tomato soup again.

Indian cookery has always made the most of beans and pulses the technical name for the part of the legume we generally eat , and this dish of spiced chickpeas is everything you could hope for in an affordable pantry supper.

Serve over rice or with naan or pita, or pile into baked white or sweet potatoes. Canned black beans are the base for a veggie burger that is so simple to prepare, you might have bought your last frozen patty.

Want that frozen convenience? Make a double batch, form and freeze uncovered until solid, then wrap in plastic wrap and stash in a freezer bag. Grill straight from frozen and just add a couple minutes cooking time. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

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Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Kitchen Tips How To Dinner Fix. By Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, freelance food and lifestyle journalist, and recipe developer who specializes in culinary fiction, and empowering home cooks to create extraordinary cooking and dining experiences for themselves and their loved ones.

Use canned tomatoes to whip up a tasty sauce or combine them with your favorite chili recipe for even more flavor. It's no surprise that we'd put grains in this list; we love them! Aside from being incredibly great for you, grains are also extremely affordable!

Grains like farro , quinoa and rice are easy to buy in bulk and can be stored for long periods. Their subtle, nutty flavor makes them a versatile food that can be used to whip up both sweet and savory recipes.

Used grains to make a hearty entree like this Ensalada de Quinoa or a nutrient-packed grain bowl. Sweet potatoes have recently grown in popularity in the health industry, and it's no surprise as to why.

This nutrient-packed veggie is great for you. Use sweet potatoes to make a fall-inspired appetizer like this Granola Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Tahini Butter or turn them into a healthy version of French fries.

Potatoes can be baked, chopped, roasted and grilled! Eggs are a great way to stretch your dollar. Loaded with protein and nutrients, eggs can be bought in bulk and used to make some pretty flavorful meals. Use eggs to make Ham and Asparagus Quiche Cups or whip up a baked good like these Eggnog Blondies.

Purchasing pre-cooked meat like a rotisserie chicken is a great way to save time and money. From sandwiches to savory omelettes, a rotisserie chicken can be used throughout the week to add protein and essential vitamins to your favorite meals. It's the ideal purchase when you require a quick dinner that is within budget.

Additionally, many stores offer sales on rotisserie chickens, shop around to get the best price. Looking for more plant-based ways to add protein to your diet? Purchase tofu! Tofu is an excellent protein that's not hard to make.

Plus, it's incredibly affordable. Use it to add substance to salads, mix it into stir fry, or use it as a meat alternative in your favorite tacos. For an efficient and budget-approved way to add more protein to your meals, purchase flavorful protein powder.

Protein powders can be used to make everything from smoothies to popcorn. Don't believe us? Check out this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Popcorn.

When choosing your protein powder, search for one with whole food ingredients like our Chocolate Protein Powder Nutritional Booster. Made with pea protein powder, chicory root fiber, chia seeds and beneficial probiotics, it's a great way to boost your nutrition without breaking the bank.

Seeds and nuts might be one of the tiniest superfoods on the planet. They have a tremendous shelf life, are reasonably priced and can be used in countless ways. Use crushed walnuts to spice up your favorite dessert.

Or, make a healthy pudding using chia seeds. This small superfood delivers tons of health benefits that will keep you healthy, happy and energized all day long. To maintain freshness, make sure seeds are kept in an airtight container.

Condiments and pickled vegetables can transform a bland meal into a flavorful one in seconds. Depending on the kind of meals you usually eat, you'll want to choose your condiments wisely.

Do you enjoy making Italian food? If so, we suggest purchasing a jar of pesto or marinara sauce. Or maybe, you're a huge taco Tuesday fan.

If that's the case, you'll want to make sure you're stocked up on taco condiments like sour cream, salsa and guacamole. Having a wide array of dressings to choose from is an excellent way to discover new flavors. Plus, when it comes to condiments, a little goes a long way. You won't have to worry about your mayo, ketchup or ranch running out in one use.

Don't have a fresh herb garden at home? Don't worry. While fresh herbs are delicious, dried herbs do an incredible job when used to flavor dishes. They are also pretty cheap. For a well-stocked kitchen, be sure to check in on your dried herb collection now and then.

Dried herbs will last for a long time, and you only need a tiny bit to get the job done. They're a great, cost-effective way to add flavor to your meal. When it comes to cooking, oils often get a bad rap. While some oils are loaded with unhealthy fats, other oils are great for you.

Oils are a necessary ingredient in many cooking styles. Styles include everything from sautéing to grilling and roasting. Oils can also be used to make creamy dips, sauces, spreads and dressings. Not sure which oil to choose?

We recommend selecting those that are high and healthy fats. Oils that include healthy fats are olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil, among others. When purchasing oil, make sure it's one that you will use, or else it will likely sit at the back of your cupboard unnoticed.

Add in some canned and frozen vegetables and a punchy lime vinaigrette and you have a salad that eats like a meal.

If you have rice, onions, and canned tomatoes in the pantry, Italian sausage in the freezer, and some bell peppers in the crisper drawer, you are a half hour away from popping some killer stuffed peppers into your oven. Have any leftovers after dinner? Chop them up and make a hash, and top with fried or poached eggs for a hearty breakfast.

A great savory casserole to serve up on a brisk fall or winter evening, this one-dish pantry wonder only needs a little salad on the side to turn into an amazing dinner. This recipe stretches one pound of ground beef and some pantry ingredients into a meal that can serve people.

Have a craving for tomato soup but no cans of soup in the cupboard? If you have canned tomatoes, you are 30 minutes away from fresh homemade soup that cries out for a grilled cheese for dunking. This is so easy to make, you may never go back to canned tomato soup again. Indian cookery has always made the most of beans and pulses the technical name for the part of the legume we generally eat , and this dish of spiced chickpeas is everything you could hope for in an affordable pantry supper.

Serve over rice or with naan or pita, or pile into baked white or sweet potatoes. Canned black beans are the base for a veggie burger that is so simple to prepare, you might have bought your last frozen patty. Want that frozen convenience? Make a double batch, form and freeze uncovered until solid, then wrap in plastic wrap and stash in a freezer bag.

Grill straight from frozen and just add a couple minutes cooking time. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content.

List of Partners vendors. Kitchen Tips How To Dinner Fix. By Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, freelance food and lifestyle journalist, and recipe developer who specializes in culinary fiction, and empowering home cooks to create extraordinary cooking and dining experiences for themselves and their loved ones.

Stacey Ballis. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines. Trending Videos. View Recipe. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! You'll Also Love. Grains such as rice, farro, and quinoa and dried pasta are easy to buy in bulk at a reduced price and can generally be stored for long periods of time.

They are also very versatile to cook with and can be used to bulk up an otherwise light meal, such as a soup or a salad. There are dozens of grain and pasta types which allow you to mix things up and never get bored!

For greater nutritional value, opt for whole wheat varieties. You can learn more with our Guide to Whole Grains. Potatoes often get a bad rap for their fry and chip form, but potatoes are actually a nutrient-dense vegetable that can be very good for you in moderation.

They also happen to be very inexpensive and last a long time when stored right in a dark, dry place away from onions — get more produce storage guidance in our Produce and Shelf Life Guide! They can be baked whole, chopped and roasted or added to soups, or of course mashed and grated too.

Eggs are an excellent source of lean protein, with 6 grams of protein and less than 2 grams of saturated fat in a hard boiled egg. The best way to get a deal on eggs is to buy them in bulk. You can also use them to make a frittata, strata, in fried rice or in a sandwich.

Canned Tuna. Canned tuna is another great source of protein that can be purchased inexpensively or on sale. Albacore varieties tend to be somewhat more expensive, but some prefer the taste over light tuna. Light skipjack varieties generally have lower levels of mercury than albacore; something to consider depending on how often you are eating tuna.

You are also given the choice to buy canned tuna in water or in oil. Canned tuna in water has less calories and fat, although a majority of the oil in canned tuna provides healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Think beyond the tuna sandwich and add canned tuna to a pasta, casserole, or salad.

Rotisserie Chicken. Buying rotisserie chicken on sale can feed your family for several meals and can be incorporated many different ways, from tacos to salads to sandwiches.

Rotisserie chicken is a great source of protein and key vitamins and minerals, but can also be high in sodium so be careful to eat it in moderation. Tofu is a wonderful meatless source of protein and fiber and is much cheaper by the pound when compared to meats.

Tofu is great in stir-fries, salads, or really any dish that you would normally add meat to. Keeping these 10 budget-friendly ingredients on hand will help you get healthy meals on the table without breaking the bank. Tweet this Share it to Facebook. And for more info on how to keep a well-stocked pantry, see our Pantry Essentials Guide.

I acknowledge by requesting this info, I'll be added to Cook Smarts' newsletter list. I can unsubscribe at any time. In-season fresh fruits and vegetables Unfortunately, fresh fruits and vegetables, which tend to be among the healthiest foods for us, can also be the most costly ingredients.

Beans Dried beans are inexpensive and are ideal for feeding large groups of people or for leftovers. Canned tomatoes Purchasing tomatoes paste, crushed, or diced in a preserved form canned, tubed, or boxed can save you time, money and add flavor to lots of dishes.

Grains and Pasta Grains such as rice, farro, and quinoa and dried pasta are easy to buy in bulk at a reduced price and can generally be stored for long periods of time. Potatoes Potatoes often get a bad rap for their fry and chip form, but potatoes are actually a nutrient-dense vegetable that can be very good for you in moderation.

Eggs Eggs are an excellent source of lean protein, with 6 grams of protein and less than 2 grams of saturated fat in a hard boiled egg. Canned Tuna Canned tuna is another great source of protein that can be purchased inexpensively or on sale.

Rotisserie Chicken Buying rotisserie chicken on sale can feed your family for several meals and can be incorporated many different ways, from tacos to salads to sandwiches. Tofu Tofu is a wonderful meatless source of protein and fiber and is much cheaper by the pound when compared to meats.