Are you looking for recipes that are simple to make and use up what’s already in your store cupboard? On busy weeks, or when you just don’t fancy a big shop, these tasty recipes can be rustled up from what you have in your pantry. Here are 10 super tasty and easy store cupboard recipes to try.
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When you’re short on time, can’t get to the shops, or money is a little tight towards the end of the month, easy-to-cook recipes made from things already in your kitchen cupboard are a lifesaver.
Here are some easy store cupboard recipes to inspire you, all designed to feed and fill your family without a big shopping trip.
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Easy Store Cupboard Recipes to Try
#1. Tuna Pasta Bake
Image courtesy of Jamie Oliver
This handy recipe for tuna pasta bake from Jamie Oliver’s website uses tinned tuna, tinned tomatoes and dried pasta. It’s low cost and super easy to make.
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#2. Spanish Chicken Stew
Image courtesy of Tesco
The great thing about this Spanish chicken stew recipe, apart from being delicious and using tins from your cupboard, is that it’s a one-pot recipe — less washing up, always a bonus.
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#3. Sausage and Bean Hotpot
Image courtesy of Good Housekeeping
This sausage and bean hotpot is a real comfort food recipe and uses two store cupboard items you’re bound to have: baked beans and Worcestershire sauce.
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#4. Chicken With Lime, Honey and Soy
Image courtesy of Lorraine Pascale
This recipe for chicken with lime, honey and soy from Lorraine Pascale is easy to throw together and uses lime, honey and soy sauce for the flavours.
Serve the chicken with rice and steamed veggies, or try it with couscous.
#5. Three Bean Curry
Image courtesy of Hungry Healthy Happy
This three bean curry from Hungry Healthy Happy is packed with protein and easy to adapt. Make the base recipe, then vary it with kale, extra chilli if you want it spicier, or other veggies your kids like.
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#6. Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci)
Pasta with chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci) is a real budget-friendly family dinner recipe. To make it even more economical, use dried chickpeas instead of tinned — soak them overnight, then cook for 2 hours, or until tender but not too soft.
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#7. Sausage and Mash Bake
Image courtesy of Good To Know
This recipe for sausage and mash bake from Good To Know is made with pork sausages cooked in a tasty store cupboard sauce and topped with mashed potato.
#8. Tomato and Bacon Pasta
This tomato and bacon pasta is a great standby recipe — ready in under 30 minutes from prep to table. Keep a packet of bacon bits or pancetta handy in the fridge so you can rustle it up any time.
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#9. Meatballs with Spaghetti
This meatballs recipe from Bord Bia is really versatile. Make it with minced beef or lamb, plus some basic store cupboard ingredients — garlic, onion, seasoning, passata and tomato purée.
Prepare the meatballs in advance, then just make the sauce and spaghetti when you’re ready for dinner.
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#10. Simple Beef Curry
This recipe for simple beef curry only takes 10 minutes of prep. Leave it cooking for the afternoon and fill the house with the most delicious smell!
Over to you now. What other store cupboard recipes are on your go-to meal list? Tell us in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a “store cupboard” ingredient?
Store cupboard ingredients are the tinned, dried and jarred basics that keep well without refrigeration — think tinned tomatoes, tinned beans and pulses, pasta, rice, stock cubes, and store-cupboard sauces like soy or Worcestershire sauce. Most of the recipes above build a full meal around just a handful of these.
Can I make these recipes without meat?
Yes — several of these recipes, like the pasta with chickpeas and the three bean curry, are naturally meat-free. Others, such as the tuna pasta bake or meatball recipe, can often be adapted by swapping in extra vegetables, pulses or a meat-free mince alternative.
How can I make store cupboard meals go further?
Bulk out any of these recipes with extra pasta, rice or a tin of beans to stretch portions for a bigger family, and freeze leftovers in individual portions for quick meals on busier days.
Do I need fresh ingredients as well?
Most of these recipes taste even better with a few fresh additions — an onion, some garlic, or whatever vegetables you have to hand — but they’re designed so the bulk of the meal comes from your cupboard, not a big shop.
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- My 3 Surprises Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
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Not cooking tonight? Bookmark this page or pin your favourite recipe so it’s ready to go the next time your cupboard needs raiding.
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