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Healthy Happy Teacher

Helping hardworking teachers stay healthy and happy.

Pantry Meals for Busy Teachers

by Healthy Happy Teacher

Show me a teacher who HASN’T come home from work and realized they’re starving – and there’s nothing for dinner because they haven’t had time to shop. These easy pantry recipes for busy teachers will give you tasty, easy and quick meals focused on what you already have in your kitchen.

A teacher leaning over her stove making a pantry meal.

These 36 easy pantry recipes give you over a month worth of ideas – from curries to soups and more – for those nights when you get home and discover there’s nothing in the fridge because you didn’t have time to shop.

They’re super easy to make and have ingredients most of us will have in our pantry.

No need to grab unhealthy take out with these pantry meals perfect for busy teachers.

Pantry meals for busy teachers

Are you staring at the shelves of your pantry asking yourself, "What can I cook with what I have?"

If so, you might want to check out these recipes that use simple, common ingredients that you can whip up in no time at all.

They're perfect for busy teachers who haven't had time to shop.

Photo Credit: theforkedspoon.com

15 Minute Angel Hair Pasta Recipe with Chicken

Easy, fast, and delicious, this 15-minute angel hair pasta recipe with chicken is made with common pantry ingredients including canned tomatoes and green olives. As its name suggests, it needs just 15 minutes to prepare.

Photo Credit: www.busycooks.net

15-Minute Sesame Noodles

These sesame noodles can be ready to serve in 15 minutes. Yes that’s not a typo! Quick, versatile and flavorful, this noodle dish is a huge hit even with kids!

Photo Credit: www.easyanddelish.com

20-Minute One Pot Coconut Noodle Soup (Thai Style)

This one pot soup is made with pantry staples in only 20 minutes. It's an easy pantry dinner that's vegetarian, gluten-and-dairy-free.

Photo Credit: flavorthemoments.com

30-Minute Three Bean Chipotle Quinoa Chili

30-Minute Three Bean Chipotle Quinoa Chili is a hearty vegan chili recipe that’s packed with quinoa, beans and chipotle flavor!

Photo Credit: girlheartfood.com

Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup 

This black bean sweet potato soup is hearty, a little spicy and totally delicious!

With some simple ingredients and about 30 minutes, this budget friendly soup will satisfy your taste buds and warm your belly.

Photo Credit: girlwiththeironcast.com

Chana Masala

This chickpea masala utilizes mostly pantry staples for a high protein, vegan, flavorful dinner.

Photo Credit: girlheartfood.com

Chickpea and Lentil Curry with spinach & coconut milk

This hearty chickpea and lentil curry has a rich, coconut and curry sauce and is so delicious. Enjoy on its own or with your favorite side!

Photo Credit: www.bytheforkful.com

Chickpea Curry: Delicious Vegan Chana Masala Recipe

This is a delicious, easy, vegan chickpea curry that’s ready in less than 30 minutes and can be made in just one-pot – making this the perfect healthy, low-calorie weeknight meal to whip up in a flash!

Photo Credit: www.liveeatlearn.com

Chickpea Tikka Masala

This Chickpea Tikka Masala recipe is an easy dinner to whip up - taking only 20 minutes - when the Indian food cravings hit or you just want to make something from what you have on hand.

Photo Credit: entertainingwithbeth.com

Couscous Salad with Dried Fruit, Chickpeas and Mint

This Couscous salad with chickpeas is a great pantry classic that uses shelf-stable couscous, dried fruits, nuts and canned chickpeas. No fresh mint? Use dried mint or dried parsley instead!

Photo Credit: moneytamer.com

Easy Cheap Fried Rice Recipe: 

This vegetable fried rice is a great way to use up leftover rice. It's healthy, delicious, and super inexpensive to feed your entire family.

Photo Credit: thiswifecooks.com

Easy Classic Marinara Sauce

So simple, fast, delicious, and loaded with fresh flavors, this marinara sauce is perfect for quick and easy pasta dinners!

Photo Credit: www.joyousapron.com

Easy Mixed Vegetable Rice

This is a basic but flavorful side or main meal.

Basmati rice is cooked in garlic and chicken bouillon, and tossed with mixed vegetables!

Simple and made with common pantry ingredients.

Photo Credit: whatagirleats.com

Easy Split Pea Soup

Got a bag of split peas? This split pea soup is ready in under 45 minutes using just a few pantry ingredients!

Photo Credit: kellystilwell.com

Italian Bean Soup 

This easy and delicious Italian bean soup is filling and so good for you. It will quickly become a family favorite!

Photo Credit: www.pumpkinnspice.com

Lasagna Rolls

Easy Lasagna Rolls combine the classic flavors of lasagna, but without all of the prep work. With just a few ingredients, this hearty comfort dish is ready in 30 minutes!

Photo Credit: gourmandelle.com

Moudardara | Lebanese Lentils with Rice and Caramelized Onions

This Moudardara or Mujadara recipe is a traditional Lebanese recipe of lentils with rice and caramelized onion. It’s bursting with amazing flavors and is a delicious vegetarian comfort meal.

Photo Credit: www.acedarspoon.com

One Pot Creamy Tomato Herb Orzo

One pot creamy tomato herb orzo is an easy vegetarian side dish that comes together in under 30 minutes.

This dish is comforting, creamy and pairs nicely as a side dish or a base for adding grilled chicken, sausage, chickpeas or seafood.

Photo Credit: thesoccermomblog.com

Foolproof Mexican Rice Recipe 

Years of practicing, experimenting (and sometimes failing) went into the creation of this perfect Mexican rice!

An easy pantry recipe, it's also foolproof!

Photo Credit: foodfolksandfun.net

Pantry Chicken Taco Soup 

Chicken taco soup is a quick and easy recipe that is made with canned pantry ingredients. It serves six and costs under $10 to make.

Photo Credit: www.christinascucina.com

Pasta e Fagioli aka Pasta and Beans 

This is one of tastiest, inexpensive, nutritious and easy meals you will ever make!
It makes pasta go further and with a can of beans, has lots of protein, too!

Photo Credit: www.liveeatlearn.com

Pumpkin Soup with Smoky Roasted Chickpeas

This pumpkin soup is topped with smoky roasted chickpeas and fresh thyme, making it the ultimate cozy recipe for busy weeknights!

Photo Credit: www.easyanddelish.com

Quick Vegetarian Lentil Coconut Curry

This is a quick and easy one pot lentil curry made with pantry staples: a healthy vegetarian dinner that the family will love.

Photo Credit: easybudgetrecipes.com

Simple Tomato Chicken Alfredo

This tomato chicken Alfredo recipe is easy to make and is just the comfort food your family is craving!

Photo Credit: www.savorywithsoul.com

Slow Cooker Baked Beans 

If you realized the food situation before you got home, these slow cooker options are a great alternative - and mean when you get home the work is already done.

These easy slow cooker baked beans are so savory and saucy. This pantry recipe uses simple ingredients - satisfying adults and kids alike!

Photo Credit: funhappyhome.com

Slow Cooker Navy Bean Soup

This navy bean soup recipe is a great crockpot meal that comes together in no time. It's easy, frugal, delicious and can be made with common pantry staples.

Photo Credit: bellyfull.net

Slow Cooker Zesty Barbecue Chicken

This Slow Cooker Zesty Barbecue Chicken is crazy easy to make. It needs only four pantry staples, but doesn’t skimp on flavor. It's the perfect meal for when you need to whip up something tasty with what you have on hand.

Photo Credit: veganhuggs.com

Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)

Sopa de Fideo is a savory Mexican Noodle Soup made with toasted noodles and a flavorful tomato-based broth.

It’s easy to make, requires simple ingredients and it’s budget-friendly, too! The whole family will love this hearty and comforting meal!

Photo Credit: sunnysweetdays.com

Southwest Bean Salad Recipe

Try clearing out your pantry with this delicious southwestern bean salad!

With southwestern flavor, it's an easy and frugal pantry recipe.

Photo Credit: veggiedesserts.com

Spanish Beans with Tomatoes

These Spanish beans with tomatoes and smokey sweet spices are so easy to make in one pot in less than 20 minutes with just seven pantry ingredients. It freezes well too!

Photo Credit: healthylivingjames.co.uk

Spicy Butterbeans on Toast 

This super easy homemade spicy butterbeans on toast uses store cupboard staples.

It's also gluten free and vegan.

Photo Credit: www.rachaelhartleynutrition.com

Spicy Harissa Bean Soup

This harissa bean soup is spicy and nourishing, and uses up those last bits of dried beans lurking in your pantry.

Photo Credit: www.kitchensanctuary.com

Sweet and Sour Chicken

This easy pantry recipe features homemade crispy sweet and sour chicken with a better-than-takeout sauce made from store cupboard ingredients!

Photo Credit: www.cleaneatingkitchen.com

Sweet Potato Coconut Chicken Curry

This hearty and super flavorful Sweet Potato Coconut Chicken Curry can be made in a slow-cooker or on the stovetop.

It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and Whole30, and made with everyday pantry staples.

Photo Credit: happykitchen.rocks

The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili 

This vegan chili recipe will delight your taste buds. It’s not only wholesome but delicious and easy to make with ingredients from your pantry.

Photo Credit: www.lavenderandmacarons.com

Vegan Red Pepper Pasta With Olive Gremolata

This vegan red pepper pasta features easy roasted sweet red pepper sauce tossed with Fettuccine and a simple olive gremolata.

It’s a super quick and satisfying recipe that you can make using a pantry ingredients that's perfect for lunch or dinner.

No need to worry about what you’re having for dinner when you get home!

Simply try these pantry recipes for busy teachers.

You might also like:

  • Lunches for Busy Teachers
  • Instant Pot Pantry Recipes

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