31 Groceries From Walmart That’ll Make Weeknight Dinners Incredibly Easy
For those nights when you want something long on flavor but you're short on time.
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1. A bag of Barilla tortellini for a pasta dinner that's a step above the classic noodles and sauce, but takes the same amount of time.
2. A can of pink salmon with a surprising amount of uses — fold it into pasta, sprinkle it on top of a salad, or mix it with egg, breadcrumbs, and onion for a salmon cake that'll take ten minutes and change your life forever.
3. A pack of organic ramen noodles because the uses are basically endless — stick 'em in a soup, a stir-fry, or even cook them up with your favorite pasta sauce!
4. A can of coconut cream that you can use for soups, stews, curries, and more to add creaminess and flavor without any dairy.
5. A box of Banza pasta so delicious, you'd never know that it's gluten free and packed with protein all because it's made out of chickpeas instead of traditional flour.
6. A can of crushed tomatoes that's way more versatile than just keeping around pasta sauce. It only takes five minutes and some garlic to doctor it up for noodles, but you can also throw it in a soup, a curry, or basically anywhere that needs a tomatoey kick.
7. A beef stew seasoning mix specifically formulated for slow cookers, so you can just dump it in with some meat and veggies in the morning and come home to deliciousness.
8. A tikka masala simmer sauce that's way better than takeout, and faster to boot. Plus, it's a great, easy introduction to cooking Indian food if you're looking to branch out more.
9. A bag of white rice, because it's a staple for a reason. It cooks in no time flat and is perhaps the most versatile pantry ingredient out there. I can't think of a recipe that wouldn't be better or more filling with some rice involved.
10. A packet of broccoli soup mix that'll have you saying "Panera who? I don't know her."
11. A box of au gratin potatoes which everyone knows are the absolute best way to eat potatoes. Of course the traditional way takes so long to make and you have to use a mandolin and it's just not worth it. But no longer! All you need is this box and an oven and you're on your way to potato heaven.
12. A packet of oven sauce that you simply pour over chicken and veggies, bake, and bask in the flavors of chicken that's been roasting for hours (even though it only took 45 minutes).
13. A can of sweet peas that taste just as perfect and delicious as ones straight out of the field — but these take just 30 seconds to add to a dish right before serving.
14. A can of black beans, because honestly, beans and rice (or even just beans with some cheese on them) is basically the perfect no-effort weeknight meal.
15. A bottle of kewpie mayo that — warning — may ruin the regular stuff for you. Use it with homemade sushi, sandwiches, salads, or honestly top basically anything with it for a flavor bomb.
16. A jar of Better Than Bouillon so you'll never have to store those huge, bulky boxes of chicken stock again. Just add a dollop of this for tremendous flavor without any effort.
17. A packet of Uncle Ben's ready rice that's the perfect way to round out a dinner. Just have this on the side with some protein and veggies and your meal will feel totally complete.
18. A bottle of balsamic vinegar, because there's no simpler way to dress up a salad, sandwich, or sauce. Try adding it to a salad along with a little fruit for a totally next level experience without having to spend hours over the stove.
19. A shaker of garlic Sriracha seasoning for an absolute flavor explosion. Just shake this on basically anything and your taste buds will be in heaven.
20. A can of condensed mushroom soup, because it makes a great ingredient in basically any casserole that just needs that extra hit of creaminess — and it's darn good just on its own to boot.
21. A package of corn flake crumbs to make your breading experience easier than it's ever been. Just dip and go!
22. A jar of seafood boil seasoning for the perfect starter to the best summer meal ever. Toss this, seafood, potatoes, corn, and maybe some sausage in a pot, and in just minutes you'll be chowing down on the best meal. Don't forget the newspaper!
23. A box of penne pasta because I firmly believe it is the most versatile of all the pasta shapes. From pesto to cheese sauce to marinara and beyond, penne will always be there for you.
24. A bottle of squeezable pizza sauce to make pizza night an absolute breeze. Grab some pre-made crusts and whatever toppings you like, and everyone in the family can customize their own — with no mess afterwards!
25. A container of pearl couscous perfect for simple, hearty salads. Just let it steam while you chop up some veggies, plus maybe some feta or olives, and you've got yourself a meal.
26. A jar of peanut butter so you can add some creaminess and nuttiness to a ton of sauces, or DIY your own satay. Plus, sometimes the quickest dinner you have energy for is a PB&J and there's no shame in that!
27. A bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce perfect for slow-cooker pulled pork or a quick baked chicken breast. Just make sure you have some coleslaw on hand for a side!
28. A jar of salsa verde that's perfect for a topping on taco night, or baking with chicken breasts for the easiest meal prep imaginable.
29. A bag of dried garbanzo beans because once you make hummus from dried beans, you won't go back. The creaminess is simply unparalleled.
30. A pack of Jiffy cornbread mix so you can come home to something ready in the slow cooker and finish it off with the perfect side in a snap.
31. A pack of Velveeta shells and cheese for those long, rainy days when you come home and just need something comforting and good for your soul.
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