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Pantry Raid! 10 Recipes From What You’ve Already Got

Easy Dinner Ideas

Dinner doesn’t have to be difficult. Want me to prove it? How about these 10 meals you can get on the table lickety-split probably using what you’ve already got in your pantry, fridge, and freezer?

Don’t see things you already have? Well, stock up!

Caveat – these aren’t the healthiest recipes you’re going to see on this site, but they are infinitely better than another trip through the drive-thru or call into Grub Hub. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Mac and Cheese with Peas

Mac and Cheese with Peas
If you add vegetables to boxed mac and cheese, it's totally a well-rounded meal. We use Annie's brand in our house to feel better about ourselves.
Check out this recipe

Kitchen Sink Fried Rice

Kitchen Sink Fried Rice
Kitchen Sink Fried Rice
We use our favorite veggies in the recipe, but you use whatever's in the fridge! Broccoli, peppers, or mushrooms work great, as do most leftover meats.
Check out this recipe

Tortilla Crusted Fish with Peach and Feta Slaw

Tortilla-Crusted Fish with Slaw
Tortilla Crusted Fish with Fruit and Feta Slaw
This delicious store-bought fish goes straight from the freezer to the oven, so let's spend a minute on the side. The cool and slightly sweet slaw is a perfect complement to the spicy-ish fish.
Check out this recipe

Veggie Hash with Eggs and Bacon

Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs
Veggie Hash with Eggs and Bacon
This dish combines two of our favorite food trends: breakfast for dinner and sheet pan suppers. Mix your favorite veggies with spices and diced bacon. Roast and top with eggs. Ta-da! Dinner is ready.
Check out this recipe

Grilled Cheese with Apples (and Deli Meat?)

Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Grilled Cheese with Apples (and Deli Meat)
Dress up Tuesday night's dinner by adding apples straight on the sammie! Top with ham or turkey if that's your jam. (Oh… and maybe jam??)
Check out this recipe

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Stuffed sweet Potatoes
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are our new favorite vehicle to freshen up leftovers. We especially love it two ways: 1. with BBQ meat or 2. with roasted veggies.
Check out this recipe

Ravioli with Sauce

Raviolis with Tomato Sauce
Ravioli with Sauce
Consider this more of a kitchen hack than a true recipe, but hey, it gets dinner on the table! We love the spinach and ricotta raviolis from Costco for this meal. If it's fall, try Trader Joe's butternut squash marinara sauce. Otherwise, your favorite sauce will work great.
Check out this recipe

Corn and Black Bean Quesadillas

Corn and Black Bean Quesadilla
Snacks for dinner? Don't mind if we do. This is the perfect food for when you only have 30 minutes between a meeting and soccer practice.
Check out this recipe

Frozen Pizza and Salad

Frozen Pizza

Hey, there wouldn’t be that many frozen pizza makers in business if they didn’t serve a purpose. Don’t beat yourself up if this is dinner every now and then. It’s a guaranteed hit, can be made without dirtying up many dishes, and if you pair it with a quick salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and carrots, its truly not that unhealthy.

There’s no recipe for this meal, but I do want to recommend two favorites from Costco – their Kirkland brand pepperoni (so cheap!) and the cauliflower crust roasted veggie one.

Pretty Much Anything From Trader Joe’s Prepared Meal Case

Okay, I get it. This is the furthest I can get from a recipe and still be talking food, but you guys, sometimes that’s all the inspiration you need. Seriously, go check out the case full of interesting salads, stuffed sandwiches and wraps, sushi, and ready-to-heat entrees.

No TJ’s in your neck of the woods? I’m sure your grocery has the same concept, or grab a trusty rotisserie chicken and take a pass at the grocery’s salad bar. Those salad bars always have interesting pasta, bean and other creative salad options in addition to all the goodies needed for a green salad.

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