If you are new to veganism, you may wonder what to stock in your pantry. Here’s a list of our must buy vegan pantry staples for every home!
When you first become vegan, the first few days may seem fine but if you aren’t prepared it can quickly feel like you are failing your way through. This list of must buy vegan pantry staples will have you feel more prepared and ready to take on your new adventure.
The first step is to take a deep breath. You likely already have many staples in your pantry that are already vegan – think things like flours, beans, and rice.
But what are other vegan pantry staples that will really help you achieve success on a vegan diet? That’s what we are going to share with you today.
Best Vegan Pantry Staples
Much of our list below focuses on vegan foods that we use often but that also won’t go back quickly.
Our vegan pantry staples include:
1. Grains
Whether soft grains, like quinoa or barley, or hard grains, like red wheat and millet, grains are the basis for many vegan meals.
Use quinoa to make our black beans and quinoa tacos.
2. Rice
White or brown rice are great for making your meals go farther. It’s a simple base for bowls and a side dish for many meals. If you are on a budget, it’s great for being able to stretch your meals as well.
Use rice to make our vegan garlic turmeric rice.
3. Oats
Rolled and Quick oats are a great staple because they can be used for everything from a simple bowl of oatmeal to making a gluten free flour for muffins.
Make our vegan peanut butter and jelly overnight oats.
4. Pasta, Including Ramen
Pasta is amazing, simple, and budget friendly. You can have anything from spaghetti to mac and cheese. The possibilities are endless.
Try our one pot garlic parmesan pasta or the best vegan mac and cheese.
5. Flour
Whether you are making your own bread or you love baking things like cookies and cakes, flour is a pantry staple in every home, including vegans.
Any flour is great to have on hand depending on your needs and preferences like gluten free, corn, whole wheat and more.
Vital Wheat Gluten Flour is another great flour to have stocked in a vegan pantry to make seitan. You can use this one to make our high protein vegan burgers.
You can buy vital wheat gluten on Amazon or at many grocery stores.
Also check out our vegan everything dough.
6. Beans and Lentils
Whether you prefer canned or dried beans, it’s a staple in vegan cooking. Beans are a great source of nutrients and protein.
Use lentils to make our vegan hot dogs or try our vegan bean soup.
7. Canned Goods
The best type of canned goods to stock up on are canned beans, canned tomatoes, canned corn, and other canned vegetables. Many meals can be made with the first three listed making them ideal.
Use beans, corn and tomatoes to make our Vegan Tex Mex Rice.
8. Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)
Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) is a great protein or “meat” substitute. It can be used as a beef substitute in many recipe.
You can find TVP on Amazon or many grocery stores.
Use it to make our Vegan TVP meatballs.
9. Popcorn Kernels
We are including popcorn on our list because it’s a great vegan snack and it’s very budget friendly as well. They last a long time in a pantry and are perfect for movie nights.
11. Nutritional yeast
Nutritional yeast is a great source of vitamins, especially B12, but it’s also amazing for making things taste cheesy. It’s a must in our pantry. Sprinkle it in salads, over popcorn, and any cheese sauce you want to make!
You can buy Nutritional Yeast on Amazon or many natural health stores.
Try our easy 10 minute vegan cheese sauce.
10. Nut Butters, Tahini
Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, Tahini and more are again a great source of protein and can be used to make peanut butter and jelly sandwich to overnight oats.
Make our peanut butter chocolate energy bites.
12. Oils (Coconut, Olive, etc)
Cooking oils, if you aren’t Whole Foods Plant Based and avoid them, are great in cooking and baking. From roasting vegetables to making cookies, they are a staple in our home.
Try our vegan spicy coconut chickpeas with garlic turmeric rice.
13. Sugar
Cane sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, agave and maple syrup are used in our baking and cooking often.
Learn more about why your sugar may not be vegan.
14. Ground Flaxseed
We use flaxseed for a lot of things, but mostly to make flax eggs which is a great baking alternative to using chicken eggs in baking.
Buy flaxseed on Amazon or inside all major grocery stores.
Learn more about vegan egg substitutes for baking.
15. Vinegar
White and Apple Cider Vinegar not only can be used for cleaning, but ACV also has health benefits. We use vinegar a lot because when mixed with milk it makes a vegan buttermilk alternative that’s perfect.
Make vegan buttermilk to make these vegan maple donuts.
16. Pure Vanilla Extract, Baking Soda and Baking Powder
These are classic baking staples that are a must in any vegan pantry that bakes.
Use all three to making our vegan double chocolate muffins.
17. Salt, Herbs & Spices
All of these are a must in any kitchen and a vegan one is no exception. You must salt and spice your foods!
We will add that black salt, also known as kala namak, is a must in a vegan kitchen to make any sort of egg substitute like a vegan tofu scramble.
Buy Black Salt on Amazon.
Another must would be something like dulse flakes or seaweed if you plan to make anything that tastes similar to fish. Try it with our vegan fish sandwich.
18. Raw Cacao (or cocoa powder)
We make a lot of chocolate flavored things and if you are a chocolate lover you will too! It’s a must.
Use it to make our vegan chocolate sticky buns.
19. Yeast
Yeast is great for making bread, cinnamon rolls, and other things. We always keep it on hand.
Check out our vegan blueberry cinnamon rolls.
20. Nuts
Cashews, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, you name it. Raw cashews are used in many vegan recipes for sauces, cheeses and more. Nuts are another great source of protein as well.
Use walnuts to make our vegan walnut taco meat.
21. Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder
Cornstarch is a great way to thicken sauces that normally call for heavy cream. Many people don’t do cornstarch though so a great alternative would be arrowroot powder.
Try it with these vegan pecan pie bars.
21. Canned Coconut Milk
We use canned coconut milk far more as vegans than ever before. Again it’s a great alternative to heavy cream, but it also makes wonder sauces, curries and more!
Our favorite canned coconut milk is actually the Target Good and Gather one.
Start using it to make this vegan coconut milk hot chocolate.
22. Vegan Chocolate Chips
Last but certainly not least, a vegan pantry cannot be without chocolate chips. Need we say more?
Enjoy Life is a great brand of vegan chocolate chips that you can find on Amazon or in many grocery stores.
Use them to make these amazingly easy vegan chocolate chip cookies.
Terry
Oh another good one is condensed coconut milk and Veggie Broths
LarishaBernard
Yes!
Terry
I feel great that I have most of these Pantry items. I have to check out the Vital wheat gluten. I’m familiar with TVP but haven’t seen it locally.I guess Amazon is a good source. Love you guys.
LarishaBernard
Glad you have a pretty stocked pantry!