6 Pantry Items to Always Have for a Cheap At-Home Meal

We’re just a couple of weeks into the roaring 20s — 2020, that is. New Year’s resolutions are in full-swing, kick-starting financial and wellness goals. A hybrid resolution you might’ve adopted this year is dining out less.

Cooking at home, instead of grabbing take-out, not only helps you make healthier meal choices but is also a great way to save money. Wellio, a digital meal prep system, found that ordering restaurant delivery is five times more expensive than a homemade meal. Even meal prep subscriptions, albeit convenient, cost three times more money than making cooking at home, from scratch. 

To maximize your food savings, and also make it possible to cook easy, healthy dishes, having a well-appointed pantry is essential. Here are the kitchen pantry items you should always have in your home.

1. Whole grains

As a foundational part of any meal, whole grains give your meal substance thanks to its high fiber content. Whole grains, like quinoa, wild rice, and steel-cut oats offer a good base to blend with other flavors from spices, sauces, and accompanying ingredients for a tasty, yet affordable meal.

And whole grains are a great ingredient for any meal, whether you’re prepping a rich, stew-based dinner or making refreshing overnight oats for breakfast. 

2. Dried pasta

Dried pasta may have been your college dorm room staple, but it makes sense for affordable, home-cooked meals. With so many pasta varieties available, keeping one to two types of pasta (e.g. spaghetti and bow-tie) in your pantry helps you mix-up your weekly menu.

A traditional spaghetti dish using an entire package of pasta can yield up to eight servings, or you can use dry pasta as a base for a zesty side salad instead. There are many whole grain dry pasta options to ensure you’re maximizing the vitamins and minerals from this ingredient and best of all, you can often find dry pasta at your local dollar store.

3. Legumes

Legumes, like beans, split peas, beans, and lentils are packed with nutrition. They’re high in protein, folate —  which is great for women’s health — B-vitamins, and antioxidants. Individuals with meatless diets, such as vegetarians and vegans, often turn to legumes as a source of protein. But thanks to the versatility of legumes, they’ve proven to be a nutritious and filling add-on to soups, casseroles, and stir-fry dishes.

For an affordable and simple one-pot recipe, you can mix different types of beans (e.g. black beans, kidney beans, and cannellini beans) along with a few spices and tomato sauce base for a hearty chili. If you have leftovers, bean-based chili keeps in the freezer for up to six months.

4. Canned goods

The juggernaut of pantry food items that offers endless possibilities is canned goods. Due to its airtight packaging, canned goods have expiration dates that last up to four years; if kept in the right conditions, the shelf life of a canned item can last up to six years.

They’re also relatively affordable and are useful for a quick, semi-homemade meal. Some examples of good canned items to have in your pantry are soup, veggies (e.g. corn, diced tomatoes, and peas), tuna, and nut butter. 

These are fast grab-and-toss ingredients that require minimal preparation and chopping, which helps you get to a healthy meal sooner.

5. Cooking stock

Storing cooking stock in your kitchen pantry ensures your home-cooked meals are moist and have depth and flavor. Whether you prefer a traditional chicken stock, enjoy the taste of bone broth, or prefer the versatility of vegetable stock, cooking stock is a must-have.

It can be added to a soup or stew, incorporated into a pasta dish, or used in a savory, baked recipe. If made from scratch, broth can be frozen in an air-tight container for six to 12 months, depending on the strength of your freezer.

6. Dried Herbs and spices

A kitchen pantry that’s well-stocked with a full array of dried herbs and spices has limitless possibilities. In the mood for Indian cuisine? Tumeric, dried coriander, mustard seeds, and garam masala can turn other pantry food, like chickpeas, into an Indian-inspired dish. If Mexican food is what you’re craving, keeping Asada mix, chile powder, paprika, and cinnamon can give you the heat you’re looking for.

A pantry with an assortment of dried herbs and spices empowers you to create a unique and flavorful meal right at home, and for a fraction of the cost of dining out. When you’re on a budget and practicing mindful eating, setting-up your pantry for success can turn a new year’s resolution into sustainable habits.