Easy Pantry and Freezer Meals

These Easy Pantry and Freezer Meals use staple ingredients, plus a few things that last a while in the fridge, to make simple, kid-friendly dinners.

Hi friends! 

I’ve gotten a lot of requests for easy pantry and freezer meals so I wanted to put together a post of simple ideas for you guys! I used ingredients from my pantry and freezer, along with a few things that last a while in the fridge like pre-packaged hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, carrots, cheese, pesto etc! For veggies I relied on vegetables that have a long shelf life in the pantry like potatoes, squash and onions, carrots in the fridge, plus frozen vegetables (canned vegetables also work!). For fruits, I tried to include things like apples and oranges that last a while, plus frozen and canned/packaged fruit. 

Remember that these meals are flexible. You can easily swap in your favorite type of frozen vegetables, crackers, pasta, beans, frozen meat etc. I’m not sponsored by or endorsing any specific brands for this post. I took these photos using what I had on hand, without any special trips to the store because these are all actual meals I would make for my family, especially during this time when we might not be able to get to the grocery store as often as usual!

Easy Pantry and Freezer Meals

**The ideas in red do not have links. They’re just general ideas!**

1. Burger + Fruit + Veggies – Choose your favorite meat, fish or veggie burger and pair with steamed veggies and fruit
2. Pancakes + Smoothie – Make pancakes from scratch or use your favorite mix. Pair with a yogurt-based smoothie and throw in some frozen fruits (and veggies like spinach, cauliflower or zucchini if you want!) and healthy fat like peanut butter
3. Chicken Nuggets + Veggie Fries + Applesauce – Swap veggie fries for regular fries if you want and add an extra side of veggies
4. Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas – Mix roasted sweet potatoes with black beans, corn and cheese. Spoon into tortillas and top with enchilada sauce and cheese before baking. If you have meat in your freezer you can cook and use that instead of sweet potatoes, or you could skip the tortillas and mix in some cooked quinoa, farro or rice and scoop with chips. You could also use canned chicken. 
5. Snack Plate – Make a plate with crackers, sliced cheese, meat sticks/pepperoni/smoked meats, hard-boiled eggs and hummus for everyone to share. Throw on some carrots and a side of fruit if you want!
6. Pesto Pasta + Chicken Sausage – Cook the pasta, add sliced sausage and pesto and mix. Serve with steamed veggies.

1. Italian Salmon + Farro + Veggies – Drizzle salmon with dressing and bake. Serve with farro/rice/quinoa and your favorite veggies. If you have frozen broccoli or green beans etc you could roast them right on the pan with the salmon from frozen.
2. French Toast + Fruit + Yogurt – Mix eggs, milk and cinnamon. Dip bread and cook on the stove or griddle. Serve with packaged fruit and yogurt. If you don’t have yogurt, drizzle the french toast with peanut butter or add a handful of nuts to the plate!
3. Chicken & Chickpea Soup – Cook chicken in a dutch oven with garlic, onion and some frozen veggies. Add a can of chickpeas and tomatoes, some broth and your favorite noodles. Make it vegetarian by leaving out the chicken or swap chickpeas for white beans if you prefer!
4. Sausage Pizza + Carrots + Oranges – Make your own pizza dough. Top with pizza sauce, chicken sausage and cheese. Serve with carrots or another veggie and apple slices or clementines!
5. Pumpkin Mac & Cheese + Apples + Trailmix – Make a box of mac and cheese but stir in some pumpkin. Or skip the pumpkin and throw in some peas. 
6. Breakfast Hash – Roast potatoes. Mix with black beans and scrambled eggs. Top with cheese and salsa.

And now here are some recipes already on the blog that can be made with little to no modification.

**click the recipe title to be taken to the recipe on the blog!**

1. Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs – Swap green onions for white onions if you need to. You can also leave out the red pepper if you don’t have. Serve with rice/farro/quinoa/cauliflower rice and broccoli (roasted from frozen).
2. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs – Add extra vegetables if you want! Or serve with steamed veggies and rice.
3. White Chicken Chili – The recipes calls for fresh chicken. If you don’t have some in your freezer to cook you can sub canned chicken or use extra beans.
4. Instant Pot Pasta With Meat Sauce – If you don’t have an Instant Pot, just cook some ground meat, mix it with a jar of sauce and serve over your favorite noodles.
5. Lentil Veggie Curry – You can leave out the potatoes or peppers if you don’t have them. Swap lentils for chickpeas if you don’t have them. 
6. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage – I’ve never roasted frozen green beans but I have done it with broccoli. Or you could just steam veggies and mix them in

1. Sheet Pan BBQ Meatballs with Sweet Potatoes – Use whatever ground meat you have. Or try these Pesto Lentil Balls. 
2. Baked Ranch Chicken Taquitos – Swap chicken for canned chicken if you need to or make them vegetarian with extra beans.
3. Tuna Quinoa Cakes – You can also use canned salmon or probably even canned chicken
4. Lentil Sloppy Joes – Leave out the mushrooms if you don’t have them
5. Crispy Chicken Bowls with Potatoes  – Swap steamed veggies for roasted and mix with potatoes. You could also use chicken nuggets from the freezer.
6. BBQ Pulled Pork Loaded Sweet Potatoes – If you don’t have meat, make a vegetarian bean chili with canned beans and tomatoes and serve over baked potatoes

A couple of other ideas? Tuna casserole with egg noodles, frozen mixed veggies and a can of cream of mushroom soup or black bean nachos!

Hope this was helpful!

–Lindsay–