I don’t think of myself as a homesteader or a survivalist. I’m just a lady who likes to know how food is made. Turns out in a case like this, my obsession with homemade condiments, easy meals and simple staples is working to my benefit!
Here are my top recipes made with pantry staples, minimal fresh ingredients, frozen items AND homemade basics like mayonnaise, butter and bread. The only thing we don’t have is milk… because we don’t own a cow (joke).
We even have easy desserts made with pantry staples that we’ve been debuting in our Facebook LIVE series cooking with my 2-year old daughter, Vivian.
And also make sure to check out our common ingredient substitutions in case you are missing an ingredient and how to freeze food to make the most of what you have.
Easy dinner ideas, sauces, staples and desserts with just a handful of ingredients!
Dinners Made with Pantry Staples
Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup
This easy 15 Bean Soup Recipe goes from dry beans to deliciously magnificent in just an hour using out two chef-approved secret ingredients.
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Fancy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
Fancy Tuna Noodle Casserole comes packed with bow tie pasta, seasoned panko, fresh vegetables and sun dried tomatoes!
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Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta
Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta is a deliciously easy and healthy shrimp pasta recipe. It’s full of flavor but quick and simple to make!
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Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole
Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole is an easy weeknight recipe using ground beef, taco seasoning and other easy ingredients for a one dish meal your whole family will love!
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One Pot Chicken Bruschetta Pasta Recipe
One Pot Chicken Bruschetta Pasta is uses only one dish and a handful of ingredients to make dinner for the whole family. Tomatoes, fennel, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese make this a winning dish!
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How to Boil Hot Dogs
You can’t get outside to grill? No problem! Throw everything you know about throwing a dog in water out the window because they are gourmet boiled hot dogs!
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Seasoned Butter Noodle Recipe
A pasta side dish doesn't get any more delicious than this Seasoned Buttered Noodles recipe. With only 4 ingredients, this recipe couldn't be easier!
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Seasoned Peas and Onions
Easy side dish recipes don't get much better than this Seasoned Peas and Onions recipe! You can't beat a dish that only requires four ingredients!
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Crockpot Taco Meat
Making taco meat for a crowd has never been easier than this Crock Pot Taco Meat recipe! Only 3 ingredients, set it and forget it!
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Instant Pot Chicken Paella
Instant Pot Chicken Paella is based off the traditional Spanish dish. Flavorful & ready in just minutes, this will be your go-to chicken and rice recipe.
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Franks and Beans
This Franks and Beans recipe is made with real beef hot dogs and less sugar than the canned version. Perfect as a quick and easy lunch or a classic camping food!
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Cocktail Meatballs with Grape Jelly
Grape Jelly Meatballs are easy to make with only THREE ingredients! Perfect for throwing into the crockpot as a party appetizer!
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Pasta and Peas
Pasta and Peas is an easy pasta recipe that the whole family will love. Only one pot and 10 ingredients to a family friendly meal!
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Hearts of Palm Cakes Recipe
Hearts of Palm Cakes are crunchy cakes made with hearts of palm, artichokes, garlic and panko served with a zesty garlic aioli.
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Ham Salad
The best Ham Salad Recipe using leftover ham, minced vegetables, hard boiled egg and a lightly seasoned creamy mayonnaise base. Serve with crackers or as a sandwich.
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Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
Homemade Sloppy Joes are so easy to make! Use my special sweet heat sloppy Joe sauce recipe with ground pork, beef, chicken or even turkey!
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French Onion Meatloaf with Onion Gravy
French Onion Meatloaf uses a blend of spices with caramelized onions and a savory onion gravy. The ultimate comfort meal.
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Garlic and Onion Roast Beef Sandwiches
Garlic and Onion Roast Beef Sandwiches is one of our favorite lunch meals. Tender roast beef with caramelized onions, roasted garlic and a whipped horseradish cream sauce on buttery brioche rolls.
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Hashbrown and Sausage Casserole
This Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole is loaded with delicious breakfast sausage, hash browns, and lots of cheese. One of the best breakfast casserole recipes for holiday breakfasts, Sunday brunch, or any other occasion.
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Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole combines layers of crispy tater tots with homemade sloppy Joe mix, cream cheese and cheddar for the ultimate quick meal or party food!
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Chicken Piccata Recipe
Classic Chicken Piccata is an easy Italian recipe that comes together in less than 30 minutes and explodes with flavors of lemon, caper and shallot.
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Southern Salmon Croquettes Recipe
Salmon Croquettes are a southern classic! Full of salmon, peppers, onions and seasoning, this versatile dish is sure to be loved by all!
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Crispy Baked Chicken
Crispy Baked Chicken is not your typical modified version of Southern fried chicken. Instead, it uses a vinegar-based marinade for a tongue-tingling flavor to create the best oven fried chicken you’ll ever taste.
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Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipes
This semi-homemade Pulled Pork Sandwich is a quick and easy kid friendly option! It’s an easy pulled pork recipe that will be ready in just 15 minutes!
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Mushroom Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe
Mushroom Chicken and Rice Skillet is an easy one dish meal with loads of flavor like peas, mushrooms, shallots, sage and garlic.
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Mashed Potato Cups
Loaded Mashed Potato Cups are the best way to use leftover mashed potatoes. Mixed with cheese, eggs and a few other ingredients, you load them into a muffin tin and poof, you’ve got finger food mashed potatoes!
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Peach Chicken Picante Recipe
Peach Chicken Picante is a quick dinner recipe using chicken, peaches and salsa to get a sweet and spicy dish. Serve over rice for a one dish meal!
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Beef Goulash
Classic goulash doesn't get any better than this Beef Goulash recipe! The perfect comforting meal for any weeknight!
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Creamed Spinach Shells and Cheese
Creamed Spinach Shells and Cheese uses creamed spinach as a sauce for an amazingly quick pasta dish, that you won’t be able to get enough of!
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Chicken Salad with Grapes and Walnuts
I've finally made the best chicken salad recipe! With grapes, celery, onions and walnuts, this Classic Chicken Salad recipe is perfect for a light lunch.
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Brine Pork Chops Recipe
This step-by-step guide will show you how to brine pork chops, tips for a juicy pork and the best pork brine recipe!
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Authentic Carbonara
Authentic Carbonara is an easy Italian pasta recipe using eggs, cheese and bacon. This is an easy carbonara recipe that any home cook can feel confident in making!
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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Homemade Hamburger Helper Skillet is a great ground beef recipe with cheddar cheese, seasonings and tomatoes all ready in 20-minutes!
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20-Minute Chicken Wild Rice Soup
This 20-Minute Wild Rice Chicken Soup is an incredibly easy but flavorful 20 minute meal made with two kitchen hacks that will make your life so much easier! It’ll become a winter soup staple in your home!
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Homemade Condiments and Staples
How to Make Butter from Heavy Cream
This Homemade Butter Recipe is ready in just 5 minutes using your blender, heavy cream, ice water and salt. You’ll wonder why you never made butter at home before!
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Blender Mayonnaise
Do you know how easy it is to make homemade mayonnaise? SO EASY! Make my blender mayonnaise with 3 ingredients and 3 minutes today!
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How to Quickly Pickle Vegetables
Step-by-step instructions on how to quickly pickle vegetables for salads, sides and any dish that needs a little pick me up. Plus ideas for the best vegetables to pickle!
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No Yeast Bread Recipe
This 2-Ingredient No Rise No Yeast Bread is perfect for those days when you need a loaf and can’t get to the store. Just a few ingredients and 40 minutes to delicious homemade bread!
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Quick Pickled Red Onion Recipe
Quick Pickled Red Onion will quickly become the only pickled onions you ever make, with just 3 ingredients and limited prep time!
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Quick Garlic Aioli
Quick Garlic Aioli is one of the easiest ways to punch up any dish or meal. Make this simple sauce in less than 5 minutes!
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Cheddar Beer Bread
Rich, buttery and cheesy, this easy to make Cheddar Beer Bread only requires 5 ingredients and NO RISING TIME!
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Garlic Butter Sauce for Pizza
Since you are eating frozen pizza instead of delivery, you’ll need to make your own homemade garlic butter dipping sauce!
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No Yeast Potato Bread
Thick and chewy No Yeast Potato Bread is an easy and quick homemade bread recipe perfect for deli sandwiches and more!
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Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Recipe
Make fresh, homemade mozzarella cheese for a fraction of the cost with no added preservatives or additives.
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Yum Yum Sauce Recipe (Easy!)
Yum Yum Sauce is an easy sauce for seafood and vegetables. Now you can make your favorite pink sauce at home!
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No Yeast Roasted Garlic Bread
A spin-off of my most popular bread recipe, this one is laced with butter and roast garlic. No yeast and no rise time and only 6 ingredients!
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Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Add some zing to your homemade ranch with this Chipotle Ranch Dressing recipe! Made with only 4 simple ingredients.
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Desserts Made with Pantry Staples
Edible Cookie Dough Recipe (Easy!)
Edible Cookie Dough is the perfect single serving cookie dough to satisfy your cravings without using eggs.
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Grandma’s Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is a moist chocolate cake in a 9×13 pan with chocolate buttercream frosting. One of my favorite recipes from Grandma!
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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chewy on the inside and crispy edges, these Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are going to blow your mind!
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Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are the ultimate homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe. Giant bakery style cookies with chunks of chocolate.
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Banana Cupcakes
Five Ingredient Banana Cupcakes are a fabulous alternative to making banana bread with overly ripe bananas. This easy cupcake recipe will blow your mind with flavor and ease!
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Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
Made using a few baking hacks, these Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes are the perfect easy chocolate cupcakes for when you just NEED a cupcake but not an entire batch!
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Flourless Black Bean Brownies
Black Bean Brownies are delicious, rich gluten free brownies. Since they’re flourless brownies and the black beans are full of fiber, this is actually a healthy brownie recipe!
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Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are gluten-free and easy to make! A twist on classic peanut butter cookies.
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Classic No Bake Cookies
If you’ve always thought oatmeal no bake cookies were difficult, this classic no bake cookie recipe will change your mind. With these tips, you’ll end up with the perfect peanut butter no bake cookies every time!
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Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Soft and chewy Peanut Butter Cookies made from scratch with a few pantry essentials.
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Flourless Avocado Brownies
Easy Avocado Brownies are made in the blender and ready in just 30 minutes. No flour and honey instead of sugar!
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