Ina Garten is Sharing Her Favorite Pantry Recipes On Instagram & We're Already Drooling (2024)

Is there anything more comforting than binge-watching the Barefoot Contessa and imagining that you’re one of Ina Garten‘s friends that get an invite to her Hamptons home for an effortlessly elegant dinner, complete with custom flower arrangement and co*cktail. Well, these days Ina’s not exactly scrambling to have people over, but she is full of good news lately. First, she announced that she is moving up the release date of her next cookbook, then it was announced that the next season of Barefoot Contessa will begin in less than two weeks! And on top of all that, Garten has been sharing her favorite pantry-friendly recipes on Instagram so that even while we’re self-isolating, we can still eat well. Between these pantry recipes and Ina’s most delicious bread recipes, it looks like the Barefoot Contessa is going to keep us busy in the kitchen while we’re cooped up at home.

1. Jam Thumbprint Cookies

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Need something fun to do with your kids? Making Jam Thumbprints is great for teaching them math and cooking at the same time – and then you have sweet rewards for them when they get an A+. Little fingers are perfect for making the thumbprints! If you don’t have coconut, you can skip it and any kind of jam is just fine. Recipe in the link in my profile. #staysafe #havefun 📸 @mauramcevoy

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Mar 23, 2020 at 8:13am PDT

You can use any jam you have on hand to make these cookies, and they’re a good way to use up that bag of shredded coconut you’ve had in your cupboard seemingly forever.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

2. Easy Tomato Soup

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The most comforting Sunday lunch or dinner – Easy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Croutons (BC Foolproof)! Instead of cutting the grilled cheese into croutons, we’re just going to eat them as sandwiches! I didn’t have cream, so I left it out. If you don’t have saffron, just use a little more pepper. Is it lunchtime yet?? Link to the recipe on barefootcontessa.com. #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Mar 22, 2020 at 7:01am PDT

This recipe is endlessly versatile – Ina didn’t have cream, so she left it out, and if you don’t have saffron just add some more pepper.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

3. Roasted Applesauce

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Time for a treat – Roasted Applesauce! I had apples I needed to use up so I combined tart and sweet apples with some orange and lemon and just threw it in the oven to roast. It’s beyond easy. Serve it warm with ice cream or a drizzle of cream; or pack up and freeze it for later. Link to recipe on barefootcontessa.com. #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Mar 21, 2020 at 7:52am PDT

If your apples are starting to turn, whip up a batch of Ina’s roasted applesauce. You can use it as a side dish with latkes or pork chops, spoon it over oatmeal or greek yogurt, or serve it topped with ice cream for dessert. You can use a combo of apples and pears, or just one of the two, depending on what you have in stock.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

4. Stewed Tomatoes & Lentils

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Everyone seems to have lentils in their pantry and not enough recipes to use them all! I’ve been making this Stewed Tomatoes & Lentils for decades and I just updated the recipe for you. It’s definitely lunch today! What’s in your fridge that you’re afraid will go bad? Apples? Bananas? I’ll post recipes for you to use them. For the tomato & lentil recipe, go to barefootcontessa.com #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Mar 20, 2020 at 8:45am PDT

Those canned tomatoes and dried lentils that have been staring at you finally found their recipe destiny!

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

5. Broccoli & Bow Ties

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First recipe and it’s crazy easy – from my pantry & fridge. Broccoli & Bow Ties (BC Family Style). I dIdn’t have EITHER broccoli OR bow ties so I used broccolini and cavatappi! The sauce is lemon, butter, garlic & olive oil. Instead of making three things for dinner – meat, vegetable & starch – I’m loving just eating one thing for each meal. Who else is doing that? Tomorrow – Stewed Lentils & Tomatoes! The recipe is available on barefootcontessa.com #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Mar 19, 2020 at 7:37am PDT

The sauce for this pasta is super simple – you just need lemon, butter, garlic, and olive oil. Ina didn’t have bow ties OR broccoli, so she swapped in cavatappi and broccolini, and you could use any pasta shape and any green veggie too (even frozen veg would do well here!).

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

6. Penne alla vodka

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Penne alla Vodka – I love to find new ways to use vodka!! Most of this recipe comes from your pantry. I didn’t have fresh oregano so I used dried oregano in the sauce and garnished the pasta with fresh chives. Not classic Italian but who’s going to tell??! Recipe link in profile. #stayhome #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Apr 13, 2020 at 8:27am PDT

Did you stock up on a little too much vodka? Well, Ina has a great use for it with this penne alla vodka recipe. It’s super easy and if you don’t have penne, you can substitute whichever pasta you do have in your pantry.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

7. Spanish Pea Soup

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My Spanish Pea Soup With Crispy Ham is made with those frozen peas you don’t know what to do with!! It’s the fastest soup I’ve ever made. If you don’t have shallots, use onions, and bacon counts as “crispy ham” right? Recipe on Barefootcontessa.com. #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Apr 6, 2020 at 7:18am PDT

You know those bags of frozen peas that are just sitting in your freezer and will probably never be used? Ina has a delicious way to use up all of those extra frozen peas and turn them into a delicious and healthy soup that even your picky eaters will love.

Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa

8. Hummus

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The ultimate pantry recipe – Creamy Hummus! This one takes a little more time than regular hummus but it’s so worth it! It’s light, silky smooth and topped with chickpeas, almonds, and smoky paprika. If you don’t have pita, serve it with corn chips or carrots & celery. Perfect co*cktail food! Recipe on barefootcontessa.com. #staysafe

A post shared by Ina Garten (@inagarten) on Apr 27, 2020 at 9:55am PDT

Eight cans of garbanzo beans sounded like a great deal during your Costco haul but now you’re staring at them wondering how you will ever use that many beans. Luckily, Ina has a hummus recipe for exactly that.

Get the recipe from Food Network

Before you go, check out more impressive Ina Garten recipes.

A version of this article was originally published March 2020.

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