10 Quick and Easy Recipes From Your Pantry

David Roth

From Your Pantry

Don't have time to go grocery shopping? No problem. Here are 10 easy, delicious family meals that incorporate 10 pantry staples.

With the following items on hand, you can make dinner in a snap, without heading to the supermarket: pasta and rice, olive or canola oil, beans―dried or canned, canned tomatoes, eggs, onions and garlic, herbs―fresh or dried, vinegar and lemon juice, cheese―parmesan or cheddar, and frozen vegetables.

Randy Mayor

Quick Pizza Margherita

Pantry Ingredients: vinegar, oil, cheese, garlic, herbs.

With a prep and cook time of just 30 minutes, you can whip up this delicious dinner in less time than it would take a pizza place to deliver it to your doorstep. Bonus: No tip needed!

View Recipe: Quick Pizza Margherita

Randy Mayor

Lemon-Shallot Scallop

Pantry Ingredients: lemon juice, herbs, oil, garlic.

This versatile dish can be served as a quick family meal or as an appetizer at a dinner party. For dinner, serve over a bed of mixed greens, or further utilize your pantry by serving with pasta.

View Recipe: Lemon-Shallot Scallop

Randy Mayor

Chicken Potpies

Pantry ingredients: herbs, frozen vegetables.

Chicken potpie is a great second-day meal to reuse leftover chicken. And this one can be made start-to-finish in a little more than half an hour with pleasing results. The crispy crust and warm creamy filling, paired with an easy clean-up, make this recipe a keeper.

View Recipe: Chicken Potpies

Randy Mayor

Southwestern Omelet

Pantry Ingredients: herbs, eggs, canned beans, cheese, onions.

This meal cooks in minutes, and is a great option for a busy night when you don’t have time for grocery shopping or heavy meal preparation. Serve with toast and read the paper while eating for the ultimate breakfast-for-dinner experience.

View Recipe: Southwestern Omelet

Beau Gustafson

Lemon-Basil Chicken with Basil Aioli

Pantry Ingredients: herbs, onions, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oil.

This dish is ready in less than 20 minutes, and can be served several ways. Grab some pasta from your cabinet as a side dish, or toast a few slices of bread instead and use the aioli as a spread for a delicious chicken sandwich.

View Recipe: Lemon-Basil Chicken with Basil Aioli

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Shrimp Florentine with Caramelized Garlic

Pantry Ingredients: garlic, cheese, frozen spinach, pasta.

If you're searching for an easy yet elegant dinner, look no further. This seafood dish packs in a lot of flavor and freshness, with a creamy sauce and tons of sweet-and-pungent roasted garlic.

View Recipe: Shrimp Florentine with Caramelized Garlic

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Ham and Egg Fried Rice

Pantry Ingredients: rice, eggs, onions, garlic, oil, beans.

Stir-frying is a great way to create rich, flavorful dishes in a short amount of time. This dish is no exception, and takes less than 10 minutes start to finish to prepare. It's also ideal for leftovers, making this a homerun choice for a hectic weeknight.

View Recipe: Ham and Egg Fried Rice

Randy Mayor

Linguine with Spicy Red Clam Sauce

Pantry Ingredients: olive oil, onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, herbs.

This recipe is quick, easy, and filling with a side salad and garlic bread―definitely a keeper. If you like spicy, try adding a little extra cayenne, but use a light hand; it's powerful stuff.

View Recipe: Linguine with Spicy Red Clam Sauce

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

Pantry Ingredients: oil, onion, garlic, canned beans, canned tomatoes.

Our top-rated vegetarian chili requires minimal attention while it cooks, allowing you to multitask on a busy evening. It works well as a meal for a family with dietary restrictions too, since it's vegetarian- and vegan-friendly.

View Recipe: Chunky Vegetarian Chili

Randy Mayor

Shrimp Fried Rice

Pantry Ingredients: rice, frozen vegetables, eggs, oil, onions, vinegar.

This dish is simple, fresh, and superfast. It's bright and tasty, as well as a cheap and more healthful alternative to Chinese takeout. With a total cook time of less than 20 minutes, it's a stress-free way to spice up a weeknight meal.

View Recipe: Shrimp Fried Rice