If you were to peek inside my pantry right now, you’d find a whole lot of love — and a few ingredients that I absolutely never let myself run out of.
Over the years, I’ve learned that having the right pantry staples can make cooking easier, faster, and a whole lot less stressful. Whether you’re feeding picky toddlers or growing teenage boys (been there, done that!), these ingredients are the backbone of good, simple, Southern home cooking.
Here are the 10 must-have pantry staples I always keep on hand — the same ones I’ve relied on for 30+ years to feed my family without breaking the bank.
🥣 1. Self-Rising Flour
If you’ve followed me for more than five minutes, you know how I feel about self-rising flour. It’s the MVP of my kitchen. From biscuits to cornbread to quick-fix gravies, self-rising flour gives you fluffy results without having to measure baking powder or salt every time.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
If a recipe calls for all-purpose flour and you’re using self-rising, just leave out the baking powder and salt — and you’re good to go.
🌽 2. Cornmeal (Self-Rising or “Hot Rise”)
Cornbread. Hush puppies. Cornmeal-crusted anything. A Southern pantry without cornmeal is like sweet tea without the sugar — it just ain’t right.
Make sure to grab self-rising cornmeal (you’ll see “self-rising” or “Hot Rise” on the package) so it’s ready to go in a pinch. No need to add baking powder or salt — it’s already in there.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Leftover cornbread? Freeze it! It’s perfect for dressing or as a base for your next casserole.
🫘 3. Dried Beans (Pintos, Black Beans, or Limas)
Dried beans are one of the best budget-friendly staples out there. They’re filling, nutritious, and packed with flavor — and once you get comfortable cooking them, you may never go back to canned.
I use pintos the most, but I also love black beans, limas, and navy beans depending on the dish. And nope — I don’t soak them overnight. That’s just one more step I don’t need.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
To speed things up on the stovetop, bring your beans to a boil for 1–2 minutes, turn off the heat, cover, and let them sit for an hour. Then continue cooking like normal — no soak needed!
🍚 4. Rice
Rice is one of those ingredients that stretches meals, fills bellies, and works with just about anything — beans, stews, stir-fry, skillet meals, you name it. I always keep a big ol’ bag of long grain white rice in my pantry. It’s cheap, versatile, and lasts forever.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Make extra and store it in the fridge. Cold rice is perfect for throwing into quick stir-fries, taco bowls, or a skillet of leftovers the next day.
🧂 5. Bouillon Powder or Granules
Bouillon is a game-changer in the flavor department. Whether it’s chicken, beef, or veggie, bouillon powder lets you mix up just the amount of broth you need — and it’s way cheaper than buying cartons.
I keep mine in a sealed container right by the stove and use it almost daily.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Start with 1 teaspoon per cup of water, and adjust to taste. It’s perfect for cooking beans, rice, soups, and adding a little flavor boost to just about anything.
🛢️ 6. Cooking Oil (Vegetable, Canola, or Olive)
You don’t need 20 fancy oils in your pantry — just a couple good ones. I keep vegetable oil or canola oil on hand for frying, greasing my cast iron, and baking, plus a little olive oil for roasting veggies or drizzling on pasta.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Store oil in a cool, dark cabinet to help it last longer — and keep a bottle near your stove so it’s easy to grab when you’re in the flow.
🍅 7. Canned Tomatoes (Diced, Crushed, or Rotel-Style)
If you’ve got a can of tomatoes, you’ve got the start of a meal. Whether it’s chili, stew, spaghetti sauce, or taco skillet night, canned tomatoes add richness, acidity, and that cooked-all-day flavor.
I always keep diced, crushed, and at least a couple cans of Rotel-style tomatoes with green chilies in the pantry.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Stir a can of Rotel into taco meat or beans for instant flavor without having to chop a thing.
🧂 8. Ranch Seasoning Packets (or Homemade Mix)
Ranch isn’t just for salad, y’all. It’s magic on pork chops, chicken, potatoes, casseroles — and yep, I’ve even added it to soup.
I keep both store-bought packets and my own homemade ranch mix in a jar. It’s one of those flavors that makes people go, “What is that??” in the best way.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Mix 1 tablespoon of ranch mix with a little olive oil and vinegar for a fast homemade dressing.
🌶️ 9. Slap Ya Mama or Cajun Seasoning
I don’t play favorites... but if I did, this might be it. Cajun seasoning adds warmth, salt, and depth to just about anything. And yes, I use it in my cornbread.
I always keep Slap Ya Mama, but any good Cajun blend will do the trick. A little sprinkle goes a long way.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
Use it in place of plain salt in scrambled eggs, roasted veggies, or mashed potatoes for a flavor boost.
🍝 10. Pasta (Elbow, Penne, or Egg Noodles)
Pasta is one of those pantry staples that can save dinner any night of the week. I keep elbow macaroni for casseroles and mac & cheese, egg noodles for soups, and penne for skillet meals or baked pasta.
🧡 Mama Hall’s Tip:
If you’ve got pasta, a can of tomatoes, some bouillon, and a little cheese — that’s more than enough to make a delicious, filling meal in a pinch.
Stocking your pantry with these simple staples means you’ll always have the building blocks of a great meal — even when life gets busy, the fridge is lookin’ empty, or dinner needs to happen right now.
The trick isn’t having everything — it’s having the right things.
Want a printable version of this list? Or a peek inside my actual pantry? Leave a comment and let me know!
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From my pantry to yours,
Mama Hall
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