Ultimate Guide on Stocking Vegan Pantry

New to the vegan diet? Let me help with My Darling Vegan’s official guide to stocking a vegan pantry. Find out my favorite vegan staples, pantry items, and kitchen equipment.

When I first went vegan I became obsessed with every resource that could tell me how to stock my newly plant-based kitchen. From vegan cookbooks to blogs to peering in the cupboards of my friend’s homes, I wanted to know exactly what I needed to make veganism not just possible, but easy.

Over time I figured out what must-have staples I needed, what dairy and meat alternatives were nice to have on hand, and the best equipment to make any kind of vegan cuisine. Today I’m making that process easier for you. With 13+ years of veganism and 7+ years as a professional food blogger, I hope I can help you by sharing the insight I’ve gained in stock a vegan pantry.

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How to Stock a Vegan Pantry

My kitchen is primarily a whole foods kitchen. That means I don’t buy or use much processed foods. That also means I don’t use commercial dairy alternatives, with the exception of milk and butter (primarily for baking). However, I’ve gone through periods during my 13-year journey of veganism where I have really appreciated having those comfort foods around, and so I have added my favorites to this list.

Click here for the printable pdf!

Where Do I Get My Groceries?

A lot of people ask me where I get my groceries. I get them all over the place. For produce, plant-based cheese and milk alternatives, and other refrigerated goods, I typically shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joes. They both have great selections of vegan groceries and are always coming out with new products to try.

For most of my non-perishable items, I shop at Thrive Market. Thrive Market is an online marketplace that is on a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. Thrive Market has thousands of best-selling organic foods and natural products and they are priced 25-50% lower than traditional retail prices!

How do they do that? By getting their food at wholesale prices, Thrive Market is able to cut out the middleman and provide awesome goods at a HUGE discount! Cheaper prices, better foods, and the convenience of it being shipped right to your door! And the best part? When shopping, you can filter your search to “vegan” items only and you’ve got your own online vegan grocery store! Thrive Market has saved me a ton of money and time and I HIGHLY recommend checking it out.

Use my link (<<affiliate link) to choose a FREE GIFT with your first order (up to $24 in value) + a FREE 30-day trial to Thrive Market.

Grains & Pasta

Grains and pasta provide a ton of protein and fiber and are the perfect base food most of my go-to meals such as stir-fry, curr y, and buddha bowls. Overnight oats are also one of my go-to breakfasts. Oats are quick and fast way to get a wholesome, heart-healthy meal that will fuel you up. I have a rotating variety of grains and pasta in my vegan pantry. These are the ones I recommend having on hand.

brown and white rice
wild rice
quinoa
couscous
oats – steel cut and old fashioned
whole wheat pasta
quinoa pasta
rice noodles
soba noodles (<<affiliate links)

Flour

If you like baking, then having an array of flours is necessary. While I use all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour for most of my baking, there are times when I want a gluten-free option (hello, GF breakfast cookies) and something like almond meal or quinoa flour does the trick! Chickpea flour is one of my favorite egg replacers and is perfect in this flourless chocolate cake.

all-purpose flour
whole wheat flour
cake flour
almond meal
buckwheat
chickpea flour
quinoa flour
1:1 GF Flour Blend (<<affiliate links)

Beans & Legumes

Beans and legumes are an important part of a healthy plant-based diet. They are a great source of protein and fiber and add so much flavor to any meal. Lentils offer a great whole-food, plant-based alternative to meat (like in this Vegan Meatloaf) and when mixed with rice make a complete protein. Aside from that, chickpeas, when roasted, make a delicious and wholesome snack that I love to have on hand!

chickpeas
black beans
kidney beans
black-eyed peas
pinto beans
red and green lentils
split peas (<<affiliate links)
peas

Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds are an important part of my kitchen. They are some of the most nutrient-dense foods available and are so incredibly versatile. I add them to salads, dinner, use them in desserts, and even egg replacers. Not to mention they are the perfect snack! Nuts and seeds provide a healthy dose of protein, good fats, and tons of nutrients. The nuts and seeds I always have on hand are:

almonds
hazelnuts
peanuts
cashews
pecans
macadamia nuts
walnuts
sunflower seeds
flax seeds
chia seeds
pumpkin seeds (<<affiliate links)

Jarred & Canned Goods

I have a variety of jarred and canned goods in my pantry. I like to have a handful of canned goods on hand so that I can easily create any pasta or curry dish. And, of course, without sauerkraut how could I make my famous Tempeh Reuben? Coconut milk and apple sauce are nice to have around for baking needs (both are great egg replacers!) and while I prefer dried beans, having an array of canned beans is so nice when you’re short on time.

coconut milk
tomatoes – crushed, diced, paste
beans- black, kidney, pinto, chickpea
marinara sauce
pizza sauce
jackfruit
curry paste
vegetable broth
artichoke hearts (<<affiliate links)
pickles
sauerkraut
olives – black, kalamata, Castellano
applesauce

Fruits & Vegetables

I am not a huge fan of fruit but I do always have a few fruits and a ton of veggies in my kitchen. With a variety of vegetables, I can easily make big salads for lunch, veggie-packed stir-fries, and buddha bowls, and tofu scrambles every morning. This list evolves slightly, depending on what’s in season. Some of the constant fruits and vegetables I have on hand are:

bananas
apples
avocados
tomatoes
lemons and limes
sweet potatoes
onions
zucchini
cucumber
broccoli
bell peppers
mushrooms
salad greens
dark leafy greens

Sweeteners

Whether or not sugar is vegan is a hotly debated topic. So much so that I wrote a comprehensive guide to vegan sugar which will give you ALL the ins and outs of sugar. While I always have white and brown sugar in my pantry for my decadent chocolate cakes and all my cookie recipes, I often prefer sugar alternatives. Maple syrup is my go-to sugar alternative and is perfect in both savory and sweet recipes. Here are the other sugars I keep in my pantry:

sugar (brown and white)
coconut sugar
powdered sugar
dates and date sugar
brown rice syrup
maple syrup
raw agave nectar (<<affiliate links)
monk fruit

Superfoods

I am a HUGE fan of stocking a kitchen full of superfoods. What is a superfood? It’s any nutrient-rich food that is considered to be beneficial for health and overall well-being. I go into detail about my favorite superfoods, how to use them, and where to buy them here. In short, they are a delicious way to pack on the nutrients by adding them to smoothies, oats, salads, cookies, and more! The superfoods I always have

hemp hearts
cacao nibs
cacao powder
goji berries
matcha powder
chia seeds
almonds
ginger
dark chocolate (<<affiliate links)

Spices

Having a complete spice rack is an essential part of a well-stocked vegan kitchen. I love this door mount spice rack which allows you to use the spices you choose and arrange them in a way that makes sense to you. The spices that I think every baker and chef should have are:

Allspice
Basil
Bay Leaves
Cardamom
Cayenne
Chili Powder
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coriander
Cumin
Curry Powder
Garlic Powder
Ginger
Nutmeg
Onion Powder
Oregano
Paprika
Black Peppercorns
Red Pepper Flakes
Rosemary
Sage
Coarse Sea Salt
Thyme
Turmeric (<<affiliate links)

Oil & Vinegar

Having an array of oil and vinegar is an important part of a well-stocked kitchen. I use different oils for different cooking methods. You’ll need several high-heat oils like avocado oil and coconut oil for sautéing vegetables and tofu. Olive oil is good in salad dressing, cakes, and other baked goods. Vinegar serves a variety of purposes and I recommend keeping a couple on hand.

coconut oil
avocado oil
extra virgin olive oil
sesame oil
peanut oil
flaxseed oil
apple cider vinegar
balsamic vinegar
white wine vinegar
red wine vinegar
rice vinegar (<<affiliate links)

Refrigerated Essentials

My refrigerator is typically full of vegetables, a few important condiments, and some non-dairy alternatives such as milk, yogurt, butter, and cheese. The only kind of non-dairy cheese I buy is Violife. If you haven’t tried it, I HIGHLY recommend it. Aside from that, I always have some tofu and tempeh, salsa, hummus, and a few of my favorites sauces so I can make my favorite stir fries on a whim.

tempeh
tofu
non-dairy milk (soy, almond, cashew, coconut)
non-dairy yogurt
vegan butter
non-dairy cheese
salsa
hummus
miso
soy sauce
hoisin sauce
vegan Worchestire sauce (<<affiliate links)
condiments (hot sauce, mustard, ketchup, vegan mayo)

Pantry Essentials

Aside from all the other foods in my pantry, here are a few odds and ends that help me in baking (gotta have those classic chocolate chip cookies), cooking (what’s a tofu scramble without nutritional yeast?) and snacking.

popcorn
crackers
nut and seed butter
chocolate chips
vanilla extract
nutritional yeast (<<affiliate links)
shredded coconut (unsweetened)
baking powder & soda
cocoa powder
cornstarch
cornmeal