10 Easy Dry Good Recipes

The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting all of us with a gamut of challenges. Grocery buying is no longer as simple of a task as it used to be, and has to be meticulously planned out ahead of time now. Luckily, meal planning services make it easy to plan your meals for quarantine cooking, so you know exactly what food to buy.

This unprecedented time can serve as an opportunity to inspire your cooking and get creative in the kitchen. We’re here to help you make the most of what you have on hand and perhaps even try something new, like a virtual dinner party.

Dry goods such as rice and pasta are extremely versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes that you might not have previously considered. On top of easy pasta recipes and easy rice recipes, PlateJoy has other delicious ways for you to make the most of your dry goods and pantry staples. These dry goods recipes are easy to make, use ingredients you likely already have, and are easily customizable.

Benefits of Dry Goods

Having a well-stocked pantry of dry goods is beneficial and helpful for a number of reasons. They are a cost-effective and cheap way to bulk up your meals. Adding dry goods such as grains or quinoa to meals is a good way to add fiber, which can help keep you full and satiated for a longer period of time.

By making smart choices at the grocery store and stocking up on a variety of foods, you can maximize your cupboard to create simply pantry recipes. They also last a long time, which can help prevent food waste. You don’t have to worry about dry goods going bad or spoiling for a long time, especially if you practice good food storage techniques.

Dry goods are often quick and easy to prepare. They can be used to make multiple servings of a dish, making them especially useful for meal prep. There’s nothing better than knowing that you only had to cook a meal one time to make four portions or more.

They can also be used for any meal. From preparing oatmeal for breakfast to a quinoa salad at lunch, to a hearty risotto for dinner, there is no limit to what kind of dry goods recipes you can prepare.

Essential Dry Goods Pantry Items

Here is a list of common items to help you stock your pantry so that you can easily and quickly create delicious dry goods recipes:

• Rice
• Quinoa
• Pasta
• Grains, like barley, wheat berries, buckwheat, and bulgur
• Oats, such as instant oatmeal, old-fashioned rolled oats, and steel-cut oats
• Baking ingredients, such as flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda
• Nuts, such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts
• Seeds, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds
• Legumes, such as chickpeas, lentils, and beans
• Spices and dried herbs
• Salt, pepper, and other seasonings

There are a few recommended tips and tricks to preserve your dry goods for a long time.

Storing Dry Goods

• As much as possible, store foods in a sealed container once they are opened. This helps keep them fresh longer, and avoids letting in any kitchen odors or potential pantry bugs. Sealed containers include stackable storage containers, jars, and resealable bags.
• To maximize the storage space in your pantry, stack your food containers. This is where stackable storage containers come in handy. Buy various sizes of containers so that you can place dry goods in smaller containers as you use them and save space along the way.
• Label containers as you transfer your dry goods from their original packaging. This is especially helpful with various flours, grains, sugars, and spices. Save yourself the hassle of guessing what’s in your mystery container by labeling it ahead of time.
• Practice First In, First Out (FIFO). Store your dry goods in a way that allows you to use them in the order they were purchased to help prevent spoilage and food waste.

We have compiled ten of our favorite pantry recipes for you to make in your own home. These dry goods recipes are not only easy to prepare, but you likely already have most of these ingredients on hand. The recipes are easily customizable so that you can substitute ingredients based on your preferences or what you have in your kitchen.

1. Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli and Quinoa Casserole

Is there anything more comforting than a cheesy casserole? This cozy dish is a great way to use gluten-free dry goods such as quinoa, which is high in fiber and protein. Quinoa is actually considered a complete protein because it contains sufficient amounts of all nine essential amino acids. Broccoli adds even more fiber to this recipe, which supports gut health and can keep you satiated and full.

You can make a big batch of this casserole and eat it throughout the week. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

2. Instant Pot Risotto with Sausage, Butternut Squash & Kale

This hearty and healthy meal uses gluten-free dry goods you have in your pantry. It’s an easy rice recipe that incorporates kale and butternut squash for a nutrient boost. Both of these vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin A, which is important for vision health, immunity, and keeping your heart and other organs functioning properly.

While this easy rice recipe calls for use of an Instant Pot, you can modify it based on what you have in your kitchen. This guide on making risotto will help you prepare risotto using only a saucepan and sauté pan.

3. Lemon Orzo Primavera Salad with Tuna

This is an easy pasta recipe that you’ll want to make again and again. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that can be used in cold or warm dishes, and can be used in any easy pasta recipe. High-protein dry goods such as canned tuna are highly versatile and add depth and a substantial amount of protein to this dish.

While the original recipe calls for asparagus, you can substitute with any fresh or frozen vegetable. Feel free to customize this easy pasta recipe with what you have on hand or per your flavor preferences.

4. Pear Cobbler Oatmeal

Pantry staples aren’t just useful for dinner - they’re great for breakfast too. Instant oatmeal is transformed into a cozy and delicious breakfast with pears, walnuts, and cinnamon in this dry goods recipe. You can substitute instant oatmeal with old-fashioned rolled oats if you prefer. Oats are a good source of insoluble and soluble fiber, which can promote healthy digestion and help stabilize blood sugars.

You can customize this dry goods recipe based on what you have on hand - feel free to swap the pears for other fruits, like bananas or apples. You can further personalize this dry goods recipe with your favorite spices and nuts.

5. Green Goddess Quinoa Salad Bowls

Dry goods recipes are anything but boring if you infuse them with vibrant flavors and delicious sauces. Homemade green goddess dressing brightens up this quinoa salad bowl. Since bowls are so easy to make and are extremely versatile, they are a popular option for quick and easy lunches.

Quinoa is a great way to bulk up salads since it is high in protein and fiber, so it will keep you full and satiated for hours after you eat. Canned beans are another way to add protein to this vegetarian lunch salad and other dry goods recipes.

6. Instant Pot Overnight Multigrain Porridge

Pantry staples like grains and nuts come together in this hearty breakfast dish. You can customize this recipe with dry spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to add extra flavor. Since this dry goods recipe makes four servings, you can either share with your family, or store it in the refrigerator and enjoy it later by heating it up when you’re ready to eat.

7. One-Pot Turkey and Broccoli Pasta Bowls

This pasta bowl comes together quickly with ground turkey and frozen vegetables. Since it only takes one pot to prepare this pantry goods recipe, cleaning up afterwards is easy and quick. Easy pasta recipes are simple to batch, so you can cook once and eat four times.

8. Chocolate Ginger Granola Bars

If you thought it was difficult to make your own granola bars, think again. This easy granola bar recipe uses oats, nuts, seeds, and spices to make a kid-friendly snack. Making your own granola bars is an effective cost-savings method compared to buying the packaged varieties.

Nuts and seeds provide heart-healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. They are also high in fiber, which provides heart-protective benefits as well.

9. Grain-Free Nut and Seed Bread

This gluten-free and grain-free bread is a great way to use up dry goods such as nuts and seeds. It is also a fun baking project to occupy your time during long days at home.

This dry goods recipe is easy to store, and you can either refrigerate it or freeze it. If refrigerating, place the bread in a tightly sealed container for up to five days. If you want to store it longer, you can freeze the bread for up to three months - just make sure to slice it before freezing for easy access later.

10. Savory Ginger and Garlic Roasted Almonds

Spice up your almonds with this savory roasted almond recipe. Almonds are very nutritious and contain fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats. They are also a good source of vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that can protect your body against free radicals.

The best part of these savory almonds is that you can add them to spice up so many dishes, from salads to grain bowls. They also make for a healthy vegan snack to enjoy throughout the day.

The Takeaway

Dry goods recipes are not only versatile but are also nutritious and delicious. They are quick and easy to prepare, and can make multiple portions so that you can save time.

Common dry goods include grains, flours, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Dry goods can be used in any meal or snack, and are great for all ages.

Dry goods are cost-effective and can actually save you money. They easily bulk up meals and can be a good source of fiber and protein, which helps keep you full longer. They can also help you decrease food waste because they last a long time and don’t spoil as quickly as other foods.

PlateJoy’s meal planning service makes it convenient to meal plan with dry goods by providing easy pasta recipes, easy rice recipes, and so much more.

You can always personalize your meal plan to your specific diet or dry goods ingredients that are currently available to you. Batching meals and meal planning on PlateJoy can help reduce waste, which is especially helpful during this quarantine time.