Unexpected guests? These pantry dishes have you covered

The holidays offer a wonderful opportunity to gather, connect, and catch up with loved ones, sometimes unexpectedly. Don’t let the opportunity to visit with surprise guests catch you unawares! These simple pantry-ready dishes will help you be prepared to happily welcome any drop-in visitors. 

The basics

Any well-stocked pantry should have some variety of the following items. These products are affordable and versatile and are the foundation for countless variations of ready-to-go meals and snacks.

• Dried pasta (small shapes like rotini and elbow noodles are more versatile than long noodles like spaghetti and fettuccine)
• Canned beans
• Canned tuna or chicken
• Coconut cream (adds a luscious richness and is an easy dairy-free and shelf-stable sub for heavy cream)
• Rice
• Tomato product (crushed or stewed tomatoes work well; a jar of marinara is more pricey but is ready to use)
• Crackers, pretzels, or tortilla chips
• Mixed nuts (any kind that you like will work! Nuts can be served as-is or quickly toasted in the oven for an elevated bar snack)
• Chicken bouillon/broth (“Better Than Bouillon” really packs the flavor with minimal storage space, or opt for a few packages of bone broth. Vegetable broth/bullion can be subbed as a vegetarian option.)
• Frozen vegetables (veggie medley, peas, or spinach work well)
• Two or three of your favorite specialty jarred items (fig jam, olives, marinated artichokes, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, etc)

Appetizers/snacks

Pea Hummus

Pantry items: Frozen peas, olive oil, salt

Microwave the frozen peas (or thaw in the fridge overnight if you have enough advance notice); then pulse in a food processor with 1/4 c of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and creamy. Serve with chips, crackers, or veggie sticks.

Elevated chips and dip

Pantry items: Red pepper jelly (or another jarred specialty jam), cream cheese

Top a block of cream cheese with a jar of specialty jam like red pepper jelly. The sweet and lightly spicy jam pairs perfectly with the creamy base. This simple appetizer looks elevated and tastes divine with little to no prep time needed. Serve with crackers or veggie sticks.

Mediterranean snack tray

Serve olives or artichokes alongside canned tuna. Drain tuna and flake it apart. Top the tuna with a drizzle of olive oil and freshly cracked pepper. Serve with crackers, chips, or veggie sticks.

Cream of spinach soup

Pantry items: Frozen spinach, chicken broth/bouillon, coconut cream

Heat frozen spinach to thaw. Add to blender with 2 cups of chicken broth and half a can of coconut cream. Add the creamy, bright soup to a saucepan and heat to serve. Season with garlic powder and salt and pepper. This stunning green color is eye-catching and elegant!

Quick meals

Pesto beans

Pantry items: Canned cannellini beans, jarred pesto

Drain and heat cannellini beans, and stir in a few tablespoons of pesto. To bulk it up further, mix in frozen peas or spinach. Top with grated parmesan if you have it! Serve with crusty bread over rice or simply a spoon.

Tuna melts

Pantry items: Canned tuna

Transform canned tuna into satisfying sandwiches. Mix tuna with mayo and a squirt of mustard. Assemble the sandwiches with buttered bread, any kind of cheese (shredded or sliced), and toast on a griddle until melty. To make this classic comfort food more sophisticated, add a spread of pesto to the bread or some chopped sun-dried tomatoes or olives into the tuna mixture. If you have the time to devote to presentation, use the same ingredients but serve it as a “tuna crostini” by cutting the bread into smaller shapes and leaving the sandwich open-faced.

Roasted red pepper pasta sauce

Pantry items: Roasted red peppers, coconut cream

Drain a jar of roasted red peppers and blend with a can of coconut cream (or ½ cup of heavy cream or half and half). Spice it up with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, or keep it mild for the kids. Serve over pasta of any kind for an effortless and elevated dinner. Serve alongside frozen peas or mixed veggies if desired.

Pantry chili

Pantry items: Canned beans, tomato product

This one is as simple as it sounds! Combine canned beans with any canned tomato product and season with chili powder, cumin, garlic, and onion powder. If you have ground meat or shredded chicken in your fridge, add that too. Serve in a bowl, over pasta or rice, or with tortilla chips. Make it a chili bar by serving alongside any toppings you happen to have in your fridge (shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, black olives, hot sauce).

Fried rice

Pantry items: Rice, frozen peas, chicken broth/bouillon

Cook the rice in chicken (or vegetable) broth, and then add the frozen peas. Once all the water has been absorbed, push the rice to the side of the pan, add butter or oil, and scramble a few eggs. You can also add canned chicken if you have it! Add soy sauce or coconut aminos to taste. 

Hearty (green or pasta) salad

Pantry items: Canned tuna or chicken, frozen veggies, canned beans

Pantry staples can be combined to make a hearty and filling salad with either greens from your fridge or pantry pasta as the base. Mix up a simple vinaigrette with vinegar, a sweetener like honey or maple syrup, olive oil, and mustard as an emulsifier. To bump up the vinaigrette flavor, add pesto, fig jam, or sundried tomatoes. Pour the vinaigrette over the base of lettuce or pasta and arrange the toppings tastefully across the top. Add in items from your fridge as available, like hard boiled eggs and/or cheese. For an added crunch, use nuts or crush up crackers as crouton substitutes.

Confident, effortless hosting

Hosting unexpected guests doesn’t have to be daunting! A little pantry stocking ahead of time and a few of these recipes in your back pocket will give you the confidence to be an effortless hostess. These simple and accessible food suggestions will help you make your guests feel valued and celebrated without bogging you down with last-minute preparations.