Whether your community is in crisis, or you’ve simply run out of fresh food, it helps to have an arsenal of dairy-free pantry meal recipes on hand. These ideas cover all types of lunch and dinner entrees and suit many dietary needs. Beyond dairy-free, I’ve also labeled them for vegan, gluten-free, and top allergen needs.
25 Dairy-Free Pantry Meal Recipes for Canned & Non-Perishable Food
For recipes that call for any fresh foods, I’ve included notes and optional omissions. The fresh foods aren’t essential in these dairy-free pantry meal recipes, or can be easily substituted.
Tomato Lentil Soup
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the onion and garnishes if you don’t have them on hand. You can use jarred garlic.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Savory Pumpkin Sage Pasta
- Pure Pantry Modifications: None needed!
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, grain-free option, nut-free option, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Baked Curry Risotto
- Pure Pantry Modifications: The lime juice is optional, but you can also use bottled lime juice.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Confetti Black-Eyed Peas & Brown Rice
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the celery, and optionally add celery flakes or celery salt. Substitute jarred roasted red peppers for the bell peppers.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Ten Minute Tuna Couscous
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use canned peas instead of frozen and omit the lemon juice or use bottled.
- Special Diet Notes: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free option, sesame-free.
Stovetop Dairy-Free Mac & Cheese
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the added vegetables or substitute jarred roasted red peppers and canned corn. Use canned or jarred carrots and bottle lemon juice.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Pantry Panzanella Salad
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the lettuce. Optionally serve with quinoa or couscous.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Pantry Chicken & Vegetable Quinoa
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use dried parsley and bottle lemon juice, or substitute balsamic vinegar for the latter.
- Special Diet Notes: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free.
10-Minute Vegetable Pantry Soup
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use dehydrated onion and garlic, or omit them.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan option, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Tuna Noodle UnCasserole
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use olive oil in place of the buttery spread.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan option, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free option, sesame-free, plant-based options.
Lentil Oat Burgers or Sliders
- Pure Pantry Modifications: None needed!
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Thai Curry Chili
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the onion and garlic, and optionally add onion and garlic powder or jarred garlic.
- Special Diet Notes: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free option, sesame-free.
Italian Tuna Fettuccine
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the onion and garlic, and optionally add onion and garlic powder or jarred garlic.
- Special Diet Notes: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free.
One-Pot Sicilian Couscous
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use canned carrots and jarred roasted red bell peppers. Omit the onion and optionally add onion powder. Use jarred garlic, garlic powder, or omit the garlic.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
5-Ingredient Pumpkin Curry Slow Cooker Soup
- Pure Pantry Modifications: None needed!
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Speedy Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the lettuce and cilantro. Use bottled lime juice, or substitute apple cider vinegar and a touch of honey.
- Special Diet Notes: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free.
Plant-Based Chorizo
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use canned mushrooms. Omit the onion and optionally add onion powder.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free option, sesame-free, plant-based.
Pine Nut Cheese Pasta
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the chives.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, peanut-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Homemade Cheeseless Pizza
- Pure Pantry Modifications: None needed!
- Special Diet Notes: vegan option, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
- Non-Perishable Topping Ideas: olives, canned mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, vacuum packed meats (like some pepperoni or salami).
Walnut Cream Pasta
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use jarred garlic, garlic powder, or omit the garlic. Add canned vegetables instead of fresh.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, peanut-free, soy-free option, sesame-free, plant-based.
Quick Mexican-Style Pumpkin Chili
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Optionally add garlic and onion powders.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan option, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based options.
Creamy Thai Curry Pasta
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the onion and add some onion powder, if desired.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free option, peanut-free option, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
Black Bean Chipotle Burgers
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Omit the onion and add some onion powder, if desired. Bake your own 40-Minute Hamburger Buns.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free, plant-based.
- Topping Ideas: If you don’t have fresh lettuce, tomatoes, or avocados on hand, you can saute some canned mushrooms and top with jarred roasted red bell pepper.
Chicken Pozole
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Use canned chicken and jarred garlic. Omit the onion.
- Special Diet Notes: dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free.
Creamy Artichoke Rice Salad
- Pure Pantry Modifications: Substitute 1 tablespoon dried chives for the fresh chives.
- Special Diet Notes: vegan option, dairy-free, egg-free option, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, sesame-free.
- Make it a Meal: Add 1 can drained and rinsed chickpeas, chicken, tuna, or salmon.
