Prepare Your Pantry for Quick and Cozy Winter Meals

As the crisp fall days fade into the chill of winter, those last-minute grocery store runs for just one or two items start to feel pointless. A quick trip used to mean tossing on sandals and grabbing your shades, but winter calls for a bit more planning ahead. That's where we come in.

We've put together a winter meal planner that allows you to shop once and cook many meals with ease.

With these staple ingredients on hand, you'll be ready to create any of the 18 tasty dinners listed below. They're simple to make, most ready in under an hour, and perfect for busy weeknights.

Here are the must-have ingredients to stock up on:

Dry Goods

Make sure you have a solid selection of spices and condiments. This list covers just the basics you'll need for the recipes below. Add versatile items like rice to expand your recipe options — try a dish with pasta, then switch it up with rice for variety.

• Dried pastas (spaghetti or linguine, penne)
• Bread crumbs (panko)
• Flour
• Olive oil
• Mayonnaise
• Hot sauce (chili sauce)

For tips on building a truly stocked pantry, check out The Key Ingredients for a Perfect Pantry.

Spices and Flavorings

• Fresh herbs: Italian parsley, rosemary, thyme, dill
• Dried herbs: basil, oregano, sage, Italian seasoning
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Red pepper flakes
• Ground cumin
• Cayenne pepper

Packaged Goods

Make sure to have a stash of canned tomatoes, beans, tuna, and salmon for easy meals like tuna cakes or pasta dishes. Stock up on cans of broth for hearty stews and chili. And don’t forget cream of mushroom soup — it's a lifesaver for transforming any random ingredients into a quick meal.

• Tomatoes, canned (whole, crushed, diced)
• Tomato sauce
• Beans, canned (black beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans)
• Canned tuna and salmon
• Chicken broth
• Cream of mushroom soup

Freezer Essentials

Frozen vegetables are a great option — they’re flash-frozen right at the farm to lock in freshness. Stock up on frozen chicken breasts and fish, which thaw quickly in the fridge. For a faster thaw, place frozen items in a leak-proof bag and submerge them in a bowl of cold water. And here’s a handy tip for prepping frozen herbs.

• Frozen vegetables (corn, spinach)
• Chicken breasts
• Fish fillets (tilapia, cod, halibut)
• Freeze fresh rosemary and thyme in plastic bags in the freezer

Fresh Produce

Lemons are a must-have in your produce stash. They last longer in the fridge and bring a burst of acidity and flavor to nearly any dish. Keep olive oil on hand as well — with just a 1:3 ratio of lemon juice to oil, you’ve got an instant salad dressing. Drizzle it over roasted broccoli or steamed green beans for a quick, delicious side.

• Garlic
• Onions
• Bell peppers
• Carrots
• Mushrooms
• Lemons
• Celery

Refrigerated Items

• Eggs
• Butter
• Milk and/or cream or half-and-half
• Parmesan cheese
• Mozzarella

Let’s dive into the recipes. For the first few, canned beans make for quick and healthy meals:

1) Pasta Fagioli

"This is the best pasta fagioli I’ve ever had — I grew up on this recipe," says calead910. "It’s simple, budget-friendly, and absolutely delicious." You can substitute a can of whole peeled tomatoes for the fresh medium-sized tomatoes.

2) Homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers

"Once you try these, you’ll never go back to frozen veggie burgers. They’re incredibly simple to make, and you’ll feel great about whipping up such a tasty, vegetarian meal." -- LAURENMU

3) Black Bean Vegetable Soup

"In this spicy soup, half of the black beans are blended with tomatoes, while the other half are simmered with carrots, onions, and sweet corn kernels," says DeeDee.

Discover more highly-rated Recipes Featuring Canned Beans

Check out these top-rated recipes using thawed frozen chicken breasts or thighs:

4) Chicken with Mushrooms

"AMAZING!" says Jennzer. "I followed others’ suggestions, added cream of mushroom soup, and sautéed the mushrooms in olive oil and garlic first."

5) Oven-Baked Split Chicken Breast

"This recipe is deceptively simple yet looks so fancy — it’ll seem like you’ve spent hours cooking, when really, it’s practically effortless!" says Prospective PhD.

6) Easy Chicken Parmesan

"Bonus: This recipe makes double the sauce you need, so you can freeze half for a meal later." -- Pam Anderson

7) Chicken Chili Soup

"This soup is perfect for a chilly day," says Carol. Cooked chicken is diced and simmered with canned tomatoes, kidney beans, frozen corn, bell peppers, and seasonings.

8) Garlic Chicken

"So easy to prepare — just dip, bake, and enjoy! A flavorful, garlicky breaded chicken dish. Yum!" -- Carol

9) Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary

"Delicious! I used two large bone-in chicken breasts and added a splash of white wine to the mix," says Anne. "I cooked it in the convection oven at 425°F for 40 minutes, then turned off the oven and left the chicken in for another 5 minutes to stay warm while I prepared rice and broccoli. The chicken turned out perfectly. Next time, I’ll make a gravy with the flavorful pan juices."

10) Tomato-Cream Sauce for Pasta

The previous recipe uses cream, and this one is a great way to use up any leftover cream. You can also substitute half-and-half or milk if preferred.

11) Chunky Marinara Sauce

"A great, straightforward recipe. It's a solid base that you can customize to your liking. I added extra spices (parsley, crushed red pepper, bay leaf), skipped the onion, and sautéed fresh mushrooms with the garlic at the start. I let it simmer for over an hour since I had the time — the longer it cooks, the better it gets. It was fantastic over penne pasta." -- CookinBug

Keep fish fillets stocked in the freezer. These versatile recipes work well with cod, sole, flounder, tilapia, or halibut.

12) Pan-Seared Tilapia

"This pan-seared tilapia is an easy and flavorful way to prepare seafood! Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, paired with fresh vegetables. Enjoy this healthy, tasty dish packed with flavor and nutrition!" -- AppleChef

13) Pan-Seared and Crusted Ling Cod

"A simple yet amazing way to prepare ling cod or any other fish. It pairs beautifully with rice pilaf and Caesar salad for a complete and delicious meal." -- Renee

14) Baked Swai in the Oven

You can use any white fish for this dish. It’s an easy preparation where the fish is baked with sautéed onions, garlic, and diced tomatoes for extra flavor.

15) Light and Crispy Fried Halibut

"Deep-fried halibut coated in panko breadcrumbs creates the best fish and chips we’ve ever had or made." -- Dick Panzica

Canned tuna and salmon are incredibly versatile:

16) Lemon Salmon Burgers

"A quick, tasty, and healthy way to serve canned salmon," says MELDS. "Enjoy these with or without the dressing, in a hamburger bun, or paired with a fresh salad."

17) Tuna and Peas

A warm, satisfying dish of tuna and peas baked in a creamy mushroom soup base. Perfect when served on toast, biscuits, or over rice.

18) Simple Tuna Patties

"An easy recipe that definitely deserves 5 stars — it’s restaurant-quality and brings out the best flavor in tuna," says Debbie. "They taste just like freshly caught tuna. I’m excited to try this recipe with salmon and crab as well!"

Find more Canned Tuna Recipes and Canned Salmon Recipes