We've all been there before. Standing at the fridge, scanning the shelves, and realizing you haven't gone grocery shopping in...oof, has it really been a month? You tap your heels together three times and open up the fridge again, but sadly, no amount of magic can hide the reality: you've got damn-near nothing to eat.
I know, I know, it's not a good feeling (especially when you come home hungry at the end of a long day). But I promise you things aren't normally as bleak as they seem. You can throw together some pretty bomb meals with a handful of pantry staples—you just have to know what to look for, and how to mix and mash 'em together just right.
So, close that delivery app, take another peek in your fridge (...and freezer...and cabinets), and start perusing this list of 15 delicious meals to make when you're short on groceries, from fluffy pancakes and souped-up ramen to cheesy quesadillas and more. The food you do have in your house has wayyy more potential than you originally thought, I promise. Bon appétit, ma chérie!
Grilled cheese
I know you know this is always a tasty option when there’s nothing else to make, especially since it’s a good canvas for other random ingredients you may have in the fridge, like veggies, cold cuts, and random sauces.
Rice and beans
This pairing is a classic dish in many cultures for good reason: it's packed with nutrients, fills you up, and tastes so damn good. Time to pull that rice cooker out from the back of your drawer!
Tomato soup with noodles
My great grandma always made this for my dad, who made it for me. It's truly just any type of pasta noodles (I prefer elbows) cooked and thrown into a bowl of tomato soup. It kind of tastes like a regular pasta dish, but a little sweeter and more liquid-y, with major cozy vibes.
Charcuterie
Can I get a 🎶 girl dinner 🎶? You can absolutely eat cheese, crackers, cold cuts, and fruit for din-din and still classify yourself as an adult...you just need to call it charcuterie. Throw some veggies and dips in there and BOOM, you've got crudités, too.
Souped-up ramen
Grab that bowl of instant ramen you purchased for 75 cents and prepare to turn it into something you'd pay $20 for at a restaurant. Just gather some fun extra ingredients to stir in, like a soft-boiled egg, garlic, soy sauce, corn, mushrooms, scallions, and your favorite protein/whatever meat has been chilling in your freezer.
PB&J
It's easy, it's filling, and it tastes like second grade and your Powerpuff Girls lunchbox. Plus, you can add stuff like bananas and bacon if you want to zhuzh it up a bit. Slap one together then go watch That’s So Raven on Disney+ for a guaranteed good time.
Pancakes or waffles
Of course, there's nothing like a stack from your beloved hometown diner, but you can make pancakes and waffles for cheap with a box of mix or using just a few simple ingredients. Case in point: this recipe from Food Network requires only a banana, two eggs, and some butter or oil for greasing up that pan. Feel free to throw in some chocolate chips, blueberries, or rainbow sprinkles if you're feeling funky.
Shakshuka
Just because this dish sounds fancy doesn’t mean it’s hard to make. A quick Google will show you more traditional recipes, but a pared down version is just a few eggs cracked into small gaps in a pan of simmering tomato sauce. It's delicious for breakfast (preferably with garlic, chili powder, and cheese in the mix), but who am I to stop you from eating it for every meal?
Nachos
I love carbs and cheese in every form, but this is my absolute favorite way to combine them. Whether you choose the oven, microwave, or air fryer route, make sure your cheese is super melty before going to town.
Scrambled eggs
Ah, yes, another great option for breakfast. Just crack some eggs and add in whatever you happen to have lying around—cheese, veggies, meat, the works! Potato rolling around in the bottom of your pantry? Grab a cheese grater and make hashbrowns as a side.
Spaghetti Carbonara
I'm sure you have some noodles in your cupboard and some peas in your freezer. And if you do, you're v close to having everything you to need to make this dish. (You'll also want some milk, pancetta, and onion, btw.) Go ahead, twirl that creamy, peppery spaghetti around your fork for your Instagram Story. Make Nonna proud.
Cereal
Did you really think I wouldn’t put this on the list? That box of Honey Nut Cheerios on top of your fridge is about to go stale!
Lemon garlic pasta
If you've got a lemon (or even one of those squeezy lemon juice bottles), some garlic, olive oil, and a pack of pasta, I know what you're making for dinner tonight. If you want to get fancy, roast the garlic and add some parm and red pepper flakes.
Quesadillas
Got cheese? Got tortillas? Then you have quesadillas. And if you have canned corn or beans in your cupboard, even better.
Breakfast tacos
Scramble some eggs, dump 'em in a tortilla, and add whatever your hungry little heart desires! Have one link of chicken sausage left? Cut it up and throw 'er in the mix! Avocado about to turn brown? Scoop that up, too! This meal is so versatile and delicious.
