100 Easy Recipes that are made with simple, budget friendly, and most pantry staple ingredients!  We have recipes for pastas, soups, casseroles, and even baking!

Over the last week or so, I’ve had a lot of people reach out and ask me for a good list of recipes all in one place that are just easy and will meet their needs with all of the current chaos going on!  So many of you now are finding yourselves at home cooking more, and my hope is to help ease some of the stress!  There are one hundred recipes here and I’ve categorized them to make it a little easier.  First we have pasta/noodles, rice/grains, casseroles, beef/chicken, soups, instant pot recipes, and baking!  The term “pantry staples” can really vary from person to person, or household to household.  So, we’ve tried to include as much variety as we can.  We’d love to hear from you if you make any of these and also if you are needing to sub any ingredients due to what is available to you right now!  Reach out and we’ll help however we can!

thai peanut ramen noodles in bowl

Pasta and Noodles:

  1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles:  One of our most popular recipes using pantry ingredients and packaged ramen!
  2. Thai Peanut Noodles:  Also uses packaged ramen with an amazing (simple) peanut sauce.
  3. Easy Bolognese Sauce:  Bolognese in about 30 minutes!  This sauce is so good on any pasta, and it freezes well for later.
  4. Three Cheese Rigatoni:  This one is a splurge but it is hearty and cheesy!  You can even leave out the meat and spinach if you want.
  5. Creamy Italian Rotini:  Made with rotini, but you can use any pasta you have on hand.  The sauce is the best part!
  6. Creamy Spinach Mushroom Tortellini:  A simple cream sauce with cheese tortellini, spinach, and mushrooms.
  7. Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta: If you love Italian sausage and parmesan cheese, this ones for you!  Any pasta will work.
  8. One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta:  This is a bacon/ranch/garlic/parmesan type of pasta!  It’s filling and kids love it.
  9. Roasted Red Pepper Gnocchi:  A simple recipe using one pan, store bought gnocchi, and a sauce made with pantry staples.
  10. French Onion Beef and Noodles:  One of our most popular!  You can use beef stew meat, cubed up steak, or even ground beef.
  11. Pan Fried Noodles:  The savory sauce and fresh vegetables with these noodles is so good!
  12. One Pan Creamy Chicken Orzo:  The perfect one pot meal full of tender orzo and juicy chicken!
  13. The Best Easy Lo Mein Recipe: When takeout is hard to come by, you can make your own Lo Mein at home!  Sub out whatever veggies you have on hand.
  14. Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce:  Alfredo sauce is a favorite, so simple!  Serve with whatever pasta you love.
  15. One Pot Buffalo Chicken Tortellini:  This tortellini is slightly spicy, flavor packed, and super cheesy!
  16. Garlic Butter Mushroom Pasta:  Garlic, butter, mushroom, pasta heaven and super fast to make!
easy dirty rice in a dutch oven
Rice and Grains:
  1. One Pot Chicken and Rice:  This is the ultimate one pan dinner and one of our all time most popular!  Creamy, cheesy, and ready fast!
  2. Easy Cajun Rice and Beans:  A one pot dinner full of sausage, black beans, and rice!
  3. Ground Beef Fried Rice:  A simple takeout favorite with the addition of ground beef!
  4. Bacon Ranch Chicken and Rice:  A fun take on a classic, this bacon ranch chicken and rice is one pot and full of flavor.
  5. Spanish Rice:  You can’t go wrong with Spanish rice made at home, especially when it’s fast and easy!
  6. One Pot French Onion Rice:  Love the flavors of caramelized onions in this simple rice.  It’s a great side or add chicken for a main.
  7. Easy Dirty Rice Recipe:  Dirty rice is flavor packed with ground beef and Cajun flavors!
  8. 30 Minute Easy Red Beans and Rice:  Everyone loves red beans and rice and this one is ready in 30 minutes!
  9. Corn Fried Rice:  This vegetarian fried rice is a really great meatless main dish using simple ingredients.
  10. Rice Stuffed Chicken:  Flavorful chicken thighs stuffed with tender rice, so good!
  11. Mediterranean Rice:  Loaded with color, flavor, and ready in 20 minutes.
  12. Tabbouleh Salad:  Is a super fresh and delicious vegetarian salad made with bulgur wheat and lots of great lemon and mint flavor.

tuna casserole in a pan

Casserole Recipes:
  1. Classic Tuna Casserole:  A true classic that everyone loves, no fuss, just pantry staples!
  2. Tater Tot Casserole:  Another classic comfort food that is totally satisfying!
  3. One Pot Chicken Tetrazzini:  Creamy, cheesy, chicken goodness in one pot.
  4. Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole:  A breakfast version of the dinner favorite!  You can use ham, bacon, or sausage!
  5. One Pot Mexican Rice Casserole:  A cheesy Mexican rice casserole with beef, corn, and great taco flavor.
  6. Chicken Pot Pie Casserole:  This casserole is made from scratch with the best easy filling and topped with cheesy drop biscuits.
  7. Chicken Divan Casserole:  A chicken and broccoli casserole that’s the ultimate comfort food!
  8. Easy Frito Pie Casserole:  Frito pie is so easy to make with canned or leftover chili.
  9. Cheesy Pasta Bake Casserole:  A hearty casserole full of noodles, flavorful tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese.
  10. Chicken Supreme Recipe:  A creamy, crunchy topped chicken casserole!
  11. One Pot Chicken Noodle Casserole:  Cozy and made from scratch in only 30 minutes.
  12. Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole:  This one is versatile enough to make as a side or add cooked chicken, ham, sausage, or beef for a main!
  13. Enchilada Quinoa Casserole:  A really good vegetarian casserole and a super easy quinoa recipe.
  14. Rotisserie Chicken Casserole:  This comfort food is made so easy with cooked, shredded, chicken!
  15. Fiesta Chicken Casserole:  Full of tender chicken, pasta, corn and beans!

Baked Chicken Thighs

Beef and Chicken:
  1. Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs:  It doesn’t get any better than juicy and perfectly seasoned chicken thighs!
  2. Baked Chicken Drumsticks:  These chicken legs have the best marinade!
  3. Baked Chicken Breast:  Simple baked chicken with great flavor that goes with anything!
  4. London Broil:  Budget friendly, tender, juicy and perfect!
  5. The Best Pulled Pork:  The only pulled pork you’ll ever need, the seasoning is complete perfection and you can make in your slow cooker or oven!
  6. Slow Cooker Machaca Recipe (Mexican Shredded Beef):  This shredded beef is great for tacos, nachos, or burritos!
  7. Spicy Chicken Tinga:  This makes a saucy, and spicy Mexican chicken!
  8. Easy One Pan Hibachi Chicken:  Hibachi chicken made at home with minimal ingredients you probably have on hand.
  9. Easy Chicken Francese:  Tons of lemon flavor, perfect with rice or pasta.
  10. Simple Chicken Marsala:  A great pan/wine sauce with tons of mushrooms and tender chicken.
  11. Oven Roasted Lemon Pepper Chicken:  You can’t go wrong with lemon pepper flavor on this easy chicken dish!
  12. Slow Cooker Meatballs and Gravy:  You can use frozen or make your own meatballs for this recipe.
  13. French Onion Salisbury Steak:  A delicious twist on a classic salisbury steak recipe!
  14. Amazing BLT Tacos:  Bacon tacos with a simple avocado sauce drizzled on top.
  15. Easy Chicken Stir Fry:  Our fave chicken stir fry made simple, use what veggies you have on hand!

chili macaroni soup in a bowl

Soup Recipes:
  1. Broccoli Cheddar Soup:  This soup has a couple of “secret” ingredients that make it the best!  It’s so fast and easy.
  2. Chicken Enchilada Soup:  Love this slightly spicy, super flavor packed soup!
  3. Hamburger Soup:  Hamburger Soup is budget friendly and has a rich broth.
  4. Easy White Bean Soup:  You can use canned or dried beans for this light but flavorful soup.
  5. Vegetable Soup:  An easy soup using pantry/freezer staples!
  6. Crockpot Potato Soup:  Chunks of potatoes, a thick broth, lots of cheese!
  7. Chili Macaroni Soup:  Chili mac in soup form, pantry staple comfort food.
  8. White Chicken Chili:  A creamy chicken chili with minimal ingredients.
  9. Lentil Soup:  A seriously hearty lentil soup with great smoky flavor!
  10. Classic Beef Stew Recipe:  This is THE classic and only beef stew you’ll ever need, the flavor is simply perfect and the beef is so tender!
  11. Cheeseburger Soup:  A comforting bowl of goodness that tastes just like a cheeseburger.
  12. Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Soup:  This simple soup takes advantage of canned tomatoes and seasonings you already have at home.
  13. Creamy Corn Chowder Recipe:  Hearty chowder with corn and potatoes, add ham or bacon if you wish.
  14. Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup:  A restaurant fave made easy at home!
instant pot recipe for creamy italian mac and cheese in a bowl 
Instant Pot:
  1. Instant Pot Spaghetti:  One of our tried/true most popular for several years now!
  2. Instant Pot Mac and Cheese:  Another reader fave, way better than the boxed mac and cheese.
  3. Instant Pot or Crockpot French Dip Sandwich:  These French dips are so juicy and tender and can be served on any kind of bread you have.
  4. Instant Pot Creamy Italian Mac and Cheese:  A twist on classic mac and cheese with sun dried tomatoes and sausage!
  5. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice:  A very simple chicken and rice with broccoli made fast in the instant pot, a family favorite.
  6. Instant Pot Pot Roast:  The easiest way to cook your pot roast fast!
  7. Instant Pot Pork Chili Verde:  This chili verde is EASY and made using pantry staple ingredients!
  8. Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin:  This tenderloin comes out perfectly with mashed potatoes and gravy in the same pot.
  9. Instant Pot Pork Ragu:  Tender pork simmered in a hearty sauce easy enough for dinner any day!
  10. Instant Pot Chili Mac:  Chili mac is a true classic and now you can make it in the instant pot too.
  11. Instant Pot Chicken with Mushrooms:  This chicken has gourmet taste in under 30 minutes!
  12. Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy:  Pork chops made using pantry staples for a simple and flavorful gravy.
  13. Instant Pot Split Pea Soup:  The quickest way to get split pea soup without sacrificing flavor.
cinnamon roll on a plate
Baking/Breads:
  1. Homemade Cinnamon Rolls:  Perfect, soft cinnamon rolls with gooey filling!  Step by step instructions!
  2. 30 Minute Pizza Dough:  This is the best, easiest, pizza dough to make at home quickly!  Our readers love it.
  3. Thin Crust Pizza Dough:  Another quick dough, but this one is thin and foldable.
  4. Breakfast Pizza:  You can make this pizza with eggs, whatever cheese you have, and whatever meat you love!  Use one of our easy dough recipes from above.
  5. Drop Biscuits:  Our biscuits use melted butter and come together really fast and easy without a lot of extra steps.
  6. Cheddar Dill Bread:  A really flavorful, soft, cheddar and dill packed quick bread!
  7. Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies:  A classic cookie packed full of chocolate chips.
  8. Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins:  One of our most popular, everyone loves them and the kids can help make them.
  9. Easy Blueberry Muffins:  These quick/easy blueberry muffins are so soft and tender!
  10. Soft Sugar Cookies:  A simple drop style sugar cookie!
  11. The Best Cornbread Recipe:  Cornbread made from scratch that goes with all of your fave soups and stews!
  12. Cheesy Garlic Skillet Bread:  This tastes so much like cheddar biscuits but it’s easier to make!
  13. Best Banana Bread:  THE top recipe on our site last year!  We have hundreds of rave reviews, we call it the best for a reason.
  14. Favorite M&M Cookies:  Just a good old simple M&M cookies, great to make with your whole family.
  15. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies:  These are a hearty and chewy cookie!
  16. Cake Mix Cookie Bars:  Made using cake mix for when you need something easy.

gnocchi in skillet topped with cheese and basil

Enjoy our collection of 100 easy recipes!

~Nichole

 

 
 

Hey! Nice to meet you! I'm Nichole!

Welcome to The Salty Marshmallow! I'm a mom, animal lover, photographer, & kitchen mess-maker. Here you will find the result of my decades-long passion for chasing the best flavors in the kitchen, all meant to be cooked by regular people with busy lives just like you and me.

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7 Comments

  1. A really amazing collection – I have already saved a few recipes to make while on lockdown – thanks so much for sharing 😉

  2. Thank you for sharing all these ideas! This will be a great place to look when I need a new idea for dinner.

  3. This is such a comprehensive list, thank you! With a house full of kids and adults, I need all the help I can get!

  4. Ok this is a FANTASTIC collection of recipes. I love how neatly it’s put together, very easy – exactly what we need right now.

  5. Wow, what a great collection. So many recipes but not overwhelming because of the great category organization. Thanks for sharing!

  6. These recipes are so helpful these days. Going to the grocery store and finding what you need is like winning the lotto these days.