It can be helpful to stock your pantry with some basic supplies that you can generally count on always being there. The following ingredients are common in many recipes ranging from banana muffins to pancakes to spaghetti. Keeping these items around will help on busy nights or during weeks when you haven’t been able to get to the store because they’ll help you pull together simple and quick meals like chili or taco salad. Or, if you need a quick dessert, you’ll always have the makings for chocolate chip cookies or brownies.
This list may not be comprehensive, as each home cook has his or her preferences, but here are the basics you’ll need for many home cooking and baking projects:
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Italian Seasoning
- Cinnamon
- Garlic Powder
- Garlic Salt
- Dried Parsley
- Dried Minced Onion
- Onion Powder
- Bay Leaves
- Chicken bouillon or broth
- Beef bouillon or broth
- Cornstarch
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- White Flour
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Powdered or Confectioner’s Sugar
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Quick Cooking Oats
- Maple Syrup or Pancake Syrup
- Vanilla Extract
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- White Vinegar
- Fresh Garlic (Invest in an inexpensive garlic press. It makes peeling garlic so quick and easy, and your recipes will turn out better using fresh garlic cloves.)
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray
- Pasta (Spaghetti noodles and Elbow Macaroni are a good start.)
- Rice (Brown or white, or both, depending on your preferences.)
- Boxed Jiffy Cornbread/Muffin Mix
- Croutons
- Panko or Bread Crumbs
- Taco Seasoning
- Peanut Butter
- Honey
- Low-Sugar Cereal
- Saltine Crackers
- Popcorn (Either microwavable or loose kernels for use with an air popper.)
- Boxed Brownie Mix
- Jarred or Canned Spaghetti Sauce
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Ready-to-Serve Veggies
- Canned Diced Tomatoes (Great for making homemade tomato soup.)
- Canned Beans (I keep chili beans and Bush’s Baked Beans for making chili, and black beans are good for taco soup.)
- Tortilla Chips
- Bread
- Tea and/or Coffee
- Ready-to-Heat soups such as tomato soup
What do you think? What kinds of items do you always keep in your pantry? Share your suggestions in the comments.
