Work with what you've got.
1. Chickpea Salad with Lemon, Tuna, and Olives
Kitschen Cat / Via kitschencat.com
Toss chickpeas, tuna, canned olives, and red onion in a simple dressing made with lemon juice, vinaigrette, salt and pepper. Sop it up with toasted bread or eat it on some pasta. Get the recipe.
2. Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Pasta
Fit Foodie Finds / Via fitfoodiefinds.com
Keep a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in the pantry and whip them out to make this foolproof pasta dish. The recipe calls for almond or coconut milk, but you can really use whatever nut or regular milk you have in the fridge. Get the recipe.
3. Slow-Cooker Three-Bean Chili
Aberdeen's Kitchen / Via aberdeenskitchen.com
Not only can you forego the grocery shopping, but you can pretty much skip the cooking all together. Just throw canned beans and some veggies (fresh or frozen) into your slow cooker with some pantry spices and call it a night. Get the recipe.
4. Spanish Chickpea Stew
Lazy Cat Kitchen / Via lazycatkitchen.com
If you have a box of rice, a can of chickpeas, and a can of diced tomatoes, you're half way to dinner. Get the recipe.
5. Creamy Tomato Soup
Cooking Classy / Via cookingclassy.com
Canned whole tomatoes, butter, and chicken broth make the base of this decadent soup. If you have it on hand, top your bowl with a dollop of goat cheese or heavy cream. Get the recipe.
6. One Pot Puttanesca
Get Creative Juice / Via getcreativejuice.com
A few jars of canned vegetables like olives, capers, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and diced tomatoes save the day. Toss everything in a pot with spaghetti and finish it off with marinara sauce. Get the recipe.
7. Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Peas and Crayons / Via peasandcrayons.com
Sometimes, you just crave a good old fashioned sandwich. This mashed chickpea filling is made with mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper, and you can dress it up with any veggies you have sitting in the fridge. Get the recipe.
8. Huevos Rancheros
Heather Christo / Via heatherchristo.com
There's no shame in eating eggs for dinner. Spread black beans on warm tortillas,
top it with a fried egg, and add any Mexican toppings you have on hand like avocado, chopped onion, or store-bought salsa. Get the recipe.
9. Marinated White Bean Toast
How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com
This easy meal is avocado toast's more sophisticated cousin. Start with canned white beans tossed in olive oil, ride wine vinegar, and lemon juice. Then you can get fancy with any extra ingredients you have on hand, from roasted red peppers and parsley to marinated mushrooms and feta. Get the recipe.
10. Cozy Pasta Parmesan Soup
Cheeky Kitchen / Via cheekykitchen.com
It's like mac and cheese, except fancier. All you need to make this comforting soup is pasta, butter, chicken broth, parmesan, and salt and pepper. Get the recipe.
11. Mexican Quinoa Tacos
Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com
When you're caught unprepared for taco Tuesday, don't fret. Whip out the tortillas and the slow cooker and let dinner cook itself. This meatless filling is made with canned black beans, tomatoes, corn, and vegetable broth. Get the recipe.
12. Single Serve Microwave Shakshuka
Lauren Volo via The Kitchen / Via thekitchn.com
Canned tomatoes, chickpeas, and eggs goes quite a long way in this microwaveable dinner for one. Get the recipe.
13. Creamy Tomato Shells
Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com
You can make a delicious and effortless homemade cashew milk with nuts, water, salt, and garlic. Add it to marinara sauce for extra creamy pasta. Get the recipe.
14. Lentil Sloppy Joes
Minimalist Baker / Via minimalistbaker.com
To make this upgraded version of a childhood classic, all you really need are hamburger buns, lentils, canned tomato, onion, and a bunch of kitchen spices. Get the recipe.
15. Pasta Salad with Pesto and Peas
The Iron You / Via theironyou.com
Reason #1 why you should always have a jar of pesto sitting around: This nutty, cheesy pasta dish. Get the recipe.
16. Spicy White Bean and Tomato Skillet
Lord Byron's Kitchen / Via lordbyronskitchen.com
Canned whole tomatoes and white beans form the base of this hearty, rustic dinner. You can garnish it with whatever spices you have on hand like cumin, oregano, and paprika. Get the recipe.
17. Spicy Tuna Rolls
Pickled Plum / Via pickledplum.com
Before you reach for the takeout menus, remember the rice and canned tuna sitting in your pantry. Get the recipe.
18. Rice Bowl with Fried Egg
Yossy Arefi via Bon Appetit / Via bonappetit.com
Never underestimate the power of a crispy fried egg. Serve it over a bed of rice, topped with whatever veggies you have on hand and a drizzle of Sriracha. Get the recipe.
