30 Vegetarian Pantry Recipes

Here are 30 Vegetarian Pantry Recipes made with everyday staples you likely already have on hand. Most of them can efficiently serve a family of four and are perfect for putting those pantry ingredients to create delicious meals.

What is Pantry Food?

Pantry Food staples include food items that have a long shelf life. In the event of an emergency, here are some pantry staples that you should have on hand.

• For Meals – spices, pasta, rice, quinoa, canned tomatoes, sauces, salsas, tomato paste, broth, chickpeas, black beans, lentils (Indian dal), and oats.
• For Baking – sugar, oils, baking soda, baking powder, white flour, whole wheat flour, oat flour, buckwheat flour, chickpea flour, and more. Any flour will do, you certainly don’t need all.
• Fresh Vegetables that have a long shelf life – onions, ginger, garlic, and potatoes.

What Foods Can You Freeze?

To extend the shelf life of fresh foods, I will sometimes freeze them. For example, I can’t possibly consume a loaf of bread each week, so I simply freeze my bread for a month or two, and you can’t tell the difference. Additionally, since I’m unable to cook every meal every day, I prefer to buy ready-made frozen food, especially from Trader Joe’s and the Indian Store.

Here are some fresh/frozen foods to have on hand:

• Basics – bread, cheese, paneer, meats, tofu, readymade masala, ginger, and garlic – all of these items can be easily frozen. Bread doesn’t require thawing. Place the bread from the freezer into the toaster oven, and it’s perfect.
• Frozen Veggies – frozen corn, frozen peas, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen chopped spinach.
• Frozen Fruits – mango, strawberries, blueberries, cherries for your smoothies.
• Trader Joe’s offers great frozen meals, including their veggie burgers with black beans and roasted corn, as well as their Thai sweet chili veggie burgers.
• Indian Frozen Foods – rotis, parathas, naan, masala dosa, khaman, muthiya, patra, and vegetable samosas.

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30 Vegetarian Pantry Recipes

1. Black Bean Enchilada Pasta
(pasta, enchilada sauce, black beans)

2. Quinoa Bhel Salad
(quinoa, chickpeas, potato, peanuts)

3. Sweet Potato Bean Chili
(kidney beans, sweet potato, crushed tomatoes)

4. Spaghetti Vegetarian Quinoa Meatballs
(pasta, quinoa, marinara sauce)

5. Baked Falafel Pita Sandwich
(chickpeas, pita bread)

6. Buffalo Veggie Lovers Nachos
(tortilla chips, hot wing sauce/enchilada sauce/jarred salsa)

7. Chana Pulao
(chickpeas, rice)

8. Mexican Enchilada Pizza
(store-bought pizza crust, enchilada sauce)

9. Tofu Thai Curry
(brown rice, tofu, canned chestnuts, coconut milk, brown rice)

10. Mexican Tortilla Pizza
(tortillas, refried beans, jarred salsa)

11. Sai Bhaji
(chana dal, moong dal – lentils, frozen spinach, rice)

12. Salsa Mac and Cheese
(pasta, jar salsa)

13. Baked Aloo Chat Tostadas
(baked tostadas, chickpeas)

14. Lightened Mushroom Risotto
(vegetable broth, arborio rice, white wine)

15. Naan Pizza
(naan, marinara sauce)

16. Punjabi Yellow Kadhi
(besan/chickpea flour)

17. Mediterranean Orzo Salad
(whole wheat orzo, chickpeas)

18. Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna
(tortillas, refried beans, enchilada sauce, canned green chilies)

19. Quinoa Broccoli Pulao
(quinoa, frozen mixed vegetables, tomato paste)

20. World’s Best Spaghetti with Rao’s Homemade
(pasta, marinara sauce)

21. Spinach and Black Bean Quesadillas
(black beans, frozen spinach, tortillas)

22. Punjabi Chole
(fresh/canned chickpeas, brown rice)

23. Tikka Masala Pasta
(pasta, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce)

24. Instant Pot Toor Dal Tadka
(split pigeon peas lentils, brown rice)

25. Truffle Butter Mushroom Pappardelle
(pappardelle pasta)

26. Pudhina Dhaniya Pulao – Mint Cilantro Rice
(rice, frozen peas)

27. Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich
(chickpeas, bread)

28. Mum’s Spinach Shells with Broccoli
(pasta, frozen spinach)

29. Shakshuka
(crushed tomatoes)

30. Peanut Lime Noodles
(pasta, peanut butter, soy sauce)

And that’s a wrap!