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!

Pantry Recipes
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
Sunflower Seed Butter
Strawberry Milk
Pancake Muffins
Chia Jam
Applesauce Muffins
Instant Oatmeal
Nut-Free Granola
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
Homemade Granola Bars
Easy Pear Pops
Lentil Sauce for Pasta
Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Taco Roll Ups
Rice Noodle Soup
Rice Noodle Salad
Bean and Cheese Quesadillas
5-Ingredient Vegetarian Burritos
30-Minute Black Bean Soup
Pizza Rolls with Spinach
Italian Lentils and Rice
Coconut Rice
Salmon Salad Sandwiches
Salmon Cakes
Alphabet Soup
Quick Pantry Meals (without Recipes!)

Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!

Chocolate mousse with spoon in glass jar with strawberries on side.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

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

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

With just a few pantry staples, you can make the creamiest, most luxe vegan Chocolate Mousse to share with the kids …o r to just enjoy yourself. This takes minutes to make and is downright dreamy.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Sunflower Seed Butter

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

Easy Sunflower Seed Butter

With so many families needing to be peanut-free for school (and for allergies), I am so excited to share this recipe for Sunflower Seed Butter as a tasty and affordable option to store-bought.

Easy Sunflower Seed Butter

Strawberry Milk

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

Favorite Strawberry Milk

Creamy and delicious, Strawberry Milk is easy to make with fresh strawberries or freeze-dried ones. The version with freeze-dried berries tastes more similar to store-bought strawberry milk; the one with fresh berries tastes more like fresh strawberries!

Favorite Strawberry Milk

Pancake Muffins

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

Easy Pancake Muffins (Favorite Pancake Bites)

Baking pancake mix in the oven is an easy way to streamline breakfast and to reduce the amount of time you have to stand at the stove cooking. You can add any topping you like to these and bake them as mini muffins or regular sized ones.

Easy Pancake Muffins (Favorite Pancake Bites)

pancake-muffins-on-yellow-plate-with-syrup

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.

Blueberry Chia Seed Jam

You can make this with fresh or frozen blueberries. Use the yogurt option to turn it into a quick and easy chia seed pudding.

Blueberry Chia Seed Jam

Applesauce Muffins

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

Favorite Applesauce Muffins

Perfectly spiced and just sweet enough, these Applesauce Muffins are a yummy breakfast or snack. We like these on their own, topped with nut or seed butter, or even with a smear of cream cheese. See what your littles like!

Favorite Applesauce Muffins

Instant Oatmeal

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

Easy Instant Oatmeal

You can make a handful of containers ahead of time, then pull them out for easy breakfasts when you need them. Or, make and serve all at once.

Easy Instant Oatmeal

Nut-Free Granola

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

Nut-Free Granola

This easy method is a great way to make Nut-Free Granola to share with the kids that's nutritious and easy to chew. It's great with yogurt, with milk, or as a topping for oatmeal.

Nut-Free Granola

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.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

These no-bake bites taste like a cross between oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookie dough. I use natural creamy peanut butter (like the kind from Smuckers), and it works really well.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls

Homemade Granola Bars

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

Easy Homemade Granola Bars

We like to have these granola bars as a snack or toddler breakfast with milk or a smoothie—and they're an excellent lunch box component too. You can make them plain or choose a flavor to add!

Easy Homemade Granola Bars

Easy Pear Pops

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

Easy Pear Popsicles

These one-ingredient Pear Pops are a freezer staple since they naturally soothe sore throats and can help with constipation. Plus: They just taste yummy.

Easy Pear Popsicles

Lentil Sauce for Pasta

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

Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta

Learn this easy technique to add iron and fiber to pasta sauce without impacting the flavor or texture. This is a great option to make a meal a little more satisfying and as an iron-rich vegetarian meal. (You can start with half the amount of lentils to start to ensure the kids like the sauce, if desired.)

Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta

Lentil pasta in two white bowls with spoon.

Zucchini Pasta Sauce

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

Zucchini Pasta Sauce

Learn how to turn fresh zucchini into a bright and fresh pasta sauce with a simple method. Add the optional toppings for extra flavor as you and your family like. (Heads up: You'll want to reserve a little of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pot.)

Zucchini Pasta Sauce

Taco Roll Ups

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

Easy Taco Roll Ups

This super simple riff on tacos takes just minutes to make, is really satisfying, and is great for lunch, dinner, or even snack. (This makes 6 rolled-up tacos, so you can adjust this as needed for your family.)

Easy Taco Roll Ups

Rice Noodle Soup

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

Quick Rice Noodle Soup

With a quick cooking time and streamlined technique, this Rice Noodle Soup is full of flavor and an easy family meal.

Quick Rice Noodle Soup

Rice Noodle Salad

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

Quick Rice Noodle Salad

This quick Rice Noodle Salad is a favorite family dinner when I don't feel like cooking—you just have to boil water and the rest is assembly only! It takes about 20 minutes and is so fresh and delish.

Quick Rice Noodle Salad

cut up vegetarian quesadillas for kids on plate

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas

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

Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese

You can make as few or as many of these easy quesadillas as you like.

Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese

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.

Vegetarian Rice and Beans Burritos

You can make and serve these at the same time, or prep them ahead of time and warm up quickly for an easy meal. You can vary the beans in these simple burritos. Serve them with salsa and/or sour cream.

Vegetarian Rice and Beans Burritos

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.

30-Minute Vegetarian Black Bean Soup

You can serve this soup chunky or pureed smooth, according to what your family might prefer. There's also a slow cooker option if that's more your speed! Try it as a dip for little kids if they're not into a full bowl.

30-Minute Vegetarian Black Bean Soup

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.

Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Veggies)

This Pizza Rolls recipe is packed with nutrition—and even greens!—but the cheese and silly spiral shape makes them much more appealing to toddlers and big kids. Be sure to grease your pan well and roll the dough up fairly tightly around the fillings for best results. (But it's okay if they don't look perfect when they go into the pan!)

Favorite Pizza Rolls (with Veggies)

pizza rolls recipe on wire rack on counter.

italian green lentils with rice and cucumbers

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.

Italian Lentils with Rice

We like this with rice, but you can also serve this with pasta if you prefer.

Italian Lentils with Rice

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.

How to Make Coconut Rice

Make this without the optional flavors for a simple, yet yummy side dish that’s easy for your little ones to eat since the grains hold together well. Add just ginger, or add ginger and the optional spices at the end for more flavor. We like adding raisins to the mix when we add the extra spices!

How to Make Coconut Rice

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.

Favorite Salmon Salad Sandwich

This salmon salad is packed with protein, healthy fats, and calcium and can be used as a dip or a spread for sandwiches. We use homemade relish in this recipe, but you can use any that you like the flavor of.

Favorite Salmon Salad Sandwich

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!

Easy Baked Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties)

These tender Salmon Cakes are easy, flavorful, and an affordable way to serve salmon to the whole family. Try over salad, grains, or tucked into a roll as a salmon burger.

Easy Baked Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties)

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!

Favorite Alphabet Soup

You can use ABC pasta, orzo, pastina, or ditalini—or any other very small pasta shape in this Alphabet Soup recipe. And you can start with fresh or frozen veggies. See below for options.

Favorite Alphabet Soup

sandwich-roll-ups-in-stainless-container

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

Dinner

Comments

Jan says:

February 26, 2024 at 2:13 pm

Thank you for sharing your wonderful tips and recipes!! Your enthusiasm and support for others is greatly appreciated. Keep going strong!!

1. Amy Palanjian says:
  
  February 27, 2024 at 1:55 pm
  
  Thank you!