The government shut down seems to show no sign of letting up, and it’s going to affect millions of people who rely on SNAP dollars to buy meals. Once the funds they have are all gone, many people will have to rely on food pantries throughout the United States. Food pantries can give out a really random collection of foods that might be hard to make complete meals from. Below are XX meals that will help you use up those ingredients to create meals that are delicious and won’t make you feel like you’re missing out! I’ve made sure that plenty of them are very healthy, and there are some in there focused on fun. I’m also including some desserts- because we all enjoy a little treat every now and then!
Lunches & Dinners
1. Spaghetti and Hot Dogs: A budget-friendly comfort meal combining pasta and sliced hot dogs in a simple tomato-based sauce.
https://thechaotictable.com/spaghetti-and-hot-dogs
2. Southwest Burritos: Hearty burritos filled with rice, beans, corn, and spices for an easy make-ahead meal inspired by Southwestern flavors.
https://thewholesomespoon.com/2025/08/19/southwest-burritos
3. Chicken and Stuffing Casserole: Classic casserole with layers of chicken, creamy sauce, and seasoned stuffing baked until golden.
https://thecookinchicks.com/chicken-and-stuffing-casserole
4. Chicken Corn Chowder: A creamy, filling chowder made with chicken, corn, potatoes, and simple pantry staples.
https://lovinghomeschool.com/chicken-corn-chowder/
5. Vegetarian Rice Soup: Comforting vegetable-forward soup made with rice, broth, and a variety of produce for an easy meat-free meal.
https://theshortordercook.com/vegetarian-rice-soup
6. Taco Casserole: A crowd-pleasing layered casserole featuring ground meat, beans, tortillas, and cheese baked with taco seasoning.
https://www.ihearteating.com/taco-casserole
7. Split Pea Soup: A thick and nourishing soup made with split peas, vegetables, and herbs for a cozy, affordable dinner.
https://thefamilyfoodkitchen.com/split-pea-soup
8. Dutch Oven 7-Can Soup: A dump-and-stir recipe that turns seven canned ingredients into a hearty, flavorful soup in minutes.
https://www.dutchovendaddy.com/dutch-oven-7-can-soup
9. Tuna Patties: Simple, crispy tuna cakes made from canned tuna, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, perfect for quick lunches or dinners.
https://foodess.com/tuna-patties
10. Chicken Noodle Casserole: A creamy, comforting baked dish combining chicken, noodles, vegetables, and a savory sauce.
https://www.bakingbeauty.net/chicken-noodle-casserole
11. Silly Chili Macaroni: A comforting one-pot meal combining macaroni noodles, ground beef, beans, and a flavorful chili sauce.
https://savingtalents.com/easy-dinner-silly-chili-macaroni
12. Easy Cabbage Soup: Cabbage, onions, carrots and pantry stock make a big pot dinner.
https://www.budgetbytes.com/can-eat-cabbage-soup/
13. Black Beans and Rice: A classic budget-friendly dish made with black beans, rice, garlic, onion, and spices for a simple yet hearty meal.
https://tessiestable.com/black-beans-and-rice
14. Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet with Buttered Rice: A savory skillet dinner featuring smoky kielbasa, sautéed cabbage, and buttery rice.
https://www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com/kielbasa-and-cabbage-skillet-with-buttered-rice-a-5-meal/
15. Lebanese Lentil Soup: A comforting vegan and gluten-free lentil soup with potatoes, spinach, cumin and cinnamon. https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/cafb-recipe/lebanese-lentil-soup/ Capital Area Food Bank
16. 4-Step “Ta-da Slaw”: A quick, crunchy cabbage-carrot-onion slaw dressed with white wine vinegar and Dijon mustard. https://www.foodbankccs.org/recipe/4-step-ta-da-slaw/ Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
17. Lentil Sloppy Joes: A hearty plant-based sloppy joe using brown lentils, fire-roasted tomatoes, and smoky spices. https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/recipe/lentil-sloppy-joes Central Texas Food Bank
18. Grown-Up Tuna Melts: A nostalgic tuna melt made upscale with banana peppers, provolone, sourdough bread and tomato. https://homecookingmemories.com/grown-up-tuna-melts/
Desserts and Treats
- 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies: Soft and chewy cookies made from peanut butter, sugar, egg, and baking soda — simple, quick, and pantry-friendly.
https://myradkitchen.com/4-ingredient-peanut-butter-cookies - Banana Rice Pudding Dessert Version: Leftover rice + banana + milk + cinnamon make a sweet treat.
https://minuterice.com/recipes/banana-rice-pudding/ - Create Your Own Fruit Crisp (Apple/Cherry/Blueberry): Canned fruit filling + oat/crumble topping, customizable and pantry-based.
https://luckyleaf.com/recipe/create-fruit-crisp/ - Warm Canned Fruit Crisp: Uses canned fruit (peaches, pears, cherries, apples) + oatmeal topping for dessert.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-canned-fruit-crisp-recipe-304949
