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You know that feeling when you open the pantry in February and it’s just…random noodles, half a jar of pickles, and three cans of pumpkin from 2021?
Yeah. Let’s fix that.
Right now, online at Walmart, the store-brand Great Value stuff is still one of the easiest ways to bulk up your pantry without blowing the grocery budget. Prices below are current online as of early February (they’ll wiggle a bit by region), but this gives you a real snapshot of what you can actually grab, not fantasy deals.
No bullets, no fluff. Just 30 real pantry buys, why they’re worth it, and how to put them to work.
1. Great Value Long Grain Enriched Rice, 5 lbs
White rice is one of the cheapest “food security” foods you can own. A 5-pound bag is running about $3.37 online right now, which works out to roughly 4.2¢ per ounce. That’s a lot of dinners for the price of a fancy coffee.
You’ll get roughly 45 half-cup cooked servings from this bag, depending how generously you scoop. Rice stretches soups, turns leftover bits into fried rice, makes burrito bowls, and pairs with beans for complete protein. Store it in a jar or bucket with a tight lid and you’ve got a cheap, long-lasting base for a ton of meals.
2. Great Value Pinto Beans, 32 oz (dry)
Dry beans are still one of the best protein buys out there. A 32-ounce bag of dried pinto beans is about $1.98, around 6.2¢ per ounce. That one bag cooks up into several pounds of beans once hydrated.
Online reviews hover around 4.7 stars, and folks mention they cook up evenly and taste just as good as name brands. Use them for chili, refried beans, burrito fillings, or to bulk out ground beef and make it stretch. If you’re prepping, dry pinto in jars or buckets is cheap calories and protein that sits happily on the shelf.
3. Great Value 100% Whole Grain Old Fashioned Oats, 42 oz
This is breakfast, baking ingredient, and emergency “I forgot bread” filler all in one canister. The 42-ounce can of old-fashioned oats is about $4.38 online, roughly 10.4¢ per ounce.
Oats cook in a few minutes, are naturally shelf-stable, and are more forgiving than cereal when money’s tight. People who buy these often note they’re basically indistinguishable from big-name brands once cooked, but cheaper. Use them for breakfast bowls, granola, meatloaf filler, crumble toppings, and dog treats (they’re usually dog-safe, just keep sugar and spices sensible).
4. Great Value Fruit & Cream Variety Instant Oatmeal, 20 Count
If you need grab-and-go breakfasts, the fruit & cream instant oatmeal packs are a solid middle ground between convenience and cost. A 20-packet box is currently around $3.72–$3.92 online depending on which listing you hit. That’s under 20¢ a packet.
You get four flavors, strawberries & cream, blueberries & cream, peaches & cream, and bananas & cream, so nobody gets bored. Reviews sit around 4.7 stars with nearly 3,000 ratings, with busy parents and commuters saying they’re sweet but filling and kid-approved. Stash a box at home and one at work so you always have a fast breakfast that doesn’t involve a drive-thru.
5. Great Value Elbow Pasta, 48 oz
This is the “feed everybody” box. The 48-ounce family-size elbow pasta runs about $2.72, around 5.7¢ per ounce. You’re getting three full pounds of pasta, that’s roughly 24 servings.
With a 4.7-star rating from over 1,000 reviews, people say it tastes like any other basic enriched pasta and holds up well in mac and cheese, pasta salad, and casseroles. Because it’s shelf-stable and calorie-dense, this is a perfect thing to keep stocked for tight weeks: you can dress it up with cheese, tuna, tomato sauce, or just butter and garlic.
6. Great Value Spaghetti, 16 oz
Classic spaghetti is still one of the cheapest ways to put a hot meal on the table. The 16-ounce box often shows up around $0.98 online, about 6.1¢ per ounce.
You’ll get about eight servings out of a box, and it plays nice with anything—jarred sauce, olive oil and garlic, canned tomatoes plus a can of beans, you name it. For meal prep, cook the full box, toss with a bit of oil so it doesn’t stick, and portion it with sauce and frozen veg in containers.
7. Great Value Instant Mashed Potatoes, 26.7 oz
Are real potatoes better? Sure. Are shelf-stable instant potatoes a lifesaver on busy nights or in a power-out pantry tub? Absolutely.
The 26.7-ounce box is around $3.67 online, about 13.7¢ per ounce. Reviews are strong (around 4.6 stars from 1,700+ people), with lots of folks saying you can’t tell the difference once you butter and season them. Use as a side, top shepherd’s pie, or stir a scoop into soup to thicken it without using flour.
8. Great Value All Purpose Flour, 10 lb Bag
Flour is one of those things that quietly saves you a fortune if you actually use it. A 10-pound bag runs about $4.57, which is roughly 4.6¢ per ounce.
That’s bread, pancakes, muffins, biscuits, tortillas, pizza dough, and gravy all in one bag. Reviewers give it about 4.7 stars, and a lot of people mention it bakes just like bigger-name brands for less. Keep it in a food-grade bucket or large jar with a lid to protect from moisture and pantry moths, and you’ve basically given yourself “emergency bread insurance.”
9. Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar, 10 lb
Sugar isn’t exciting, but it is essential for baking, preserving, and sanity when money’s tight and you want to make treats at home instead of buying snacks. The 10-pound bag is about $8.46 online.
It’s just straight granulated sugar, no frills, with a 4.7-star rating from thousands of reviews. Use it for homemade jelly, baking, kombucha, kefir, or just sweetening oatmeal and coffee. Stored dry in an airtight container, sugar basically doesn’t go bad; it’s an easy long-term pantry filler.
10. Great Value Iodized Salt, 26 oz
This one looks boring until you don’t have it. The 26-ounce canister is currently about $0.76 online, roughly 2.9¢ per ounce.
It’s iodized, which helps with thyroid health if you don’t eat a lot of seafood, and reviewers give it about 4.7 stars with over 7,600 ratings. Beyond seasoning, salt helps you ferment veggies, brine meat, and make homemade electrolyte drinks when you’re sick. For the price, I always keep several canisters on the shelf.
11. Great Value Baking Soda, 4 lb
This is one of those multi-taskers I refuse to run out of. The 4-pound bag is about $3.24 online, ~5.1¢ per ounce.
At around 4.8 stars from over 2,000 reviews, people use it for everything: baking, deodorizing, cleaning, and even in DIY laundry boosters. In a pantry context, it’s your leavening for baking, an odor absorber if something gets funky in the fridge, and part of DIY cleaners when you’re trying to save on household products too.
12. Great Value Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz
Cooking oil prices have been all over the place, but this one stays pretty reasonable. The 48-ounce bottle is currently on rollback for about $3.57 online, down from $3.97.
Reviews highlight that it fries and bakes just like national brands, and it’s just pure soybean oil—no weird blends. Use it for frying, baking, and making homemade mayo or dressings when olive oil feels too pricey.
13. Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 51 fl oz
If you cook a lot of Mediterranean-style recipes or just like a healthier fat, this big tin is cheaper per ounce than the cute little bottles. The 51-ounce extra virgin olive oil is about $19.17 online, with the organic version a couple dollars more.
Regular EV olive oil gets about 4.6 stars from over 2,300 reviews, with folks using it for everything from salad dressings to bread dipping. Stored cool and dark, it’ll last you a good while, and you can always decant part into a smaller bottle for daily use.
14. Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter, 40 oz
Peanut butter is cheap protein, healthy fat, and kid-magic in a jar. The 40-ounce jar runs about $3.98 online, roughly 10¢ per ounce.
It’s sitting at around 4.7 stars with over 8,800 reviews, and people say it’s smooth, spreads well, and tastes the way peanut butter “should.” Pair it with jelly on sandwiches, stir into oatmeal, blend into smoothies, or mix with soy sauce and a splash of honey for a quick peanut sauce.
15. Great Value Concord Grape Jelly, 30 oz
You can’t talk peanut butter without its partner. The 30-ounce Concord grape jelly jar is about $2.74 online, around 9.1¢ per ounce.
It’s another 4.7-star product with thousands of reviews, and people rave about the classic grape flavor for the price. PB&J obviously, but you can also use it to glaze meatballs or little smokies for potlucks, or melt it with a splash of vinegar and mustard for a fast pan sauce.
16. Great Value Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 5 oz
Tuna is one of the most budget-friendly shelf proteins you can get. A single 5-ounce can of Great Value tuna is about $0.96 online, but the 48-can case drops it closer to 75¢ a can when on rollback.
This stuff pulls a 4.6-star rating from over 9,400 reviews, with people saying it’s not overly fishy and works well in casseroles and sandwiches. Keep several cans plus a jar of mayo and some dill pickles, and you’ve got tuna salad ready to go even if the fridge is almost empty.
17. Great Value Chunk Chicken Breast, 12.5 oz (2-Pack)
Canned chicken is not glamorous, but it is insanely useful. A 2-pack of 12.5-ounce cans is about $5.22 online, which comes out to roughly 20.9¢ per ounce.
The 2-pack has around 4.7 stars from nearly 4,900 reviews, with buyers using it in chicken salad, casseroles, and quick soups. It’s fully cooked, so for meal prep you can just drain, mix with mayo and spices, and pile it on crackers, wraps, or baked potatoes.
18. Great Value Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, 64 oz Bag
Powdered milk isn’t just for emergencies; it’s fantastic for baking and stretching fresh milk. The 64-ounce bag is around $19.67 online, about 30.7¢ per ounce, and makes roughly 20 quarts (80 servings).
It holds about 4.6 stars with over 1,700 reviews, with people saying it tastes fine for drinking when mixed very cold and works great in recipes. Use it in bread, pancakes, cocoa mix, and to bump the protein in mashed potatoes or casseroles. For prepping, the long shelf life (often about two years on the package) makes it a heavyweight pantry staple.
19. Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn, 15 oz
Canned corn is one of those sides that kids actually eat, and it sneaks into a ton of dishes. A 15-ounce can runs about $0.76 online, roughly 5.1¢ per ounce.
It has around 4.7 stars from nearly 20,000 reviews, so clearly people are happy with it. Toss it into soups, casseroles, cornbread, taco fillings, or fry it in a little butter with onions for a quick side.
20. Great Value Cut Green Beans, 14.5 oz
Another cheap veggie to balance all the carbs. A 14.5-ounce can of cut green beans is also about $0.76, about 5.2¢ per ounce.
These have around 4.7 stars from over 15,000 reviews, with folks using them in green bean casserole, soups, or just heating with a bit of butter and garlic. If you’re building a “use when sick or tired” pantry shelf, a stack of these plus instant potatoes and broth gives you instant comfort food.
21. Great Value Black Beans, 15 oz Can
If you want cheap protein but don’t always remember to soak beans, canned is your friend. The 15-ounce can of black beans is about $0.86 online, around 5.7¢ per ounce.
These pull 4.7 stars from 4,800+ reviews, and people say they hold their shape well and aren’t overly salty. Use them for taco bowls, chili, quick refried beans, and as a meat-stretching add-in to ground beef dishes.
22. Great Value Pinto Beans, 15.5 oz Can
Same story as the black beans, but with that classic pinto flavor. A 15.5-ounce can usually sits around $0.86–$0.92 online, depending on whether you grab the no-salt-added version.
Popular-pick status and thousands of reviews tell you they’re a staple for a lot of families. Heat and mash with some fat and spices for easy refried beans, tuck into burritos, or dump into any soup that needs more bulk.
23. Great Value Petite Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice, 14.5 oz
Canned tomatoes are the base of so many “I don’t know what’s for dinner” meals. A 14.5-ounce can of petite diced tomatoes runs about $0.96 online, 6.6¢ per ounce.
These come in plain, Italian-seasoned, and chili-ready versions, all around the same price point. Use them in soups, stews, pasta sauce, chili, and shakshuka. Grab a few 28-ounce cans too if you cook for a crowd—they’re only about $1.48 and cheaper per ounce.
24. Great Value Tomato Sauce, 8 oz Can
This is your little flavor booster. The 8-ounce can is about $0.48 online, and it’s often cheaper by the 3-pack.
Use it to stretch jarred pasta sauce, simmer with onions and spices for homemade pizza sauce, add to chili, or thin it with broth and herbs for a light tomato soup. Because it’s mild and smooth, it’s great when kids aren’t fans of chunky tomato pieces.
25. Great Value Tomato Paste, 6 oz Can
If you want rich flavor, this is where it’s at. A 6-ounce can of tomato paste runs about $0.86 online, about 14.3¢ per ounce.
It has 4.7 stars from over 3,500 reviews, and people like that it’s thick and flavorful without weird additives. Stir a spoonful into soups, stews, and sauces when they taste “flat,” or mix with spices and oil for a quick marinade. If you don’t use the whole can, freeze tablespoons on parchment and pop into a jar for later.
26. Great Value Crushed Tomatoes with Tomato Puree, 28 oz
For big-batch cooking, this is a better deal than the smaller cans. The 28-ounce can is around $1.52 online, about 5.4¢ per ounce.
Reviews again sit around 4.7 stars, with buyers using it as a base for pasta sauce, chili, and stews. One can, plus some garlic, onion, and dried herbs turns into a huge pot of sauce that’ll cover several pasta dinners or lasagna.
27. Great Value Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton
Broth is one of those quiet heroes in the pantry. A 32-ounce carton of Great Value chicken broth is right around $1.50 online, roughly 4.7¢ per ounce.
People generally rate it highly for basic soups and gravies, and the price is hard to beat compared with boxed name brands. Use it instead of water when cooking rice or beans for extra flavor, sip it when you’re under the weather, or turn leftovers into soup. If you prefer beef, there’s a similar 32-ounce beef broth carton at about the same price point.
28. Great Value Mild Thick & Chunky Salsa, 24 oz
Salsa is more than a chip dip. The 24-ounce jar of Great Value mild thick & chunky salsa is about $5.67 online (prices can dip lower when it’s in stock in the regular grocery listing).
It’s made with crushed tomatoes, jalapeños, onions, and garlic, and reviews mention a good balance of flavor without too much heat. Use it to top taco bowls, stir into beans and rice, or bake chicken breasts smothered in salsa and cheese for an easy sheet-pan dinner.
29. Great Value Clover Honey, 32 oz
Honey is shelf-stable, versatile, and frankly comforting. The 32-ounce squeeze bottle of clover honey is about $10.97 online.
Reviewers talk about it as a “great value” compared with smaller bottles elsewhere, especially given how honey prices have jumped. Use it to sweeten tea, make granola, glaze carrots or ham, or mix with mustard for a fast sauce. It’s also handy in home remedies—honey in hot water with lemon is a classic for sore throats (just remember, I’m not a doctor; always talk to your own healthcare pro for medical advice).
30. Maruchan Ramen Noodle Chicken Flavor Soup, 3 oz, 12-Pack
When money is painfully tight, ramen is usually part of the picture. A 12-pack of 3-ounce chicken-flavor ramen from Maruchan runs about $3.97 online, roughly 33¢ a pack.
It’s not health food on its own, but it’s a great base. Toss the cooked noodles with a beaten egg and frozen veg, add leftover meat, or skip most of the seasoning packet and use your own broth and spices. For college kids, busy weeks, or “paycheck is three days away,” having a flat of ramen in the pantry can keep everyone fed while you lean on the more nutritious stuff above.
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