How to Stock Your Kitchen

Keeping your kitchen stocked and organized is important for overall kitchen success. With basic ingredients on hand, you’ll be prepared to make easy meals and snacks for you, your family, and even guests.

When you have ingredients ready to go in your pantry, fridge, and freezer you will save time, money, and be able to make some easy and delicious meals!

Here is a list of our favorite items to keep stocked in our kitchen. This list includes our personal favorite items and is a guide! It is a thorough list, don’t feel like you have to include everything, especially all at once or in times of emergency. You can always stick to the basics and add ingredients. Feel free to make your own list that includes your favorite ingredients, based on your needs and likes!

Pantry

Grains, Breads, Counter Items

• Bread
• Tortillas (corn or flour)
• Dried pasta
• Rice and whole grains such as quinoa, farro, and couscous
• Potatoes (sweet potatoes, Russet, red potatoes)
• Garlic
• Onions
• Bananas

Canned and Jarred Goods

• Canned Tomatoes
• Tomato Paste
• Pasta sauce
• Vegetable broth, chicken broth, and/or beef broth
• Canned Beans (black, chickpeas, pinto, and cannellini)
• Lentils
• Artichoke hearts
• Olives
• Roasted red peppers
• Nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, tahini)
• Coconut milk
• Sriracha/Hot Sauce

Oils, Vinegars, Spices, and Dried Herbs

• Salt (Kosher and sea salt)
• Oils (olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil)
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Vinegars (balsamic, red wine, apple cider, rice wine, champagne)
• Dried spices and herbs (a few of my staples include: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, oregano, basil, dill, fennel, rosemary, smoked paprika, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper)

Baking Supplies

• Flour (all-purpose and whole wheat flour)
• Oats
• Sugars (granulated, brown sugar, confectioner’s sugar)
• Honey
• Pure maple syrup
• Pure vanilla extract
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Chocolate chips and chocolate bars
• Cocoa powder (Dutch-process cocoa and unsweetened)
• Coconut

Snacks

• Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries, mango, blueberries)
• Applesauce
• Cereal
• Popcorn
• Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Protein Bars
• Tortilla Chips

Fridge

• Produce-Pick fruits and vegetables that are in season and ones you like and will eat! Don’t let them go to waste!
• Butter
• Eggs
• Milk
• Plain Greek yogurt
• Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, feta, Parmesan are our go-to’s)
• Condiments (ketchup, mustards, sriracha, jam, pickles, mayo, etc.)
• Yeast

Freezer

• Frozen fruit and vegetables (berries, bananas, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, corn, etc.)
• Seafood (shrimp and salmon)
• Meat (ground beef or turkey, sausage, chicken, bacon)
• Nuts (I keep them in the freezer so they last longer. Almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews)

What are your favorite kitchen ingredients? What do you always have on hand? Please share in the comments!