Time to flex that ingenuity.

I think we’ve all been in the situation where we want something to eat but there’s nothing good in the pantry at least once in our lives. Now that we’re all stuck inside and can’t go to the grocery store as frequently, I’m guessing that situation has been occurring a bit more frequently for many of us. If you still need to wait a few days before your designated grocery trip, but you’re hungry now, then it’s time to get a little creative. Luckily, there’s lots of tasty food you can whip up with random junk from the back of the pantry or the fridge.

Got some pasta lying around? Of course you do, every house does. Make some pasta, and add in canned tuna, jarred pesto, tomatoes, and cheese. It’s a rich, seafood-y dish, plus the tuna gives you some extra protein. You can take the same approach with instant mac and cheese; sprinkle tuna and breadcrumbs on top, and you’ve got yourself a tuna-cheese bake.

Credit: Minimalist Baker

Any canned beans in the pantry? Try some cowboy-style chili. All you need are beans, onions, potatoes, chicken stock, and, if you want a little extra zing, some salsa. While not quite as thick as typical chili, the beans and veggies will give it enough body to be hearty and filling (plus tasty).

Desperate for something sweet? You can make a personal pound cake with just four ingredients. Just get some flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. Mix ’em together, throw ’em in the oven for a little while, boom, pound cake. If you’ve got more cake ingredients lying around like vanilla, baking soda, or milk, you can even make a personal cake in a mug in the microwave.

Credit: Cookies and Cups

Don’t deprive yourself of good food just because you’re stuck inside. Rather, take the home time as an opportunity to teach yourself how to cook. It’s one of the most practical skills you’ll ever learn, I’ll tell you that for free.