It was really fun reading through all of your favorite pantry staples and the ways you use them. While we got a TON of responses, there were two items that really stood out from the rest.

Can you guess what they were? If you guessed rice and pasta, then you were spot on! A grand total of Freebs voted these as their top pantry staples. Crazy, huh? Read on to learn what their favorite uses are.

Rice is one of those pantry staples that pretty much goes with anything! It's a great way to stretch a meal, especially if you have some ravenous teenagers or toddlers!

in the house. Pro Tip: Use a rice cooker or Instant Pot to cook your rice quicker if it needs to be cooked before going into a recipe. Oh pasta, you are our love language!

We think it's safe to say that you're the love language of many Freebs, too! This pantry staple is another one that will go with just about anything and it's cheap and easy to keep on hand. Pro Tip: When you're cooking pasta, don't use oil in your water for boiling.

A lot of Freebs keep canned pasta sauce on hand as it pairs naturally with pasta. It's a pantry staple that is pretty cheap to stock up on and can go in lots of different things!

Pro Tip: Pasta sauce is basically canned tomato sauce and some seasonings, so stock up on tomato sauce and you can easily make your own pasta sauce in a pinch! Tomatoes are another pantry staple that a lot of Freebs keep on hand!

Whether they're canned tomatoes, or tomato paste or sauce, there are so many different recipes you can make with them! Don't be afraid to doctor your tomato sauces with fresh herbs, garlic, cheeses, or thickeners to get the results you want.

You can even combined tomato sauce with paste for a slightly different take that uses up both ingredients. Now that you have some ideas about how to use up those delicious canned and jarred tomato soups, sauces, and pastes, let's talk beans! Whether they're canned or whole, beans are good for so many things!

Eat them plain, add them to meat to bulk up the meal, add them to a soup…. Those are just a few of the reasons that beans are one of the top pantry staples for the Freebs! You can even use your leftover canned beans in easy peasy dishes like my tamale casserole! Beans are a delicious filler and add protein and other nutrients!

These soups are so good to have on hand. They go with pretty much anything and can really help to take a few ingredients from being a random assortment of items to a casserole in no time! Pro Tip: It is beyond easy to make your own cream of chicken soup if you keep broth on hand — just add milk, flour , and a little seasoning!

Genius, right!? These are an obvious pantry staple! They're great to have by themselves as a side or added to a recipe. Pro Tip: To improve the flavor of canned vegetables, first rinse them in a colander under cold water. Then add to your recipes as usual. Whether it's beef, chicken, or vegetable, broth and stock are great pantry staples to keep on hand!

Once you build up your pantry food storage, you can even start saving money with once a month grocery shopping! TIP: Allow your pantry storage to build up for a few months before you start using it. Remember: the goal of stocking a pantry is so you have extra food you can rely on to stretch your money or for emergency purposes!

Need containers for pantry storage? A NOTE ABOUT THE PRICES LISTED: We used first quarter pricing from Amazon Fresh. Egg noodles are great because they are super cheap and can be used with just sauce or with meats or in a variety of different casseroles or dishes.

Many people recommend storing pasta sauces for your pantry list. With canned tomatoes, you can use them for soups, chili, pasta sauces, other sauces, casseroles, pizza and more. If you can your diet allows , start with basic rice and then add in more expensive items like quinoa.

UP NEXT: How To Save Money On Groceries Without Clipping Coupons! I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but dried beans are also an important as frugal pantry staples for the same reasons as rice and pasta: price, long-term shelf stable, great fillers for recipes, and they make us feel full.

Many pantry lists recommend you store broth like the kind you get in a carton. Getting some fresh-tasting, healthy food pantry items is important. TIP: Always choose pantry items that have multiple purposes. For example, green beans can be eaten alone, but also used in soups and casseroles.

Remember, along with sweet treats like cookies, cupcakes, and cakes, baked goods are also bread, cornbread, tortillas, biscuits and so many more items that you can save money by making from scratch.

Oats are another great pantry item because you can use them for breakfast or dinner and they have several purposes — eating alone, binding agents for dishes think: meatloaf , baking and more!

DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR

Bargain pantry staples - PASTA DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR

DICED TOMATOES These are super inexpensive and way cheaper than buying fresh tomatoes. I love using them in recipes to give a bit of added flavor and color.

And I even show you how to can diced tomatoes yourself if you want to try that. PASTA SAUCE I know making your own pasta sauce is pretty easy, but since I can buy it so inexpensively, I prefer to just do that.

Pasta sauce is great for a quick meal of meatball subs, pizza, spaghetti or, lasagna to mention just a few. KETCHUP, MUSTARD, MAYO Okay, so maybe I should have listed these 3 things separately. I use many more condiments than these, but these are the three that I think every kitchen should for sure stock.

BREAD I typically make my own bread , but it is something that I always keep on hand. We often use it to make sandwiches for lunch, toast it to eat with eggs and occasionally use it in recipes like my Cheeseburger Casserole too! TORTILLAS I use these all the time to make enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas and wraps.

In fact, these Salsa Ranch Chicken Wraps are one of my favorite quick meals! And these easy recipes with tortillas are also great as well.

ONIONS GARLIC I use both of these items regularly to inexpensively add extra flavor to lots of different recipes. Of course, you can always freeze them too , if you prefer. CARROTS These are not only a great addition to many soups, but they also make a healthy snack or side dish. POTATOES Super versatile!

You can use them in soups, casseroles, breakfast dishes or side dishes. A few of our favorite potato recipes are Creamy Sausage and Potatoes , Cream Cheese Potato Soup with Ham , and Country Potato Soup.

BUTTER This is probably the one thing that might seem iffy to put on a frugal pantry list. Plus, I love using it to make these easy Garlic Butter Swim Biscuits! SOUR CREAM I like to keep this on hand to use in soups, to make homemade dips and to use in several casserole recipes as well.

But , since I cook almost entirely from scratch, I do end up using it quite a bit even so. Just a little bit can make a lettuce salad, tuna salad sandwiches or refried bean quesadillas so much yummier! And we love these White Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches! FROZEN VEGGIES Often much cheaper than fresh veggies, the other handy thing about frozen ones is that they last much longer!

I use them a lot as a side dish and also in recipes like my Easy Chicken Pot Pie , Cheesy Ham, Potato and Green Bean Bake and Easy Vegetable Beef Soup. CHICKEN Probably the cheapest kind of meat there is and super versatile too! A few chicken recipes that we enjoy: Herb Roasted Chicken and Potatoes , One Pan Chicken and Rice , Creamy Crockpot Mexican Chicken and Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken.

In casseroles or soups, I often can get by with using less than the amount called for. A few ground beef recipes that we really like: Crockpot Tamale Pie and Super Easy Sloppy Joes.

It helps me be frugal because I can buy in bulk when food is on sale becoming less and less, it seems, these days , portion it and freeze for later.

Yes, I love stocking up and freezing items that are on sale too! Such a great way to save. I so agree with you. We have worn out many vacuum food sealers over the years.

Our son upgraded so he can vacuum seal whole chickens raised on his property. We opted for a slightly smaller model and use it daily. when canning diced tomatoes can I pressure can them in stead of water bath? If so how long to pressure can?

Yes, you can definitely pressure can them! As for how long, it will depend on your pressure canner and altitude. I would look in the instruction manual that came with the pressure canner and go by what it says there. I would follow that. Tomatoes also freeze well! Either whole or diced or roasted.

Consider that especially when your garden is at its peak. I would add celery to that list as I use it in making stews. Onions, carrots and celery is your mirre poir for all basic stews.

Yes, celery is a great pantry staple, for sure! Never heard of strained tomatoes but canned tomato products of any kind are handy to have, I think. This is one of my favorite ways to save on cheese too. Great list! A tip on keeping garlic longer — I buy the 3 packs of bulbs from Aldi and immediately put them in a small ziplock kept in the freezer.

It keeps a long time that way!!! Ready to mince, etc. I also keep Panko bread crumbs in the freezer as I use them in a variety of recipes.

Lime juice gets used in marinades, etc. and lemon juice is frequently used as well, not only desserts, but certain salad dressings too. Final note, this is not going to work for everyone, but try to hunt out whether or not there is a good local butcher shop in your area.

Or at least within reasonable driving distance. I make a few trips a year and stock the freezer with various meats. Got a great deal on those and they worked just fine for recipes that called for bacon bits or a bit of chopped bacon — just froze them and pulled out what I needed.

I never knew you could freeze garlic! It cooks quickly in just 15 minutes, is gluten free and high in fibre. Try this quinoa salad recipe. This is another quick cooking high fibre grain. Whole grain pasta has a lower glycemic index, meaning that it will take longer to digest and won't spike your blood sugar.

Here is a great whole wheat mac and cheese recipe with squash! Canned beans and lentils are a staple in my house. As lentils are quicker to cook from dry, I usually buy more canned beans. Beans and lentils are a great source of protein and phytochemicals. Replacing meat in your diet with beans and lentils a few days a week can also decrease your diets impact on the environment.

Especially if you are avoiding red meat. Here is some recipe inspo. Unlike many other spreads like jam , seed and nut butters naturally contain healthful fats that benefit heart and overall general health. Just make sure you check the ingredient list!

Also avoid "reduced fat" versions as the fat in nut and seed butters is beneficial for health. My favourite quick snack is sliced apples with peanut butter. She completed her dietetics degree at UBC and a Masters of Health Science at Ryerson University in Toronto.

She is an AllerTrain Certified Master Trainer, and works hard to support students at UBC with allergies. Melissa is passionate about ensuring the university residence environment supports a healthy lifestyle and helps young adults create healthy habits for life.

We acknowledge that SHCS and UBC are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.

We thank the Musqueam Nation for its hospitality and support of our work. Search UBC Search. FOOD AT UBC VANCOUVER. By Melissa Baker-Wilson, RD, MHSc. Meal Planning. Whole Grain Cereals Like Shredded Wheat, muesli and rolled oats.

Frozen Fish or Shrimp They are healthy sources of protein and quick to defrost for easy to cook weeknight dinners. Plain Greek Yogurt Greek Yogurt is higher in protein than other yogurts. Whole Fruit Whole fresh fruit is packed with nutrients and fibre.

Hummus Hummus is a great plant-based dip that is easy and cheap to make at home if you have a food processor or even a decent immersion blender or regular blender could work. Extra Firm or Smoked Tofu An inexpensive and ready-to-eat plant based protein that is easy to add to a quick stir fry.

Rotisserie Chicken Chopping up cooked chicken is a great sandwich meat alternative to deli meats, which are often packed with preservatives. Eggs Whole eggs are a great source of high quality protein and choline, which helps with memory.

Quinoa Quinoa is what we call a pseudo grain as it is technically a seed. Whole Grain Pasta This is another quick cooking high fibre grain. Nut Butter Unlike many other spreads like jam , seed and nut butters naturally contain healthful fats that benefit heart and overall general health.

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SALSA 14 Musts for a Budget Pantry · Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information Canned Meat. Tuna melts, chicken salad, or casseroles come together with a can of chicken or tuna. They both work for lunches and dinners. You: Bargain pantry staples

You have to compare apples to apples Baargain For example… Bargain pantry staples, pasteurized, hormone-free meat and dairy is Bargain pantry staples expensive especially compared Bargaim organic Free sample club produce. Share with me below! Join our Shelf Cooking Community today! I would add celery to that list as I use it in making stews. Instagram Twitter Facebook-f. It gives me a frugal break from my usual rotisserie chicken per week for much less broth and meat.	Or you can be smarter about the things you buy. Processed nut butters, such as peanut butter, last longer in the pantry than nuts — up to a year for an unopened jar and a few months after opening. Just a little bit can make a lettuce salad, tuna salad sandwiches or refried bean quesadillas so much yummier! Home Toggle child menu Expand. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR	25 Best Pantry Staples For Easy & Cheap Meals · 1. Bouillion Paste · 2. Canned Beans · 3. Canned Meats: Tuna & Chicken Breasts · 4. Cheese · 5 PASTA TOP PANTRY STAPLES · PASTA SAUCE · CANNED TOMATOES AND TOMATO PASTE · BEANS · CREAM OF CHICKEN/MUSHROOM SOUP · CANNED VEGETABLES · BROTH OR STOCK	RICE. This is probably one of the most frugal pantry items and very versatile too, plus a little bit of uncooked rice ends up being quite a lot once cooked! BEANS PASTA
We Bargain pantry staples chicken pantrg at our sstaples. So give careful consideration to what Bargxin put on your essential food items on Bargain pantry staples budget Barain A few of our pabtry easy Affordable gluten-free ingredients are Chocolate Chip Blonde BrowniesBest Ever Chocolate Cake and Easy Apple Dumpling Dessert. Is that the powder stuff you get in packets? Quinoa is what we call a pseudo grain as it is technically a seed. Budget-friendly recipes that are easy and delicious. You can make everything from pancakes to biscuits, muffins, blondies, and even as a coating for chicken.	Peanut butter as a staple pantry items can be used to make protein balls, fudge, and even a filling sandwich for lunch. Frozen corn and broccoli make quick and healthy sides. Here are 10 foods you can buy in bulk confidently. Home Money Living on a Budget. And it's a non-perishable item that will last significantly longer than fresh meat would, even in your freezer.	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR	Canned Meat. Tuna melts, chicken salad, or casseroles come together with a can of chicken or tuna. They both work for lunches and dinners. You The Budget Cook's 11 Kitchen Pantry Essentials · 1. Grains and Breads · 2. Pasta · 3. Beans and Legumes · 4. Baking · 5. Nuts and Seeds · 6. Oils and How To Build Up Your Pantry On $50/Month · Dried Pasta · Dried Beans · Rice or Quinoa (or Other Grains) · Canned Meat · Broth / Bouillon · Oats · Canned Vegetables	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR
FOOD AT UBC BBargain. Leave a Reply Cancel Sample bundle website Your email address will not be Bargaain. Although the Bargain pantry staples item on the list, a good quality olive oil makes a difference to both taste and health. The Freebs we polled were so helpful to us in writing this post! My Account. Join our Shelf Cooking Community today!	Latest posts by Jacquie see all. To freeze oranges, peel and divide into sections, place in freezer containers, and cover with water. Frozen veggies will keep for up to a year if the package is unopened and the freezer is kept at the proper temperature typically, zero degrees Fahrenheit. We stockpile bags of peas, corn, broccoli, diced potatoes, sweet potatoes and mixes like peppers and onions. Also, if I happen to be out of liquid chicken stock, I can always use the bouillon to make some- although the stock made using bouillon is not nearly as tasty or as good for you as the real thing! Best bang for your buck is a carton of jumbo eggs. They are healthy sources of protein and quick to defrost for easy to cook weeknight dinners.	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR	VINEGAR CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON 14 Musts for a Budget Pantry · Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information	SALSA PASTA SAUCE 10 Budget-Friendly Pantry Staples · 1. Brown Rice · 2. Canned Beans · 3. Pasta Sauce · 4. Canned Meat · 5. Stock · 6. Peanut Butter · 7. Oil · 8

Dry Goods · Flour: all-purpose, whole wheat · Sugar: white, brown, confectioners (powdered) · Rolled Oats · Rice: long-grain white, brown, or 14 Musts for a Budget Pantry · Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information 25 Best Pantry Staples For Easy & Cheap Meals · 1. Bouillion Paste · 2. Canned Beans · 3. Canned Meats: Tuna & Chicken Breasts · 4. Cheese · 5: Bargain pantry staples

Take Bargain pantry staples pantrt the "use Pocket-friendly meal deals date and buy as many canned goods as you think you might use before psntry deadline, Bargain pantry staples may pabtry a few years out. Canned tuna can be used to make sandwiches, salads, and casseroles. We thank the Musqueam Nation for its hospitality and support of our work. Russet, red, and sweet potatoes all have an incredibly long shelf-life when kept in a dark, cool place like your pantry. Combine with a bit of breading, spices, and egg for fast and flavorful cakes or patties.	I love using them in recipes to give a bit of added flavor and color. White rice, for example, can last up to 30 years with no loss of flavor or quality, according to Brigham Young University research. Nothing jazzes up dinner like some flavorful sauces and condiments. Pure vanilla is expensive, but grab a big bottle if it goes on sale — the alcohol content preserves it indefinitely. Search UBC Search. Who among us doesn't know the feeling of coming home, looking at your bill, emptying the bags, and immediately thinking, "Did I even buy something to make for dinner? Hummus Hummus is a great plant-based dip that is easy and cheap to make at home if you have a food processor or even a decent immersion blender or regular blender could work.	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR	PASTA SAUCE TOP PANTRY STAPLES · PASTA SAUCE · CANNED TOMATOES AND TOMATO PASTE · BEANS · CREAM OF CHICKEN/MUSHROOM SOUP · CANNED VEGETABLES · BROTH OR STOCK 1. Rice, Pasta & Other Grains. A few types of grain deserve a permanent spot in any pantry. · 2. Parchment Paper · 3. Beans & Other Legumes · 4	Missing How To Build Up Your Pantry On $50/Month · Dried Pasta · Dried Beans · Rice or Quinoa (or Other Grains) · Canned Meat · Broth / Bouillon · Oats · Canned Vegetables Diced tomatoes, pasta, rice, eggs, flour, sugar, beans of some kind, canned tuna, pickles, potatoes, a tube of tomato paste, oatmeal, onions
When Bargain pantry staples sale hits, fill your shopping basket Pantr frozen fruits and Bargain pantry staples. You Bafgain keep these Affordable Baby Shower Catering food staples on stsples to make dinner time staplex easier. Some of the best frugal pantry staples are for making baked goods. These Are the 7 Cheapest Fast-Food Joints To Try Right Now. Jennifer McClellan USA TODAY. You can make sauces out of:. We make popcorn on the stove in minutes, or in a brown bag version in the microwave too.	BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD. So many varieties to choose from and an endless amount of meal possibilities! Beans are a delicious filler and add protein and other nutrients! Here is some salad inspo. Need containers for pantry storage?	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR	14 Musts for a Budget Pantry · Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information For instance, in Ontario right now, squash and sweet potatoes are super cheap, so we're cooking a lot more with squash! The more you stick to this rule, the Create inexpensive and quick meals with these cheap food staples. This list of frugal pantry staples on a budget will help you make dinner fast!	TOP PANTRY STAPLES · PASTA SAUCE · CANNED TOMATOES AND TOMATO PASTE · BEANS · CREAM OF CHICKEN/MUSHROOM SOUP · CANNED VEGETABLES · BROTH OR STOCK 21 Cheap Pantry Staples List on a Limited Budget · ⭐ Recommended Reads: · 1. Pasta. Cost effective at less than $1 per pack. · 2. Rice · 3. Potato / Sweet 14 Musts for a Budget Pantry · Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Fresh Bargqin is staplee preferred, but Bargain pantry staples garlic will work to pack in the flavor. The frozen Discounted food packages should keep for at least six months. Bargain pantry staples, we've got panty top pantry staples from our loyal followers AKA Freebsplus their favorite ways to use them… Score! You can even use your leftover canned beans in easy peasy dishes like my tamale casserole! Create A Plan For Your Money These FREE Budgeting Spreadsheets will help you keep a pulse on your money from the palm of your hand.	And because it's so versatile, you can almost always replace one ground meat with what's on sale — like ground beef for ground turkey. Your goal is to heat it up, not cook it and dry it out! Create profiles to personalise content. So many recipes start with oil, and for typical cooking applications, a standard olive oil is all you'll need. OIL Besides the traditional uses in baking and frying, I also use oil for making my own salad dressings and vinaigrettes.	DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR	SALSA Hummus is a great plant-based dip that is easy and cheap to make at home if you have a food processor (or even a decent immersion blender or regular blender Canned chicken · Frozen pork shoulder · Rice · Beans · Frozen vegetables · Other staples we love: · Check out these recipes to up your kitchen game	Create inexpensive and quick meals with these cheap food staples. This list of frugal pantry staples on a budget will help you make dinner fast! Here are 50+ cheap recipes made with panty staples like eggs, oats, canned goods, frozen vegetables, and more 1. Rice, Pasta & Other Grains. A few types of grain deserve a permanent spot in any pantry. · 2. Parchment Paper · 3. Beans & Other Legumes · 4

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Bargain pantry staples - PASTA DRIED HERBS | SPICES CHICKEN STOCK | BOUILLON VINEGAR

Popcorn is an inexpensive snack to keep on hand for those moments when you just want to munch, without it costing an arm and a leg! We make popcorn on the stove in minutes, or in a brown bag version in the microwave too.

Popcorn is our best pantry staples for cheap snacks. We do this all the time! Tortillas are super versatile, and you can even freeze them for later, making them a great pantry staple to stock up on!

Fajitas, quesadillas, and soft tacos are all great inexpensive meal options that use tortillas. As you can see, we keep a number of different staple pantry items in our home at all times to make sure that our home is well stocked for easy meals. I hope that this list has not only inspired you to stock your pantry as well but that you give it a try!

Because I believe everyone has the power to live a life of abundance regardless of their income level. Share Pin Bouillion Paste For years I overlooked this little gem of an ingredient.

Canned Beans Want to reduce the money you spend on meat? Use Beans! BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD. Create A Plan For Your Money These FREE Budgeting Spreadsheets will help you keep a pulse on your money from the palm of your hand.

Cheese This item is probably the most expensive one on this list. Eggs We eat a lot of eggs in our home, especially because they are one of the cheapest breakfast foods you can feed your family! Vinegar This is a great base for making your own homemade salad dressings. Baking Powder Baking powder is a must for baking from scratch!

Baking Soda Baking soda is an important ingredient that can be used for cleaning and deodorizing around the home. Cocoa Powder Make sure you choose the unsweetened variety of cocoa powder so that you can add your own sweetener and make it as sweet or not for your liking.

Oats are a super healthy pantry staples for families! Flour Flour is always a great staple to have on hand. Rice Rice is a super inexpensive side dish to fill those growing kids! Popcorn Kernels Popcorn is an inexpensive snack to keep on hand for those moments when you just want to munch, without it costing an arm and a leg!

Tortillas Tortillas are super versatile, and you can even freeze them for later, making them a great pantry staple to stock up on! Your Turn: What other staple pantry items do you keep on hand that are not mentioned here?

Share with me below! More Fun Articles To Read:. What is the BEST breakfast food? Some of the best frugal pantry staples are for making baked goods. Here are some ideas:. If you really want to make it easy, buy some baking mix such as Bisquick.

You can make everything from pancakes to biscuits, muffins, blondies, and even as a coating for chicken. Nothing jazzes up dinner like some flavorful sauces and condiments.

You can make sauces out of:. You can use condensed soups to make a huge array of cheap pantry meals. Another one of the best budget pantry staples is tortillas. They have a much longer shelf life than a loaf of bread, but can be used for anything from tacos to individual pizzas.

A spaghetti dinner can come together super quickly with the use of a jar of pasta sauce. You can always doctor it up with more spices or fresh ingredients if you want. Believe it or not, you can make more than just mashed potatoes with these. Try using them to make gnocchi, as a binder for meatloaf or a thickener for sauces and gravy, or even as a crispy coating for onion rings.

Having a canister of breadcrumbs in the pantry can be used to:. Russet, red, and sweet potatoes all have an incredibly long shelf-life when kept in a dark, cool place like your pantry. Onions also stay good for a long time, and add an incredible amount of flavor to any savory dish.

Canned veggies make quick side dishes, and easy additions to soups and stews. No kitchen is complete without olive oil for flavor and sauteing, and canola oil for higher temperature cooking and baking.

If you really want a quick and cheap meal, make something with eggs. From omelettes to breakfast burritos to scrambled in a hash, there is no less expensive source of good protein. Canned tuna can be used to make sandwiches, salads, and casseroles.

While canned chicken can be used for soups, salads, and, of course, dips. Combine with a bit of breading, spices, and egg for fast and flavorful cakes or patties. Stock is a common ingredient in soups, sauces, and casseroles.

You can also use chicken stock to flavor your rice or other grains and sautéed vegetables. And a bit of stock can help you stretch soups and sauces if you need a bit more for a full meal. Peanut butter is an inexpensive and versatile ingredient because it can be used in every meal of the day.

From smoothies to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to peanut butter noodles , and tons of peanut butter desserts, the jar in your pantry will certainly not go to waste. And if you have a peanut allergy, you can substitute other nut butters, like almond butter , in many recipes.

So many recipes start with oil, and for typical cooking applications, a standard olive oil is all you'll need. But buying a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil is important if you plan to make no-cook dishes, salad dressings, and sauces.

Why's that? Cheap olive oils taste like bad olives. Good oils have a bright, floral flavor that shines through what you're eating. While a higher quality oil may be a bit pricey, remember you're using teaspoons or tablespoons at a time, which stretches the cost out over dozens and dozens of meals.

Have you ever wondered why so many recipes call for garlic? It's because garlic is an aromatic ingredient it has a distinctive smell, and smell is an important factor for taste , and it's an easy way to add a ton of flavor to your meal.

There are so many ways you can add garlic to your dish based on preference and even budget — you can use fresh garlic cloves, store-bought minced garlic, or garlic powder.

Fresh garlic is usually preferred, but any garlic will work to pack in the flavor. Ground meat, like beef, turkey, and chicken, is great for making a quick and easy meal. You can make soups, casseroles, hamburger patties, and tacos with ground meat.

Ground meat isn't the most inexpensive meat, especially depending on how lean you want it, but it's a good thing to buy in a bulk package and freeze for later. And because it's so versatile, you can almost always replace one ground meat with what's on sale — like ground beef for ground turkey.

Frozen vegetables are often cheaper than fresh veggies, and they last much longer. And because you can buy a bag of mixed vegetables, there are so many ways to add veggies to your meal.

You can add frozen spinach to quiche, mixed vegetables to fried rice, and corn to tortilla soup.