Frugal grocery shopping isn’t about buying the cheapest thing on every shelf. It’s about finding foods that give you plenty of meals for your money and that you’ll actually use before they go to waste.
That’s where canned foods come in handy. They’re inexpensive, easy to store, and can sit in the pantry until you need them. A few cans can turn into a quick lunch, stretch a pot of soup, or fill out a dinner when the refrigerator is looking pretty bare.
Canned foods also make grocery shopping a little easier. You don’t have to worry about using everything within a few days, and you can pick up extras when they’re on sale. Keeping a modest supply at home can save you from an expensive takeout order on those nights when you don’t feel like making a trip to the store.
Here are seven canned foods worth keeping in your pantry if you’re trying to spend less and make your groceries last.
Canned Beans
Canned beans are one of those foods that can quietly save a grocery budget. There are plenty of varieties to choose from, including black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, navy beans, chickpeas, lima beans, great northern beans, butter beans, and black-eyed peas.
They’re filling, inexpensive, and easy to add to meals. Toss them into chili, soup, tacos, rice bowls, casseroles, or salads. You can also mash them with seasonings for a quick spread or filling.
Unopened canned beans can stay in the pantry for a long time when stored in a cool, dry place. That makes them handy to have around for those weeks when your grocery budget is especially tight.
Related: Healthy Canned Foods That Make Smart Pantry Staples
Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes are one of the most useful pantry ingredients you can buy. Whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste each have their place in the kitchen.
Use them to make pasta sauce, chili, soup, stew, casseroles, or homemade pizza sauce. A small can of tomato paste can also add plenty of flavor to a meal without requiring much of it.
They’re especially useful during the months when fresh tomatoes are expensive or out of season. A few cans tucked away can give you a tomato base for several different meals without spending much.
Canned Vegetables
Canned vegetables are an easy way to keep produce around without worrying about it spoiling in the refrigerator.
Green beans, corn, peas, carrots, and mixed vegetables can be served as simple side dishes or added to soups, casseroles, rice dishes, and stews. They can also help stretch a meal when you need to feed several people.
If you’re watching your sodium intake, check the labels for lower-sodium options or rinse canned vegetables before using them.
Related: 10 Canned Beans Every Emergency Pantry Should Have
Canned Meat
Canned meat may not be the first thing you think of for dinner, but it can be incredibly useful during a tight grocery week. Chicken, ham, beef, and other canned meats can provide a quick source of protein without requiring fresh meat in the refrigerator.
Add canned chicken to sandwiches, pasta, casseroles, soups, or chicken salad. Canned meats can also be mixed with rice, beans, or vegetables to turn a small amount of meat into a more filling meal.
They’re particularly handy for those nights when you need dinner on the table but don’t have fresh meat available.
Canned Fruit
Canned peaches, pineapple, pears, and other fruits can give you an inexpensive way to keep fruit in the pantry.
They work well for breakfast, snacks, desserts, or even as an addition to oatmeal and yogurt. Pineapple can also be used in savory dishes, while peaches and pears can be baked into simple desserts.
If you’re trying to cut down on added sugar, check the label and look for fruit packed in water or its own juice instead of heavy syrup.
Canned Fish
Canned fish is another inexpensive source of protein that can make a pantry meal much easier. Tuna, salmon, and sardines are some of the most common options.
A can of tuna can become a sandwich, pasta dish, casserole, or simple tuna salad. Canned salmon works well in patties, rice bowls, and salads, while sardines can be served with crackers, toast, or rice.
They also come in handy when you need something quick. Open the can, add a few ingredients you already have, and you can have a filling meal without much cooking.
Canned Soup
Canned soup is one of those pantry items that can rescue dinner on a busy night. You can eat it on its own, but it becomes much more useful when you treat it as a starting point.
Add canned vegetables, cooked rice, pasta, beans, or leftover meat to make one can go further. A can of tomato soup paired with grilled cheese can make an inexpensive lunch, while chicken noodle soup can be stretched with extra vegetables or noodles.
Keeping a few different flavors on hand gives you an easy backup for nights when the fridge is nearly empty.
A frugal pantry doesn’t have to be packed from floor to ceiling. A handful of inexpensive canned foods can give you plenty of options for quick meals and help stretch the groceries you already have. Buy the foods your household actually eats, watch for sales, and rotate older cans to the front so nothing gets forgotten.
