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This January, we are focusing on stocking your pantry for healthier meals and a healthier budget.

If you haven’t entered to Win Pantry Staples for a Year, head over to that blog post now and then come right back.

When you pick up the items on our $50 Pantry Stock Up list (and below), you’ll be ready to add a few fresh ingredients, herbs and spices to be able to cook 14 of our favorite recipes. We’ll feature all of these recipes individually in these “From Our Pantry” posts throughout this month.

Let’s get started with three: warming soup, chili and stew.

Simple Black Bean Soup

Along with the pantry staple of black beans, you’ll add fresh bell pepper, onion, garlic, lime juice, avocado and spices. Cooking dried beans is low maintenance and a great value. Make sure to plan ahead and allow time for soaking the beans.

Serve with hot sauce or salsa, if you like.

Lentil Chili

This simple vegetarian chili recipe uses lentils instead of beans.

Along with the pantry staples of lentils, vegetable broth and canned diced tomatoes, you’ll add fresh onion, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro and spices.

Brown lentils work best as they will hold their shape even when tender after cooking. Lentils are a favorite staple as they cook more quickly than beans, and they don’t require soaking. Serve over brown rice or with whole-grain hearth bread.

Don’t just take our word on this Lentil Chili recipe; it’s a favorite on our website — rated 4 stars by 77 people.

Mexican Taco Stew

An easy-to-throw-together, affordable, top-rated (4 stars by 92 people) stew that feeds a crowd. Along with the pantry staples of canned black beans, canned diced tomatoes and chicken broth, you’ll add onion, garlic, zucchini, frozen corn, ground turkey or beef, and taco seasoning.

Top bowlfuls of this hearty tomato and corn stew with your favorite salsa if you like.

Here’s the complete Pantry Stock Up List (in PDF and below) that gives you all the pantry ingredients needed for these three recipes and 11 more.

• 1 lb black beans
• 1 lb lentils
• 1 lb quinoa
• 2 lbs brown rice
• 3 (32-oz) boxes vegetable broth
• 1 (32-oz) box chicken broth
• 1 lb rolled oats
• 2 cans cannellini beans
• 1 can black beans
• 1 lb orechiette pasta
• 1 lb pasta, your favorite kind
• 1 jar unsweetened applesauce
• 1 (32-oz) box unsweetened soymilk
• 1 (32-oz) box unsweetened almondmilk
• 1 (5-oz) can tuna
• 3 (15-oz) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 package no-oil sundried tomatoes
• 1 jar pasta sauce

We priced these in our 365 Everyday Value® line and the list came in around $50. We encourage you to visit our bulk department and keep an eye out for sales for even more value.

Do you have a favorite soup, stew or chili that comes together easily with help from a well-stocked pantry? Please share in the comments.