How to Enhance Your Prepper Pantry with Chunky Soups

Hi, it’s Alaska Granny! Wouldn't it be great to grow your own vegetables, raise animals, and can your own food? While some may dream of a self-sufficient homestead with a gigantic prepper pantry and cellar, most of us don’t have that capability. We may not have the space, time, or resources to cultivate our own food and preserve it for future use. However, there are still ways to prepare for the future, even if you can't grow or can your own food.

Stocking Up with Chunky Soups

For those of us who rely on grocery stores, stocking up on canned chunky soups is an excellent alternative. Chunky soups are versatile, making great meal starters and even complete meals when you need something quick and easy. During the pandemic, many varieties of soups disappeared from shelves, and prices increased. Fortunately, many of those varieties are returning, though they remain expensive.

Enhancing Your Soups

To maximize your prepper pantry, consider these tips for enhancing chunky soups into larger, more satisfying meals:

1. Minestrone with Sausage: Add a can of kidney beans and cooked pasta for a hearty casserole.
2. Beef with Vegetables: Boost the meal by adding a can of mixed vegetables or potatoes. Serve it over mashed potatoes for extra comfort.
3. Beef Barley: Cook barley or rice and mix it into the soup for added bulk and nutrition.
4. Pub-Style Chicken Pot Pie: This soup can be served over mashed potatoes or paired with drop biscuits for a tasty meal.
5. Chicken Sausage Gumbo: Enhance the gumbo with a can of beans or spicy corn to add flavor and protein.
6. Tomato-Based Soups: If a soup is too spicy or not spicy enough, adjust the flavor with a can of Rotel or tomatoes. Serve over pasta or rice for a filling dish.
7. Creamy Chicken with Wild Rice: Serve this over additional cooked rice for a more substantial meal.
8. Italian-Style Wedding Soup: Add cooked gnocchi or a package of mini potato dumplings to the soup to make it more filling.
9. Loaded Potato Soup: Mix in extra potatoes, mixed vegetables, or serve over gnocchi for a comforting dish.

Storing and Rotating Your Stockpile

Proper storage is key to maintaining the quality and longevity of your food stockpile. Store pasta and other dry goods in airtight containers to keep them fresh. Egg noodles, for example, should be rotated within a year or two. Tiny pasta like ditalini can easily be added to brothy soups to make them more filling.

Building a Versatile Pantry

A well-rounded prepper pantry includes a variety of foods to keep meals interesting and nutritious. By regularly rotating your stock and looking for new ways to use what you have, you can ensure that your pantry is always ready for emergencies. Even if you only add one can at a time, every bit helps build your stockpile.