In unexpected, long periods of time at home, your kitchen becomes an even more vital source of comfort and sustenance. There are no hard-and-fast requirements about what ingredients to keep stocked in your kitchen, but this list of diverse, family-friendly recipes includes a variety of dishes that use only a handful of ingredients (the 10 ingredient limit includes oils but not salt and pepper) that you likely have in your kitchen already. No matter what you consider "pantry" ingredients, there's a good chance you'll have everything you need to make at least a few of these recipes.
From left: Easy Pancakes, Creamy French-Style Scrambled Eggs, Slow Cooker Creamy Orzo with Parmesan and Peas
1. Easy Pancakes
We’ve developed a lot of delicious recipes for pancakes over the years—but hey, they haven’t all been the least fussy. With this recipe, we set out to accomplish tender, fluffy, flavorful pancakes using pantry-friendly ingredients and basic kitchen tools. (Yes, whipping egg whites in a pancake recipe makes them ultra-fluffy, but sometimes you just want to dump and stir.) [GET THE RECIPE]
What You’ll Need:2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour3 tablespoons sugar4 teaspoons baking powder½ teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil2 large eggs1½ cups milk½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2. Creamy French-Style Scrambled Eggs
Expand your egg-cooking skills by preparing these rich, velvety scrambled eggs. Traditional French-style scrambled egg recipes usually call for plenty of cream and butter, but we found a way to make them without all the added fat. The secret is an ingredient you definitely have on hand: water. [GET THE RECIPE]
What You’ll Need:8 large eggs½ teaspoon salt3 tablespoons water1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
3. Slow Cooker Creamy Orzo with Parmesan and Peas
If you have orzo in your pantry and an oval slow cooker in your cabinet, this recipe is a tasty, mostly hands-off option for a hearty side dish or a vegetarian main (just make sure to use vegetarian broth instead of chicken). [GET THE RECIPE]
What You'll Need:Salt and pepper1 onion6 garlic cloves1½ teaspoons grated lemon zest1 cup frozen peas3 tablespoons unsalted butter2 ounces Parmesan cheese2½ cups vegetable or chicken broth¼ cup dry white wine1 cup orzo
From left: Cacio e Pepe, Foolproof Spaghetti Carbonara, Skillet Baked Ziti
4. Cacio e Pepe
This one goes out to all the European cheese lovers who already have imported Pecorino Romano in their refrigerators. This recipe hinges on using that specific, high-quality ingredient (not the domestic cheese labeled “Romano”) and is a simple but bold-flavored meal. [GET THE RECIPE]
What You’ll Need:Table salt1½ teaspoons finely ground black pepper2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil2 tablespoons heavy cream or half-and-half6 ounces Pecorino Romano1 pound spaghetti
5. Foolproof Spaghetti Carbonara
Most carbonara pastas are so rich that it’s hard to eat a whole bowlful. We lightened the usual recipe by dismissing additions like cream and butter and cutting any oil, which resulted in a lighter dish with a shorter ingredient list. [GET THE RECIPE]
What You’ll Need:1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon pepper½ cup water3 garlic cloves, minced2½ ounces Pecorino Romano, grated (1¼ cups)3 large eggs plus 1 large yolk1 pound spaghetti8 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
6. Skillet Baked Ziti
In the comments section of this recipe, home cooks have mentioned using milk instead of cream, and trying—and loving—a variety of additional ingredients, including sausage, ground chicken, diced onion, mushrooms, and even pureed white beans. As long as you have the base ingredients, this is a great opportunity to cater a recipe to your liking. [GET THE RECIPE]
What You'll Need:1 tablespoon olive oil¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes3 cups water1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes6 garlic cloves¼ cup minced fresh basil leaves12 ounces ziti or penne½ cup heavy cream½ cup grated Parmesan cheese1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
From left: Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken Cutlets, Skillet-Roasted Chicken in Lemon Sauce, Chicken Piccata
7. Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken Cutlets
Japanese chicken katsu is one of our favorite fried chicken preparations. Serve sliced over a bowl of rice with tonkatsu sauce, a barbecue-style sauce that’s also made with pantry ingredients: ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce. [GET THE RECIPE]
What You'll Need:Salt½ cup vegetable oil2 cups panko bread crumbs2 large eggs4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8. Skillet-Roasted Chicken in Lemon Sauce
Want to taste a restaurant favorite at home? This recipe is inspired by the famous lemon chicken served at Rao’s restaurant in New York. Our version swaps the small whole chickens that Rao’s uses for easier-to-find (and more-likely-to-already-be-in-your-freezer) chicken parts. [GET THE RECIPE]
What You’ll Need:½ cup salt4 teaspoons all-purpose flour1 teaspoon vegetable oil1 large shallot, minced1 garlic clove, minced4 teaspoons grated lemon zest plus 1/4 cup juice (2 lemons)1 cup chicken broth2 tablespoons unsalted butter1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves3 pounds bone-in chicken pieces
9. Chicken Piccata
This is an interesting, no-fuss way to use that package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Complete the meal with another pantry staple, such as buttered pasta or white rice, or potatoes, crusty bread, or a simple steamed vegetable if you have one of those. [GET RECIPE]
What You’ll Need:Kosher salt and pepper¾ cup all-purpose flour¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil1 shallot1 garlic clove2 large lemons3 tablespoons unsalted butter2 tablespoons capers1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley1 cup chicken broth4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
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