Quick Dinners & Pantry Staples
Now that school is in full swing, extracurriculars are consuming our lives, and germs are being passed around…quick dinners have become the norm around here. I definitely love pouring my heart into preparing meals for friends and family, but most often I just don’t have the time or energy during the week to be very elaborate. Healthy, yummy meals are still my top priority…but there are plenty of meals that can be prepared quickly and are still healthy.
Quinoa, Jasmine rice, and various types of pasta are always in my pantry. Quinoa bowls are a weekly occurrence in my house. It is easy to cook and easy to flavor. Some of my favorite quinoa bowls are chicken fried quinoa, creamy chicken and quinoa, and this Teriyaki and broccoli quinoa bowl.
To recreate this quinoa bowl, just cook quinoa according to the package, steam broccoli, and cook diced chicken breast in your favorite Teriyaki sauce. Easy peasy like my 6 year old would say.
Items Always in My Pantry
Various types of pasta (both whole wheat and regular)
Toasted Quinoa
Cream of _____________ Soup
Tomato Sauce and Paste
Chicken and Beef Stock (occasionally Vegetable Stock for meatless meals)
Beans-black, pinto, garbanzo, chickpeas
Olive and Avocado Oils
Marinara
Avocados
Various Citrus Fruits-usually Lemons and Limes
Black Chia Seeds
Justin’s Peanut Butter
Dried Fruits-Figs, Unsweetened Cranberries, Apricots
Various Nuts-Almonds, Pinenuts, Walnuts, Macadamia Nuts
Various Vegetables-Onions, Garlic, Sweet Potatoes
Items Always in My Fridge
Heavy Cream and/or Half and Half
Cream Cheese and/or Mascarpone Cheese
Fresh Herbs-usually Basil, Chives, and Cilantro
Fresh Fruit-Apples, Grapes, Strawberries
Various Cheeses-Cheddar, Fresh Mozzarella, Parmesan
Plain Greek Yogurt
Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Teriyaki Sauce
Worcestershire Sauce
Various Vegetables-Carrots, Celery, Broccoli
Leafy Greens-Spinach, Romaine, Arugula
Raw Flour Tortilla Shells
Items Always in My Freezer
Chicken Breasts
Ground Protein-Beef, Turkey, Chicken
Pork Tenderloin/Roast
Beef Roast
Frozen Fruits
Frozen Vegetables-Green Beans, Vegetable Mix, Corn, Broccoli
With these items, just about any quick recipe can be created…chicken alfredo, broccoli beef, BBQ pulled pork. I have a lot of other staples in my kitchen as well (baking goods, spices). But a lot of items come and go. I will purchase and use something and not replace it right away. Anything on my staples list is constantly being used and replaced when gone. What are some of your staples for your kitchen? Do you have anything that isn’t on my list that you absolutely couldn’t live without? Hope y’all are having any amazing week.
