Hey hot stuff Are you getting ready to head to the grocery store and you’re trying to figure out what you need to stock up on? Well, you’re in luck my love! We’ve put together a list of store-bought staples just for you.

These are things that we either always have on hand or get every grocery run. Each of them will help you with convenience, flavor, or a combination of both. And of course will fuel your health goals! Get your grocery list ready! 📝

We’ve broke it into 2 categories: pantry staples and fridge staples. We have 10 of each, let’s get right to it!

Pantry Staples

1. Thai Curry Paste

This is a household favorite for us. It packs SO MUCH delicious flavor in just 1-2 tablespoons. We use the Thai Kitchen brand and love the red curry paste, but they also have green curry paste if that’s more your jam. Red curry paste is spicier than the green, so it just comes down to your palate and what spice level you like!

It’s perfect for when you have veggies that aren’t going to last much longer, and even leftover meat or tofu. Stir fry everything together in a large pan, add seasonings, curry paste, and coconut milk (or whatever milk you have on hand), and BOOM – you have an incredible comfort meal.

2. Salsa

This one probably goes without saying, but salsa is a must-have in your house. Some are refrigerated, some are shelf-stable. We love them all!

We typically don’t get the same salsa twice in a row. It’s fun to try different brands, different flavor profiles, and different spice levels. Whether you’re making breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack – salsa is sure to elevate it!

3. Hot Sauce

Hot sauce is everything We love spice in this house, so naturally hot sauce is a staple. To be honest, we always have at least 4 open at a time. At the moment those 4 are Sriracha, Cholula, Truff, and Frank’s RedHot.

Sriracha is delicious on anything breakfast related or any Asian-inspired dish. It gives the perfect sweet and spicy balance. Cholula is great for mixing with greek yogurt or sour cream for a yummy taco, nacho, enchilada topping. Or add it straight to any Mexican inspired dish and it will add delicious flavor. Truff is delicious on burgers, sandwiches, and avocado toast. It really elevates anything you put it on and makes it feel fancy. Lastly, Frank’s RedHot is our chicken wing favorite. It’s the perfect game day special!

4. Spice Blend

Having a good spice blend on hand is such a game-changer. You’re not always going to be in the mood or have the time to come up with a unique flavor profile. So when in doubt, lean on a good spice blend that you know will give you delicious flavor.

Our 3 favorite go-to’s are Italian Seasoning, 21 Salute from Trader Joe’s, and Dan-O’s Seasoning. Italian seasoning is perfect for pasta, chicken, and soups. 21 Salute is perfect for seasoning vegetables and legumes. And Dan-O’s (original or spicy) is great on potatoes, meat, and quite literally anything else.

5. Pesto

Just like salsa, you can get either a refrigerated or shelf-stable pesto. And it’s the perfect ingredient to give your dish bold, fresh flavor. Whether it’s avocado toast, pasta sauce, sandwiches, salmon, salads… It’s honestly perfection in a jar.

You can make it yourself if you’d prefer, but buying it at the store is so much easier. We typically get the basil pesto from Costco. It’s big enough that we keep it in the freezer and just pull out a little at a time so it doesn’t go bad! Do yourself a favor, get the pesto.

6. Nuts

Nuts have a long shelf-life and are such a handy snack. Whip out your scale or measuring cup portion out servings into portable containers/bags (or buy the mini packs) so that you’re always ready to grab and go! 

They’re also so versatile for cooking! Sliced or chopped, they can add so much texture and flavor to a salad, green beans, baked goods, and more  

7. Tuna

Tuna packs and cans keep for a long time, which is why they’re the perfect pantry staple. It makes a great snack or meal! For the cans you can find it either packed in oil or water. We personally prefer the ones in water – it’s just easier to drain and holds a sauce better, plus it cuts out the unnecessary oil.

If you have those tuna cans or packs in your pantry and don’t know what to do with them, here are 30 canned tuna recipes to try!

8. Jarred Sauce

Let’s be real… There are times when we want to make our sauces from scratch, and there are times when we just want to dump and go. There’s no shame in the jarred sauce game! 

Whether it’s for pasta, pizza, enchiladas, meat, or stir-fry, be sure to get a quality sauce that has good ingredients. For most sauces we go for Rao’s or Trader Joe’s. Rao’s is definitely more expensive, but you really can’t beat the quality and taste. And when in doubt, Trader Joe’s is probably a good bet

9. Microwavable Rice / Quick Rice

This goes for rice, quinoa, couscous, or really any grain. We don’t always have time to cook whole grains – Some of them can take up to an hour, and that’s not always realistic. 

If you’re wanting to make up a quick bowl, or want something to tie your leftovers together, pop one of these in the microwave and you’re done! So easy, so simple.

Fridge Staples

1. Rotisserie Chicken

We almost never leave Costco without a rotisserie chicken! It’s like meal prep you don’t even have to prep yourself – what could be better?! Eat it during the week, freeze some for later, and save any bones or leftovers for homemade chicken broth.

There are so many uses for this, the flavor is genuinely good, and you can’t beat the convenience. 10/10 recommend getting a rotisserie chicken the next time you’re at the store!

2. Salad Kits

If you can’t tell by now, we love convenience. And taking the time to chop everything up to make your own salad, along with the rest of your meal, is just not always the vibe. We want to get our greens in, we just want an easier way to do it sometimes. 

That’s where pre-made salad kits come in handy! Buy it on the weekend, separate it into however many days of salads you need, and your prep is done This is especially helpful for lunches, as we find this can be the hardest meal to get your veggies in.

3. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt came in hot around 2012 and it has no plan on leaving anytime soon. It’s versatile, it’s packed with protein, and it genuinely tastes good.

You can have it for breakfast topped with fruit and granola, or mixed together in a smoothie. It’s also a great substitute for sour cream in sauces, soups, or toppings. You can even blend it with frozen fruit to make homemade frozen yogurt! 

Make sure you get the full fat kind. Non-fat is NOT healthier – it usually contains higher sugar content and more fillers to make up for the fat they take out. Plus, it just doesn’t taste as good. The Imperfect Foods brand is delicious, but definitely experiment with the different brands at your local grocery store!

4. Frozen Fruit

Okay technically this is a freezer staple, but it had to make the list. It’s perfect for breakfast in a smoothie, or as a topping for yogurt or oatmeal. Frozen fruit can also serve as a topping for ice cream, or be turned into homemade frozen yogurt.

Yes, you can use fresh fruit for all of those things as well. But frozen fruit lasts so much longer, AND you don’t have to worry about what’s in season. Our 2 favorite blends are tropical (peach, mango, strawberry, pineapple) and mixed berry (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry).

5. Spinach

Baby spinach is on our weekly Imperfect Foods order. It’s seriously the EASIEST way to get your greens in – breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Spinach doesn’t have a ton of flavor on its own, so when you chop it up small (like you would rough chop herbs) you can mix it into almost anything. Eggs, pasta, soup, stir fry, etc… It’s the perfect way to sneak in your veggies!

Of course you can also eat it raw on sandwiches and salads. Or quickly sauté it in olive oil, vinegar, and garlic for a yummy warm salad. It’s honestly the most convenient green out there!

6. Mushrooms

Mushrooms make the list for the same reason spinach does – you can use them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Button, portabellas, shiitakes, oysters… they’re all delicious.

2 of our most popular mushroom recipes are Mushroom Truffle Soup and Green Beans & Mushrooms 🍄 Be sure to check them out if you haven’t already! But just like spinach, you can add them to basically any meal and it will taste good.

Fit Tip: Tearing/ripping your mushrooms, rather than slicing them, keeps the integrity of the fibers and will give them a better texture!

7. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eggs are legit one of the most versatile foods. And one of the most helpful ways to use them is by hard-boiling them! You can eat them as is (you can easily toss them into your lunch bag or use them as a quick snack), turn them into egg salad or deviled eggs, add them to salads or avocado toast… the list goes on and on.

So how do you boil eggs? We got you – Grab a large pot or saucepan and lay your eggs along the bottom. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar, a pinch of salt (optional), and fill the pot with cold water until it’s about 1 inch above the eggs. Bring the water to a boil, remove from heat, and cover. Let it sit for anywhere between 6-12 minutes, depending on your preferred texture. 6 minutes will leave your egg slightly runny, 12 minutes will leave the yolk firm. Once your time is up, transfer the eggs to an ice bath to stop the cooking process for about 10 minutes. And boom, you’re ready for the week! 🥚

8. Seltzer/Sparkling Water

It’s the end of a long day and you’re wanting to have a fun beverage. You’re tired of water but you don’t want alcohol or soda either. Cue sparkling water!

You can make it yourself (we love our Soda Stream) or buy it at the store. Romanticize it by putting it in a fancy glass and adding freshly squeezed juice (like lemon, orange, or lime). So satisfying! ✨

9. Snackable Produce

If snackable isn’t a word, it is now! When you think snackable produce, think of those easy things you can just grab and eat: apples, bananas, carrots, celery, cucumbers, etc. 

A healthy crunchy snack that you can just grab and go, it really doesn’t get much better than that! It fills you up while actually energizing you between meals. Perfect for a busy work day!

10. Peanut Butter or Hummus

The perfect pairing for your snackable produce! They add just enough bulk (proteins and fats) AND flavor to amp up your fruit or veg.

Bonus: adding hummus to a wrap or sandwich is literal perfection 😍 

Just watch it with the peanut butter it’s likely more calories (and a smaller serving) than you think it is. Probs not a good idea to sit with a jar and a spoon.

11. Parmesan Cheese

Cheese could honestly be its own food group And that’s exactly why parmesan made it onto this list! Freshly grated parmesan cheese is the ultimate addition to any recipe. Whether it’s a salad, pasta, or a roasted veggie (or really just about anything else) – parmesan will tie it all together. It’s salty, it’s nutty, it’s creamy… What more could you want?! 

Be sure to get an actual wedge of parm, not the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. Yes, it makes for an extra step to shred it or grate it when you need it. But yes, it’s way better. PLUS you get to use the rind to make a yummy broth or soup. Win-win!

We like the BelGioioso brand, but any wedge at your local store should be good!