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COCOA POWDER I love Cost-eeffective cocoa powder to get my chocolate fix with baked panfry, Easy 3 Cost-efective Healthy Fudge or even homemade hot cocoa. Cost-effectice is also great Cost-etfective things like Super Easy Homemade Chocolate Syrup and homemade Peppermint Mocha Reduced grocery specials. PEANUT BUTTER From peanut butter Cost-effective pantry items jelly sandwiches to Inexpensive bulk food bites to ppantry goods to Healthy Peanut Butter Budget-friendly food combos Dipthis is one of ppantry inexpensive versatile ingredients that is just smart to keep on hand!
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One of our favorite homemade dressings Cost-effective pantry items my easy Mexican Dressing. RICE This is probably one of the pamtry frugal pantry items itms very versatile Cost-effectivw, plus a Cost-effectiev bit of uncooked rice ends up being quite a lot ktems cooked!
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A few of the ones pxntry I use regularly: basil, itemz, Italian seasoning, panrty powder, garlic ltems, chili Preview free books, cumin, red pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg. CHICKEN STOCK BOUILLON Chicken stock is a common ingredient in soups and casseroles and is super easy to make yourself!
I also like to keep bouillon on hand since some recipes call for that instead. Also, if I happen to be out of liquid chicken stock, I can always use the bouillon to make some- although the stock made using bouillon is not nearly as tasty or as good for you as the real thing!
VINEGAR This is another ingredient that I use to make homemade salad dressings. I also use it for various other recipes and it works great as a natural cleaner too! SALSA I have quite a few Mexican-inspired dishes that call for salsa, so I like to always keep this on hand. chips and salsa!
DICED TOMATOES These are super inexpensive and way cheaper than buying fresh tomatoes. I love using them in recipes to give a bit of added flavor and color.
And I even show you how to can diced tomatoes yourself if you want to try that. PASTA SAUCE I know making your own pasta sauce is pretty easy, but since I can buy it so inexpensively, I prefer to just do that.
Pasta sauce is great for a quick meal of meatball subs, pizza, spaghetti or, lasagna to mention just a few. KETCHUP, MUSTARD, MAYO Okay, so maybe I should have listed these 3 things separately. I use many more condiments than these, but these are the three that I think every kitchen should for sure stock.
BREAD I typically make my own breadbut it is something that I always keep on hand. We often use it to make sandwiches for lunch, toast it to eat with eggs and occasionally use it in recipes like my Cheeseburger Casserole too! TORTILLAS I use these all the time to make enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas and wraps.
In fact, these Salsa Ranch Chicken Wraps are one of my favorite quick meals! And these easy recipes with tortillas are also great as well.
ONIONS GARLIC I use both of these items regularly to inexpensively add extra flavor to lots of different recipes. Of course, you can always freeze them tooif you prefer. CARROTS These are not only a great addition to many soups, but they also make a healthy snack or side dish. POTATOES Super versatile!
You can use them in soups, casseroles, breakfast dishes or side dishes. A few of our favorite potato recipes are Creamy Sausage and PotatoesCream Cheese Potato Soup with Hamand Country Potato Soup. BUTTER This is probably the one thing that might seem iffy to put on a frugal pantry list.
Plus, I love using it to make these easy Garlic Butter Swim Biscuits! SOUR CREAM I like to keep this on hand to use in soups, to make homemade dips and to use in several casserole recipes as well. Butsince I cook almost entirely from scratch, I do end up using it quite a bit even so.
Just a little bit can make a lettuce salad, tuna salad sandwiches or refried bean quesadillas so much yummier! And we love these White Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches! FROZEN VEGGIES Often much cheaper than fresh veggies, the other handy thing about frozen ones is that they last much longer!
I use them a lot as a side dish and also in recipes like my Easy Chicken Pot PieCheesy Ham, Potato and Green Bean Bake and Easy Vegetable Beef Soup. CHICKEN Probably the cheapest kind of meat there is and super versatile too! A few chicken recipes that we enjoy: Herb Roasted Chicken and PotatoesOne Pan Chicken and RiceCreamy Crockpot Mexican Chicken and Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken.
In casseroles or soups, I often can get by with using less than the amount called for. A few ground beef recipes that we really like: Crockpot Tamale Pie and Super Easy Sloppy Joes.
It helps me be frugal because I can buy in bulk when food is on sale becoming less and less, it seems, these daysportion it and freeze for later. Yes, I love stocking up and freezing items that are on sale too!
Such a great way to save. I so agree with you. We have worn out many vacuum food sealers over the years. Our son upgraded so he can vacuum seal whole chickens raised on his property.
We opted for a slightly smaller model and use it daily. when canning diced tomatoes can I pressure can them in stead of water bath? If so how long to pressure can?
Yes, you can definitely pressure can them! As for how long, it will depend on your pressure canner and altitude. I would look in the instruction manual that came with the pressure canner and go by what it says there.
I would follow that. Tomatoes also freeze well! Either whole or diced or roasted. Consider that especially when your garden is at its peak. I would add celery to that list as I use it in making stews.
Onions, carrots and celery is your mirre poir for all basic stews. Yes, celery is a great pantry staple, for sure! Never heard of strained tomatoes but canned tomato products of any kind are handy to have, I think.
This is one of my favorite ways to save on cheese too. Great list! A tip on keeping garlic longer — I buy the 3 packs of bulbs from Aldi and immediately put them in a small ziplock kept in the freezer.
It keeps a long time that way!!! Ready to mince, etc. I also keep Panko bread crumbs in the freezer as I use them in a variety of recipes. Lime juice gets used in marinades, etc. and lemon juice is frequently used as well, not only desserts, but certain salad dressings too. Final note, this is not going to work for everyone, but try to hunt out whether or not there is a good local butcher shop in your area.
Or at least within reasonable driving distance. I make a few trips a year and stock the freezer with various meats. Got a great deal on those and they worked just fine for recipes that called for bacon bits or a bit of chopped bacon — just froze them and pulled out what I needed.
I never knew you could freeze garlic! That is totally going to change my life.
: Cost-effective pantry items| 15 Budget-Friendly Dinners Using Pantry Ingredients | I never had used italian seasoning before…ever! Sign me up to the Food Storage Moms newsletter! How to Create a Grocery Budget and actually stick to it! Thank you, my friend, Linda. It will give you a better understanding of why we recommended these for pantry staples! have chicken leg quarters for anywhere from 39 to 59 cents a pound. Did you know that an ounce package of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats contains roughly 26, rolled oats? |
| Dry and Canned Goods: | Use code uwhaflc to receive your bonus. Dry beans are inexpensive as well, but for quick meals, nothing beats canned. Here are some to keep on hand:. Tomatoes are so useful and versatile in everything from spaghetti to chili and beyond. Be sure your pantry includes:. RELATED: How to do a Pantry Challenge to Save Money on Groceries This Week. Premade stock makes so many dinners faster and easier. Some varieties include:. Some of the best frugal pantry staples are for making baked goods. Here are some ideas:. If you really want to make it easy, buy some baking mix such as Bisquick. You can make everything from pancakes to biscuits, muffins, blondies, and even as a coating for chicken. Nothing jazzes up dinner like some flavorful sauces and condiments. You can make sauces out of:. You can use condensed soups to make a huge array of cheap pantry meals. Another one of the best budget pantry staples is tortillas. They have a much longer shelf life than a loaf of bread, but can be used for anything from tacos to individual pizzas. A spaghetti dinner can come together super quickly with the use of a jar of pasta sauce. You can always doctor it up with more spices or fresh ingredients if you want. Believe it or not, you can make more than just mashed potatoes with these. Try using them to make gnocchi, as a binder for meatloaf or a thickener for sauces and gravy, or even as a crispy coating for onion rings. Having a canister of breadcrumbs in the pantry can be used to:. Russet, red, and sweet potatoes all have an incredibly long shelf-life when kept in a dark, cool place like your pantry. Onions also stay good for a long time, and add an incredible amount of flavor to any savory dish. Canned veggies make quick side dishes, and easy additions to soups and stews. No kitchen is complete without olive oil for flavor and sauteing, and canola oil for higher temperature cooking and baking. If you really want a quick and cheap meal, make something with eggs. From omelettes to breakfast burritos to scrambled in a hash, there is no less expensive source of good protein. Both as a topping for breads and baked potatoes, to an ingredient in sauces and baked goods, butter is an ideal ingredient to keep in your kitchen. Much like butter, plain yogurt and sour cream can be used as a topping or ingredient. Two of our favorites are Easy Basic Homemade Granola , Simple Chocolate Granola and Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal. YEAST Keeping this on hand allows me to save money and mix up my own homemade pizza crust or homemade bread and rolls, any time I want! BAKING POWDER BAKING SODA I love baking and since most cookies, cakes and brownies require baking powder or baking soda, I make sure to always keep them in my pantry! A few of our favorite easy desserts are Chocolate Chip Blonde Brownies , Best Ever Chocolate Cake and Easy Apple Dumpling Dessert. COCOA POWDER I love using cocoa powder to get my chocolate fix with baked goods, Easy 3 Ingredient Healthy Fudge or even homemade hot cocoa. It is also great for things like Super Easy Homemade Chocolate Syrup and homemade Peppermint Mocha Frappes. PEANUT BUTTER From peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to energy bites to baked goods to Healthy Peanut Butter Fruit Dip , this is one of those inexpensive versatile ingredients that is just smart to keep on hand! Plus, if you need a quick pick-me-up, a spoonful of peanut butter with a few chocolate chips does the trick perfectly. OIL Besides the traditional uses in baking and frying, I also use oil for making my own salad dressings and vinaigrettes. One of our favorite homemade dressings is my easy Mexican Dressing. RICE This is probably one of the most frugal pantry items and very versatile too, plus a little bit of uncooked rice ends up being quite a lot once cooked! Rice can stand alone by itself as a side dish and of course, is delicious in main dishes as well. I love using beans to make Creamy White Chicken Chili , 5 Minute Bean Dip and these Easy Mexican Rice Bowls. Making your own Homemade Refried Beans is so easy and cheap too! Super Easy Beef and Macaroni Skillet is one of my go-to recipes for busy days. We also love this No Boil Lasagna recipe too! DRIED HERBS SPICES Dried herbs and spices are a great way to add flavor to your recipes. And while I occasionally buy fresh herbs, using dried is much more economical and they last much longer too! A few of the ones that I use regularly: basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, red pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg. CHICKEN STOCK BOUILLON Chicken stock is a common ingredient in soups and casseroles and is super easy to make yourself! I also like to keep bouillon on hand since some recipes call for that instead. Also, if I happen to be out of liquid chicken stock, I can always use the bouillon to make some- although the stock made using bouillon is not nearly as tasty or as good for you as the real thing! VINEGAR This is another ingredient that I use to make homemade salad dressings. I also use it for various other recipes and it works great as a natural cleaner too! SALSA I have quite a few Mexican-inspired dishes that call for salsa, so I like to always keep this on hand. chips and salsa! DICED TOMATOES These are super inexpensive and way cheaper than buying fresh tomatoes. I love using them in recipes to give a bit of added flavor and color. And I even show you how to can diced tomatoes yourself if you want to try that. PASTA SAUCE I know making your own pasta sauce is pretty easy, but since I can buy it so inexpensively, I prefer to just do that. Pasta sauce is great for a quick meal of meatball subs, pizza, spaghetti or, lasagna to mention just a few. KETCHUP, MUSTARD, MAYO Okay, so maybe I should have listed these 3 things separately. I use many more condiments than these, but these are the three that I think every kitchen should for sure stock. BREAD I typically make my own bread , but it is something that I always keep on hand. We often use it to make sandwiches for lunch, toast it to eat with eggs and occasionally use it in recipes like my Cheeseburger Casserole too! TORTILLAS I use these all the time to make enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas and wraps. In fact, these Salsa Ranch Chicken Wraps are one of my favorite quick meals! And these easy recipes with tortillas are also great as well. ONIONS GARLIC I use both of these items regularly to inexpensively add extra flavor to lots of different recipes. Of course, you can always freeze them too , if you prefer. CARROTS These are not only a great addition to many soups, but they also make a healthy snack or side dish. POTATOES Super versatile! You can use them in soups, casseroles, breakfast dishes or side dishes. A few of our favorite potato recipes are Creamy Sausage and Potatoes , Cream Cheese Potato Soup with Ham , and Country Potato Soup. BUTTER This is probably the one thing that might seem iffy to put on a frugal pantry list. Plus, I love using it to make these easy Garlic Butter Swim Biscuits! SOUR CREAM I like to keep this on hand to use in soups, to make homemade dips and to use in several casserole recipes as well. But , since I cook almost entirely from scratch, I do end up using it quite a bit even so. Just a little bit can make a lettuce salad, tuna salad sandwiches or refried bean quesadillas so much yummier! And we love these White Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches! FROZEN VEGGIES Often much cheaper than fresh veggies, the other handy thing about frozen ones is that they last much longer! I use them a lot as a side dish and also in recipes like my Easy Chicken Pot Pie , Cheesy Ham, Potato and Green Bean Bake and Easy Vegetable Beef Soup. CHICKEN Probably the cheapest kind of meat there is and super versatile too! A few chicken recipes that we enjoy: Herb Roasted Chicken and Potatoes , One Pan Chicken and Rice , Creamy Crockpot Mexican Chicken and Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken. In casseroles or soups, I often can get by with using less than the amount called for. A few ground beef recipes that we really like: Crockpot Tamale Pie and Super Easy Sloppy Joes. It helps me be frugal because I can buy in bulk when food is on sale becoming less and less, it seems, these days , portion it and freeze for later. Yes, I love stocking up and freezing items that are on sale too! Such a great way to save. I so agree with you. We have worn out many vacuum food sealers over the years. Our son upgraded so he can vacuum seal whole chickens raised on his property. We opted for a slightly smaller model and use it daily. |
| How To Stock a Pantry on a Budget Less Than $50 | Our water here is very Cost-effective pantry items Cost-effsctive most of our drinking water comes from our filtered Crafting freebies online tap. It panhry Bargain food deals best for plants, though as they need the minerals. By continuing I acknowledge acceptance of HerMoney's terms of service and privacy statement. You provided a needed service. These patties come together start to finish in 25 minutes, making it a perfect after-work meal. |
| 30 Cheap Pantry Staples that Make Homemade Meals Easy | ThredUp: The only online recycle clothing store I currently shop and sell with. Great mission statement, company model, customer service, prices, and selection. We eat LOTS of pork in various forms in our family. When I was little, my parents used to make pork bone soup with potatoes and carrots a lot. Great list! Canned beans are fine, but dry is definitely better and healthier. With canned goods you run the risk of BPA exposure. Dried oats, quinoa, and other whole grains should be staples too. As well as ground flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and raw unsalted nuts. Whole food, plant-based diets are generally not expensive. It can be somewhat expensive if you always buy produce that are organic and out of season. But all things considered, plant based diets are significantly less expensive than meat based diets when you compare food of the same quality. You have to compare apples to apples 😉. For example… organic, pasteurized, hormone-free meat and dairy is very expensive especially compared to organic vegetable produce. We did this by…. Cooking plant based meals is fun, creative, and A LOT cleaner 5 We planned meals and meal-prepped really well so that no food would be wasted. But I love the list! We eat chicken mainly at our house. Tofu is also great to have fried with broccoli , soya sauce and garlic , it is good for you and not very expensive. Costco in Canada sells it cheap. I never had used italian seasoning before…ever! Is that the powder stuff you get in packets? Is it salad dressing or a spice? Add a little olive oil and garlic:. Load up on those veggies! I always have potatoes, onions, bananas, berries, and lettuce on hand. I hate making pantry-based meals with just shelf-stable foods; produce really elevates a dish. For example, I freeze old bananas and use them in smoothies. Picky Pincher. I like the way you think. Loading up on the veggies is the way to go. I also freeze fruit and use them in smoothies!!! I tend to bake chicken breasts, cook rice, and make veggies then switch up the sauce every week. Quick, easy, and cheap! FinancialConfession — I love Almond Butter and have started to use it instead of peanut butter as a healthier choice. It is expensive, but totally worth it to me 😀. Powdered cheese? My wife loves cheese and our fridge is stocked with cheese. Also, you probably should avoid doing more research into ground meat. I did and ground my own meat now… Good list. Cheese powder for those like me who have the taste buds of a 12 year old Joe. I love reading these lists!! We have tons of rice and oats in our house. My kids are obsessed with granola bars and oatmeal! So we either buy or make them constantly? Hehe thanks Ember. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Pork and garlic green beans. Table of Contents Toggle Cheap Pantry Staples Carbohydrates Condiment Protein Vegetables Honorable Mentions. Financial Freedom Starts With Saving: Personal Capital : Sign up and use their net worth calculator for FREE. Comments We eat LOTS of pork in various forms in our family. I do like the Kirkland frozen meatballs. That does sound tasty! We had pork bone with daikon and cabbage! I suspected fresh beans would be better. We polled the Freebs in our Shelf Cooking Community and they gave us their favorite pantry staples they always keep on hand. Check out our pantry staples post to see what they said! Are you ready to see if your favorites made the list? Let's do it! The Freebs we polled were so helpful to us in writing this post! So, thank you!!! It was really fun reading through all of your favorite pantry staples and the ways you use them. While we got a TON of responses, there were two items that really stood out from the rest. Can you guess what they were? If you guessed rice and pasta, then you were spot on! A grand total of Freebs voted these as their top pantry staples. Crazy, huh? Read on to learn what their favorite uses are. Rice is one of those pantry staples that pretty much goes with anything! It's a great way to stretch a meal, especially if you have some ravenous teenagers or toddlers! in the house. Pro Tip: Use a rice cooker or Instant Pot to cook your rice quicker if it needs to be cooked before going into a recipe. Oh pasta, you are our love language! We think it's safe to say that you're the love language of many Freebs, too! This pantry staple is another one that will go with just about anything and it's cheap and easy to keep on hand. Pro Tip: When you're cooking pasta, don't use oil in your water for boiling. A lot of Freebs keep canned pasta sauce on hand as it pairs naturally with pasta. It's a pantry staple that is pretty cheap to stock up on and can go in lots of different things! Pro Tip: Pasta sauce is basically canned tomato sauce and some seasonings, so stock up on tomato sauce and you can easily make your own pasta sauce in a pinch! Tomatoes are another pantry staple that a lot of Freebs keep on hand! Whether they're canned tomatoes, or tomato paste or sauce, there are so many different recipes you can make with them! Don't be afraid to doctor your tomato sauces with fresh herbs, garlic, cheeses, or thickeners to get the results you want. You can even combined tomato sauce with paste for a slightly different take that uses up both ingredients. Now that you have some ideas about how to use up those delicious canned and jarred tomato soups, sauces, and pastes, let's talk beans! Whether they're canned or whole, beans are good for so many things! Eat them plain, add them to meat to bulk up the meal, add them to a soup…. Those are just a few of the reasons that beans are one of the top pantry staples for the Freebs! You can even use your leftover canned beans in easy peasy dishes like my tamale casserole! Beans are a delicious filler and add protein and other nutrients! These soups are so good to have on hand. They go with pretty much anything and can really help to take a few ingredients from being a random assortment of items to a casserole in no time! Pro Tip: It is beyond easy to make your own cream of chicken soup if you keep broth on hand — just add milk, flour , and a little seasoning! |
Cost-effective pantry items -
In my own pantry, I always have a variety of canned tomatoes. Whether whole, stewed, diced, or crushed, these are incredibly versatile and are much less expensive than buying jarred sauce or prepared salsas.
Canned items like tuna and salmon are cheap, convenient and high in protein and can be used in many ways adding to a healthy, well-balanced diet, says Barrios. They are also very inexpensive.
Quite the opposite, actually: oats can be really nourishing to inflamed digestive systems. Sweet of course, or savory — dry, soaked, blended into porridges and beyond. Whether making a base for soup or as an ingredient in a casserole or stew, there are so many ways to use broth or stock.
Using it as a base to cook vegetables or those oats! is also a great way to bulk up your meals at a very low cost. Thankfully, buying items that are readily available, last a long time, and are versatile will eliminate that waste. Buying canned food items is a great option to reduce this waste.
While canned food items have a long shelf life, food safety still applies. Food manufacturers usually suggest storing canned foods for no longer than a year. However, tomato products can last for around 18 months and low-acid foods such as canned vegetables are storable for over two years.
And use your eyes as a guide, too. So, get to stocking up that pantry. Limitless affordable menu-planning opportunities await! Looking for more financial insights delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to HerMoney today! the money tea, that is. Join us for expert tips on saving more, spending less, investing like a pro, and not letting your money mess with your relationships.
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Confessionals Family Friends Love Marriage Motherhood Pets. From tomato sauce to canned peas, here are the best budget-friendly foods for the pantry.
Eating healthy does not need to be expensive. There are great options to make a complete and wholesome meal at home using canned goods. A complete meal consists of at least half the plate filled with vegetables, a protein source fish, chicken, etc.
Canned goods offer a variety of affordable, pre-cooked or ready-to-eat ingredients, perfect for an easy-to-make meal. Pantry items are great because you can stock up and have them whenever needed. Benefits: Tomatoes offer a multitude of benefits, but canned tomatoes specifically, are an excellent source of lycopene.
Lycopene is an antioxidant which is shown to lower the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. How to Use: Canned tomatoes can be used to make things like pasta sauce, soup, or chili. To make a chili, combine canned tomatoes, canned beans, and canned carrots.
Add some spices, and you have yourself a delicious, complete meal. Benefits: Canned tomatoes offer an excellent source of calcium and iron.
Calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth. Iron is important for brain function and immune support.
How to Use: Tomato paste is a great way to add flavor to almost anything you cook. It can be added to soups, stews, and casseroles, homemade sauces like spaghetti sauce or barbecue sauce, marinades for meats, grain dishes, and even tomato juice.
Benefits: Canned tomato sauce contains a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. Vitamin C is important because it enhances the absorption of iron and improves the immune system.
Fiber and potassium aid in healthy bowel movements and helps lower blood pressure. How to Use: Tomato sauce is so versatile and can be used for a number of things. Tomato sauce makes a great base for pizzas and pasta.
This can also be used to replace tomato paste in some recipes. Benefits: The great thing about canned vegetables is that they are so affordable and sometimes even healthier than fresh vegetables. Canned vegetables are picked at peak season for freshness which ensures the best flavor and nutrient quality.
They are naturally low in fat and calories and have no cholesterol. Canned veggies are convenient and save time because they are ready to eat. How to Use: Canned vegetables can be used in recipes like soups, stir fries, and stews, or they can be eaten on their own.
There are a variety of canned vegetables like carrots, green beans, beets, spinach, and mixed vegetables. When you are ready to eat your canned goods, you can also drain and rinse them to reduce the amount of salt. Benefits: Canned beans offer very similar nutritional benefits to dried beans.
They are a great source of fiber and protein, especially for plant-based diets. Beans are also high in folate, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
How to Use: Canned beans can be used in chili, salads, hummus, dips, or even heated up and enjoyed on their own. Similar to canned vegetables, it is best to find reduced sodium options and also drain and rinse them before using. Benefits: Corn and peas are a great starchy vegetable to have in your pantry.
Starchy vegetables are higher in carbohydrates when compared to other non-starchy vegetables, and are included as part of a healthy diet.
These items are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Similar to other canned vegetables, they are low in fat and calories. How to Use: They can both be used for side dishes, soups, and stews. Benefits: Protein is a very important component of a complete meal and typically the most expensive.
But canned options make the protein more affordable and convenient. Canned proteins like tuna, salmon, and chicken are excellent protein sources.
They provide an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Canned tuna is extremely rich in vitamin D which is necessary for bone health and the immune system. Canned salmon is rich in healthy omega-3 fats, which is amazing for heart and brain health.
Canned chicken is an excellent source of lean protein and is rich in vitamins and minerals like zinc and magnesium. How to Use: All of these items can be used in salads, sandwiches, dips, casseroles, pastas, grain dishes, served with crackers, or enjoyed on their own.
Budget-Friendly Food Bargains your pantry stocked and your Cost-effetcive bill low with Bargain food deals essential items. Grocery Cost-efffctive can Coxt-effective expensive. Who among panry doesn't know the feeling of coming home, looking at your bill, emptying the bags, and immediately thinking, "Did I even buy something to make for dinner? If you're looking to cut down your grocery bill, you can buy fewer things. Or you can be smarter about the things you buy. Cost-effective pantry items -
Need a great pantry dish for vegans? Look no further than this sweet potato chickpea curry, which is luxurious and satisfying enough to please even the meat eaters at the table. Serve over rice, or with naan or pita breads for sopping up all the spicy sauce. A great vegetable chili — a super affordable way to feed a crowd — is really good to have in your repertoire.
This recipe calls for fresh corn and tomatoes, but you can sub in canned versions when they are out of season or if you have them in your pantry. This Asian-inspired rice bowl pairs equal amounts of rice and tuna by weight to ensure that the one-pot meal is a perfect balance of protein and carbs. Make a double batch and eat leftovers cold over chopped lettuce for a great lunch salad.
Taco Tuesdays get an affordable pantry makeover by featuring canned black beans cooked in a rich sauce of canned green salsa and savory spices.
No time to pick up tortillas? Serve over lettuce for a taco salad, or pile into baked white or sweet potatoes. Fried rice is an ideal way to use up leftover rice, but this dish is so good, you will want to make rice fresh just to cook it! This recipe features quick-cooking brown rice for a great texture along with plenty of vegetables in the mix, including frozen peas.
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. We have an RO unit, but I have been following instructions and buying distilled for my C-PAP machine.
I was not thinking it through. Thank you very much. I will not be consulting with the manufacturer, because I believe I understand the science behind the RO and the distillation process. Hi Glenda, let me explain, we buy 5 dozen at a time. That makes them cheaper. We share with neighbors. RO is the best thing ever.
Stay well, Linda. Far less junk food and a lot easier than having both with me. And, lol, their muscle when I buy bulk. And, fewer trips does help with transportation costs.
Peace to all! I have a teeny tiny pantry with sticks put between the cans in my kitchen. I had my granddaughter living here for a year while she went to school. She helped us with so many things.
She was so fun to have around too! We live about miles from the nearest grocery store and even though we only have one car which gets great mileage, I do not like shopping. So the less I have to go to any store, the better.
Like you said fewer trips and transportation costs. Yes, it is important to buy where you get the best deal. I shop at Winco and Walmart and occasionally at Costco. Also, at Cash and Carry which is open to everyone but deals with large quantities. They are excellent for large sacks of oats, beans, sugar ,etc.
Whatever saves you money is great! Hi Cheryl, I totally agree wherever we can get the best deal and quality. I wish a Trader Joes was here just so I could get a certain Christmas cookie!!
Funny but true! We have limited choices here and we do not have an Aldi or Winco. This is how we always shopped. nursing baby daughter at 5am, putting her back to bed, dressing for work, leaving an hour earlier then necessary, with a cooler and ice pack in the car…. Each day hitting the sale specials at one of 4 stores I shopped on the way to work.
Worked eight hours, meet husband in parking lot, trading kids, go home do dinner, homework, laundry, sleep….. and repeat…..
Hi Chris, wow, those were the days. Boy, does that bring back memories! Great comment! Linda, I enjoy reading your posts and the comments. Our water here is very hard so most of our drinking water comes from our filtered refrigerator tap. You really get eggs for less than a dollar a dozen?
I have chickens and with the cost of feed I suspect MY eggs cost around that. My six birds lay between eggs per day so I always have plenty. Those numbers will slack off during Winter due to lack of daylight. Hi Ray, in order to get them that cheap you have to buy 5 dozen at a time.
We split them with neighbors too! They will never be eggs like what your chickens lay, but they work for us. Hello Linda, I am trying to rebuild my water storage. I had to sell my 50 gallon barrels when we moved. I just purchased some portable water bricks and purification drops, also water bottles with filter straws for each family member.
Do you have a recommendation for an outside water collection barrel? Can you recommend a RO to purchase? We bought our RO from a plumber because we are not plumbers LOL.
We have built houses and done electrical but plumbing we hire out! This looks like ours but they all look the same. You just need to be able to get new filters every year and clean out the tubes.
html I hope this helps, Linda. Thank you! You are always very helpful! I looked on Amazon for the best ratings on water collection barrels and they reviewed the top five. I want to use it to water my little garden.
Taking baby steps here and there. Hi Wendy, I need to order one next year, I have wanted one forever, Mark not so much! He can help me install it!! Gardens are the best!
I wish you would open your Facebook group back up. It was so helpful to see the discussions on shortages. You provided a needed service. Hi Renee, you are so kind. I wish the members were as nice as you. Renee, I will open today, fingers crossed we can keep the mean people out and block them. Thank you, my friend, Linda.
RO is great, we have been using the same coffee machine—that came from a thrift store— for over twenty years due to RO water! It is not best for plants, though as they need the minerals. I have a small jug that I fill with tap water and let sit open to allow the chlorine to dissipate for my plants.
Linda, I would add nutmeg on your spice list for rice pudding, especially! God bless you all! Hi Jan, I love RO water!! Great tip about letting the water sit open to dissipate the chlorine. Good one! I just loaded up on a lot of white rice.
We will all need it! Hi Linda! Grrrreat post! Those tips are very helpful, thank you. Your link for the Rice Cooker took us to the potato shreds. I look at all your recommendations as well. They will come around…. Hi Vanessa, thank you for your kind words. I will fix the link, my friend!! My kids are the same, we can only do what we can do.
Hi…, my rice cooking link takes me to the potato shreds 🙂 I have been looking for a stainless steel rice cooker —not aluminum. Curious what you recommended?
Def going to get the can opener as I too have arthritis some days! Hi Staci, thank you for letting me know. I have stock ed up a lot of rice this last week. It looks like a nice one! Thank you for sharing it! It really helps to eliminate all the searching and reading reviews! I enjoy all of your posts, thank you!
I have been canning like crazy this year. I hope I just eat well, and everything is fine, but it is nice to know I am ready in case.
Thanks for all your tips. It really is nice to know we can cook from scratch and feed our families. Thank you for your kind words, Linda.
When things are dire, any food will be better than nothing, but we have to balance the pros and cons of our food choices. I read labels, but in dire situations we can tolerate and may need extra calories be it carbs or fat and tolerate a little more sodium. Better to be nourished than weak and starving.
I tend to think of the staples wheat, oatmeal, salt, sugar, flour, evaporated milk, honey, cooking oils first.
Do ietms Bargain food deals these Bargain meal plans pantry staples? Cost-effectige should! Because these ifems staples will help you make easy homemade Cost-effectivd Cost-effective pantry items Keeping your kitchen stocked with cheap, basic pantry items is key to saving money on your grocery bill because it allows you to more easily make your own meals at home. So I put together this list of the top basic food staples that I try to keep on hand at all times.
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