Anyone who knows me knows that I am a pantry pasta evangelist. It’s something I eat several nights a week when I can’t be bothered to put a more cohesive meal together. But that doesn’t mean that pantry pasta is boring—to the contrary, it’s a great way to get more creative in the kitchen without having to develop advanced cooking skills. It’s just about deciding which flavors and ingredients work well together and putting them all together in one pan.
If you want to flex your pantry pasta muscles, there are a few ingredients you should always try to have on hand. These simple additions can transform a bowl of plain, buttered spaghetti into a pasta dish that tastes like something you’d order from your favorite Italian restaurant. Let’s take a look at some unfussy, versatile ingredients that can help enhance any pasta dish you decide to make.
1. Sardines
If you want to pack your pasta with protein and a salty, umami note, then you should make sure you always have a tin of sardines on hand. They’re inexpensive, they’re shelf-stable and they make a flavorful addition to basically any pasta dish you can dream up. Sardines are already pre-cooked, so you can add them whole into a pasta salad or cook them down in a sauce. Opt for sardines with extra ingredients, like hot peppers, for even more flavor.
2. Red chili flakes
You may want to skip this suggestion if you don’t tend to like spicy food, but if you’re looking for a way to add a ton of flavor to a pasta dish with an ingredient it’s always easy to keep stocked in your kitchen, look no further than red chili flakes. I particularly like pairing them with oil and cheese for a simple late-night snack.
3. Parmesan cheese
Just because it’s called “pantry pasta” doesn’t mean you can’t use any fresh ingredients. I always like having a block of Parmesan cheese in the fridge to grate into pasta dishes for added salt, umami and creaminess. Of course, you can use any kind of hard cheese (which tends to keep for longer than soft cheese) you like best.
4. Canned or jarred peppers
Even if you don’t have any fresh veggies on hand, you can still add vegetables to your pasta dish. Just use canned or jarred peppers for some extra flavor, nutrition and color in your dish. My personal favorites are banana peppers and jalapeños, although roasted bell pepper slices are also a solid option if you’re not a fan of spice.