3 Easy-to-Prepare, Tasty Pantry Meals to Lean On When Your Health Makes It Hard to Cook

In my ongoing mission to create chef-inspired, super easy, and quick recipes that are delicious and nutritious, I took a field trip to the shelf stable foods aisles of my local grocery store. These three recipes are full of exotic flavors sure to whet your appetite with hardly any fuss. For ease, I provided exact brand names of ingredients that you can use to order online and have delivered to your home. If you can’t find the exact brand, any similar substitution will work just fine.

Eating well when you just aren’t up to spending a ton of time or effort in the kitchen shouldn’t mean sacrificing flavor. I hope you will find these recipes user-friendly and yummy. As Julia Child would say… Bon Appetit!

Ramen Noodle Bowl

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free

Yields: Approximately 2 servings

1-6.3 oz box Ocean’s Halo Organic Rice Noodles
1-32 fluid oz container Ocean’s Halo Ramen Broth
2-2.5 oz packages Bumble Bee Spicy Thai Chili Tuna
8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained
7-ounce can pickled baby corn, drained
1/2-1/3-.75 ounce package Stir Fry Seasoning mix (to taste)
2 tablespoons roasted and salted peanuts
Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped green onions and cucumber

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Cook all the noodles for 6 mins. Strain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

Place broth, tuna, water chestnuts, baby corn, and stir fry seasoning in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add ramen noodles to reheat for two minutes. Serve hot garnished with peanuts.

Note: If the rice noodles stick together after cooling, they will separate once they heat through in the soup again.

Spanish Style Rice with Chicken, Black Beans, and Salsa Verde

Gluten-Free and Dairy Free 

Yields: Approximately 2 servings

1-8.8 ounce package Kroger 90-Second Microwavable Spanish Style Rice
1-2.6 ounce package Starkist Premium White Chicken
1-15.1 ounce can Bush’s Best Sidekicks Taco Fiesta Black Beans
1-11 ounce can Fiesta Style Kernal Corn
2-3 tablespoons Herdez Salsa Verde
2 tablespoons Fresh Gourmet Santa Fe Style Tortilla Strips

Place rice, chicken, beans, and corn in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 90 seconds or until hot. Stir well to combine. Serve hot garnished with salsa verde and tortilla strips.

Pesto Pasta with Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Chickpeas

Yields: Approximately 2 servings

1-8.5 ounce package Bareilles Ready Pasta Gemelli
1-6 ounce package Minute Mushrooms Garlic Herb Flavored
1/4 cup Bella Sun Luci California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne-Cut
1-15.5 ounce can Bush’s Best Sidekicks Rustic Tuscany Chickpeas
1/2 cup Simple Truth Organic Basil Pesto
3 tablespoons crumbled Fresh Gourmet Baked Asiago Cheese Crisps

Place the pasta, mushrooms, tomatoes, chickpeas, and pesto in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 60 seconds or until hot. Stir well to combine. Serve hot garnished with crumbled Asiago crisps.