Must Have Pantry Recipes Plus Tips for the Most Organized Pantry
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Having an organized pantry can not only make meals a breeze, but it helps you save money and time, and is just great for your mood overall … trust me. I had mine professionally organized, and it’s been a dream! Here are some tips and a huge list of pantry recipes you will want to keep on hand.
Having a well organized pantry not only makes you feel good when you open it, it also can save you money. How often do you find yourself running to the store? Every other day? Sometimes every day? Me, too. But the weeks that I plan, things just run so much smoother. It’s amazing what a huge stress reliever it is to have the basics on hand. I will admit, my pantry is one of my favorite things about my house. When we built 14 years ago, it was one of the features our home builder was known for. These concealed walk-in pantries. Sure, it looks like a regular cabinet on the outside, then when you open it, it is like a little secret narrow room. It’s been home to many a canned good over the years, it’s been organized and re-organized, and sometimes, completely overhauled.
Early last Spring I got an Instagram message from a woman named, Melanie. She contacted me about a possible collaboration with our blogs. You guys, Melanie is a professional organizer. After we chatted, and got to know one another a little bit, we decided, that even though I joked about her organizing my tax receipts, (she actually said she would! YIKES!! I wouldn’t put that on anyone!!) that as a food blogger, the pantry would be a great place to see her awesome skills.
Melanie began her Professional Organizing career in Dallas, Texas. She worked for a company there, and when her and her husband and their sweet boys decided to move back home to the Omaha area, she decided to go out on her own. She opened Organized Kind of Life. I cannot begin to tell you how fortunate I feel to have had her in my home. First off, she is as sweet as can be, and we hit it off right away. She literally took everything out of my pantry. She organized like with like and started the process of purging. She threw away anything that was expired, and she and I looked at things like “Do you really need 5 jars of hot sauce?” Food went to the food pantry and the clutter got decreased. I have A LOT of gadgets — and aprons! It’s amazing how you are so much more willing to throw something away when you have moral support. Day two I had my painter come in and paint. It hadn’t been painted since we moved in — because it’s never been empty since! Fresh coat of paint and on Day 3 Melanie came back with her creativity and fun stuff from The Container Store. She got to work organizing my life. Well, at least the part centered around my pantry. And as a food blogger, with her office being her kitchen … that’s HUGE.
Three Days of Organizing my Pantry:
- Day One: Empty – Melanie Completely Empties all of the contents of the pantry into totes and sorted on tables, like things with like things. Purge unwanted items, throw away expired goods, donate unneeded food and kitchen gadgets.
- Day Two: Clean – Scrub shelves, sweep and wash floors and base boards. Fill holes from nails, fresh coat of paint.
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Day Three: Organize – Melanie returns. All food and kitchen items get placed back in the pantry in an organized fashion. Totes, turntables, new hanging mechanism for the BBQ utensils. Labels made for all of the containers and drawers.
All of this stuff was hanging on nails haphazardly on the wall. Look! No more random messes. I got rid of a lot of aprons.
This hanger with “S” hooks? Worked out better than either of us could have imagined. I got it on Amazon — it was super reasonable! Here’s the link if you could use one of these in your pantry — or anywhere else for that matter. I actually bought two. The hubs is using the other one out in his shop.
I had these drawers before, but they got moved around a bit, and Melanie put these cute labels on them. I have a lot of props. and yes, that whole bottom drawer, with the exception of those birthday candles you see there? Sprinkles. Alllllll sprinkles. Some people collect coins, I collect sprinkles. Ha!
Now, one thing about keeping your pantry well stocked with the basics? You can always whip up something, even at the last minute. I’ve taken the time to organize some of my favorite pantry recipes for you. They are even categorized by courses.
Breakfast:
For breakfast, things to have on hand: Bisquick/Pancake mix, Syrup, frozen, fresh and dried fruit fruit, Oatmeal, eggs, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Banana Bread Pancakes: These gourmet looking pancakes are simply made . Begin with Bisquick mix, add in ripe bananas and a few spices and you have this scrumptious stack of pancakes.
Cinnamon Roll Waffles: So easy it’s crazy not to try it. Make the most incredible waffles using refrigerated cinnamon rolls on your waffle iron! Ice and serve!
Easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake: This Easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe is moist with a tender crumb topped with a sugar nut topping that gets crunchy like a streusel topping. Perfect for brunch or as a potluck dish your friends will love.
Mixed Berry Breakfast Casserole with Coconut: This fruit breakfast casserole is packed with a mix of fresh and frozen berries over a coconut milk bread base. This recipe is the perfect amount for serving a small crowd.
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Plums & Pears:Warm steel cut oats filled with dried plums and fresh pears.
Breads:
Things to have on hand for bread making in a snap – Bisquick, yeast packets, Flour both All Purpose and Self Rising, Jiffy-Type cornbread mixes, Salt
Cheesy Cornbread Drop Biscuits: A fluffy and slightly sweet in the middle biscuit, full of flavor with a crisp exterior. They make the perfect pairing to soups and salads.
Peasant Bread: The easiest, most buttery, delicious bread, baked in a pyrex bowl. It’s quite possibly the most perfect bread.
Homemade Croutons: It’s so easy to make your own croutons! These are made with bakery rye bread, and were perfect on soup and salad. Use any bread you like!
The Very Best Banana Bread: Seriously. The last Banana Bread recipe you will ever need to try. Perfection, every single time.
I love these clear containers we used. They came in three sizes, and worked for all sorts of things. Here they are holding snacks, coffee and teas, and breakfast items like granola and poptarts.
Appetizers:
An appetizer can be thrown together in no time if you keep things like canned refried beans and diced tomatoes, green chiles, jars of salsa, pickles, sauerkraut, a dairy like cream cheese, sour cream and shredded cheese.
Hot Beef & Bean Dip: Ground beef, red kidney beans, and cheese heated with spices to become “chili like” — makes the perfect dip for Fritos® Corn Chips!
Not Your Average Mexican Layer Dip: This may just be your new favorite layered bean dip — it’s addicting and delicious and different!
Dill Pickle Dip: Three Ingredients + a box of crackers. Love those dill pickle wraps? The ones with the cream cheese and dried beef? Then this dip will have you grinning from ear to ear!
{Award Winning} Crack Dip: This dip is deliciously addictive! Creamy dip with a little bit of heat from the jalapeños, bursting with flavor from the MexiCorn and the green onions. This is a hit and the first thing gone at every party — It isn’t “award winning” for nothing!
Easy “Dump” Salsa: Open a couple of cans, add in some basic spices and a couple of fresh ingredients, toss them in a blender and TaDa! Restaurant quality salsa, anytime!
Gruyere Salami Risotto Balls: An easy appetizer to make from leftover risotto. These Arancini balls are filled with a melty, stretchy Gruyere cheese and a spicy salami.
Snacks:
Snack mixes are one of the easiest things to make in a pinch. A good stash of assorted nuts, crackers, cereals, popcorn, and toppings like almond bark, will help you have a bowl of mix to nosh on when company comes by.
Spicy Smoked Almonds : These almonds have a spicy smoky flavor all done with the perfect concoction of spices. Grab a handful for the perfect snack, or make them for your next get together and watch them disappear!
White Trash Mix: Clean out the pantry and use up the leftover snacks for this amazing white chocolate covered snack mix.
Better Than Sex Chex Mix: This Chex Mix has it ALL!! Milk and white chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallows, caramel, over sweet Chex cereal, Finished with a sprinkling of sea salt. It’s the perfect sweet & salty snack. Better than Sex? Well, you can be the judge!
Sugar Coated Pecans: Candy coated pecans flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. Make perfect gifts, or fillers on holiday platters.
“Crack Corn” – Candy Coated Popcorn: Only 3 ingredients … and your guests won’t be able to leave this alone. I have never made this and not given the recipe away! So good!
Side Dishes:
Side dishes in minutes with canned and frozen veggies, pastas and rice.
Nana’s Corn Pudding: With just five ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep time. this side dish is packed with sweet corn flavor and the perfect side for any meal.
How To Make a Can of Refried Beans Taste Like a Restaurant’s: Turn a can of refried beans into restaurant quality in a matter of minutes!
How to cook Risotto: An easy 30 minute meal bowl of creamy goodness quick enough for a weeknight meal.
French Onion Rice: French Onion Rice is an easy rice dish you can make with Campbell’s Soup and is full of wonderful flavor. It gives the rice a whole new taste you are going to love.
Creamy Italian Four Bean Pasta Salad: Using simple ingredients from your pantry; pasta, olives and Four Bean Salad, added to some fresh cucumbers and onion, mixed with an easy homemade creamy Italian dressing, and you have a quick and delicious picnic pasta salad!
Crunchy Fried Onion Rings: Better than a restaurant, these onion rings are light, airy and hold their crunch without being greasy at all! Simple to make at home.
Main Dishes:
Same goes with Main dishes. You can make so many meals with pasta and rice. Canned tomatoes, canned soups, pasta sauce and breading like panko or seasoned breadcrumbs for meat.
Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy: This is the ULTIMATE comfort food. It was one of my favorite things my Mom made me as a kid, and something that I still make to this day when I need a little “comfort.”
Slow Cooker Smothered Burritos: Three ingredients is all it takes to make these super cheesy extra delicious smothered burritos right in your slow cooker!
Chili Mac Skillet: This skillet Chili Mac is a quick and inexpensive meal, that makes a bunch. Great for leftovers!
Easy Weeknight Lasagna Toss: Easy Weeknight Lasagna Toss, takes all of the work out of traditional lasagna, and tastes just like it!
The Italian Wonderpot: Pasta that cooks all in one pot, with pantry and fresh ingredients, and it’s done in 20 minutes? Sounds too good to be true? It isn’t!
Crispy “Oven Fried” Chicken in a Biscuit Sandwiches: Perfectly crispy without frying – these chicken sandwiches flavorful and served on a flaky biscuit. Dinner in about 30 minutes!
Sweet Onion Cranberry Chicken: This is one of our most flavorful chicken dishes, and it is only 4 ingredients!
Soups:
Soups are some of the easiest to make. Whether it be stove top, instant Pot or Crock pot. Some soups only require opening a few cans and you have dinner, plus leftovers! Keep things like broth, fresh and frozen veggies, ground beef, chicken breasts, pastas and rice for soup making made simple.
Easy Taco Soup: Easy Taco Soup is a spicy and delicious soup that’s made with pantry staples! If you can open a can – you can make this fabulous soup – let’s get cooking!
Easy Black Bean Soup: Easily prepared, black bean soup, so rich and creamy and full of goodness. You will be amazed at the magnitude of flavors this one offers! Top it however you like!
Tortellini Soup with Spinach & Sausage: Only 5 Ingredients to this delicious soup made with Italian sausage, tortellini and spinach.
Beef Enchilada Soup: If you can open a can, you can make this super duper easy soup!
7 Ingredient Soup: Six canned goods and one pound of ground beef. Dinner is served!
Casseroles:
Things like noodles and rice, canned meats like chicken or tuna, canned or frozen veggies, frozen chicken breasts frozen potatoes, canned soups and sour cream make for quick casseroles.
Tuna Tetrazzini: My childhood favorite casserole. The way my mom made Tuna Noodles.
Chicken & Rice Cordon Bleu Casserole: Leftover Ham, chicken and rice baked win a creamy sauce with melted Swiss cheese. A perfect weeknight meal.
BBQ Chicken Cornbread Bake: Leftover chicken, boxed cornbread mix, fresh veggies = dinner in less than 30 minutes!
Sauces & Seasonings:
Not only is it important to have a well stocked pantry, a well stocked spice cabinet is equally important.
Everything Bagel Spice: Love everything bagels? Make the spice, use it on breads, on homemade bagels and even to make dips!! You won’t go without it in your pantry again!
Easiest Ever Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce: Only 5 ingredients, and sure to become your favorite sauce!
Crock Pot Apple Sauce: This applesauce is so simple, peel and slice the apples, toss them in your crock pot with a lemon peel and cinnamon sticks, and 5-6 hours later, you have warm cinnamon applesauce! (plus your house smells amazing!)
Cajun Seasoning: A full flavor spice mix made from the herbs and spices you have on hand. The creole/cajun mix works great on vegetables, meats and in sauces for easy flavor additions.
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning: Flavored with allspice, cinnamon, and spicy pepper, Jerk Seasoning is perfect for a multitude of dishes.
Greek Seasoning: Want a new spice mix to dress up your chicken or steak? This Greek Seasoning Mix is the one!
All-Purpose Steak Seasoning: A spice blend great for steaks, chicken, fish, pork, and even vegetables. Make it now with the spices you already have in your pantry!
Drinks:
Want a smoothie? Keep fresh and frozen fruit on hand, yogurt, and things like nuts and coconut. You can make drinks with simple mixers and your favorite liquors, and sangria is easy if you keep wine and fruit on hand. It’s always a good idea to have some flavored fizzy water.
Nutty Monkey Smoothie: You’ll go BANANAS for this smoothie full of coconut, banana and nutty almond flavor!
Jell-O Shots Round One & Jell-O Shots Round Two: Party Like it’s 1985 with this extensive collection of Jell-O Shots, perfect for any party or tailgate!
The Best Bloody Mary: Look no further than right here to indulge in the very best bloody Mary.
Banana Berry Green Tea Smoothie: This smoothie, with banana, blue, black and raspberries, blended with raw honey and green tea is full of vitamins, antioxidants and metabolism boosting ingredients that will have you ready to tackle your day!
5 Tips for Making the. Perfect Sangria: These 5 tips will help you assemble the perfect sangria for you and your guests! Also included a recipe for an easy Apple Sangria.
Homemade Kahlua: Using pantry ingredients and vodka, you can make your own Kahlua – makes great gifts!
Sangria Sunrise: Toss aside the tequila and your champagne mimosas and bring your red wine to the table for my Sangria Sunrise!
Here is a large part of my baking stuff. Also, necessities like paper goods, mason jars and a gigantic roll of plastic wrap!
Desserts:
If you like to bake, that part of the pantry is essential. Flour, Sugars; granulated, brown and powdered, baking soda and powder, salt, vanilla and almond extracts, Oatmeal, Cocoa Powder, Peanut Butter, Marshmallows, graham crackers, pudding, cake mixes, brownie mixes.
Easiest Ever Lemon Bars: A short ingredient list makes these tangy, flavorful lemon bars the easiest ever.
PB & J Oatmeal Cookie Bars: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars swirled with grape jelly — the perfect treat for the PB&J lover in your life!
Old Fashioned Brownies: This Old Fashioned Brownie recipe is almost a century old, and comes with a 5 star rating. I think you’ll agree that this is one superb recipe for a traditional brownie.
Coconut Pudding Poke Cake: Layers of yellow cake, coconut pudding, whipped cream and toasted coconut will have you swooning! This coconut cake is for the coconut cake and pie lovers alike!
S’Mores Treats: Marshmallow-y sweetness swirled around graham cereal and chocolate chips. So irresistible!
Pudding Cookies: Soft and chewy pudding cookies. Dress them up with candies, chocolate chips, anything you desire!
Graham Cracker Toffee: Buttery toffee, semi-sweet chocolate and pecans over graham crackers – make this super easy recipe, perfect for the holidays or anytime!
Pineapple Angel Food Cake: How do you make a light fluffy dessert, with no fat, and tons of flavor with TWO ingredients? Make this Pineapple Angel Food Cake and see for yourself!
Candy Bar Fudge: Only three ingredients and you have this dreamy fudge made with your favorite candy bar.
If you want an excellent printable list for items that are great to have as staples in your pantry, here is an excellent one from The Food Network.
^Love It? PIN IT!^
So, who’s ready to give Melanie a call? Don’t live here in the Omaha area? She even does virtual consults! Check out her Website/Blog: Organized Kind of Life and follow her for all sorts of tips and tricks on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
–> Read about Melanie’s experience with my pantry <–
Thanks for joining us today!! Happy organizing!
This is such an amazing compilation of information. It’s so hard to organize the panty! I’ve printed this post to get myself organized and can’t wait to try all of these amazing recipes!