Ultimate Pantry Cooking: 25 creative recipes I made from kitchen scraps

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20 recipes: slow cooker breakfast casserole, creamy chicken & orzo soup, slow cooker chicken & potato chowder*, spinach artichoke dip and veggie pasta, marinara chicken pasta, beef - a - roni soup, creamy chive and onion tortellini with meatballs*, ranch style casserole, one pot bacon pasta*, cheddar broccoli and potato soup, slow cooker southwest pasta, sausage and veggie pasta, honey butter chicken nugget sliders*, raman a la leftovers, use-it-up sweet snack mix*, Oklahoma toast, Tuscan chicken pasta soup, homemade taco seasoning, homemade ranch seasoning, homemade spaghetti seasoning
*featured in this video
25 different meals and recipes I made from random stuff I wanted to use up in my kitchen. If you're looking for inspiration to cook from the pantry, use what you have, reduce waste, and save money on food in the long-run, then this is the video for you!
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[@lesliekanengiser8482]

My husband just got his dream job. In the meantime, we will be without a paycheck for 1 week. So as to not disturb our emergency fund, we are being extra careful and using our pantry as much as possible. Lots of meals featuring bits of rice, pasta, cheap veggies like bell peppers, onion, celery, carrots and various veggies from our garden. What a timely video you've made/compiled

[@SeeMindyMom]

Congrats on the dream job! That's fantastic!

[@tgayer1]

Way to go!

[@clairetitus6904]

Leftover pancakes and waffles freeze and reheat easily. Never waste even one. Yum

[@bern84]

1:49 “Cos I don’t know, it just feels right” Haha I identify so much with this line! ❤

[@bethkroa1125]

We’ll have dinner and hubby will say I can make that recipe anytime. It’s often “clean out the vegetable drawer” soup or stir fry so I can’t make him any promises.

[@FrugalHappyVegan]

I legit can't imagine how much work went into this video! As you can see from my name, I am vegan, and I only cook for one, but I still enjoy watching your videos for inspiration (you can "veganize" anything). Thank you for doing what you do.

[@MrsAlmaTrumble]

I am truly thankful to God for bringing you on earth. Your presence makes every day beautiful and words can’t explain the amount of joy you bring into all of our lives. Hope you had a lovely birthday, Mindy. May God’s blessings be with you today and always.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! I had a fantastic birthday weekend, my husband really went all out to make it special!

[@MrsAlmaTrumble]

@SeeMindyMom you're so very welcome. That's great to hear. You deserve it.

[@vickyirving3351]

Just want to tell you that you rock girl. I love your ideas as I am a big pantry stocker. Coming from a family of 7 it was in my genes to stock pile food. I never used it all though before a lot went bad now that it is just the 2 of us. it is hard for me to cook small meals. You are reprogramming my mind on meal planning and for that I thank you. ✌️

[@susanmolnar9606]

Mindy I loved this video. I don’t understand how people don’t cook this way in a pinch. All my friends always tell me that I can make something out of nothing. 😂 I love to create a meal with a little of this and a little of that. You have to look at food and think outside the box!

[@karenebarker9244]

Yes! Some of my best meals are ones I threw together. Once you learn how flavors and foods combine, you can pull off some wonderful dishes.

[@Gardeningchristine]

This is how I cook 100% No recipe, or loosely followed, whatever’s on hand gets thrown in. If it feels like it would taste good it’s going in.

[@michellefitz4287]

You are the pantry cooking Queen and are an inspiration to all! Thank you for all you do

[@adriakahlan4965]

Im so glad i found your channel forever ago. I had to take my cat to the emergency vet last week (she's okay now) and my budget will have to be super tight until I can pay off the bill. My husband and I are trying to avoid the grocery store except for staples and your "use it up" videos were the first thing that came to mind. Thank you so much for the inspiration! Your videos are a blessing for so many of us ❤ Tonight I turned leftover green bean casserole soup into a pasta sauce and cooked up an open box of penne pasta. I added some more seasoning, almost expired cream cheese and sour cream, and a bit of shredded cheese. I think if i do something similar again I'll blend the soup to improve the texture but it tasted great!

[@EmilyGOODEN0UGH]

"What is this?" "Use-it-up casserole." "No, really, what is it?" "Dinner. Eat up." The most questionable one lately was couscous with corned beef sandwich meat, frozen peas, corn cut from one ear, yellow squash, onion powder, and american cheese melted on top. It wasn't exciting but it checked all the boxes and filled bellies.

[@michellehanson984]

I like to try to describe it in frou-frou cooking show terms. "It's thinly sliced beef and golden squash with garden peas and maize over a bed of couscous. With cheese

[@maryraybon2305]

Mindy, I absolutely love watching you come up with some really good meals off the top of your head. I watch Dollar Tee Dinners and seen where Rebecca gave you a shout out for your channel, you are one of her favs too. :) Thanks so much for all you do to inspire us all to check and see what we have to use up and not waste and make some really yummy meals. You are a true inspiration to us all. :)

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks for letting me know, I'll check it out! I've seen her videos, she is very creative and I love her realistic approach. :)

[@maryraybon2305]

@@SeeMindyMom it was the last one which she was making a dish with lentils. And you are welcome!

[@Fiery154]

I also love watching Dollar Tree Dinners! I even love watching her mistakes 😅

[@SarahProbst-o4h]

Blueberry buckle is a classic recipe from Maine.

[@luckaty]

Some of our favorite meals are happy accidents I discover when doing a use it up challenge. Thanks for sharing your ideas, it does encourage me to use up our treasures!

[@marywatkins6798]

My favorite SMM video: getting creative and using up what you have around. I do this all the time. I just did it today. I took a small container of homemade chicken broth and a cooked chicken breast out of the freezer and let sit to thaw. Used up the last of a bag of fresh spinach that needed to get used, probably a big handful. Two Yukon gold potatoes from a pound package bought on clearance. I peeled and diced potatoes, heated up the broth and added a bit more water and chicken bouillon, about 1/2 c. diced onion, and cooked until potatoes were soft. Added in rinsed spinach and chopped chicken. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Turned out delicious.

[@PatriciaCook-p1j]

This sounds really good!! Thanks for sharing!

[@clairetitus6904]

We eat less carbs than your family but I get many great ideas from you. Thank you for these videos.

[@annalopez7180]

I am here to support you. I realized that I do not watch your videos as much as I used to. Buuuuuuuuuut, I should because I love you!!!!!!! I will make a point to comment and like and view more. You deserve the support 🫶

[@libbyrudolph6302]

I love your pantry, clean out meals! I have several friends who raise chickens and love to have my egg cartons. I have other friends who bring me their egg cartons so that I can donate them. Maybe there is someone in your community who could use them.

[@ws9022]

Ahhh this feels like one of your older videos from a few years ago!!! I love these videos😊😊😊😊

[@theresebromley7727]

The entire time I was watching I thought to myself I swear this video has been posted before lol. It’s ok we all love Mindy

[@caitlynmurriner685]

I love seeing all your content! I always get lots of fun ideas on how to pantry cook, stretch our grocery budget, and feed my hungry little boys

[@betterlivingonabudget]

I enjoyed this twice because I watched it in two segments, which was wonderful because you're my fave YT channel, so it made my day knowing I'd get to watch you work your kitchen magic two days in a row. 😍

[@sumsharp]

I love your substitutions using what you have. This is the way I cook....We try to "empty the fridge" once a week. It's just my husband and myself so sometimes things get forgotten. This has sometimes ended up being our favorite dinner of the week.

[@Saritababy13]

I need to go through my pantry and freezers to use some stuff up. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

There's plenty here to eat quite a while! Great "use it up" recipes! 😊

[@MsJones-mc9gq]

Fanf I'm glad I found you sister girl.. my pantry is a mess and trap it's time to clean the fridge with I absolutely hate doing. So I'll start this journey on the 1st of August... because God knows it's time to stop spending money outside of my kitchen... ❤❤❤❤

[@mliwulanga]

I always love learning how to use what I have on hand already. Thanks so much for the lovely recipes! Happy birthday 🎉 thank you for all that you do!

[@elizabethscholes3751]

There were so many good ideas in this. I love that you had so many successes in your creativity, but I’m curious if you’d be willing to share what happens when a recipe fails? Do you ever have a meal that no one likes and you’re left just eating it because it’s what’s for dinner? In being more mindful of prices and not wanting to waste, I’m increasingly trying to encourage my family that sometimes food doesn’t have to be our favorite but it still nourished us and provided for our needs. This is hard in our society always wanting to gratify every craving. I also have a couple of kids who are less than excited with expiremental recipes and would prefer my tried and true. Do you experience this, and how do you combat that? It seems from what you say that your kids are pretty adaptable and adventurous eaters. Thanks again for great videos!

[@HeatherAHodnett]

Enjoying this video with a sleeping baby on my chest who is feeling punky after her vaccinations. Thanks for a happy dose of Mindy! (For lunch I pulled out a can of tuna from the pantry, and made a tuna sandwich, also finished a mango drink I had in the fridge, thanks for the inspo!)

[@SeeMindyMom]

Oh my goodness, sleepy baby time is so cathartic! I spent a lot of time in the rocking chair when my kids were babies...planning and dreaming. :)

[@amyauk]

Thanks for normalizing the forgotten tomatoes and duplicate opened items. This was such a fun compilation video to watch and I loved all the creativity. Thanks for challenging me to think outside the recipe box in order to use up what we have. ❤

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Since vacuum sealed meat is good in the freezer for a year+, I've used the steak medallions in a seared steak, onion & bell pepper topping for baked potatoes. Yum 😊

[@audreyrobles1505]

I love your ideas! I used up several things in my pantry and fridge today. It wasn't the most amazing thing I've ever made, but it was tasty and used up several things that would have been wasted. Thank you!❤

[@racheldominguez2689]

This was amazing to watch :)

[@bethanyg153]

I did a good one the other day. A can of green enchilada sauce, half a container of cream cheese, shredded chicken, half an onion, and 4 jalapeños. I spooned that over rice then topped with cheddar and baked until it was cooked through.

[@hmeerdink9606]

These "kitchen scraps" vidros are my favorite kind of videos that you do. Great video!

[@tinalaws7506]

I so wish I was this creative! Sometimes I just look at what I have and am at a complete loss. Thank you for this series Mindy!

[@cjs9917]

Do NOT play a drinking game with Mindy - everytime she says "peruse", take a shot. 😂

[@tannif7455]

Loved this video. I didnt shop for a week and literally used up everything in my fridge and freezer first. I love to create meals from whatever I have left, so it saves money and no food is wasted.

[@pattiupton1499]

Great ideas!

[@jamiewright3092]

I had never heard of Blueberry Buckle before my husband found the recipe many years ago. He asks for it every year for his birthday breakfast. It is delicious! We usually make it with raspberries since he loves raspberries.

[@valmalukas356]

I’ve been trying to pantry cook as much as I can this summer. I have two deep freezers full and so much in my cabinets. Thanks for the inspiration. You meal ideas are so realistic and family friendly. They are real meals kids will eat.

[@AmandaWilliams-sz3vh]

I subscribe to several frugal cooking channels and Mindy, you are my absolute favorite! Your videos and recipes are so realistic to people that are truly trying to be frugal and be good stewards of what we already have in our homes. I can't say enough how much I appreciate your channel. I will look in my fridge and see that I have like a quarter of a container of something and I can't stand the thought of throwing it in the trash. Then I think "oh, I bet Mindy has some kind of recipe to use this up!" ❤

[@treenaakers9429]

Great 'clean out your pantry' meal ideas

[@MsCharliesNails]

I used to keep my onions in the fridge but i now keep them in the mesh veggie bags from dollar tree and i hang it on the back porch.. they get air and they last longer than in the fridge.. I only keep one onion in the fridge after i have peeled it and have used part of it then the rest i keep in the fridge.. jazz up those canned green beans with some bacon fat, butter and chopped or thinly sliced onion, salt and pepper.. btw.. you are adorable..lol

[@datnurse5062]

You are SO SUPER creative!!!! You’ve made delicious looking food out of such random items!

[@katejbaldwin]

I love these pantry and fridge clean-out episodes! So inspiring and they also remind me of the show Chopped, which adds a little extra fun challenge to dinner-making.

[@leocrawfield7008]

Happy birthday!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 I learned so much from your channel and every recipe I tried was just great! You helped me got dinner on the Table more then once where my partner was "oh we don't have anything to eat".😊 thank you, thank you, thank you😊

[@SeeMindyMom]

So glad I could help!

[@cindym7234]

Wow! Those are some fantastic pantry meal ideas! You were so creative with your recipes! I loved every minute of this video!!! Love from Texas ❤

[@michellesunshinestar]

I'm making more iced tea tonight. I make it every other day, saves so much money making it myself. Tortilla things were buy 1 get 1 at the store the other day. Thank you so much!!!

[@annedavidson1726]

Yummy! Very resourceful and creative! Who doesn’t like cheesy saucy carbs with protein!

[@bluedragon1979]

I really like the pantry/fridge/freezer clean outs. My biggest hangup with it is that I get things and some time after I've put them away, they fall behind items and I either forget they're there or I end up going out to replace it. Then I have multiples...

[@lucyphenicie5236]

I always learn things here. On the Cuff suggestions really help me. I go hey let's try it. Keep it up. Have been followers for couple years!❤ good luck with new school year!you great ideas for .meals in crockpot to help out With errands and car pools.😊

[@AYBS7285]

I love when you make these videos! Currently doing a pantry/fridge/freezer clean out - going to glean some ideas! 😀Happy Happy birthday as well! I pray it was a great day!

[@AmySimmonds-luv4Jesus]

I was meal planning while I was watching this video. It gave me a ton of ideas. Thank you so much.

[@SeeMindyMom]

So glad I could help!

[@lindakelly3164]

You are the best. Genius meal ideas with pantry items and tidbits of this and that!

[@paulamcleod1227]

Very creative use of pantry and fridge items!

[@clittle1807]

Freezer clean out coming to a end I can probably eat 2 or 3 more dinners before the store is a must. Love pantry cleanout videos.

[@mdketzer]

Great video! I do this every week, making my menu first from fridge, freezer and cupboard, then if I still need other meals I will make a menu and grocery list. There are only two of us now, so my grocery bill is pretty reasonable except I live in California and everything’s more expensive here!😂

[@SeeMindyMom]

My SiL lives in the bay area...it is pricey out there for sure!

[@KKahn3]

I’m trying not to go shopping again this July so I’m so glad you posted this!! There’s a couple ideas here that I have everything you used.

[@terry5749]

❤❤❤got my copy! 🎉 love your content and was JUST looking for one pot meals to cook in my new Ninja Foodie!

[@marciemceachern]

Love this video! I'm a big fan of using up what we've got. Happiest of birthdays to you!

[@lenorepriest838]

3:03 : I made it. SO delicious! So easy! 2 thoughts: 1) adding the juice of 1 lemon when you add the orzo would be a nice alternative/option 2) I’m gonna try a beef version with stew meat and beef broth!!!

[@lenorepriest838]

Coming back to report the beef version was a hit!!

[@Zorro-5515]

🇨🇦How on esrth do you have a clean, empty shelf in your freezer? You are amazing! As quickly as we remove something from the freezer, another item fills the gap.

[@SeeMindyMom]

It helps to have two. LOL. I have a chest freezer in the garage, so I usually keep unopened packages of veggies and meat out there, and just keep the ones currently open, or things we use frequently, in the kitchen fridge. :)

[@lisaharr1477]

Wow !!! This is a great video !!! I love all the things you created and nothing was wasted !!! Thanks Mindy for the ideas !!!

[@AnisaS-]

I love use it up videos from you!

[@greeneyedredhead61]

Hello Mindy. I hope you had a great birthday yesterday. 42, right?...awww to be that young again. I turned 63 yesterday...so I'm old enough to be your mom... My youngest daughter made me a pineapple upside down cake...so good. How'd you spend your birthday?

[@tillycorrenza5032]

I'm 42 and I often miss my youth and feel old. Thanks for reminding me that (hopefully) there's a good bit of road ahead. 😊 Hope you're having a great day!

[@TMCEH]

I like to do this every June and December. I do VERY minimal shopping. I try to Use up everything from freezer/pantry. It ensures nothing goes bad and the saved money goes to summer vacation trip and kid’s Christmas presents. You would be shocked how much you can do with the items you already have.

[@nancykaufman1645]

I am so glad your sharing, we are very tired of hamburgers and hotdogs 😂

[@SusanP674]

Great video Mindy, so much information and ideas! I follow recipes and don't tend to think outside the box, always refreshing to get new ideas. Thank you for sharing 😃

[@pattiupton1499]

I LOVE Bugels btw. Grew up on them! You have to put one on each finger!!

[@Jaydit7]

Before I saw this video I was leafing through your first Pantry Challenge e-book and saw the recipe/idea for Broccoli Potato soup...I had fresh potatoes and fresh broccoli, some carrots celery onions and garlic and just made, what I call, Veggie Chowder/Soup...it turned out great.....I love your channel Mindy and I've never been a Mom...so I See Mindy...bless you girl..

[@dianegreen6142]

Wishing you a great birthday and a wonderful, blessed year ahead! Love from UK. Xx ❤️❤️

[@grannydeb2887]

Great video! So many ideas! Thank you.

[@hardenmama1800]

Hope you had a wonderful birthday. Yummy! Thanks for all of the awesome ideas!

[@SeeMindyMom]

I did! Thank you so much!

[@heatherncasey2004]

I am doing a pantry, freezer, and garden challenge this week and hopefully some of next, too. Thanks for all the inspiration!

[@TheMarisela1986]

You are such an inspiration. Thank you for creating such great content for us busy parents ❤

[@SeeMindyMom]

My pleasure, thank you for watching!

[@jamiedavis3115]

Love these ideas! So helpful!

[@paulacostello6912]

This is my favourite kind of cooking video - pantry cooking. A couple of kind of tangential comments, though. As far as I can tell, there is no such thing as frozen shredded hash browns in my area (Toronto, Canada). The only shredded hash browns I know of on this side of the border are at Denny's, which are, themselves, few and far between here. The other thing we lack is boxes of grits. We've heard of grits, but we don't eat them. In fact, I was at a buffet in the southern U.S. once and had to ask the stranger next to me "What's that?" He looked surprised. lol. PS: My boyfriend just looked over to where i was watching your video and said "What is she making?? It looks good!"

[@juliemoore6957]

Amazing recipes! I am inspired! Plus, you look fabulous in that light blue top!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Oh thank you!

[@lisenolet2856]

Love this !! Thank you 😊

[@donnaknowles-ni8fg]

thank you so much i am so inspired!!!!

[@belindarhodes4323]

Love these videos

[@RachaelGenX]

I turn on your pantry challenge/clean out the pantry videos while I clean out the pantry, fridge & freezer. Some of our best meals come out if those challenges 😊

[@mariepaterik1980]

We are in the same situation with my husband being a small church pastor and doing crossing guard duty which does not begin until next week. Pantry cooking helps and good meal planning with what is in the kitchen, frig and pantry.

[@kristineroehl9940]

I love cooking like this. Also, I store my tomatoes on the counter, they don’t get mealy that way.

[@cathyburns750]

Happiest of Birthdays to our dear Mindy! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes and knowledge of cooking with us! You always have great ideas! We love ya, Girl!! God bless you and your sweet family!! ❤

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you so much! It's my pleasure, thank you for watching!

[@amyparsons1692]

Rebecca from Dollar Tree Dinners shouted you out in her latest video Mindy.

[@vickiebelk635]

Everything looks delicious 😋

[@mirandalindman5091]

Just made the crockpot chicken & Orzo it was a big hit. Thank you Mindy😊

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could help!

[@nicolette6327]

Happy Birthday Mindy! This is a great video and definitely gave me some ideas! Thanks! ❤

[@aprilinalabama9074]

Thanks 😊

[@izzieluv]

I need to do this. My husband and I live with my parents and I do the cooking. My parent's pantry is so full 😂 I do have a decent idea of what is in their pantry and I try to use what's in there when I menu plan if it works with what I'm planning, but I really need to just shop the pantry. There are a lot of sauces, so it might be interesting 😂

[@jesss9927]

❤ great ideas

[@hellotherefriend6714]

Dollar Tree gnochi is the best! Seriously , try it, leaves Great Value in the dust.

[@itsjustme.7059]

A quick pie you can make with the cool whip and graham cracker crust is add two containers of your favorite yogurt into cool whip, stir together and put it in the crust. It’s such a refreshing light dessert.

[@natalieeubank4533]

She’s made it before on her channel

[@TrennieDillon]

Loved everything about this video 👏 !!

[@audrarager438]

Love these videos! I do have to ask, how do you have so many "left over blocks of cream cheese"? Lol

[@marciahowell6693]

Happy belated birthday! I love your channel and all the very practical ideas you share. Thank you!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you!

[@NLY1WAY4U]

You cook like my sister! Fabulous at throwing stuff together and tasting good. I am a recipe follower, but making a concerted effort to combine leftovers not eaten the next day. Key...canned tomatoes and cream cheese...got it.

[@soothingsymphonies]

Mindy this is a great video! Thank you!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad it was helpful!