The pantry staples that keep a snow day dinner easy

Snow days feel fun right up until you realize you didn’t plan dinner and no one wants to leave the house. That’s where a well-stocked pantry saves you. You’re not trying to make gourmet meals—you’re trying to pull together something warm and filling from what you already have.

Keep pasta and sauce as your baseline

Pasta and a jar of sauce are the ultimate “we’re stuck at home” dinner. Keep several shapes of pasta and a few jars of marinara or alfredo in the pantry. You can dress it up with canned tomatoes, frozen veggies, or whatever leftover meat you have. Add a can of green beans or a bagged salad if you have it, and it feels like a full meal.

Stock broth and canned beans for quick soups

Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth plus canned beans can become a fast soup with almost anything. Toss in rice or pasta, frozen mixed vegetables, seasoning, and you’ve got something warm in a single pot. Keep a few different types of beans—black, pinto, cannellini—so you can change the flavors without a lot of planning.

Keep rice and grains for flexible meals

Rice, quinoa, or even instant mashed potatoes give you a base for whatever else is around. A can of chili over rice, sautéed frozen veggies over quinoa, or gravy over mashed potatoes all feel like real food even when you’re pulling it together at the last minute. These staples last a long time, so you’re not racing the clock to use them up.

Don’t skip canned meats and tuna

Canned chicken, tuna, salmon, or even spam-type meats may not be exciting, but they’re handy on a night you can’t get to the store. They can go into casseroles, soups, quesadillas, or quick sandwich melts. Pair with pantry carbs and whatever cheese you have, and you’ve got a solid snow day dinner.

Crackers, bread mixes, and biscuit ingredients matter

Bread or biscuits make any simple meal feel more comforting. Keep ingredients for quick breads and biscuits (or mixes you only need to add water or milk to). Crackers can stand in when you don’t have fresh bread—serve them with soup or tuna salad. Cornbread mix is another easy one that pairs well with beans and chili.

Don’t forget frozen and shelf-stable veggies

Canned corn, green beans, peas, and tomatoes are all easy win add-ins. Frozen veggies last even longer and keep more texture. Toss them into soups, pastas, or rice dishes to stretch meals and add some color. When the roads are bad, you’ll be glad you have something green that didn’t come from a drive-thru.

Keep a small stash of “fun” items

Marshmallows for hot chocolate, popcorn kernels or bags, and a basic dessert mix can turn a stuck-at-home evening into something everyone remembers fondly. You don’t need a ton—just enough for one or two simple treats. Pair that with a basic, warm dinner and you’ve covered both the practical and the fun side of a snow day.