What to Make with Every Random Canned Good in Your Pantry

With everyone cooking more meals at home, we’ve received a lot of questions about what to make with all of your random pantry items. Recently, we posted an Instagram Stories poll that asked you what random canned goods you had on hand, and we wanted to help you figure out what to do with them. From water chestnuts to tuna to coconut milk, a lot of you have ingredients that you’re not quite sure what to do with, and that’s okay. With a list of items in mind, we reached out to one of our friends for a few pantry recipes ideas. We’re so excited to have food blogger and cookbook author Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest on the blog to help you with all of your cooking questions. Based on your responses, she’s put together an assortment of her recipes that utilize your canned goods along with a few tips to keep them delicious, vibrant, and exciting. We hope these recipes can provide you with a little cooking inspiration and introduce you to your next go-to dish.

Unstuffed Spicy Tomato Basil Shells with Whipped Ricotta

Tomato Paste

• Unstuffed Spicy Tomato Basil Shells with Whipped Ricotta 
• Super Simple Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala 
• Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower 
• Quick Pantry Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Burrata 
• Roasted Red Pepper Alla Vodka Pasta with Cheesy Oregano Breadcrumbs

Pumpkin Cauliflower Gnocchi with Nutty Browned Butter and Whipped Ricotta

Pumpkin Puree

• Spicy Pumpkin and Pesto Cheese Stuffed Shells
• Molten Chocolate Pumpkin Streusel Bread
• Spiced Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes 
• Pumpkin Cauliflower Gnocchi with Nutty Browned Butter and Whipped Ricotta 
• Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookie Bars

Saucy Garlic Butter Shrimp with Coconut Milk and Rice Noodles

Coconut Milk

• Easiest Coconut Cauliflower Adobo
• 30 Minute Coconut Milk Braised Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Rice 
• Creamy Coconut Lime Mojito
• Saucy Garlic Butter Shrimp with Coconut Milk and Rice Noodles
• Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower 
• Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
• Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower
• Thai Lemongrass Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk
• Coconut Iced Coffee

Sheet Pan Cuban Chicken and Black Bean Rice Bowl

Beans

• Cincinnati Chili Stuffed Spaghetti Squash 
• Healthier One-Pot Cincinnati Chicken Chili
• Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with White Beans and Basil 
• Sheet Pan Cuban Chicken and Black Bean Rice Bowl 
• One Pot Creamy Tuscan Pesto and Artichoke Pasta
• Crockpot Tuscan White Bean and Lemon Soup 
• Chipotle Cheddar Cauliflower Black Bean Enchiladas

Instant Pot Cacio e Pepe with Crispy Garlic Basil Chickpeas

Chickpeas

• Slow Roasted Mushroom Pasta with Crisp Rosemary Chickpeas
• Crispy Persian Rice (Tahdig) with Spiced Golden Chickpeas 
• Jammy Cherry Tomato Pasta with Crisp Lemon Rosemary Chickpeas
• Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas 
• Instant Pot Cacio e Pepe with Crispy Garlic Basil Chickpeas 
• Chipotle Roasted Chickpeas

Summer Niçoise Salad

Tuna

• Summer Niçoise Salad
• Spicy Brown Rice Seared Tuna Roll Bowl 
• Tuscan Tuna Sandwich 
• Cheesy Avocado Bagel Tuna Melts  

Lemon Butter Cheese Ravioli with Garlic Basil Breadcrumbs

Ravioli

• Lemon Butter Cheese Ravioli with Garlic Basil Breadcrumbs 
• Butternut Squash Cheese Ravioli with Browned Butter Sage Pesto 
• Herby Buttered Balsamic Mushroom Ravioli 
• Brown Butter Brussels Sprout and Bacon Ravioli 
• Easiest Lemon Ricotta Asparagus Ravioli

Saucy 30 Minute Thai Basil Salmon Curry

Canned Salmon

You can swap in canned salmon for these recipes.

• Saucy 30 Minute Thai Basil Salmon Curry
• Hoisin Caramelized Salmon and Sesame Soba Noodle Bowls

Maple Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Sweet Cranberry Chutney and Salt Roasted Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce

• Roasted Chicken and Smoked Gouda Enchiladas with Fire Roasted Tomatillo Cranberry Sauce
• Gingery Steak and Brie Sliders with Balsamic Cranberry Sauce
• Maple Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Sweet Cranberry Chutney and Salt Roasted Potatoes

Ginger Peanut Chicken Noodle Soup

Soup

Making soup at home is easier than you think and if you have a pantry full of ingredients, you can create something delicious without running to the store. We recommend always having chicken or vegetable broth on hand as well as a variety of pasta, grains, beans, and dried herbs and spices. These ingredients can be used to make a wonderful bowl of soup. 

If you are looking to spice up a basic canned soup, try topping a broth-based soup like chicken noodle with salty popcorn for a fun, crunchy bite. If a soup is feeling bland, add heat with cayenne pepper or smokiness with smoked paprika. To create a fresh bowl of warm soup, top yours with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. 

• Ginger Peanut Chicken Noodle Soup
• Crockpot Tuscan White Bean and Lemon Soup

Instant Post Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chowder

Chowder

• Instant Pot Chipotle Cheddar Corn Chowder
• Thai Chile Corn Chowder with Coconut Fried Shrimp
• Buffalo Chicken Corn Chowder with Blue Cheese Gougères

One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Rice Bake

Canned Chicken

• Thai Lemongrass Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk
• Homemade Chicken Noodle Casserole 
• Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
• One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Rice Bake
• Mediterranean Avocado Chicken Salad

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili

Turkey Chili

You can sub in turkey chili for a couple of these recipes, and if you’re feeling bold, try making turkey chili enchiladas with this recipe.

• Cincinnati Chili Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
• Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili
• Healthier One-Pot Cincinnati Chicken Chili
• Green Chile Butternut Squash and Turkey Enchiladas with Crispy Sage

Roasted Caprese Burrata Sliders

Tomatoes

• Heirloom Tomato, Basil, and Manchego Toast
• Marinated Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata and Toast
• Caprese Pesto Pasta Bake
• Herbed Butter Heirloom Tomato Pizza
• Roasted Caprese Burrata Sliders

Creamed Corn

• Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Chicken

Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas

Rice

• Better than Takeout Sesame Ginger Chicken Fried Rice
• Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas
• Crispy Persian Rice (Tahdig) with Spiced Golden Chickpeas

Slow Roasted Mushroom Pasta with Crisp Rosemary Chickpeas

Pasta

• Herby Kale Pesto Pasta with Buttery Walnuts
• Slow Roasted Mushroom Pasta with Crisp Rosemary Chickpeas
• Lemon Butter Cheese Ravioli with Garlic Basil Breadcrumbs
• One Pot Creamy Tuscan Pesto and Artichoke Pasta

30 Minute Creamy Sesame Miso Ramen with Crispy Mushrooms

Sliced Water Chestnuts

Water chestnuts are such a great ingredient to add a bit of textural crunch to your meals, so adding them into recipes like the ones below will make them all the more flavorful:

• Spicy Turkey Taco Salad with Baja Dressing
• 30 Minute Creamy Sesame Miso Ramen with Crispy Mushrooms

Caramelized Pear and Hazelnut Crumble Tart

Pears

If a recipe calls for apples, but you only have pears, use the pears! They’ll be just as delicious and a nice change up from a typical apple recipe.

• Caramelized Pear and Hazelnut Crumble Tart
• Crispy Prosciutto Baked Brie Bites with Honey Pears and Walnuts.
• Chia Pudding 3 Ways

Which recipe are you excited to try?

To view more of Tieghan’s recipes, you can check out her two cookbooks, Half Baked Harvest Cookbook and Half Baked Harvest Super Simple Cookbook, and her website here.

XO Team LC

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