It’s all about stocking up on staple pantry items we need today. We live in challenging times, where many families struggle to stay ahead. Eating out at restaurants or fast food joints may be convenient for families who are always on the go, but the cost has increased significantly over the past few years.
Afterward, you may feel that you paid too much money, but to make matters worse, you may have that one child complaining that they’re “still hungry.” Grrrrr! Check out these staple pantry items for making cheap meals.
I’m here to encourage you if you’re on a tight budget and looking for cheaper meal solutions. Everyone should have 20 staple pantry items to make cheaper meals. In case you missed this post, Canned Foods I Highly Recommend You Store
20 Staple Pantry Items
1. Dry or Canned Beans
Dried or canned beans are at the top of my list of essential pantry items. Whichever way you prefer them, they’re highly affordable and packed with protein. Beans are the magical fruit that you’ll need in your pot of chili, burritos, or refried beans.
I noticed our local Kroger/Smith’s grocery store had a case lot sale that started this past weekend. They had black beans and green beans by the case, along with other high-quality canned foods, such as soups. Finding a case lot sale is a great way to stock your pantry with affordable items for inexpensive meals.
2. Pasta
Pasta is another filling pantry item that costs around $1 or less per meal. You can enjoy it in all different shapes and sizes. It can be stored in your pantry for an extended period, and you can also pour different types of sauces over it to add variety to your dishes.
It’s incredible how filling pasta meals can be, and a handful of pasta goes a long way when it’s cooked. We have spaghetti all the time, and our family enjoys the variations of meats and cheeses we use.
3. Rice
Buying rice in bulk is a great way to make any meal more filling while costing you less—rice pairs well with soup, skillet dishes, or as a side dish. Rice is a staple in the pantry used in various cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, and Asian meals. Like pasta, it goes a long way once cooked. I appreciate that it’s also shelf-stable, so you know it will last you a long time as a pantry staple.
4. Chicken
Chicken is cheap in terms of meat, but even more so if you’re patient and wait until the family packs or cases go on sale. It pairs well with almost any meal, and any leftovers you don’t use can be stored in the freezer for later use.
I like to buy the canned chicken breast at Costco. We use it to make chicken salad sandwiches, chicken divine with broccoli, and chicken tacos and burritos. We also purchase the Costco rotisserie chicken in the bags. It saves having to debone the chicken, and it goes a long way. It does need to be refrigerated.
5. Canned Tuna
A can of tuna can be enjoyed straight out of the container or added to other ingredients to make tuna salad. It, too, comes with an abundance of protein and other vital nutrients. I buy canned tuna as part of my weekly groceries if I haven’t found it as part of a case lot sale. UPDATE: I now only purchase tuna from Natural Catch Tuna. Thank you, Harry, for introducing me to this product.
6. Ground Beef
Ground beef is another staple pantry item that can be used to make several cheap meals. Although not as cheap as chicken, it’s still cost-effective compared to most other meats, and it, too, can be purchased in bulk at a great sale price and then stored in your freezer. You’ll need it to make sloppy joes, tacos, chili, soups, stir fry, and hearty casseroles.
7. Pasta Sauce
A jar of pasta sauce that can be poured over your spaghetti noodles can create an entire meal for your family for under $3. It doesn’t get any cheaper than that.
8. Eggs
Oh, how I love eggs! They’re full of protein while costing you very little. They are one of the cheapest staple foods on this list. Whether you prefer scrambled or sunny side up, or maybe you’re in the mood for some French toast for breakfast, eggs will do your body good. You’ll also need eggs to make homemade baked goods.
Last year, eggs were relatively expensive due to the loss of egg-producing chickens from the Avian Flu. Eggs are now much more plentiful and available at pre-flu prices. Check out the pricing on the five-dozen packages of eggs at Costco. I think you’ll be surprised at the low cost.
9. Cheese
Cheese can be expensive, so you may want to wait until it goes on sale. If you enjoy cooking from scratch, it will be hard to survive without it. (At least, I think so.) You’ll need it for salads, sandwiches, homemade pizza, and yummy cheesy quesadillas. Believe it or not, it can also be frozen if desired.
We like to buy the Tillamook cheese in the large brick. We slice off what we need each time we make cheese sandwiches, add it to spaghetti or other pasta dishes, or use it in tacos and other Mexican meals. I do not freeze the brick cheese; it crumbles.
We also purchase shredded cheese and freeze it in pint jars or use my FoodSaver bags in portions we typically use.
10. Flour or Cornstarch
Flour or cornstarch will be essential for those who whip up everything from scratch. It also thickens sauces and soups, but most importantly, we need flour when making mouth-watering baked goods, such as my favorite homemade bread.
I use bread flour rather than all-purpose flour. I’ve found it not only works great with my no-fail bread recipe but also with other flour-based recipes.
11. Oil
You may be scratching your head on this one because oil certainly isn’t cheap, but it will provide you with more cooking options besides simply baking or frying, and you’ll notice the taste difference, too. Olive oil is the healthiest way to go, while providing several health benefits for you and your family. I still buy vegetable oil for many recipes, I like the flavor more.
12. Oatmeal
Oatmeal offers a filling and frugal breakfast option. You can also use it to make oatmeal cookies or homemade granola. If stored properly, oats in various forms will last a long time in your pantry and can be added to many of your favorite recipes as a filling ingredient.
13. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is undoubtedly one of those food items that most families can’t live without, especially if you have children who love eating peanut butter and jelly just about every day of the week. Or maybe you’re the guilty culprit who eats it by the spoonful for a snack in the middle of the night? Regardless of the circumstances, peanut butter is an excellent source of protein at a relatively low price.
I don’t buy the huge containers, but have found that the smaller containers tend to cost more. Buy the size that will satisfy your family for a few weeks, as it lasts a reasonable amount of time on your pantry shelf.
14. Bread
Bread is another essential item for making affordable meals, such as sandwiches, toast, or incorporating it into a casserole. I like my homemade bread made with bread flour. I keep mine in the freezer until it’s time to use the loaf. I’ve found that bread freezes well, and I don’t have to worry about preservatives or mold.
15. Frozen Vegetables
Sometimes, you’ll find that frozen vegetables come cheaper than fresh ones and last much longer, too! Frozen vegetables, such as corn, green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower, work great as a side dish but can also be used to make a delicious vegetable beef soup or a pot pie. Don’t forget you can dehydrate frozen vegetables, no washing, peeling, or chopping. How to Dehydrate Frozen Vegetables
16. Onions
Onions are not only inexpensive, but they can also be used to add plenty of flavor to a wide variety of dishes. They taste great in soups, salads, skillets, or on top of burgers and sandwiches. I typically pick up ten bags of frozen chopped onions if they are on sale. I can use part or all of each bag I open. Onions: Everything You Need To Know
17. Potatoes
A small bag of potatoes will cost you well under $5.00, but you can get several meals out of it. Potatoes are another versatile item that can be enjoyed as a side dish, in a soup or casserole, and also as well-seasoned breakfast potatoes.
We’ve also been buying a product called Idahoan Mashed Potatoes. They’re made from real potatoes and taste great. They come in a small pouch and can be prepared as quickly as boiling 2 cups of water. They also come in a variety of flavors to keep all your family members smiling at dinner time.
18. Spices and Herbs
You’ll need these to add flavor to all your favorite meals and recipes. They’ll run you a bit more in cost, but if you shop for the right spices and herbs, you can get them for a low price. Ones that you’ll find yourself using most often include chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, paprika, basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper, cumin, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
19. Kosher or Sea Salt
Much healthier than table salt, kosher or sea salt will add robust flavor, while you won’t have to worry about those undesired additives. My favorite salt is Redmond Salt
You’ll also want some condiments, including ketchup, mustard, pickles, mayonnaise, and sauces such as sweet and sour sauce and taco sauce.
20. Peppercorn
Lastly, don’t forget to get yourself a grinder of peppercorns. Pepper that has already been ground up tends not to retain its flavor or aroma as well as a peppercorn. Additionally, pepper goes well with just about everything. UPDATE: Now I only buy ground black pepper.
Is there a cheap fruit I should consider?
Of all the fruits available, we’ve found bananas to be our best buy. We’ve been buying them for $ 0.49 to $ 0.79 per pound at most local stores. Mark has bananas with his cereal each morning and loves them. If you buy them green at the store, they should last you four or five days or longer, depending on how ripe you like them. We store them in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life.
Final Word
There’s no reason to feel guilty about finding ways of saving your family money while feeding them healthy meals. Making meals that cost very little is a great way to do just that. These 20 staple pantry items are just a few among many others that you’ll want to consider to make cheaper meals. What are other staple foods that your family could not live without that didn’t make my list? Let me know so I can share your ideas with my readers. May God bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: Glass Jars With Food Storage AdobeStock_304691216 by New Africa
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