The 6 Pantry Items Ree Drummond Always Has on Hand
Updated: May 28, 2021Pretty much everybody wants to cook like Ree Drummond. Stock up on these pantry items to be one step closer.
Ree Drummond, the Oklahoma native better known as the Pioneer Woman, sure knows how to prepare an incredible meal—and teach fans her favorite recipes and tips through her blog, cookbooks and TV show.
In our most recent sit-down with Ree, she shared a few of her kitchen secrets, including which six pantry items she always has in stock for easy cooking. Here are some of her meal prep tips to make cooking even easier and more fun.
Tomato Paste
“I always make sure that I have all the canned tomato products,” says Ree. Tomato paste has a concentrated, rich taste that instantly amplifies the flavor of meats, soups, stews, salads, pasta and pizza sauces. Before you go grocery shopping, try these substitutes for tomato paste if the need arises.
Canned Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most versatile cooking fruits. Canned tomatoes are peeled, sealed and fully ready to be added into whatever dish your heart desires. Whether you buy them whole, crushed or diced, canned tomatoes are a lifesaver when it comes to making homemade ketchup, pasta sauce, casseroles and more. If you want to can your own tomatoes at home, we’ve gathered some delicious canned tomato recipes for you to try.
Dried Beans
Ree loves making dishes that involve plenty of beans, including chili and veggie burgers. Having a range of your favorite legumes in your pantry ensures you’ll have enough for a healthy meal.
Short on time and want to start prepping tomorrow’s meal today? With these tips, soaking dry beans can be quick and easy.
Pasta
The Pioneer Woman appreciates a good pasta dish, whether it’s as simple as penne alla vodka or as decadent as pasta primavera. Having a variety of pastas at the ready allows for a feast that can be served in no time. Some of her favorite shapes include fork-twirling long pastas, like spaghetti, linguine and fettuccine, and short ones, like shells, penne, elbows and farfalle.
Psst: We put together a handy pasta shape guide to help you pick the best ones!
Jarred Pesto
This bright, tasty, green Roman sauce that, according to Ree, “elevates everything!” Traditionally made from pine nuts, basil, Italian cheese, garlic and olive oil, pesto can be used as a pasta sauce, spooned onto meats and fish or incorporated with any of these amazing recipes that call for pesto.
If you’d like to try making your own at home, we happen to have the perfect pesto recipe.
Tapenade
She may loathe bananas (it’s true), but the Pioneer Woman is quite the olive enthusiast. Tapenade—a paste or dip made from finely chopped olives, capers and anchovies invented in the south of France—is Ree’s go-to spread for feeding hungry guests. As she put it, besides pesto, it’s one of “the things that you can use to entertain.” Whether from a jar or homemade, tapenade can be served as an hors d’oeuvre when generously spread on sliced crusty bread or crunchy crudités. It also works well as a condiment or salad dressing and tastes amazing on top of meats and fish.
If Ree Drummond had a last meal, she would want all of these items to be the menu.
Spicy Casserole
Ree loves a spicy casserole, so while she'd love this bake as it is, she probably couldn't help but add some salsa or hot peppers to the mix. Make it in the 13x9 nonstick pan from Taste of Home’s new line of cookware and bakeware!
Caramel Brownies
One of Ree's biggest hits is her Knock-You-Naked Brownies, which are stuffed with ooey, gooey caramel. The combo of chocolate and caramel is undeniably powerful! Here's a copycat recipe. We tried Ree's famous brownies. See if they lived up to the name.
Layered Salad
The layered salad is a staple at potlucks everywhere, and Ree takes a classic approach with her ingredients; she includes bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and peas, to name a few. We think she'd like this make-ahead version!
Lemon Bars
No dessert table is complete without lemon bars, and both this batch and Ree's go-to recipe make use of a shortbread crust with a curd-like filling. Here's our expert guide on making lemon curd.
Cordon Bleu Casserole
Ree can turn just about anything into a casserole, including chicken cordon bleu! The creamy chicken and ham are topped with buttery bread crumbs that make both versions irresistible.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Oatmeal bars are a potluck favorite, and ours are filled with sweet strawberry preserves and topped with coconut. Ree makes a similar dessert, but leaves out the coconut.
Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
The Pioneer Woman knows that the only way to improve a twice-baked potato is to turn it into a casserole. The essential ingredients are bacon and cheddar cheese. Talk about comfort food!
Coleslaw
Ree loves cilantro slaw, and she's so adventurous with her cooking, she's probably already tried adding blue cheese to the mix. (If she hasn't, she should!)
Baked Beans
Baked beans are perfect for potlucks, and while Ree tends to use only pork and beans in hers, this version includes seven different types, adding variety in color, texture and taste!
Grasshopper Pie
Ree's grasshopper pie is a very popular recipe and one she undoubtedly loves herself. Here, cream cheese and whipped topping make a luscious base for the minty green filling. Your family is going to love this!
Southwest Casserole
This dish is similar to Ree's favorite Mexican rice casserole, but with olives, black beans and corn mixed in. It wouldn't be a surprise to learn she's already tried those additions herself.
Saucy Meatballs
The Pioneer Woman loves her meatballs, and one of her best recipes is dressed in a rich sauce made with tomato paste and beef broth. These meatballs get some extra sass from cranberries.
Asian Noodle Salad
Ree would probably add some kale, carrots and shredded cabbage to this dish, but she's sure to approve of such a tasty Asian noodle salad. We're all shook up about Elvis' favorite foods, too.
Lemony Potato Salad
You can't have a potluck without potato salad. This is a lighter version of the Pioneer Woman's lemon basil potato salad, but all the bright flavors are still there!
Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is always a crowd favorite, and this bake is similar to Ree's tried-and-true recipe–there are three kinds of cheese and plenty of beef!
Pretzel Brownies
One of the Pioneer Woman's favorite brownie recipes is topped with salted pretzels, so we know this version with a pretzel crust would also be a hit with her.
Chicken Taco Salad
Another dish loved by the Drummond family is chicken taco salad, and this version gets it done with a slow cooker. The set-it-and-forget-it approach is often used by Ree, and we love it too.
