shop the pantry meal plan

a low-spend plan with common pantry items + my pantry staples checklist

If you’ve ever stared into your pantry thinking, I have nothing to cook, only to find a forgotten can of beans, some broth, maybe a jar of marinara sauce… congrats, you’re not alone! But those long-lasting pantry items are actually the magic behind many of my simple, delicious, and affordable recipes. There are endless ways to adapt a can of tomatoes, box of pasta, or jar of tahini when you let the creative juices flow.

This week’s meal plan is all about shopping your pantry and making the most of what you already have on hand. I know you’ve heard this from me before—shopping your pantry is one of my top tips for supporting a sustainable grocery budget. But it’s not just about saving money, it’s about actually using the food you’ve bought to reduce waste, simplify shopping, save time, and ensure your money goes to good use. And by shopping your pantry first you may find you already have an ingredient you need or you might get inspired to try something new with that can of artichokes that’s been in the pantry since you made spinach and artichoke dip last year.

That said, the goal with this week’s meal plan is to use up pantry staples and make flexible, nourishing, budget-friendly meals that don’t require a huge grocery haul. Proteins like ground meat are easy to pull from the freezer if you have them (if not, you’ll only need to pick two up from the store) and fresh veggies can always be swapped for frozen, canned, or whatever you need to use up. The best part about pantry staple centered meals is that these recipes are so forgiving—if you’ve got an extra can of chickpeas, prefer to use your almond butter instead of tahini, or feel inspired to mix in your box of orzo instead of rice, you can do that!! Make it your own.

Bonus: If you’re feeling the early Spring cleaning itch (I am!!), your pantry is actually a great place to start. Check the back for hidden gems, clear out anything out of date, and take stock of your staples like oils, vinegars and canned goods. A little pantry refresh now means easier, more affordable meals all season long. And an organized pantry (and fridge/freezer) makes shopping from it each week even easier.

🚨 Today’s post also includes my Pantry Staples Checklist and my Pantry Storage Essentials!! I released my full Pantry Staples Guide last year and I’m so excited to extend on that with this guide to help you efficiently stock—and shop—your pantry. Scroll to the bottom of today’s post to snag the printable checklist!

my pantry staples guide

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the feeling of a freshly stocked pantry >>

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Here’s everything on our list this week, which you can copy and paste right from here into your notes app or download a PDF to your phone or computer by clicking below.