The ingredients that save dinner at my house more often than I’d like to admit.
Can we all agree that the hardest part about making dinner isn’t actually cooking? It’s deciding what to cook.
As a busy mom, I’ve learned that dinner isn’t stressful because cooking is hard, it’s stressful because making the decision every single day can be exhausting. That’s exactly why I stopped relying on one recipe at a time and started keeping a handful of ingredients that can become dozens of different meals.
These are the kitchen staples you’ll almost always find in my kitchen.
Here are the ingredients you’ll almost always find in my kitchen.
Protein Kitchen Staples
These protein kitchen staples become the foundation for most of our meals every week.
Eggs
If we run out of eggs, somebody in this house notices almost immediately. They’re inexpensive, filling, and somehow work for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Whether I’m scrambling a few before work or making breakfast for dinner, eggs earn their spot every grocery trip.
Chicken
Chicken is probably the hardest-working protein I have. Seriously, just ask my kids. I can think of so many ways to prepare chicken which is why I love it so much; you’ll never feel like you’re eating the same meals on repeat. Some weeks it’s grilled, other weeks it’s baked, fried, smothered, glazed,shredded, chopped into wraps, or tossed into pasta.
Ground Beef
Ground beef has saved dinner more times than I can count. It’s one of those ingredients I know I can pull out of the freezer and turn into something everyone will actually eat. Our favorite use for ground meats are usually taco bowls, empanadas, or meatballs.
Ground Turkey
When I want something a little leaner, I usually grab ground turkey. It swaps into almost every recipe that normally uses ground beef without much difference. Also ground turkey is usually significantly cheaper. 
Tuna
This is one of my favorite “I forgot to make lunch” foods. And it’s a place that every member of my household loves it.
Frozen Shrimp
Frozen shrimp is one of the quickest dinners you can make because there’s no waiting around for it to thaw all day. Depending on the type and amount you buy, it can get pretty expensive, but this is also a protein that you can stretch and make various ways.
Steak
Now I know steak is not typically considered a kitchen staple but for me, I love to have at least a few inexpensive cuts in my freezer for when we are craving red meat. Which is usually all the time.
Dairy Kitchen Staples
If my refrigerator ran out of shredded cheese, there would probably be complaints.
Cheese
I buy the big bags and multiple blocks because we use it on everything. Cheese is especially significant when I’m in the mood to make homemade sauces for pasta. Cream cheese is another must have particularly for low-carb snacks, and dips. Don’t forget Parmesan cheese too!
Butter
Butter makes everything taste better. And I can guarantee, you need it for 99% of the things you make in your kitchen. this is one of the kitchen staples you don’t even have to think twice about buying.
Milk
Milk always has a place in my refrigerator because we use it for breakfast, cooking, and baking throughout the week.
Yogurt
This is usually my quick breakfast or afternoon snack. I also love throwing it into smoothies, or eating it with berries and a bit of granola. Plain high protein Greek yogurt is the best.
Sour Cream
Sour cream is one of those kitchen staples that instantly makes meals feel complete. I use it for everything from tacos to baked potatoes. I think it might be kind of an addiction for me
Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is one of my kitchen stables primarily because I like to use it in my coffee when I’m trying to stay away from creamers with more sugar in them this is also so good for making sauces and baking.
Bread & Grain Kitchen Staples
These are the ingredients that stretch meals without stretching the grocery budget.
Sandwich Bread
Lunch sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese sandwiches and even French Toast (although brioche bread is the best for this).
Tortillas
If you opened my pantry at any moment, I can bet you there’d be tortillas inside. They’re way too versatile to be without.
Rice
Rice is one of the easiest ways to make dinner feed more people. It’s super cheap and works with almost every protein you can think of.
Pasta
I always keep several different shapes because every pasta somehow feels like a different dinner. My babies love pasta 😋.  And I mean, how much cheaper and easier can it get?
Pantry Kitchen Staples
These ingredients quietly make everything else work.
Pasta Sauce
Two jars usually turn into several dinners throughout the week for my family.
Alfredo Sauce
Perfect for those nights when everyone wants comfort food.
Black Beans
Affordable, filling, and packed with protein.
Corn
Corn somehow ends up in everything from taco bowls to salads.
Salsa
This isn’t just for tortilla chips. We use salsa on eggs, tacos, grilled chicken, and burrito bowls.
Evaporated Milk
Another must have for baking and making sauces.
Oil
Oil, grease, fat….. Whatever you use, is another must have ingredient on the kitchen staples list. If you’re looking to fry or bake you’ll usually need it.
Condiments
Ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, hot sauce, and honey are just a few kind of means I keep on hand.
Frozen Kitchen Staples
These frozen kitchen staples have saved dinner at my house more times than I’m willing to tell you 😬. They’re perfect for nights when I don’t have time to cook from scratch but still want to put together a meal my family will actually eat. I also like to freeze leftovers; they can always be used for a quick lunch or snack.
- Frozen chicken breasts
- Frozen shrimp
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen fruit
- Frozen meatballs
- Frozen garlic bread
- Frozen fries / onion rings
- Sausage and bacon
- Frozen waffles
- Frozen egg roll wrappers
Produce Kitchen Staples
Instead of buying vegetables for one specific recipe, I buy vegetables I know we’ll actually use.
- Romaine lettuce
- Spinach
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Avocados
These ingredients rotate through salads, wraps, side dishes, stir-fries, tacos, sandwiches, and snack trays all week long.
Kitchen Staples Seasonings
Instead of filling my cabinet with dozens of specialty spices, I keep things simple.
- Seasoning salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Badia Complete Seasoning
- Italian seasoning
- Taco seasoning
- Chili powder
- Cajun seasoning
These seasonings cover almost every meal we make. I do keep other ‘specialty’ seasonings on hand, but these are the absolute must-have basics.
Some of Our Favorite Meals Using These Kitchen Staples
One of the best things about keeping these ingredients stocked is that I rarely feel boxed into one dinner idea.
Some of our family’s favorites include:
- Loaded Baked Potatoes
- Homemade Crispy Egg Rolls
- Homemade Chicken Tenders
-  Cesar chicken wraps
- Chicken Alfredo
- Egg Rolls
- Various Pastas (spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, cheeses chicken pasta and broccoli, pasta bake, etc.)
- Teriyaki noodles 
- Taco Bowls
- Chicken Wraps
- Meatballs
- Fried Rice
- Homemade Pizza
- Breakfast Burritos
- Loaded Nachos
- Empanadas
- Burgers
- Chili
- Sloppy Joes
- Quesadillas
- Deviled eggs
Before Someone Says They’re Hungry Again… 😂
The biggest change I ever made wasn’t finding more recipes, it was changing the way I grocery shop.
I used to buy groceries for a few specific meals, and by the middle of the week I’d be standing in front of the refrigerator wondering what we were going to eat. I always felt like I needed another grocery trip or another recipe to make dinner happen.
Now I keep my favorite kitchen staples stocked all the time. Instead of shopping for one meal at a time, I shop for ingredients that can be mixed and matched into dozens of different meals. It gives me so much more flexibility, saves money, and honestly makes weeknight dinners a whole lot less stressful. Especially when I prep for the next day.
May your fridge always have something for dinner—even if you have to open it five times before deciding what it is.
Thanks for doing life with me,
— Lexi 🤍
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