Summer is sort of a food free-for-all for the husdude and me. We cook more, we try more recipes, we pick up a crazy amount of seasonal fruits and veggies from the farmer’s market, we grill – but come fall, when the farmer’s market closes and we can’t find decent heirloom tomatoes at the grocery store, we have this jarring come-to-center moment of…what do we eat now?

During the fall and winter months, when we tend to be busier and there’s less seasonal produce available, having a well-stocked pantry can be the difference between ordering takeout over and over and having simple, nutritious weeknight meals that you know like the back of your hand. 

The following list follows the basic food staples that I always keep around (not just in the pantry), plus recipes that make use of those staples. 

Keep in mind that your list of must-have staples might look different from mine. If you’re vegan, you’re obviously not wanting eggs and dairy. If you’re allergic to nuts, maybe swap those out for canned or frozen fish. If you eat a ton of miso soup, miso might be one of your staples! You know what you like and don’t like better than anyone else, so feel free to make these your own. 

Table of Contents

Beans

Beans, lentils, and other legumes – whether they’re canned or dried – are super cheap and an excellent source of protein, iron, and fiber. There are about a bajillion ways to eat beans, from tacos and bean burgers to soups and curries, so you can go crazy with a fire black bean enchilada recipe or keep it simple with beans and rice. 

• Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas from Budget Bytes
• Moroccan Red Lentil Soup from Feed Me Phoebe
• Cuban Black Beans and Rice from Chew Out Loud

Canned Tomatoes

It seems like I can’t sneeze without hitting a recipe that requires canned tomatoes. Sauces, soups, and curries all generally call for fresh or canned tomatoes, so having a couple of different varieties on hand – like diced, whole peeled, crushed, roasted, etc – will ensure you’ll always have a healthy meal you can make. This is also a super easy way to incorporate some veggies into a meal when your fridge is looking a little bare.