Is your pantry stocked with everyday items that will help you put together a delicious meal? Let me show you the 10 Essential Pantry Items you should always keep stocked inside your kitchen cupboards.
There's also a great printable for you to use that will help make sure your pantry is always well-stocked.
Check out the Weekly Meal Plans available to help you get dinner on the table with your well-stocked panty.
I'm sure there are probably more than 10 Essential Pantry Items, but for this post let's talk about the most important things needed that will help you get dinner every night on the table for your family.
Did you know that with a properly stocked pantry, you can make a last minute meal for your family without having to run to the grocery store?
You can also bake a cake, brownies or cookies at the last minute for school bake sales or football dinner. My son was famous for volunteering me to bake my Homemade Peanut Butter Brownies for a lot of school events without giving me much notice!
Make sure you check out my popular Make Ahead Freezer Meal Plan to help you put together meals your family is going to love. Along with the Pantry List Printable, don't forget to grab the Freezer Inventory Printable.
Table of Contents
💭Essential Pantry Items
Having a well-stocked pantry is key to getting dinner on the table in no time. Stock up on staples like pasta, canned soups, broth, and really anything that can easily be turned into a meal with minimal effort.
Keep some frozen items on hand as well for days when you don't feel like going out to the store. Every night, take an inventory of what you have in your pantry and freezer to help plan meals that are both creative and budget friendly.
With a bit of organization, you'll be able to whip up delicious dinners for your family in no time!
This list is by no means complete. I'm including 10 Essential Pantry Items that I think are essential to any good organized kitchen.
Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you would include.
💭Dried Goods:
- Flour, white sugar, brown sugar, powder sugar, baking powder, baking soda, oatmeal, baking mix such as Bisquick, cereals and pancake mix.
- Also included in dried goods are breadcrumbs.
💭Dried Spices:
- Basil, parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Seasoning salt that you can use for chicken or steak.
💭Cheese:
Ideally, you wouldn't keep cheese in a pantry, however, our kitchen is always stocked with cheese and other common dairy products.
- A variety of cheeses such as American, cheddar, mozzarella.
- Most cheeses freeze well, which is great.
💭Canned Goods:
- Vegetables, Soups, Fruits, Tuna Fish, Beans, Tomatoes.
- Olives, pickles, roasted red peppers, mushrooms.
- Some of these can be purchased from the store or canned from your summer garden harvest.
💭Oils and Vinegars:
- Vegetable, olive oil and non-stick cooking spray.
- Coconut oil is another popular oil to use for cooking.
- I would also include in this category, solid shortening.
- Vinegar - white, red, apple cider vinegar and balsamic.
💭Condiments:
- Mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, jams, jellies, salad dressing, barbecue sauce, salsa, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, honey.
- Peanut Butter - this is a must in our household!
💭Baking Supplies:
- Cake mixes, chocolate chips, candy melts, cocoa powder.
- Make sure you check out my Cake Mix Baking Secrets and Printable for more great cake mix ideas.
- Yeast - I like to purchase a "brick" of yeast that lasts a very long time in the freezer.
- All-purpose flour, Pancake mix; although I use my homemade bulk pancake mix and keep it in a large mason jar in our pantry.
- Baking powder and baking soda.
- Oatmeal.
💭Sweeteners:
- Any type of sugar substitute if you use this for coffee or tea, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup.
- White sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar.
💭Rice and Grains:
- Pasta, brown rice, white rice, rolled oats, barley, dried beans.
💭Nuts and Dried Fruits:
- Grab your family's favorite for snacking and baking.
- It helps to store the nuts in the freezer to prolong the shelf life.
Free Pantry List Printable
Here's a FREE printable to help you make sure your pantry is stocked with everything you need to be able to cook delicious meals for your family.
Like this list? Check out these Cooking Tips:
- Kitchen Essentials Tools List - a collection of the kitchen tools I use every day to help me cook dinner for my family.
- Favorite Baking Tools List - here's what I like to use that help me bake delicious desserts.
- Homemade Spices - help save money by making your own homemade spices.
- Cake Mix Baking Secrets - another FUN printable too!
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2012 with new photos, information and a new printable. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
My Journey With Candida says
Hahahaha, I had to laugh when I seen pasta on your list. For Italians, you don't have anything to eat if you don't have pasta in the house.
Sue says
I think you have pretty well covered everything, Lois, the one thing I am not without in my pantry is coconut oil, I have just recently found this product, and it is healthy and amazing. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Enjoy your day.
Hugs,
Sue
Chatty Crone says
Okay I have everything in your list here at home except cheesecake. lol I think I would have chocolate added to that list. sandie
Cranberry Morning says
Someone actually has a pantry that looks like that?? Wow.
My list definitely includes all varieties of tree nuts and peanuts. It's what I go to when I think I'm starving.
Olives: Green, pimiento stuffed, black, kalamata, Moroccan, etc.
Add Feta to the cheese list
Beans. Black Beans, red beans
Gluten-free tortillas. (Food for Life)
Yogurt, non-fat, plain.
Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ says
You covered it really well, Lois. I am always reaching for my spices and it seems like my soups for cooking (pantry). And for the refrigerator - my shredded cheeses and my eggs!
Tammy
Aunt B says
10)Sauces and condiments (including Worcestershire sauce and Soya sauce, fish sauce, bean paste, curry paste, relishes and chutneys)
9)Herbs and spices
8)Dried beans
7)Boxed pasta
6)Rice
5)Baking supplies (flours, sugars, honey, baking soda, baking powder, yeast)
4)Canned salmon and tuna
3)Canned tomatoes
2)Dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, butter, eggs)
1) Fresh fruit and vegetables
Marlys Folly says
Love you list and love #1~~~ should be a staple in anyone's pantry!
JT says
My wife's pantry has a lot of stuff in it. It is a mess. She can stick her hand in that mess and pull out what she needs. I don't know how she does it.
Cheryl @ The Farmer's Daughter says
I would love to have a pantry like this one! You have most of the essentials on your list, Lois. I had to laugh at the Cheesecake. I'd put chocolate at #1 on my list! 🙂
Beth says
I like to bake, so baking powder, baking soda, salt,cocoa,and pan spray.
Must also have eggs on hand at all times, bacon, sausage, pancake mix and syrup.
AND, most importantly, a good cook book,
Elena says
All Purpose Flour, I also use better for bread flour and tortilla flour a lot too.
Fiona says
Always try and have eggs
in the fridge and also some boneless chicken breasts in the freezer.
Great list ♥
Country Whispers says
Just a few more staples that I always have on hand are eggs, frozen or canned fruit and veggies, potatoes, rice and chocolate chips.
Jill says
Fantastic list! I don't know that I could add anything more.
Paula says
This is a GREAT list. And YES, I dream of having a pantry like this!
For #9, I always try to have butter Pam (for baking) and olive oil Pam for sauteing (sp). I also love garlic Pam, but it sometimes hard to find.
For #8, I always have Old Bay seasoning, traditionally used for seafood but, I also like it on chicken, in soups and in my tuna salad. I also have Goya brand Adobo w/pepper and Sazon Accent, not only because this is a half Latin home but they both have so many useful ingredients that it's like "one stop" shopping.
For #7, Just a note, although buying shredded cheeses can make life easier, I started shredding my own when I realized that they toss the cheese in cellulose (basically saw dust) to keep it from sticking together.
For #6, I love my tomato paste in a tube, it may cost a little more but I have never had a recipe where I needed the whole can.
For #3, Progresso has a panko that is Italian seasoned and I love it!
For #2, I'm with ya Lois, I stock up whenever I can and I keep salted and unsalted in the house. I like to use unsalted whenever I'm baking.
And For my #1, CHOCOLATE! I must always have chocolate in house. Chips & bars. Hope this helps 🙂
Lindsey says
Vinegars (white, white wine, red, balsamic), soy sauce, flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, hot sauce, quinoa, a variety of dried beans.
Angie says
Soup base (beef, chicken, pork), onions,oatmeal,.....I agree with one of the other comments, the list could go on and on...
allisamazing says
Crackers, Salad Dressing, Croutons! The list could go on and on and I sure would love a pantry like the first picture 🙂
Miss Debbie says
Vanilla, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup,and lemon juice. Best wishes to your friend as she begins this new adventure!
Michelle says
Great list! trying to think of some more, lots of herbs and spices, condensed milk, coconut milk, there are lots of pantry essential lists online that are worth checking out 🙂