Diced Tomatoes
With their fragile skins and watery seeds, tomatoes are a pain to cut. Reduce the prep time on any recipe that includes this juicy red produce (like delicious Italian Pot Roast) by stocking up on convenient canned diced tomatoes.
Mixed Veggies
Frozen mixed veggies come in many assortments: classic, stir-fry, Italian-style, southwest—you name it. Any of these tasty variations is handy when you’re looking to make your quick dish a little healthier. (These recipes make frozen vegetables taste almost fresh!)
Broth
Broths aren’t just for wintertime soups. Keep a stash of chicken, vegetable and beef broths year-round for flavoring meats (like these slow-cooked ribs), pastas and casseroles.
Rice
Any dish becomes heartier with the addition rice—whether it’s white, brown or wild. And rice is just about the easiest side ever. Simply shake on a mix of your favorite seasonings, and you’ll be scraping your plate. (Here’s how to make perfect rice.)
Potatoes
We love potatoes in every form (especially grilled in this kabobs recipe). Plus, with potatoes, you needn’t take up any precious refrigerator space. Store the nifty favorites in a paper bag and place in a cool (not cold) place.
Beans
Beans really are the magic fruit. By keeping a couple cans in your pantry, you have access to an inexpensive source of protein at all times. We suggest stowing cannellini, kidney, black, navy and garbanzo beans. Then go to town on these budget-friendly dishes that all start with a can of beans.
Pasta
Penne, spaghetti, bowtie, rotini—the options are limitless (find all the shapes here). Stockpile whichever type you prefer for an easy entree or side. (Psst! We recommend keeping some Asian varieties, like ramen and egg noodles, too.)
Meatballs
Pile meatballs onto your favorite pasta dish for an instantly heartier dinner. Not a fan of Italian food? Don’t worry—meatballs aren’t just for marinara! In fact, they’re handy to have for all types of cuisines—just try the Easy Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs.
Corn
Consider keeping cans of these golden kernels in your cupboard or a bag of the veggie in your freezer. Both options are a fantastic year-round substitute for everyone’s favorite summertime treat. (These skillet nachos are a go-to!)
Pasta Sauce
Pasta sauce is an obvious necessity for quick-prep pasta dinners, but it’s also a valuable ingredient to have on hand for dishes like meat loaves, sandwiches and even soups. We especially love it in this chunky turkey chili recipe.
Onions
Like potatoes, most varieties of this veggie don’t require refrigeration, but they do pack a punch of flavor. Red onions, white onions, yellow onions, sweet onions and shallots are all meal-makers. (Pro tip: Here’s how to cut an onion without crying.)
Eggs
Although eggs need to be stored in the fridge (fun fact: Europeans keep their eggs on the counter), they’re worth the space. Eggs can be used as binders in items like meatballs, as a thickener in sauces and custards, or simply as a dish on their own.
Canola Oil
Thanks to its high smoke point, smoothness and mild flavor, canola oil is the most versatile variety of oil and therefore, the best to keep close by. Plus, it’s better for you than the others because it has a low amount of saturated fat! (Read up on the other kinds of oils here.)
Tuna
You can’t store fresh chicken in your pantry, so the next best thing is storing the chicken of the sea. Canned tuna, which is typically white albacore tuna, is tasty in salads, casseroles, sandwiches and other family favorites. (Cook up this 5-star tuna casserole.)
Cider Vinegar
Not only is cider vinegar useful for adding tang to sandwiches, salads and even some desserts, but it is also great for household cleaning and beauty care (learn about some of cider vinegar’s unexpected benefits here). You can’t beat that!
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The post 15 Items You Should Always Stock in Your Pantry appeared first on Taste of Home.
Annamarie Higley