In light of everything that’s been happening in the world – people are freaking out a little about food….okay, a lot. So while everyone is loading up their grocery carts and houses with pantry and freezer staples, I wanted to give you guys some recipe inspiration for how to switch things up, and include some more deliciousness in your life so you don’t get bored with the things you DO have on hand in your pantry and freezer! What are your favorite Freezer and Pantry Meal ideas? Let me know in the comments!
Also, stay tuned – I’ll be doing some more posts soon about how to navigate the food anxiety aspect of all this soon!
Here are a bunch of freezer and pantry meal ideas + recipes that can be made almost entirely with ingredients found in (you guessed it!) your pantry or freezer. Substitutions are noted when necessary as PS (pantry swap) or FS (freezer swap)! For example, FS: switch out chicken thighs for canned chicken, frozen shrimp, etc. We’ve got ideas for curries, pastas, breakfast, baking with minimal ingredients, even how to switch up your rice game.
ALSO. Shelf-stable and freezer foods do not have a moral hierarchy. There are no good and bad foods. There is no morality around food. This is a great time to ask yourself – what beliefs do I have around these foods? What kinds of thoughts are coming up around food and my body right now?
Get spicy with curries!
- Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry
- Pantry sub notes: Use canned sweet potato or pumpkin!
- Elote (Mexican Street Corn Dip)
- PS: skip the toppings (cilantro, red onion, cheese) and this can be made entirely from the pantry.
- Pumpkin Coconut Curry with Chicken
- FS: whatever protein you have on hand!
- The Easiest Thai Red Curry
- FS: whatever frozen protein + veggies you have on hand. Could also sub chickpeas or beans for animal protein here!
- Coconut Red Curry Shrimp Soup
- FS: frozen broccoli and peppers, frozen shrimp
Get creative with tuna, salmon, or canned chicken:
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
- PS: use canned chicken instead of fresh
- Moroccan Tagine Chicken Salad
- PS: use canned chicken, nix the tomatoes if you don’t have them!
- My Favorite Tuna Salad
- PS: use dried herbs instead of fresh!
- Pan-Fried Salmon Cakes & Caper-Dill Aioli
Doctor up your pantry staples & sauces:
- Turmeric & Garlic Instant Pot Rice
- Let’s be honest – there’s probably going to be a lot of rice in the next few weeks. If you’re getting bored with plain old rice, try adding some spices to it!
- Indonesian Fried Rice (Gluten Free Nasi Goreng)
- Pantry/freezer sub notes: use frozen vegetables and whatever protein you have on hand. Eggs are optional, but delicious – and can be stored for a long time in the fridge!
- Fry Sauce – use this to spice up whatever meals you’re whipping up!
Switch up your pasta game!
- Fall Harvest Pasta with Sausage and Apples
- Notes: feel free to substitute whatever fresh (or frozen) fall vegetables you have on hand here! Sweet potatoes or root vegetables would be great.
- Cauliflower Gnocchi Alfredo with Sausage and Broccoli (Dairy-Free)
- FS: substitute frozen broccoli, whatever sausage or other protein you have on hand!
- Sauce ideas: red sauce, pesto, alfredo sauce
- Doctor it up! Add sun-dried tomatoes or olives, frozen mushrooms or vegetables, your own dried herbs or spices. Try adding some red wine to a marinara sauce, it’s delicious!
- Cacio e Pepe (pasta with cheese and black pepper, use pasta water because starch makes the sauce creamy)
- Macaroni & Cheese (from the box. Obviously. Delicious!)
Bountiful Breakfast Ideas:
- Blueberry Lemon Bread
- Needs eggs.
- Pumpkin Chia Parfaits with Caramelized Apples
- Without the apples, this can be made entirely from pantry ingredients!
- Golden Milk Chia Pudding
- Omit the orange juice if you don’t have any on hand.
- Strawberry Banana Acai Smoothie – use all frozen fruit, and almond or other dairy-free milk that can be stored in the pantry until opening!
- Mango Ginger Green Smoothie
- FS: use frozen kale or spinach instead of fresh
- Mocha Banana Smoothie
- Fluffy Apple Pie Spiced Pancakes
- Pancakes or waffles from a mix (or the frozen section!)
- Oatmeal, overnight oats, or an oatmeal bake
Snacks.
- Homemade Truffle Parmesan Popcorn
- Plantain chips + guacamole or hummus
- Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
- The Fluffiest Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles
And of course, frozen pizzas, frozen meals, canned soup, etc. But I figured you guys wouldn’t need recipe ideas for those 🙂
