Stay Prepared with these 25 Pantry Essentials

When creating a well-stocked pantry, it's important to ensure you have pantry essentials to help you create meals. From staples like sugar, olive oil, and vinegar to more unique items like nuts, flour, and spices, having the right pantry essentials on hand can help you ensure that you can make a filling meal at any time.

person holding a place of whole cloves, cinnamon bark, ground ginger, whole nutmeg, and allspice on a white plate — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

When creating your master pantry, you should always have a few essential items. Here are some of the pantry essentials you should have to help create delicious meals.

Sugar

It has gotten a bad rap in the past few years. Use sparingly. Any baking or sauces that you make may require this ingredient. Sugar is one of the most versatile pantry essentials. You can use it in baking, making syrups, or even topping for desserts.

person adding olive oil to top of food processor — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Olive oil is an essential part of Mediterranean cooking. It originates from the Mediterranean and has a distinctively creamy taste and aroma. This makes it great for baking, sauteeing, or general cooking. It's also perfect for marinades, salad dressings, and even as a delicious pesto sauce.

Vinegar

Add a little vinegar to create a salad dressing, marinade for chicken or pork, and even pickle vegetables. It's also essential for making pickles from your garden or green tomatoes. You can also infuse vinegar to preserve fruit, herbs, and spices for additional flavor.

Broth

The broth is a great pantry essential to have on hand. It can be used to create flavorful soups, stews, and sauces. Used to flavor rice, casseroles, homemade soups, vegetables, and gravies. It is a versatile item; lower sodium varieties can limit salt intake. It's also a great way to reduce food waste by making it with food scraps.

Nuts

bowl of spicy candied pecans in a small bowl — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Pecans, walnuts, cashews, and peanuts are used in various desserts or to eat alone. Nuts are a great pantry essential that can be used in multiple ways. For example, you can use spiced nuts to add crunch to salads, as a topping for ice cream, or even to make your own nut butter.

Flour

If you bake from scratch, it is essential. A pantry staple and all-purpose ingredient, the price of flour is often a lightning rod for debate. You can use it in sweet recipes, like cakes and cookies, or savory recipes, like biscuits. The quality of your flour will impact how successful your baking is. So, all-purpose, semolina or bread flour? Evaluate what popular foods you consume and select the flour that best fits those needs.

Salt

When you flavor food as you cook it, there is no need to add more later on. Salt is seasoning as well as a preservative. It can help bring out the natural flavors of foods, enhance the aroma and taste of various dishes, make great herbed salts, and also help prevent food from spoiling.

Spices

person scooping out pumpkin pie spice out of a mason jar — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

This includes all the dried spices you need to add flavor to various dishes. Spices are an essential pantry item that can add flavor to any dish. From cumin and coriander to turmeric and ginger, having a good base of spices on hand will help you create your own spice blends and add flavor to your dishes.

Dried herbs

person crumbling mulberry green tea — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Whether you're a seasoned chef or just getting started, dried herbs are a great pantry essential. Compared to fresh herbs, dried herbs can boost any dish's flavor. From oregano and thyme to rosemary and basil, this variety pack is easy to stock in your kitchen with delicious herbs that will help you create tasty meals.

Pasta

bundles of fresh linguine pata — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Which do you prefer: macaroni, penne, shells, linguine, or spaghetti? Dry pasta is a pantry essential used to create delicious meals quickly and easily. From spaghetti and macaroni to ravioli and lasagna, having a variety of pasta or noodles can help you make delicious meals.

Rice

Rice is an essential pantry staple that can help you create delicious meals. Brown, white, or long-grain rice is perfect for stir-fries and risotto. With a variety of rice on hand, you can quickly whip up home-cooked meals without running to the grocery store every time.

Beans

Beans are a great pantry essential used to create flavorful meals. From black beans, pinto beans, and black-eyed peas to chickpeas and kidney beans, having a variety of beans on hand can help you create delicious dishes. They are also full of protein, fiber, and calcium!

Tomato paste

red dutch oven with red sugo tomato sauce simmering — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Make a delicious tomato sauce with tomato paste (or, in this case, the garlic and basil tomato paste), and your family will be glad you did. The flavor boost makes them want to eat their vegetables! From creating sauces and soups to stews and curries, having tomato paste on hand can help you create delicious meals.

Honey

Honey is a natural sweetener, making it an alternative to sugar. It is suitable for sore throats and can be used in tea, coffee, or cereal. It has many uses, including sweetening drinks, desserts, and savory dishes like curries and chilis.

Peanut butter

silver measuring cup with nut butter — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Great on sandwiches and also on desserts. Peanut butter is a great pantry essential used to create delicious meals. From sandwiches and smoothies to sauces and dressings, peanut butter can help you with great dishes and can even be used as an egg substitute in baking.

Preserved and canned meats

meats, cheese and crackers on a wooden board — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Easy way to get protein for meals without thawing time. Canned and preserved meats are a great pantry essential for creating quick charcuterie boards and easy meals. Having a variety of on hand can help you make delicious meals in no time.

Dried fruit

person holding tray of dehydrated strawberry slices — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Dried fruit is a pantry essential. Dried fruits are versatile, full of flavor, and can be used in dozens of recipes, from granola to cakes and muffins. Created for every meal of the day, dried snacks like strawberries are a great treat while on the go.

Dried vegetables

Person adding sliced leek rings on a dehydrator tray — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Dried vegetables are a great pantry essential that can be used to create flavorful dishes. From soups and stews to casseroles and sandwiches, having a variety of vegetables like dried leeks on hand can help you create delicious meals.

Molasses

Person adding black walnut liqueur for bread pudding; — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Molasses is an ingredient that helps give your foods a deep, rich taste. It is made when sugar cane or sugar beet juice is boiled to produce sugar. This liquid has a strong flavor and is great in recipes like sweet-and-sour meats and sauces, pickles, gingerbread cakes, and cookies.

Tinned fish

close up of small charcuterie board with pepperoni, cheese, olives, and other snacks — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Tinned fish is a great pantry essential that can be used to create quick and easy meals. From sandwiches and salads to snacking boards, having tinned fish on hand can help you make delicious meals in no time.

Ghee

honey, butter and jar of fermented garlic honey — image courtesy of Stephanie Gravalese // Slow Living Kitchen

Ghee is a staple in Indian kitchens and is excellent for flavoring many dishes. From curries to sautéed vegetables and stir-fries, ghee can enhance the flavor of your favorite recipes. Just melt it into hot oil at the beginning of cooking, or add it at the end for a scrumptious finishing touch.

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is a pantry essential. With a sweet caramel flavor and a soft texture, it's best for baking, syrups and desserts. Brown sugar can also be used for savory dishes like curries or chilis.

Oats

Keeping a tub of rolled oats on hand is a great resource for breakfast options and rustic desserts, and it even can be ground for flour if you are making a gluten-free treat.