The Perfect Pantry Checklist
Here is a photo of my giant perfectly stocked pantry. Just kidding. I don’t even have a pantry. This is bigger than my kitchen!
Lately, I’ve been on a mission to encourage you to fill up your pantry (or, ahem, cupboards) with basics that will make creating weeknight meals so much easier.
I truly believe that if we just spent some time to organize and stock a few key ingredients, when you go to make your meal plan each week, you’ll only need to pick up a few fresh ingredients at the store. Grocery store shopping can be anxiety provoking, but with a well stocked pantry, you cut down on the time needed to grocery shop.
If you haven’t already, you can download my Well Stocked Pantry Checklist and print off the list so that you can keep track of what you need. From there, each time you want to make a new recipe, not only is the shopping faster, but you’ll save time and money and get that delicious meal on the table with ease and, dare I say it, possibly joy!
Spices
Salt - Kosher for your go-to cooking salt, flaky for finishing
Black Pepper - in a grinder. You probably know this but if you have a pepper shaker, throw it out.
Chili Flakes - just the perfect addition for heat
Cinnamon - perfect for baking, of course, but also delicious in so many savoury dishes.
Coriander - this adds a little “je ne sais pas” to dishes and livens them up.
Cumin - I used to hate this spice but now it’s one of my favourites. The earthiness is just right in so many uses.
Curry Powder - A bit of a wild card but adding this because making a speedy, weeknight curry without this will be tricky.
Garlic & Onion Powder - these 2 spices are hardest working - from Italian foods to Mexican foods and beyond, you’ll be glad to have this stocked up.
Oregano & Thyme - the spice cabinet OGs. You can sprinkle these on just about anything and they will transport you to either Provence or Tuscany or somewhere in between. Who doesn’t want that?
Paprika, Sweet and Smoked - these are so versatile and bring just a little bit of subtle flavour.
Condiments, and Condiment-adjacent items
Mayo - spreads, dressings, lunches and more. A must have.
Dijon Mustard - I like having both the regular and grainy varieties.
Ketchup - Because when you have kids you have this stocked.
Better than Boullion - love this for soups and for flavouring rice, risotto and more. It’s a little hidden gem that will take your meals to a new height.
Honey/Maple Syrup - French toast, dressings, marinade or just to drizzle! Having a sweetener is key.
Jam - this can be used for breakfast, of course, but also can dress up a cheese platter or make a cocktail.
Hot Sauce - my husband drowns his food with hot sauce but I prefer to use just a bit to season my food. For me, the littlest bit goes a long way. My favourites are sriracha and Frank’s Hot Buffalo sauce. I also love this garlic chili oil. Find a brand you love and stock it!
Thai Red Curry Paste - it’s a tiny little jar that will last forever in your fridge and will create the most luscious curries.
Fish Sauce - Nothing can recreate the pungent flavour of fish sauce in your asian dishes. I love it.
Soy Sauce - my son’s favourite thing to eat is rice with soy sauce, so we go through quite a bit of this. It’s also the best way to marinate anything in a hurry!
Peanut/Almond Butter - Having this on hand means that a PB&J sandwich is only seconds away. Also, perfect in marinades, sauces and dressings. Costco sells these at an amazing price.
Tahini - more and more I am using tahini in my recipes. I love that it’s allergy friendly and so versatile.
Oil and Vinegars
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - I feel like this is a no-brainer.
Sesame Oil - delicious!
Avocado Oil - this is a lovely neutral oil that you can use in baking to replace canola oil, which is so bad for us.
Balsamic Vinegar - I also love a balsamic glaze.
Apple Cider Vinegar - I love ACV for dressings and it has wonderful gut-health benefits.
Red Wine Vinegar - A stronger flavour that is perfect in dressings and marinades.
Rice Wine Vinegar - this give the right, bright zing to so many things!
Grains and Carbs
Rice - pretty much one of the only things my son eats. Also, my favourite gluten-free base for so many dishes.
Pasta - for a quick weeknight meal, you can’t go wrong. Buy gluten-free if your diet dictates that. There are so many good ones out there. This one is great.
Quinoa - I like quinoa for a high-protein option for salads. My kids don’t love it but it’s great for meal prep lunch options.
Ramen - I keep this on hand for 2nd dinners after sports and my kids are starving.
Panko Breadcrumbs - so great for breading or sprinkling.
Dairy
Parmesan - always have this on hand.
Butter - for cooking or smearing on sourdough!
Eggs - baking, breakfast, a little protein topper to a meatless Monday meal.
Feta/Goat’s Cheese - tangy, brine-y cheeses that are great in salads.
Greek Yogurt - from a breakfast bowl with granola to a creamy marinade, this is so versatile.
Cottage Cheese - what can’t cottage cheese do? I appreciate an easy high protein hit in a hurry.
Milk - for cereal, coffee, cakes and more.
Canned Goods
Marinara sauce - I buy Rao’s. It is by far the best I’ve found and can be used in countless dishes.
Tuna - so many uses, from a delish sandwich to an easy salad. I love this brand
Coconut Milk - again - curries are made in a hurry with this on hand!
Canned Tomatoes (diced or crushed) and Tomato paste.
Beans, your favourite. Mine are chickpeas and black beans
Baking
Flour - I stock all purpose and bread flour for my sourdough
Baking Soda, Baking Powder
Sugar: white, brown
Pure Vanilla Extract
Chocolate Chips
Freezer
Fruit - I love being able to make smoothies or to defrost and serve with cottage cheese and granola.
Ground beef, turkey, sausage
Bananas - This is more of an accident because I toss these in when they are starting to turn, but I can make banana bread when the craving strikes.
Chicken stock
Snacks
Nuts
Popcorn
Yogurt Drinks
Turkey sticks/jerky
Granola bars
Apples
Gummy snacks
Dried Mango slices