Frugal Pantry Staples

While I was working full-time, I rarely cooked meals from scratch.  I did my best to get a meal on the table, but we honestly ate out a pretty good amount of the time.  The meals I did cook were pretty basic and my arsenal was very small.

Since having children and becoming a full time homemaker, I have been doing much more of my own cooking.  Some of my motivation is to save money, but there are so many other benefits to cooking at home.  It’s much healthier and it’s so nice to know exactly what is going into the dishes you are making.  Stopping for just a second to read food labels can be really eye-opening.  It’s crazy when you can’t read half the ingredients on your food label!

I won’t sit here and act like we make every thing from scratch, that processed food doesn’t ever touch our lips, or that we never eat out {ha!}, but it has been nice to try new homemade recipes and cook for my family much more often.  But, cooking more at home requires having a well stocked pantry of staple items.

In case you are getting started or constantly struggling to get a cooked meal on the table, consider perusing your pantry first to see to see if you might need to get your pantry in good shape before making some good progress in this area.  When you sit down to menu-plan, then you’ll be off to a great start.

Here is my list of frugal pantry staples.  I understand that every family eats different foods, this list is basic enough to get you started.  The great thing is that not only is cooking meals at home cheaper than eating out, but these items are pretty inexpensive as well so it’s a win-win.  I’ve seen grocery stores sales and coupons on all these items at some point or another {the exception to this might be spices}.

1.  Flours/baking soda/baking powder
These are important for most baking, whether its for desserts or breads.  I tend to use all-purpose flour the most, but you can always opt for whole wheat or other flours that work for you.

2.  White sugar/brown sugar
Again, you’ll need these for baking.

3.  Dried pastas
Even if you aren’t a huge fan of Italian food, it’s almost silly not to have a little on hand for quick pasta meals when you are in a pinch.  See #10 for help with completing those sorts of meals.

4.  Canned tomatoes
I used these in sauces, chili’s, or even on homemade pizza.  Fresh tomatoes are great, but there is nothing wrong with the canned version!

5.  Beans {dry or canned}
We tend to use canned beans more often than the dry version, but these have been so helpful to have on hand for some of my recent freezer cooking sessions.  I use them a lot for chili’s and other Mexican-themed dishes like my Crockpot Mexican chicken recipe.  These are also a super frugal way to get a complete protein in {when combined with #6 for less money than meat}.

6.  Rice
This is great to have on hand for a side dish.  It goes so well with many crockpot meals or chicken dishes.  I tend to like instant rice, but either one is a huge help at mealtime.

7.  Oatmeal
I didn’t realize until a few years ago that homemade oatmeal for breakfast can be really yummy with a little bit of sweetener and/or fruit {fresh or frozen}.  You can even make your own instant oatmeal packets.  These are great to have made up for mornings when you are on the run!  We also use it in baking or other “breakfast for dinner” meals.

8.  Basic spices
If you want your dishes to have flavor, then you can’t forget your basic spices.  Even the Food Network chefs swear that salting and peppering food brings out the original flavors.  I tend to keep some other basics on hand such as oregano, paprika, chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, garlic salt, nutmeg, vanilla.  Read HERE if you are looking to build your spice cabinet.

9.  Broth / cream of soups
These are great for using in casseroles, soups, etc.  If you are really ambitious, you can even make these yourself.

10.  Ready-made sauces {marinara, alfredo, etc.}
Although homemade sauces are oftentimes more tasty, there are some decent ready-made sauces out there too.  I always stock up on these when there is a great sale!  Sometimes ease wins out in our house and these are great to have at the ready when you need to get something on the table quick.

As you begin to cook more at home, you’ll find other items that you might want to add or subtract to your list to help make dinner prep easier for you.