50+ Pantry Staples for the Vegan Kitchen

If you’re transitioning to a plant-based diet, having a well-stocked pantry will make cooking so much easier! Here is a list of our favorite vegan pantry staples! Jump to the recipe card for a printable list!

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If you are joining us for Plant-Based January, I thought this might be a useful post! Many of you are cleaning out and organizing your pantry right now as I type! Here is a list of vegan pantry essentials to have on hand that will make cooking plant-based meals from scratch a little easier.

Though I’ve listed quite a few things, feel free to pair these down to a few items in each category. Also, scroll to the bottom, where I share tips on stocking and organizing your kitchen efficiently if you are short on space. Please leave any comments below- specifically if I have forgotten anything!

FAVORITE Pantry Staples

Whole Grains

Keeping a selection of whole grains on hand means you always have options for soups, salads and Buddha Bowls. Batch-cook one whole grain to use for the whole week! Then pick a different one the next week. Mix it up.

• Oats – Organic rolled oats and Steel Cut Oats – to use in our Overnight Oats, Baked Oatmeal, Steel Cut Oats with Pumpkin and Walnuts, and Vegan Breakfast Cookies.
• Organic Rice – Pick out a few varieties… Wild rice, Jasmine rice, and basmati rice, short-grain brown rice and white sushi rice.
• Quinoa – delicious in this Southwest Black Bean Quinoa Salad!
• Corn Grits / Polenta – Try it in our Polenta Fries!
• Barley – Delicious is this Roasted Sunchoke and Barley Bowl with Zaatar Tahini Sauce
• Millet – a must for this Coconut Millet Bowl with Berbere Spiced Squash
• Teff -High protein, little guys- we use teff in Teff Porridge with Figs and Walnuts and Savory Teff Cakes with Wilted Chard & Fresh Tomato Relish
• Wheat berries – chewy and toothsome, great for salads and soups!
• Bulgur Wheat – A must when making Tabouli Salad (Tabbouleh)
• Farro – This ancient grain is one of our favorites- use it in our Farro Salad , this Farro Bowl and our Farro Risotto.
• Amaranth – Tiny but mighty- try these Amaranth Cakes w/ Lentils, Kale & Chipotle Aioli

Dry Beans and Legumes

Full of protein and fiber, having a good selection of beans will ensure you are never hungry! One of the most important ingredients in the Mediterranean Diet and heavily consumed in the “blue zones” (the places where people live the longest), we LOVE beans because they are filling. Batch-cook a bean for the week and use it in soups, salads, and Buddha Bowls.

• Lentils – Black lentils, Red lentils, Brown lentils, French Green lentils– there are many to choose from; just pick a couple of your favorites! I gravitate towards these locally grown small black lentils because they cook in 15 minutes flat!
• Black Beans – make Cuban Black Beans or these Amazing Black Bean Burgers (in under 30 mins!)
• Chickpeas – the best choice for my favorite recipe ever… falafels!
• White Beans – can be used in many things; try our Sagey Leek and White Bean Patties, Creamy White Bean Soup with Gremolata.
• Pinto Beans – use in Mexican Pinto Beans and Refried Beans!
• Split peas– a must when making this Mediterranean Split Pea Soup!
• Mung Beans – Delicious in this Vegetable Khichdi Recipe (an Ayurvedic Cleanse)

Oil and Vinegar

• Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil No kitchen should be without extra virgin olive oil: it’s a staple in the plant-based diet for cooking, baking, drizzling and dressings. Olive oil contains many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Keeping it in an olive oil dispenser makes pouring and measuring easier. It’s also handy in a spray oil bottle!
• Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil  Use it in stir-fry, pastries, cookies, Thai soups, and more. Plus, it works wonders for gums and teeth (oil pulling) and dry skin relief. 
• Avocado Oil – great for high-heat cooking, a neutral oil that is not inflammatory!
• Unrefined Toasted Sesame Oil– an essential in Asian cooking.
• Truffle Oil– a splurge but delicious!
• Balsamic Vinegar It’s incredible how a drizzle of balsamic vinegar can add a burst of flavor to a dish to dress it up, but it’s also great as a salad dressing; try this Vanilla Fig Balsamic Dressing!
• Apple cider vinegar — which makes a fabulous vinaigrette.
• Rice wine vinegar is a pantry is a must in Asian Cooking- we love it in our Asian Cucumber Salad!
• Red wine vinegar – Fruity and light, it’s delicious in dressings!

Canned Goods

• Tomato Sauce, Canned Tomatoes and Tomato Paste. In addition, I always keep my pantry stocked with several types of canned tomatoes— whole peeled, and diced tomatoes. Tomato paste adds depth and richness to dishes like our lentil bolognese. 
• Coconut milk is the perfect swap for heavy cream to make a recipe vegan, and it’s an important ingredient in many curries and soups. You can also use it to make vegan ice cream or vegan whipped cream using a whipped cream dispenser.
• Organic Apple Sauce If you’re planning to do some vegan baking, having a jar of applesauce tucked in the pantry will be invaluable. Often used as a substitute for eggs, applesauce also makes vegan baked goods more moist.
• Canned Beans– Besides dry beans, I always have a few varieties of organic canned beans on hand for quick and easy meals: refried beans, blackbeans, cannellini beans, and chickpeas! Eden brand is my go-to!
• Artichokes Hearts in Water – to make this Creamy Vegan Mushroom Artichoke Pasta
• Jackfruit – to make Jackfruit Tacos (Vegan!)
• Hearts of Palm – Delicious in our Hearts of Palm Ceviche
• Roasted peppers – for soups, salads and dips!
• Capers for salads, pasta and sides.

Nuts, Seeds, and ButterS

A great source of healthy fats and protein, nuts and seeds are an essential ingredient in the whole foods plant-based diet!

• Almonds
• Cashews – raw cashews can be turned into so many things! Try them in our Orecchiette with Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Peanuts
• Hazelnuts
• Pecans
• Sunflower Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Tahini– Known best for its key role in hummus, tahini also earns its spot on our vegan pantry essentials list because it’s an important ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, which is very vegan-friendly.
• Almond Butter or organic peanut butter. Pair with sliced apples or celery for a quick protein-packed snack, add it to smoothies, or use it to make delicious vegan desserts, like my Rice Crispy Treats. Almond butter is a vegan pantry powerhouse thanks to its versatility.

SuperFoods

We really love this Navitas Organics brand… here are some of our favorites! We use many of these in our Granola, Muesli or sprinkling over salads, Buddha Bowls and soups!

• Chia Seeds
• Goji Berries
• Golden Berries
• Hemp Seeds
• Flax seeds, and Ground Flax
• Cocoa Nibs
• Cocoa Powder

Condiments & Sauces

• Organic vegetable Broth is a nice to have on hand for quick soups and stews.  I also love this Better than Bouillon concentrated Organic Vegetable Broth for quick flavor- useful in our Broth-based soups!
• Soy Sauce to give a deep umami flavor to recipes. I use this vegan pantry essential to season dishes like Easy Cabbage Stir Fry, but it’s also a staple in my homemade sauces like miso salad dressing or teriyaki. Alternatively, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos is a gluten-free swap for soy sauce. 
• Sriracha  One essential kitchen ingredient that adds heat to your pantry is sriracha sauce or Sambal Olek (Red chili paste)—especially nice in broth-based soups and stir-fry. If you like spice, a few different types of hot sauce are a vegan pantry essential, or you can also try making your own. 
• Mustard and Dijon.

Salt and Spices

Spices lose their potency over time, so I purchase them in bulk in smaller amounts and store them in labeled jars in a drawer right under my food prep area. I keep the ones I use the most close to me in the kitchen, and for more obscure spices that I use less often, I move them to my pantry area.

• Large Organic Spice Set (3 ounces, 24 spices)
• Small Starter Spice Set (½ ounce, 24 spices)
• garlic powder
• thyme
• Dried Oregano
• Bay leaves
• Ground Cinnamon
• nutmeg
• smoked Paprika
• chili powder
• cumin
• coriander
• allspice
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Chipotle powder
• Peppercorns
• Everyday salt – this is my favorite salt because of its high mineral content and zero microplastics. I used to love kosher salt, but have made the switch purely because of minerals.
• Finishing salt

Baking Staples

• Sweeteners – Having a good selection of natural organic sweeteners on hand is a must: Maple syrup, coconut sugar, molasses, organic cane sugar, powdered sugar and brown sugar are all handy. Or try monk fruit or stevia.
• Organic Flour– All-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, rye flour, Organic “00” pizza flour, rice flour, and bread flour (when I want to make a sourdough starter), and, if I’m making gluten-free recipes, I use almond flour or measure for measure gluten-free flour blend.
• Chocolate chips
• Shredded Coconut and Coconut Chips
• Raisins, craisins, dried apricots or currants
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder 
• Vanilla & Almond Extract
• Cornstarch
• Organic Instant Yeast  

Other Must-Haves! 

• Pasta– Pasta is the perfect ingredient to have on hand for quick weeknight dinners, and it’s a good budget-friendly pantry item, too. Keep a variety of pastas, high-protein chickpea pasta, rice noodles or gluten-free pasta on hand so you can quickly whip up Vegan Alfredo!
• Nutritional Yeast Often used as a vegan substitute for parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast is one of the best vegan ingredients because it’s high in protein and vitamin B12, and it’s naturally sugar-free, gluten-free, and sodium-free. We use it in our Vegan Cheesy Sprinkle, but you can also use it plain on popcorn or on top of salads or pasta. 
• Organic Panko– Use to coat tofu or veggies for a delicious texture and crunch.
• Silken tofu – is an amazingly versatile ingredient and a great source of protein. Use it to make creamy vegan sauces and desserts and make sure you always have a box or two in the pantry so you can whip up a quick vegan meal anytime. Always opt for organic, non-GMO.
• Organic Plant-Based Milk: Almond Milk, Soy Milk or Oat Milk -even if you usually buy refrigerated non-dairy milk, keeping a box of a shelf-stable version in your pantry can be surprisingly handy if you run out. Be sure to check the ingredients to ensure that they’re non-GMO, organic, and unsweetened, with no addition of seed oils.

Pantry Storage Tips & Ideas

I am going to be honest with you, when it comes to organization in general, I am not the best at it. But I have learned how to create a kitchen that is efficient for cooking quickly, meaning arranging things as simply as possible to whip up fast meals.

Glass Storage Containers – I prefer using clear glass storage jars so I can easily see what and how much is inside of them.

Traditional mason jars or these Weck Tulip Jars work well too. Having a plethora of jars in all different sizes is really helpful.

Spice Rack-If all your spices start to pile up, a spice rack is an easy way to display them, saving time with not having to dig through cuboards and sort throught them. This also makes a great gift for beginner cooks! Spice racks come in many different styles including vertical slide-out organizers, rotating countertop displays, and even magnetic spice racks that can attach your refrigerator!

Spice Jars and Labels – If you prefer to buy spices in bulk and refill them, here are some cute spices jars and labels.

Pantry Organizer To create more storage space in your kitchen or pantry, something like this over the door pantry organizer can be really helpful for dry goods and spices.

Hope this is helpful! Please leave any feedback or suggestions below- in case I’ve forgotten something!

Happy 2024!

Sylvia

Join us for the January Plant-Based Reset– a month of whole food, plant-based recipes to increase energy, support the liver and microbiome, and minimize cravings.

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