19 Easy Recipes Made from Kitchen Staples

By Jenn Segal

From tomato soup to banana pancakes, all of these easy recipes can be made with ingredients you probably have on hand.

Tomato Soup

Made entirely from pantry staples, this tomato soup is wonderful paired with grilled cheese sandwiches.
Sriracha Deviled Eggs

These Sriracha deviled eggs are truly devilish and totally pop-in-your-mouthable.
Soft Pretzels

Similar to Auntie Anne’s, these soft pretzels are light, a touch sweet, and deliciously buttery.
Candied Bacon

This candied bacon has all the makings of an irresistible snack: it’s crispy, chewy, smoky, salty, sweet, and spicy.
Cheddar & Herb Cheese Straws

Crisp and flaky cheese straws specked with fresh herbs make a delicious and fun hors d’oeuvre.
Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta)

One of my go-to weeknight dinners: Greek shrimp nestled in a spiced tomato sauce, topped with chunks of feta, and then baked until golden.
Chicken Tacos

These chicken tacos are a healthier spin on traditional beef tacos — and they’re just as good, if not better.
Smoky Chickpea, Red Lentil & Vegetable Soup

This lentil and vegetable soup is hearty and comforting — and it’s good for you, too.
Chicken Meatballs with Tomato-Balsamic Glaze

These glazed chicken meatballs make a quick, easy, and kid-friendly supper.
Mac and Cheese

This is my favorite homemade mac and cheese. It is ultra-creamy and topped with crispy panko and herbs.
Easy Chicken Parmesan

This recipe takes a few shortcuts, making it doable on a weeknight, yet tastes as good as the chicken parmesan from your favorite Italian restaurant.
Crave-Worthy Sugar Cookies

These are the best sugar cookies: rich and buttery in flavor with a crisp exterior and soft interior.
Pumpkin Bread

Kids love it, grown-ups love it… this pumpkin bread is hard to beat!
French Apple Cake

With chunks of sweet apples nestled in a tender and buttery rum cake, this French apple cake is the essence of simplicity.
Shortbread Cookies

Buttery and just barely sweet, this Scottish shortbread is simple to make with ingredients that are always on hand.
Oatmeal Cookies with Raisins & Pecans

If you’ve been searching for the ultimate oatmeal cookie recipe, look no further — this is the one.
Perfect Pound Cake

Elegant and simple, this rich and buttery pound cake is like the little black dress of dessert.
Banana Pancakes

Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside and delicately flavored with bananas, these are phenomenal banana pancakes.
Applesauce

This baked homemade applesauce is rich, tart and sweet — almost like apple pie filling — and a world apart from store-bought.