39 Simple and Delicious Pantry and Freezer Recipes

Easy and healthy pantry and freezer recipes are crucial to have on hand, especially now. But they’re helpful in so many different situations as well including:

in times of crisis or food shortages
when you’re trying to save money
to use up what’s on hand and reduce food waste
when unexpected company arrives and you need a quick meal

I love doing a No Spend Month every now and then to use up all the inventory on hand and limit grocery store trips. It gets my creative culinary juices flowing, and helps save a lot of money as well.

If you need a few ideas to use up ingredients on hand, I’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of pantry and freezer recipes from my Registered Dietitian friends and foodie experts from across the internet.

Every single one of these recipes is customizable depending on what you have on hand, as well as what your food preferences are.

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Simple Pantry and Freezer Recipes Perfect for Breakfast

These simple breakfast ideas are packed with fiber and protein to hold you over until the next mealtime.

Homemade granola is so easy to make from pantry staple items. It’s easy to throw together oatmeal, mixed nuts, nut butter, dried fruit, and any other random items that need to be used.

Here a few more breakfast ideas:

Berry Almond Butter Overnight Oats
Chelsea Dishes

Pistachio Cranberry Granola
The Nutrition Adventure

Lunchtime Pantry and Freezer Recipes

pantry and freezer recipe idea, butternut squash mac and cheese — image via Kara Lydon Nutrition

All of these pantry and freezer recipe lunch ideas are super simple to make with ingredients you probably have on hand right now. These would all work for lighter dinner time meals as well.

Some meals may feature fresh produce. These can all easily be substituted with canned or frozen versions. Also feel free to sub out whatever beans and grains you have on hand.

Quick and Easy Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Chelsea Dishes

3 Ingredient Everything But the Bagel Turkey Burger
The Meal Planning Method

Black Bean Veggie Tacos
Nourish Nutrition

Roasted Veggie Quinoa
Foods with Judes

Green Bean Medley with Tuna Salad
Sarah Koszyk

Black Bean Bowl with Pumpkin Chili Sauce
The Nutrition Adventure

Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe
Create Kids Club

Vegetarian Rice Bowl with Chickpeas, Tomato, and Okra
Amy Gorin Nutrition

Black Bean Pasta Salad with Spicy Cashew Romesco
Kelly Jones Nutrition

Coconut Fried Rice
Nutrition a la Natalie

30 Minute Pantry Pasta Meal
KeyVion Miller Nutrition

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Kara Lydon Nutrition

Simple One Pot Wonton Soup
The Meal Planning Method

Easy Pantry and Freezer Recipes for Dinner

pantry challenge recipe lemony chicken and orzo soup — image via Sweet Cayenne

Dinner doesn’t have to be super complicated. These recipes are perfect for last minute guests and can be pulled together in a pinch. Save any leftovers for lunch the next day!

Again, feel free to substitute out any ingredients you have on hand. Canned veggies, beans, and grains, and proteins can all be mixed and matched for similar recipe combinations.

Homemade Vegetable Broth from Food Scraps
Fork in the Road

Shrimp Scampi with Spinach
Jenny Shea Rawn

Vegetarian Rice and Bean Casserole
Make Healthy Easy

Crockpot Vegetable and White Bean Soup
The Nutrition Adventure

Simple Split Pea Soup
Jenny Shea Rawn

Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Salmon with Brussels Sprouts
Nourish Nutrition

Instant Pot Ribolita (Italian Bread Soup)
Sweet Cayenne

Italian Broccoli, Barley, and Beans
Kelly Jones Nutrition

Instant Pot Chicken Stew
Leanne Ray

Southwestern Stuffed Quinoa Bell Peppers
The Oregon Dietitian

Italian Lentil and Rice Pantry Casserole
Being Nutritious

One Pot Chili
The Meal Planning Method