We all lead busy lives and, with all the incredible plant-based ready meals and vegan takeaway options that are now available, we know how tempting it is to leave your cupboards bare and simply eat convenience food. But the benefits of having a well-stocked vegan pantry are manifold.
Not only will the wonderful variety of vegan pantry staples encourage you to cook delicious and nutritious home-cooked meals, but they will also help you to:
- Cut down on unnecessary packaging and transport emissions from takeaway meals
- Get creative and experiment with new plant-based recipes
- Monitor the nutrient intake of your vegan diet to maintain optimal health
- Always be prepared for any dining occasion
This article will provide you with an extensive list of vegan pantry staples, including links to recipes and other useful resources on how to store and cook them.
Many people think of the vegan diet as restrictive, so we hope our list of essentials demonstrates the vast variety of foods we can eat and inspires you to add more nutrients, texture, and flavor to your diet.
A full vegan pantry shopping list is also available to download and/or print off at the bottom of this article, so make sure you take it with you next time you go to a grocery store!
Education is the best motivation!
Learn how to cook vegan food with our FREE Ultimate Guide
How to Stock a Vegan Pantry
We recommend stocking your kitchen with as many whole foods as possible. Avoid processed foods and make sure you have plenty of herbs, spices, and seasonings to boost the flavor of your meals.
Of course, each of us will stock our cupboards with different vegan pantry staples, depending on taste preference, dietary choices, allergy requirements, and ethnic backgrounds, so we’ve done our best to include a huge variety of essentials to choose from.
We’ve categorized the pantry staples into food groups and usages. We’ve also listed them as either ‘essential’ or ‘special’ based on their global availability and common usage in well-known vegan dishes.
To ensure that you are prepared for any cuisine or cooking eventuality, we suggest buying some ‘essentials’ from each category and then experimenting with a few ‘specials' (which are a bit less common and/or easy to find).
1. Legumes
A must-have pantry staple for every vegan kitchen, legumes are the seeds from pod-producing plants.
From lentils to chickpeas, peas, beans, and even peanuts, the legume family contains countless nutritious vegan essentials. Here are some examples:
Essential pantry staples
- Lentils (green, yellow, red, black, brown)
- Edamame/soybeans
- Kidney beans
- Cannellini beans
- Black beans
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- Tofu (bean curd)
- Green peas
Special (less common) ingredients
- Mung beans
- Pinto beans
- Haricot/navy beans
- Pinto beans
- Adzuki beans
- Black turtle beans
- Black-eyed peas
- Fava beans
- Lima beans
- Lupin beans
- Split peas
Legumes are the ultimate vegan pantry staple! Their versatility means that you can use them to cook curries, stews, soups, stir-fries, chili sin carne, and tasty dips.
Check out our Guide to Lentils for cooking know-how and recipe inspiration
2. Oils and Vinegars
Oil and vinegar are essential to any vegan kitchen. Some oils will perform well at high temperatures, while others are best suited for drizzling on salads. Likewise, different kinds of vinegar have unique flavors and are used for different purposes and cuisines.
Here are some examples of oil and vinegar you might want to add to your vegan pantry:
Essential pantry staples
- Olive oil/extra virgin olive oil
- Nut and seed oils (sesame, pistachio, pumpkin seed, walnut)
- Vegetable oil
- Sunflower oil
- Coconut oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Hempseed oil
- Canola/rapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
- Malt vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Red wine vinegar
- White wine vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Distilled white vinegar
Special (less common) ingredients
- Corn oil
- Palm oil
- Peanut oil
- Sherry vinegar
- Champagne vinegar
- Black/red/white rice vinegar
High-heat oils, such as olive oil (NOT extra virgin), peanut oil, sunflower oil, and avocado oil, are ideal for sauteing and roasting, whereas flaxseed, extra virgin, and nut/seed oils are best suited for combining with vinegar and other ingredients to create marinades, salad dressings, and pickling liquids.
3. Cereals and Grains
Packed full of fiber and protein, cereals and grains are nutrient powerhouses. They make a great addition to any vegan pantry.
Here are some great examples of cereals and grains to add to your vegan pantry:
Essential pantry staples
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Wheat
- Polenta
- Couscous (technically a pasta but often mistake for a cereal/grain)
- Rice (wild, long-grain, short-grain, brown, etc.)
- Rye
- Spelt
- Buckwheat
- Corn
- Polenta
Special (less common) ingredients
- Barley
- Amaranth
- Freekeh
- Sorghum
- Triticale
- Millet
Oats can be transformed into muesli, baked into the crust of a tofu quiche, or left to soak as overnight oats. Couscous, rice, and barley make great accompaniments to any plant-based meal, and so-called ‘pseudocereals (e.g. buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa) can be baked into delicious bread and pasta products.
4. Flours and Powders
Enjoy baking? Then stocking your vegan pantry with flours and powders is essential! Some of these ingredients make awesome egg replacers as well. For example, you could use chickpea flour to make a batter.
Here are some examples of ingredients you may wish to add to your kitchen store:
Essential pantry staples
- All-purpose flour
- Self-raising flour
- Wholemeal flour
- Bread flour
- Gluten-free flour
- Rye flour
- Spelt flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Pasta flour
- Dried yeast
- Baking powder
- Cocoa powder
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Corn starch
Special (less common) ingredients
- Almond flour
- Oat flour
- Coconut flour
- 00 flour
- Einkorn flour
- Khorasan flour
- Chickpea flour
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Match powder
Use self-raising flour and cocoa powder to make a tasty chocolate sponge cake or combine whole wheat flour with filtered water to make a sourdough starter.
Learn how to bake artisan sourdough bread, authentic Italian pizza, and fluffy focaccia with our Baking With Sourdough online course
5. Nuts and Seeds
The small but mighty nuts and seeds are jam-packed with healthy fats (including omega-3), fiber, and protein. They also contain a variety of minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin E, selenium (1 brazil nut a day keeps the doctor away), and magnesium.
Here are some of our favorite nutritious nuts and seeds:
Essential pantry staples
- Macadamia nuts
- Cashew nuts
- Peanuts (technically a legume but have a similar nutritional profile to nuts)
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Pecans
- Brazil nuts
- Sesame seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
- Pine nuts
- Chia seeds
Special (less common) ingredients
- Flax seeds
- Hemp hearts
A pantry well-stocked with these vegan essentials means you can whip up incredible dishes including cultured vegan nut cheese, homemade plant milks, raw energy balls, and even creamy vegan cheesecake! You can also use them to sprinkle on top of sauces and salads or simply eat them as a healthy vegan snack.
How to make hemp milk using vegan pantry staples:
6. Spices, Herbs, and Seasonings
No vegan kitchen is complete without a dried spice, herb, and seasonings collection. These incredible flavor bombs bring dishes alive, dancing across your tongue to deliver unique tastes and sensations.
The list of spices, herbs, and seasonings is endless...here are just a few of our favorites for a vegan pantry:
Essential pantry staples
- Chili powder/flakes
- Cinnamon
- Basil
- Tarragon
- Chipotle
- Cayenne pepper
- Bay leaves
- Cilantro (coriander)
- Turmeric
- Cardamom
- Fennel
- Herbs de Provence
- Caraway seeds
- Cumin
- Himalayan salt
- Lemon pepper
- Garam masala
- Dried mushrooms
- Black/white pepper
- Curry powder
- Nutritional yeast (nooch)
- Mustard powder
- Nutmeg
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Paprika
- Peppercorns
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Vanilla extract/beans
- Vegemite/Marmite
- Cajun
- Vegetable bouillon
Special (less common) ingredients
- Dried seaweed
- Kala Namak (black salt)
- Smoked salt
- Liquid smoke
- Za’atar
- Gochugaru flakes
It may seem counterintuitive but, when it comes to dried spices, herbs, and seasonings, the fresher the better. If you’ve got a jar of chili powder that has been sat in your cupboard for a year, it’s time to replace it! If possible, buy them in their whole form and grind them fresh before you cook a meal. This releases so much more flavor and is why we recommend a spice grinder as one of THE MOST IMPORTANT vegan kitchen gadgets!
7. Pasta and Noodles
Our favorite carbs, pasta and noodles are essential to any vegan pantry! The majority of dried pasta and noodles are plant-based but, particularly if you’re buying fresh, watch out for eggs. Always double-check the ingredients before buying.
Stock your vegan pantry with a few of the following pasta and noodle staples:
Essential pantry staples
- Whole wheat pasta
- Wheat pasta
- Gluten-free pasta
- Lasagne sheets
- Macaroni
- Spaghetti
- Penne
- Linguine
- Fusilli
- Canneloni
- Soba noodles
- Udon noodles
- Wheat noodles
- Rice noodles
Special (less common) ingredients
- Spelt pasta
- High protein pasta
- Brown rice pasta
- Quinoa pasta
- Glass noodles
- Ramen noodles
In addition to their different shapes and styles, pasta and noodles can be made from a variety of ingredients.
Penne is great for thick sauces, while lasagne sheets are perfect for baked mushroom lasagne. Udon noodles are delicious in a steaming broth, while soba noodles are best served cold with a dipping sauce.
8. Syrups and Sweeteners
Looking for a refined sugar replacement? Or an alternative to honey? There are plenty of syrups and sweeteners for that:
Essential pantry staples
- Date syrup
- Maple syrup
- Raw sugar
- Dates
- Rice syrup
- Agave syrup
- Organic pure cane sugar
Special (less common) ingredients
- Coconut sugar
- Coconut nectar
- Monkfruit
- Apple syrup
- Inulin (chicory root extract)
The vegan pantry essentials listed above have a variety of uses in cooking. For example, they will allow you to sweeten tea, make your green smoothie bearable, and add balance to your sour dipping sauce.
9. Dried Fruit
Simple snacks, salad toppers, vegan pizza toppings, tagine ingredients, and porridge toppings, dried fruit can be used in sweet and savory dishes. Stock your vegan pantry with these fantastic staples:
Essential pantry staples
- Dates
- Apricots
- Cranberries
- Coconut flakes
- Currants
- Raisins
- Mango slices
- Pineapple slices
- Dried figs
- Apple slices
- Dried plums
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Sun-soaked tomatoes
- Sultanas
- Prunes
Special (less common) ingredients
- Goji berries
While they often contain more sugars and subsequent calories than fresh fruit, dried fruits store longer and often contain higher levels of fiber. What’s more, because they are more concentrated, they tend to be higher in most vitamins and minerals. Therefore, they make the perfect addition to your vegan pantry staples.
10. Condiments, Butters, Pickles, Sauces, and Fermented Things
We’re firm believers that every plant-based kitchen should be stocked full of condiments, butters, pickles, sauces, and fermented things!
Here are some of the tastiest nut butters, condiments, cupboard sauces, pickles, jars of ferments, and spreads for your vegan pantry:
Essential pantry staples
- Tahini
- Peanut butter
- Almond butter
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Sriracha
- Olives
- Capers
- Soy sauce (or tamari/nama shoyu)
- Hot sauce
- Jam/marmalade
- Vegemite/Marmite
- Chutneys
- Tomato paste
- Passata/tomato sauce
Special (less common) ingredients
- Cashew butter
- Honea Butter
- Chipotle paste
- Chili paste
- Kimchi
- Fermented barley
- Saeurkraut
- Vegan chocolate hazelnut spread
- Mirin
- Speculaas
- Biscoff Spread
- Coconut aminos
- Vegan fish sauce
- Miso
- Gochujang
- Curry pastes
- Pumpkin seed butter
There’s no end to the meals and snacks you can make with these vegan staples. We recommend buying just a few to start with and experimenting until you find the ones you like.
11. Tinned Food
Food in tin cans is essential for any pantry, plant-based or not. These handy items last for years and, even after the best before date has expired, are usually still safe to eat (since these dates indicate quality, rather than safety). Here are just a few tinned vegan staples:
Essential pantry staples
- Tinned vegetables (peas, sweetcorn, etc.)
- Coconut milk
- Tinned beans (black, kidney, baked, chickpea, etc.)
- Spaghetti hoops
- Tinned lentils
- Coconut cream
- Tinned fruit (co*cktail, peaches, pears, etc.)
- Soups
Special (less common) ingredients
- Evaporated/condensed coconut milk
- Tinned jackfruit
- Salsa
- Refried beans
- Banana blossom
- Vegan sausages
- Artichoke hearts
- Tinned vegan fish (e.g. Tuno)
Tinned foods are great to add to a vegan meal to bulk it out, particularly if you’re in a hurry, or to add nutritional value. Others contain ingredients that are great for baking or making sweet plant-based treats. For example, condensed coconut milk can be used to make vegan fudge.
Download Your Printable Grocery List
Being the kind and generous sort of people we are, we’ve made a vegan grocery list for all of the above pantry staples. In exchange for your email address, you can print it off and take it with you next time you go shopping!
Don’t worry, we won’t send you any spam - because that wouldn’t be very vegan of us - and we promise we’ll only send you more useful stuff like this pantry shopping list :) feel free to unsubscribe at any time.
