Best Kid-Friendly Pantry Recipes

Find the best kid-friendly pantry staples to keep on hand to allow you to be able to throw together fast and yummy meals whenever you need them.

Pantry Recipes

I love having a handful of basic ingredients on hand in my pantry because it really does make feeding a family that much easier. And when you are able to keep the foods you turn to again and again on hand, it can be less work to decide what to cook, too.

Most of these recipes include basic pantry staples and some basic but long-lasting perishable ingredients, which I assume would be in a fridge or freezer. Adjust these ideas as needed for your own reality and what you happen to have on hand.

Check out my family-friendly grocery list for a place to start with stocking your pantry and easy ways to save on groceries too!

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

This almost-instant dessert needs just a few ingredients and can be eaten right away or after chilling.

Sunflower Seed Butter

Turn sunflower seeds into a nut-free spread to use in lunches and recipes with this easy method.

Strawberry Milk

Combine freeze-dried strawberries into the yummiest flavored milk with this simple method.

Pancake Muffins

Use pancake mix to make the easiest breakfast muffins with any add-ins you like.

Chia Jam

Chia seeds from the pantry combine with blueberries from the freezer to make this super fast jam to use on toast, sandwiches, and as a stir-in for yogurt.

Applesauce Muffins

Keeping applesauce in the pantry means you can combine it with other basics like flour and oats to make these yummy muffins.

Instant Oatmeal

It’s so simple to make DIY instant oatmeal with the flavorings and additions you prefer.

Nut-Free Granola

Turn oats and seeds into the yummiest homemade granola that’s easy for even the littles to chew and eat.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

These energy balls are one of our favorite snacks and the ingredients are ones we usually have on hand in the pantry.

Homemade Granola Bars

With a pleasing texture and lightly crispy edges, these granola bars are a favorite toddler snack.

Easy Pear Pops

Turn canned pears into the most delicious popsicles with this simple method.

Lentil Sauce for Pasta

Transform quick-cooking red lentils and marinara sauce into an iron- and fiber-rich pasta sauce with this easy method.

Zucchini Pasta Sauce

Use white beans and fresh or frozen zucchini to make this easy, fresh pasta sauce.

Taco Roll Ups

Turn beans (or refried beans) and tortilla into the most fun spirals with this easy idea.

Rice Noodle Soup

Having rice noodles in the pantry ensures you can always make this easy noodle soup.

Rice Noodle Salad

This easy recipe starts with a package of rice noodles and then is so fast and easy to assemble.

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas

These are great made with canned beans. You can even freeze extra tortillas to use in future weeks.

5-Ingredient Vegetarian Burritos

Rice, beans, and cheese make up the filling of these easy burritos. Serve the filling and tortilla separate for younger eaters if needed.

30-Minute Black Bean Soup

With pantry staples and lots of kid-friendly, flavor, this recipe is even ready in 30 minutes! I love the hit of citrus in this recipe and this is one of the few soups that my kids enjoy.

Pizza Rolls with Spinach

With dough, pizza sauce, and cheese, these pizza rolls are fun to make with basic ingredients. They store well in the fridge for easy lunches all week and you can stash them into the freezer too.

Italian Lentils and Rice

Dried lentils and canned tomatoes make this recipe one of my go-to pantry recipes. It’s a hearty vegetarian recipe that pairs nicely with rice or pasta and a simple veggie side.

Coconut Rice

Serve as a simple side or a vegetarian main paired with warmed frozen peas or black beans. The rice sticks together nicely too, which makes it a little easier for toddlers to eat.

Salmon Salad Sandwiches

I like to keep canned salmon and tuna in the pantry for backup protein options and this salad is a nice topping for bread or a dip for crackers.

Salmon Cakes

Learning how to make Salmon Cakes is easy—and it’s a convenient and affordable way to serve healthy fish to a family. They can be made with pantry ingredients that are easy to keep on hand. Serve over a salad for you and with simple sides for the kids. And don’t forget the dip!

Alphabet Soup

Cook up this cozy Alphabet Soup recipe the next time you want an easy meal that’s also fun! ABC pasta is a perfect addition to this kid-friendly soup—and you can tailor the veggies to the likes (or dislikes!) of your own kiddos. It’s so versatile!

Quick Pantry Meals (without Recipes!)

Use these ideas when you don’t want an actual recipe, but still need some inspiration to get a meal onto the table.

• Snack dinner
• Noodles with jarred peanut sauce
• Hummus and pita bread
• Hummus and crackers
• Freezer waffles and nut or seed butter
• Store-bought mac and cheese
• Tortilla roll up with nut or seed butter and a banana
• Cheese quesadillas
• Pasta with butter, thawed frozen peas, and Parmesan
• Pasta with jarred tomato sauce
• Store-bought gnocchi or tortellini with butter or tomato sauce
• Favorite store-bought freezer meals
• Pancakes
• Grilled cheese

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I’d love to know your favorite pantry recipes, so please comment below to share!

This post was first published March 2020.