Katie’s Easy Weeknight Dinners Pantry Guide And Tool Kit

If you’re looking for some quick tips on what to store in your back pocket for quick and easy dinners, Katie’s got you covered! As a new mom, Katie’s always looking for ways to make her life easier but still yummy! Join her as she walks you through some of her pantry must-haves.

Instructions

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   SALSA: Salsa chicken is one of my go-to meals when I don’t have much time to cook or a ton of groceries. It’s literally chicken and salsa — it’s that simple. You can put it in a slow cooker or pressure cooker, and you'll have delicious pull-apart chicken. Check out my Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos recipe to get inspired. I also love to throw salsa in a soup or casserole bake. It’s a great shortcut to adding a ton of flavor to a dish.

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   MARINARA: Marinara is another great shortcut to developing flavor in a dish. Check out my One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi Bake to see how easily you can incorporate it into a recipe. My daughter also loves tomatoes but not veggies so much, so I’ll often steam a bunch of veggies, pulverize them into marinara, and serve with a little pasta. Works every time!

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   CHICKEN STOCK: I always have Better Than Bouillon® in my pantry because I’ll use it for quick soups, sauces, stews, and braising or steaming veggies. Chicken stock adds flavor to a dish; adding water dilutes it.

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   EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL: Extra virgin olive oil is my favorite to cook with. I love the flavor of it, and it’s packed with antioxidants. It’s not only great for cooking, but I love it in a salad dressing as well or eating it with some bread and balsamic vinegar. Chef’s kiss!

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   CANNED BEANS: My daughter and I love beans. They are a great way to round out a meal and are super versatile. They can be used in casseroles, build-your-own bowls, soups, salads, and the list goes on. They’re an excellent source of fiber, too! If you are worried about sodium intake, just be sure to strain and rinse your beans. I can also hide almost any veggie in beans, and my daughter will eat it.

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   SPICE BLEND: I love having a few great spice blends on hand. This way, I don’t have to take as much time thinking about what flavors I want to create, and I can just grab one bottle instead of seven.

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   PASTA: Pasta is a must when I'm in a pinch. Always a crowd favorite, it’s super versatile and quick to whip up. I love to have a whole grain option in my cabinet as well as a long shape like linguine and a short shape like penne. This way, I can use the penne for a bake if I want.

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   CHEESE: I have to have cheese in my fridge always; it’s one of my favorite foods! I love to have a wedge of Parmesan so I can use the rind in a soup or stew later on. Parmesan adds a ton of umami to a dish with its salty, sharp flavor. I also keep a Mexican cheese blend on hand because it’s great for a last-minute quesadilla, throwing it on eggs in the morning, or using it in a casserole. You can’t go wrong with it!

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   CHEF'N GARLICZOOM® GARLIC CHOPPER: I love to cook with fresh minced garlic, but I hate mincing garlic, and when my husband does it, it takes forever! This gadget works so well and is pretty fun to use! It’s easy to empty and clean, and that is coming from someone who doesn't own a dishwasher.

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    INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER: This is an expensive kitchen tool, but I think it’s worth the investment if you can do it. It will cook something in an hour, which would take the slow cooker 8 hours. Not only will it speed up your recipes, but it also lets you sauté! You can cook rice in it or make cheesecake in it, too. I’ve seen it all!

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    INSTANT MEAT THERMOMETER: This tool has become really important to me, especially because I am a new mom. It gives me the peace of mind that all my proteins are cooked through properly. It’s also essential to making a perfectly cooked piece of meat, from roasted chicken to filet mignon.

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