Choose from more 30 vegetarian recipes that use mostly pantry staples and learn how to make your own nutritionally balanced meals using just what you have on hand.
Do you ever look at your pantry and think "I have all of this food but no idea what to make with it" or "The fridge is so empty but I don't want to go to the grocery store".
I know that I do!
That's why I compiled 30 of my favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes that use primarily pantry staples. I'm also sharing the "formula" that I use to make a nutritionally balanced recipe-less meal using whatever ingredients are on hand.
You'll find that most of these recipes use ingredients found on my Guide to Vegetarian Pantry Essentials. However, most of these recipes can be customized to fit what you have in your pantry, fridge or freezer.
Don't have fresh veggies? Frozen or canned will usually work. Missing a specific kind of bean, legume or grain? Swap it out for a similar bean or grain.
Clean out the fridge meals
Whether your pantry is running low or overflowing, you can use this simple formula to make a nutritionally balanced meal using ingredients you have on hand.
Include one component from each category:
- Protein: beans, legumes, nuts, nut butter, tofu, tempeh
- Grains: rice, quinoa, bread, tortillas
- Veggies: frozen broccoli or peas, canned corn, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, greens
- Fats/extras: nuts, nut butter, seeds, olive oil, tahini, pumpkin seeds, dry fruit
- Flavor: BBQ sauce, tahini dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, salsa
For example: Combine canned black beans, quinoa, corn, toasted pumpkin seeds and salsa for a simple but flavorful quinoa salad.
Want pasta? Combine sauteed tempeh, green beans sauteed in olive oil and pasta with tomato sauce (like a simplified version of this vegetarian tempeh pasta bake).
30 Vegetarian Pantry Recipes
These 30 vegetarian recipes use pantry essentials or can be esaily customized to using what you have on hand. Choose from breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert ideas.
Breakfast Recipes
Baking essentials and potatoes come in handy in these breakfast recipes. Customize sweet recipes using your favorite frozen fruit or nuts.
This easy potato skillet breakfast is packed with nutrients for post-workout fuel that will power you through your day. With a little prep and a cast iron pan you can have a plant based breakfast prepped for the entire week.
Cinnamon Pecan Baked Oatmeal is made in the oven using simple, warming vegan ingredients. It’s the perfect recipe to enjoy through the week as meal prep, or serve to your family for breakfast.
You can make these soft, fluffy vegan banana muffins in one bowl in just 30 minutes! Perfect with breakfast or as a sweet snack.
Gingerbread overnight oats are flavored with warming spices and molasses. Great for breakfast or as a healthy dessert.
Packed with healthy ingredients like nuts and dry fruit and refined-sugar free, dairy-free, and gluten-free, these vegan breakfast cookies are a healthy way to start the day.
You can make these easy vegan Instant Pot apple cinnamon steel cut oats in just 30 minutes! With this oatmeal recipe, you’ll have a healthy and filling breakfast in no time.
These fluffy vegan sweet potato pancakes are perfect for cool fall mornings. They’re so easy to make using classic pancake ingredients.
Lunch and Dinner
Choose from a variety of meal-prep recipes and easy dinner meals. Fresh veggies can be swapped for what you have on hand (frozen, canned, etc.) Make it your own!
These vegetarian lentil tacos are perfect for quick weeknight meals! All you need is taco seasoning, cooked lentils and tomato sauce.
This vegetarian black bean quinoa casserole is great for weeknight dinners! All you need is a handful of pantry ingredients and your favorite taco toppings to prepare this easily customizable recipe.
Vegetarian Red Lentil Coconut Curry is a flavorful veggie-packed meal that can be made in just over 30 minutes.
This vegan red lentil curry is made in the Instant Pot with sweet potatoes, spinach and coconut milk. It’s perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners!
Creamy, rich peanut tofu is a savory dish that’s perfect for quick weeknight meals. The peanut sauce is made using just 7 ingredients and is so delicious that you’ll want to eat it on more than just tofu!
Chili mac is a classic vegetarian comfort food recipe that’s made in one pot in just 30 minutes. This recipe is great for last-minute dinners or to share on game day!
These vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes are made in the Instant Pot with just a few simple and inexpensive ingredients. Freezer-friendly and kid-friendly, these sandwiches are the perfect healthy comfort food.
This healthy instant pot recipe is made with brown rice, dry black beans and taco seasonings in under an hour.
Dry red beans and brown rice are cooked together with flavorful seasonings in the Instant Pot in this classic vegetarian staple!
Learn how to make Black Beans and Brown Rice in one pot using flavorful and inexpensive ingredients. This versatile recipe is great in tacos, burritos or enjoyed on its own.
This vegan quinoa taco salad is versatile and jam packed with nutrients, making it the perfect meal prep recipe.
This vegan garlic alfredo sauce requires just six ingredients and is nut-free, easy to make and so creamy!
Vegetarian white bean soup is a filling and healthy recipe made with veggie Italian sausage and barley. Enjoy as a main dish or paired with your favorite soup and sandwich.
Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food recipe that’s also perfect for meal prep! A cashew-based vegan cheese sauce is mixed with pasta, broccoli and chickpeas to make this casserole nutrient-packed and filling.
These vegetarian burritos are made with fast-food style pinto beans and a creamy chipotle sauce.
This chickpea salad sandwich recipe is perfect for a quick vegan meal or meal prep for the week. It’s filling, healthy and can be made in 15 minutes!
This chipotle vegan black bean soup can be made in an Instant Pot or slow cooker. It’s a great make ahead meal that’s loaded with nutrients and bursting with flavor!
Snacks and Dessert
Treat your sweet tooth with these dessert ideas or try your hand at making homemade cashew cheese as a healthy pantry-friendly snack.
It’s so easy to make maple pecan granola at home! All you need is a handful of warming ingredients and under 30 minutes. You’ll never want to go back to store bought again!
With only 6 healthy ingredients, this flavorful lemon blueberry smoothie is a great option for busy mornings.
These thick and fudgy vegan peanut butter brownies are packed with peanut butter from the inside out. They’re mixed together in one bowl using cocoa powder and classic brownie ingredients.
Chocolate Snickerdoodle Dessert Hummus is a healthy protein packed treat. It’s sweet enough to pass as a dessert and plant-based enough to pass as a healthy snack. I’d call that a win-win!
Soft and chewy molasses-sweetened and gingerbread spiced cookies made in one bowl.
This vegan cream cheese recipe is loaded with fresh herbs and is made in just ten minutes! It’s fancy enough to serve at a dinner party with crackers or veggies, and easy enough to spread on a bagel for breakfast.
Looking for more easy meal ideas? Check out my list of 30 Plant-Based Dinner Recipes.
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