Foods like ramen, mac and cheese, instant potatoes, rice mixes, and oatmeal are common items in many pantries. They are quick, easy meals that are also comforting and affordable. But have you ever thought about jazzing them up? Tossing in a few extra ingredients can really take your classic pantry staples to the next level!
By adding more ingredients to packaged foods, you can:
- Add another food group or two to your meal, along with more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein.
- Stretch the meal to make more servings so you can feed more people or have enough leftovers for multiple meals.
- Take it from a side dish to a full meal.
- Add more fiber and protein to the meal to help you feel full longer.
- Add variety to your routine by turning one item into lots of different meals.
Try these ideas for your next meal:
Ramen. Follow the package directions for making ramen. During the last minute of cooking, add some veggies like peas, corn, spinach, shredded cabbage, carrots, onions, and mushrooms. For protein, try hard-cooked eggs, edamame (shelled soybeans), tofu, or some cooked meat like shredded chicken, ham, ground beef, or shrimp. You can eat it as a soup, or drain the water before adding the seasonings to turn it into a noodle bowl, or even a stir- fry!
Mashed Potatoes. Make this side dish into a full meal by making mashed potato bowls. Top the prepared instant potatoes with corn, peas, spinach, and some shredded cheese. Diced ham, chicken, or plain Greek yogurt on top would add some more protein.
Stuffing. Sauté diced celery, onions, carrots, and apples until tender in a skillet. Then, follow the package instructions to make the stuffing in the same skillet. Mix in some cooked chicken or turkey for a quick Thanksgiving dinner any day of the week.
Pasta and Rice Mixes. Mac and cheese and flavored rice mixes can get a boost from adding cooked peas, broccoli, tomatoes, or mixed vegetables. Try adding finely chopped or riced cauliflower along with the pasta or rice in the water for an extra serving of veggies. Give the sauce a boost by stirring in plain Greek yogurt or pureed butternut squash instead of butter. You can also add some protein like tuna, chicken, ham, or ground beef or turkey.
Hot Cereal. After cooking instant oatmeal, cream of wheat, or grits, stir in a ½ cup of canned or fresh peaches or pears, applesauce, mashed bananas, or fresh or frozen berries for an extra serving of fruit. Skip adding extra sugar, honey, or syrup and go for spices like cinnamon or cocoa powder to add flavor. Toss in a couple tablespoons of nuts, seeds, or peanut butter for extra protein, healthy fats, and fiber. If your instant oatmeal is already flavored, pick some stir-ins that go with it, like pears or applesauce with apple-flavored oatmeal, or canned pumpkin and nuts with cinnamon-flavored oatmeal.
Tips for getting more out of your boxed pantry items:
- Look for whole grains. Noodles, pasta, and stuffing are all available in whole-grain versions. There are even instant versions of whole grains like brown rice and quinoa.
- Lower the sodium by using just half of the seasoning packet that comes in the box. Then, add your own salt-free flavors from dried spices and herbs, fresh herbs, hot sauce, or crushed red pepper.
- If you're adding meat or fish to food that is already prepared, make sure the meat is also fully cooked before adding it to your dish.
- Canned, frozen, or fresh vegetables and fruits will all work as mix-ins or toppings. You can cook fresh or frozen vegetables at the same time as your pasta, noodles, or rice when following the directions on the package. If you’re using vegetables that are canned or already cooked, you might want to heat them separately. Or, you could just mix them in after you’ve followed the cooking instructions on the package.
Here are some more recipes that use common pantry items to make quick and easy balanced meals!