11 Pantry Meals To Make on Busy Weeknights

Stock your pantry with basic ingredients—it'll give you a head start on these quick and easy weeknight meals you can pull off on any busy weeknight.

By
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht turned her home baking into a career in 2016 when she began working as the head baker at The Greenbean Coffeehouse in Seattle, WA. Afterwards, she started Baking with Rachel (her blog), began teaching kids' cooking classes, and recipe tested for the cookbook "Let's Stay In" by Ashley Rodriguez.
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Updated November 07, 2024
Rachel Knecht
Linguine with tuna and capers on two plates at a table setting with a bowl of parsley, a denim table napkin, salt and pepper shakers, and a glass of water

Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

I like to make weeknight dinners work with what I have on hand. So I always keep certain staples on hand, like canned tomatoes, beans, and rice. I’ll for sure keep bread around, and there are always onions and fresh garlic.

So what can I make with these staples? For me, I can make spaghetti, pizza, quesadillas, eggs, and sandwiches.

I’m sure my pantry differs from yours, but I hope this list of recipes inspires you to use what you already have in new ways. If you aren't sure what types of items to keep on hand for quick and tasty meals in minutes, then they'll help expand your staples for stress-free dinners.

  • Linguine With Tuna and Capers

    Linguine with tuna and capers on a plate at a table setting with a bowl of parsley, a denim table napkin, salt and pepper shakers, and a glass of water

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    Why drain the flavorful oil from the canned tuna when you can use it to make a pasta sauce?

  • 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Dinner

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    Start the rice cooker when you walk in the door because you’ll be enjoying this sweet and spicy ground beef dinner in less than 30 minutes. Use a Microplane for the garlic and ginger to ensure the flavor infuses the whole dish.

  • 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake

    My family's 5-ingredient pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    This baked pasta is reminiscent of baked ziti but without the hassle or extra ingredients. Jarred pasta sauce and cottage cheese are mixed with the pasta and shredded cheese and baked until bubbly and browned on the edges.

  • Kai Jeow (Thai Omelet)

    Plate of Kai Jeow (Thai Omelet) with Cucumber Slices, Romaine Leaves, Rice, and a Small Bowl of Sriracha on a Circular Wooden Serving Board and Surrounded by a Table Setting with a Glass of Water, a Table Napkin, a Small Bowl of Slice Scallions and Thai Chili, a Small Bowl of Fish Sauce, and Another Plate of Kai Jeow

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    I turn to eggs when I need a quick meal and this Thai omelet packs a bold flavor without the added chopping that a Denver omelet does, Serve with rice and cucumber slices.

    Continue to 5 of 11 below

  • Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

    Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving Spoon, All on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counter, and Next to It, a Bowl of Cracked Pepper, a Glass of Water, and a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Save water (and time!) by sautéing cheese tortellini in a skillet instead of boiling it in a pot of water. You can use fresh or frozen tortellini and whatever dark, leafy greens you have in your crisper.

  • Spaghetti all'Assassina (Assassin's Spaghetti)

    Bowlful of assassin's spaghetti at a table setting with more in a bowl, a glass of water, utensils, and light blue kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    As unique as the name itself, this pasta cooks in tomato sauce until slightly charred. Make sure you use a pan that is large enough for the spaghetti to lay flat, such as a 12-inch cast iron skillet.

  • The Ultimate Quesadilla

    A plate of quesedillas and toppings.
    Sally Vargas

    Simple, delicious, and the perfect weeknight meal to use up the ingredients you already have in your refrigerator. By slightly crisping the tortilla before adding the toppings, you ensure that the quesadilla stays crispy. 

  • Marry Me Beans

    Marry Me Beans in a white bowl

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Beans so good that you’ll want to spend your life with the person who made them for you. This simple dish of white beans and oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes come together to create a creamy, dreamy combination in under 20 minutes.

    Continue to 9 of 11 below

  • Kimchi and Spam Fried Rice

    Overhead view: bowl of kimchi and spam fried rice at a table setting with another serving in a bowl, two spoons on a blue kitchen linen, and a plate with a fried egg

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    My husband talks fondly of the spam he ate growing up so I feel like I need to catch up on lost time. This fried rice uses refrigerator and pantry staples and is easy to adapt to the ingredients you have on hand.

  • Pork Stir Fry With Green Onion

    Pork Stir Fry with Green Onion
    Elise Bauer

    Pork loin is a quick cooking protein that I use often on weeknights. A short marinating time of 10 minutes in soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch is a pantry-friendly way to tenderize the pork and keep it from drying out. 

  • Greens, Eggs, and Ham Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Greens Eggs Ham Sandwich

    Sandwiches are a low effort, high reward dinner. Adding a fried egg and spinach makes this feel even more satisfying than a classic grilled cheese. Use whatever bread, cheese, and greens you have on hand.

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