Having a well-stocked pantry and fridge can save you time and money when it comes to feeding your family. If you always have the items on this pantry essentials list you will have a wide variety of things you can make for your family.
Why a pantry essentials list
A well-stocked pantry can save you from what happened to me yesterday. It was 6 pm, we had just arrived home from the kids’ gymnastics class, and I had no idea what to make for dinner.
Eventually, I decided to make a quick pasta dish – spaghetti with olive oil and oregano. But guess what? There was no pasta in the house and only a tiny bit of olive oil left. We ended up ordering pizza.
Does this evet happen to you? You plan to make something only to find out that you are out of 1 or 2 ingredients you need to make it?
Have a pantry essentials list is key to being able to cook meals without running to the store or ordering takeout.
Pantry list
A pantry list is a great way to make sure you always have the basic staples in the house. These would be pantry items that help you quickly put together a homemade, healthy meal for the family.
Creating a pantry list
When creating a pantry list, you want to store items that your family actually eats.
If you need help creating your pantry essentials list, we have created a pantry list to help you get started.
Be sure to print our grocery checklist printable to help your grocery trip run smoother while picking up your essentials.
PANTRY ESSENTIALS LIST
DRIED GOODS
- Coffee, tea
- Cornmeal
- Cornstarch
- All-purpose flour
- Bread flour
- Cake flour
- Granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Brown sugar
- Dry cereals
- Oatmeal
- Jellies, jams, and preserves
- Peanut butter
- Rice
- Pasta
- Dried beans
- Popcorn
- Nuts and seeds
CANNED GOODS
- Low sodium chicken broth
- Canned fruit (pineapple, peaches, fruit cocktail, applesauce)
- Tomatoes: diced, paste, sauce
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Chicken
- Canned vegetables (especially peas and corn)
- Canned beans
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Olives
- Pickles
BASIC BAKING SUPPLIES
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Oatmeal
- Chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Honey
- Raisins
BASIC SPICES
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Chili Powder
- Taco seasoning
- Cinnamon
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Basil
- Dill
- Paprika
- Parsley
- Chicken bouillon cubes
CONDIMENTS
- Ketchup
- Soy sauce
- Barbecue sauce
- Vegetable oil
- Olive oil
- Vinegar (white and apple cider)
- Cooking wine
- Balsamic vinegar
- Cooking spray
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Maple syrup
- Salad dressing
PERISHABLE ITEMS
These items should be added to your weekly grocery list so you always have them on hand to make a quick meal.
- Bread (including bagels, buns and English muffins), pretzels and crackers
- Dairy – milk, eggs, butter, cheese, yogurt.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Potatoes
- Onions and garlic
- Meat, Fish, and Poultry
This is a very basic pantry essentials list. There are many more items you can add, but this is to help you get started creating a stocked pantry. Just remember, once you use something in the pantry be sure to replace it before you run out!
An easy thing we do in our home is to post our free grocery checklist on the fridge. That way when we are about to run out of an item, we immediately add it to the list.