Super Speedy Meals from the Pantry

December 19, 2008
Use classic pantry and freezer staples like canned tomatoes, pasta, chicken, and ground beef to whip up tasty dinners in a flash.
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Pasta Carbonara

Total Time: 45 Minutes
Pantry Stars: Spaghetti Noodles & Bacon
 
You can make this stovetop Italian restaurant favorite at home with just a few staple ingredients. Egg yolks lend the pasta creaminess and bacon and Parmesan add rich flavor. Believe us, it'll soon become a regular in your cooking repertoire.

Recipe: Pasta Carbonara

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Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken Strips

Total Time: 45 Minutes
Pantry Stars: Chicken & Baking Mix
 
A family favorite, chicken strips are a standby recipe for busy weeknights. This 6-ingredient version is made even easier by using a baking mix (such as Bisquick). Serve with honey, mustard, or ketchup for dipping.

Recipe: Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken Strips

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Quick Marinara Sauce

Total Time: 25 Minutes
Pantry Stars: Canned Tomatoes & Pasta Noodles
 
You can whip up this homemade sauce in about 20 minutes with just five pantry stapes: olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, canned crushed tomatoes, and basil. Add any type of cooked pasta, and you've got a hearty meatless dinner.

Recipe: Quick Marinara Sauce

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Diner Meat Loaf 'Muffins'

Total Time: 30 Minutes
Pantry Stars: Ground Beef & Saltine Crackers
 
Sit down to a meat loaf in a half hour with this recipe. Grab saltine crackers, ketchup, and a few other ingredients from the cabinet and get started.

Recipe: Diner Meat Loaf 'Muffins'

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Shrimp Fried Rice

Total Time: 45 Minutes or Less
Pantry Stars: Rice, Frozen Shrimp & Frozen Peas
 
Reach into the freezer for a speedy Asian supper. Keeping frozen shrimp and vegetables on hand ensures you'll always have a dinner plan. Microwaveable precooked rice is shelf stable and ready to serve in seconds.

Recipe: Shrimp Fried Rice

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Spicy Black Beans

Pantry Stars: Canned Black Beans, Canned Whole Tomatoes & Rice
Total Time: 30 Minutes

The core ingredients to this recipe are black beans, tomatoes, and rice. Sun-dried tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, and cilantro (optional) add extra boosts of flavor. If you don't have the last three ingredients, cut down a bit on the whole tomatoes and stir in jarred salsa the last few minutes of cooking.

Recipe: Spicy Black Beans

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Caramelized Onion Chicken

Total Time: 25 Minutes
Pantry Stars: Chicken Breasts, Fruit Jam & Soy Sauce
 
Raspberry jam, red wine vinegar, soy sauce, and a couple of seasonings create a rich sauce for the chicken. This recipe is low in fat, easy to whip together, and most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry. If you don't have raspberry jam, red current, apple, or seedless blackberry jam can stand in for great results.

Recipe: Caramelized Onion Chicken

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Peanut Butter Pancakes

Total Time: 30 Minutes
or Less Pantry Stars: Peanut Butter, Flour, Sugar & Eggs
 
Breakfast for dinner is a go-to meal when the refrigerator is bare. This recipe adds peanut butter to traditional pancake mix and transforms them from standard to extraordinary. For a well-rounded meal, serve with sausage or bacon.

Recipe: Peanut Butter Pancakes

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