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Dump-and-Go Comfort Meals for Busy Families
Posted by Ola Griffin on Jul 16th 2025
Dump-and-Go Comfort Meals from Your Prepper Pantry
When it comes to comfort food that’s easy, filling, and made from ingredients you already have in your pantry, nothing beats Goulash and Chili. These meals are true “dump-and-go” classics—perfect for emergency meals, budget weeks, or even camping trips. Bonus? They use long-lasting pantry items that store beautifully in PackFreshUSA Mylar bags and canned goods!
1. Family-Style Goulash
This was a camping staple in our family—and now it's a go-to pantry meal!
Ingredients:
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Ground beef, chicken, or turkey (or skip for a vegetarian version)
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Canned beans (kidney beans work great, but can subsitute to other beans)
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Canned corn, green beans, stewed tomatoes, and any other canned veggies you have
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Chicken or beef broth (or veggie broth for meatless version)
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Seasonings: bouillon, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika
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Elbow macaroni (add once mixture is boiling)
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Optional: Shredded cheese on top for added comfort
Instructions:
Brown the meat (if using), dump everything into one big pot, bring to a boil, add the macaroni, and simmer until pasta is tender. Done!
- Hearty
- Customizable
- Kid-approved
2. Easy Dump-and-Stir Pantry Chili
Oh, those baseball and soccer practices or just a busy parent trying to put a quick meal together. I often made this before we headed to practice by browing the meat and throwing everything else into the crock pot on low. Simple, satisfying, and loaded with shelf-stable ingredients.
Ingredients:
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Ground beef, turkey, or chicken (brown and drain)
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Canned beans: dark red kidney, light red kidney, pinto (drain the beans)
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Stewed tomatoes, 1 tble or tomato paste, and/or Rotel (spicy if you like a kick)
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Chili seasoning packet (or your own blend: chili powder, cumin, garlic, paprika, salt)
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Onions (optional—cook with meat)
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Optional Toppings: Cheese, sour cream, diced onion
Instructions:
After browning the meat, stir in beans, tomatoes, seasoning, and a bit of water. Let it simmer for 30+ minutes to blend flavors.
It’s filling, affordable, and delicious—and every item can come straight from your pantry or freezer.
Check out this blog on MRE meals the end result was delicious The Ultimate Guide to DIY MREs, Emergency Food Storage, and Outdoor Adventures - PackFreshUSA
Food Storage Tip:
Store dry macaroni, beans, and seasonings in PackFreshUSA Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to extend shelf life and keep ingredients fresh for years.
Happy Prepping!
Ola D Griffin
Long-term Food Storage Expert
Customer Service, Safeguard Brands, Inc. dba PackFreshUSA
YouTuber Pandemic Prepsters - YouTube
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