25 Affordable Recipes From Pantry and Frozen Ingredients

As concerns ramp up due to the global spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, shelves are being swept clean and it’s time to think about recipes from pantry and frozen ingredients.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) has characterized the COVID-19 a pandemic Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Additionally, it has been declared a national emergency by the president.

Although WHO has expressed concern over the coronavirus, they’ve stated we can still change the course of the pandemic if we  “detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission.” 

Just a note, if you want to stay up-to-date with data-driven, science-based, unbiased reporting of the coronavirus, visit both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

If you’re unsure about what kind of shelf-stable or frozen foods to purchase, first, think about what you currently buy and enjoy.

Or, check out my long list of grocery items or my pantry favorites that you may include in your next grocery trip or Amazon shop. 

You might already have what you need to make recipes from pantry and frozen ingredients. It just takes some creativity and planning.

These recipes can be made with pantry staples, shelf-stable, frozen food, or non-perishable food ingredients. 

Examples of Pantry Staples 

• Peanut Butter 
• Almond Butter 
• Dry Beans
• Oatmeal
• Oat Bran 
• Cocoa Powder 
• Cereal
• Honey 
• Nuts 
• Trail Mix 
• Dried Fruit 
• Power Bars
• Granola Bars 
• Pasta
• Pasta Sauce 

Examples of Shelf-Stable Food Items  

• Popcorn 
• Chips 
• Canned Chili 
• Canned Soup 
• Canned Beans 
• Boxed Vegan Mac And Cheese 
• Crackers 
• Applesauce 
• Canned mixed vegetables 
• Canned coconut milk 

Examples of Frozen Food Items 

• Mixed Vegetables 
• Mixed Berries 
• Bananas 
• Tofu 
• Bread 
• Spinach 
• Corn 
• Ice Cream 
• Meatless Burgers 
• Meatless Nuggets 
• Cooked Rice 

Check out this food storage chart from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Examples of Fresh Food With A Long Life 

• Apples 
• Potatoes 
• Garlic
• Onions 
• Oranges 
• Carrots 
• Squash 

Now, let’s get to the meals we’re all here for! 25 Recipes From Pantry and Frozen Ingredients.

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BREAKFAST MADE FROM PANTRY & FROZEN INGREDIENTS

1 – Chocolate Oat Bran Muffins 

Hearty gluten-free double chocolate oat bran muffins that’s great for breakfast. Made from pantry-friendly oat brans.

2 – Oat Bran Pancakes With Chocolate Sauce 

Stack ’em up! These fluffy oat bran pancakes are drenched in a homemade chocolate syrup using pure cacao powder.

Panty ingredients in this recipe include cocoa powder, oat bran, sugar, and baking powder.

3 – Pumpkin Pie Spice Oat Bran Pancakes 

Want to spice up your breakfast? Pumpkin pie spice is a great addition to any stack of gluten-free pancakes made with oat bran.

Pantry ingredients in this recipe include oat bran, chia seeds, pumpkin pie spice, pancake syrup.

4 – Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Oats 

Bring on the peanut butter and chocolate. We’re having dessert for breakfast and we won’t feel bad about it.

Pantry ingredients include oat bran, brown sugar, peanut butter, and chocolate chunks.

5 – Savory Oat Bran 

Buttery oat bran cereal bowl that’s perfectly creamy and cozy.

Pantry ingredients include oat bran and salt.

LUNCH MADE FROM PANTRY & FROZEN INGREDIENTS

6 – Roasted Carrot Red Lentil Soup 

Carrot and red lentil soup that’s definitely not holding back on flavor and satisfaction.

Pantry ingredients include red split lentils, vegetable bouillon, and salt.

7 – Grilled Cinnamon Raisin PB&J Sandwich 

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches aren’t just for the kids. It’s a lunchtime meal for anyone.

Pantry ingredients include peanut butter, fruit jam, and bread.

8 – Black Bean Tofu Burger 

This flavor-packed burger everything you want in a veggie burger: tasty, hearty, and made with affordable ingredients.

Pantry ingredients include beans almond flour, soy sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings.

9 – Vegetable “Fried” Rice, Oil-Free 

Got a bag of rice and a bag of frozen vegetables? Alright, come with me, we’re making something delicious.

Panty and frozen ingredients include rice, soy sauce, and frozen vegetables.

10 – Lentil Soup With Kale & Rice 

Let’s make out food stretch, but still, make it delicious with a big bowl of lentil and vegetable soup.

Pantry ingredients include lentils, tomato paste, and rice.

SNACKS MADE FROM PANTRY & FROZEN INGREDIENTS

11 – Vegan Cheese Sauce 

A cheese sauce without the dairy? Well, sign me up! I have my crackers and veggies ready.

Panty ingredients include cashews.

12 – Green Smoothie 

Add a few greens to your life with this easy fruit and veggie smoothie.

Frozen ingredients include bananas and peaches.

13 – Baked Zucchini Fries 

Tired of potatoes? Switch it up with these baked crispy zucchini french fries.

Pantry ingredients include nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and salt. Zucchini is also a vegetable that can last a long time – 1-2 weeks when properly stored.

DINNER MADE FROM PANTRY & FROZEN INGREDIENTS

14 – Habichuelas Guisadas From Scratch 

With a side of sweet plantains, white rice, and ripe avocadoes….your Puerto Rican dinner is served.

Pantry ingredients include beans, olives, and seasonings.

15 – Vegan Mushroom Chili Sin Carne 

Time for a plant-based chili that everyone will love.

Pantry ingredients include beans, canned roasted tomatoes, and seasonings.

16 – Vegan Butter Chicken 

Meatless butter chicken inspired by the Indian dish. Made with cubed tofu.

Pantry and frozen ingredients include tofu, seasonings, coconut milk.

17 – Vegan Teriyaki “Chicken” Stir-Fry  

With less than 10 ingredients, this stir-fry can be whipped up in just a matter of minutes.

Pantry and frozen ingredients include tofu, teriyaki sauce, and soy sauce.

18 – Stir-Fry Rice With Vegan “Chicken” 

Fried rice with tender and chewy tofu chunks mixed with soy sauce, frozen vegetables, and spices.

Pantry and frozen ingredients include brown rice, tofu, mixed vegetables, and soy sauce.

19 – Vegan Picadillo 

Puerto Rican-style picadillo with cubed potatoes and Spanish olives. It’s a homecooked meal that’ll make you feel right at home.

Pantry and frozen ingredients include beefless crumbles, potatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings.

20 – Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese 

Creamy and smooth mac and cheese using raw cashews and smoked paprika.

Pantry ingredients include pasta, raw cashews, nutritional yeast, tomato paste, and seasonings.

DESSERTS MADE FROM PANTRY & FROZEN INGREDIENTS

21 – Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding 

100% plant-based dessert using chia seeds and cocoa powder.

Pantry ingredients include chia seeds, cocoa powder, and pitted dates.

22 – Cinnamon Spiced Breakfast Rice Pudding 

If you’re like me, with rice always stocked up, getting inventive with rice is a cheap way of getting delicious meals.

Pantry ingredients include rice, maple syrup, raisins, coconut milk, and cinnamon.

23 – Yogurt With Berries and Honey 

A yogurt bowl that looks fancy, but really isn’t just top it with your favorite foods.

Pantry and frozen ingredients include raspberries, chia seeds, honey, and mixed nuts.

24 – Homemade Applesauce 

If you only tried store-bought applesauce…get really to be mind-blown. This has 100x the flavor and spice.

Pantry and long-lasting ingredients include apples, pitted dates, and cinnamon.

25 – Dairy-Free Banana Ice-Cream 

Got a few bananas stored in the back of the freezer? Let’s make ice-cream out of them!

Frozen ingredients include frozen bananas.

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Tried a dish from this Recipes From Pantry and Frozen list?

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