When the forecast turns cold, I want affordable basics on hand that make feeding everyone feel less daunting. These nine Great Value staples are the Walmart picks I’d stock up on for chilly weeks.
1. Great Value Hearty Chicken and Dumplings Soup, 18.8 oz Can – $1.86
On bone-cold afternoons, this ready-to-heat soup turns a pantry can into a filling lunch with almost no fuss. Chicken, dumplings, vegetables, and savory broth make it especially handy when cooking from scratch feels like too much.
Taste: The broth is creamy and savory without tasting excessively salty. Soft dumplings, tender chicken, and vegetables give each spoonful enough substance to feel like a meal.
Make It Better: Serve it with saltines for crunch, especially when you want an easy sick-day or work-from-home lunch.
Parting Thoughts: Keep a can around for the chilly day when comfort matters more than culinary ambition.
2. Great Value Pinto Beans, 15.5 oz – $0.84
At $0.84, marked down from $0.92, these canned pinto beans are an inexpensive way to add protein and fiber to chili, soup, burritos, or a simple supper. I reach for them when a pot of food needs to stretch through tomorrow’s lunch.
Taste: Their mild, classic bean flavor takes readily to whatever seasonings are already in the pot. The beans are tender, while the canning liquid can add body to chili.
Make It Better: Keep the liquid when making chili or a thicker soup; for burritos or tacos, drain the beans and season them to suit the rest of the meal.
Parting Thoughts: For filling cold-weather cooking on a tight grocery budget, this can earns its shelf space.
3. Great Value Gluten-Free Vegetable Broth, 32 oz Carton, Shelf-Stable, No Allergens – $1.50
A carton of vegetable broth is my starting point for turning odds and ends into soup, stew, risotto, or gravy. Its carrot, celery, and onion flavors also make rice and potatoes more interesting than cooking them with water.
Taste: The broth has a clean vegetable flavor built around familiar aromatic vegetables. Its clear, fluid texture keeps it versatile rather than making a dish heavy.
Make It Better: Use only what you need, twist the cap back on, and refrigerate the carton after opening.
Parting Thoughts: Worth stocking for cooks who like having a flexible, gluten-free foundation for rainy-day meals.
4. Great Value Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix, Buttermilk, 32 oz – $2.08
Chilly weekend mornings feel more manageable with a complete buttermilk mix that only needs water for pancakes. The 32-ounce box contains 15 servings, so it can cover several slow breakfasts at home.
Taste: The buttermilk flavor is pleasantly familiar rather than elaborate. Pancakes cook up light and fluffy, while waffles can develop a crisper exterior.
Make It Better: Top a warm stack with fruit or syrup, or prepare waffles with water and oil and let the batter rest for 4 to 5 minutes before baking.
Parting Thoughts: Anyone who wants a cozy breakfast without measuring a lineup of ingredients should appreciate this box.
5. Great Value Chunk Chicken Breast with Rib Meat in Water, 12.5 oz Cans, 4 Pack – $9.98
Fully cooked chicken makes the difference between merely thinking about dinner and actually getting it onto the table. This four-pack of 12.5-ounce cans can add quick protein to soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, wraps, or chicken salad.
Taste: It has a straightforward cooked-chicken flavor that works easily with creamy, brothy, or seasoned recipes. The breast meat comes in distinct chunks rather than an entirely shredded texture.
Make It Better: Drain a can and fold it into a simmering soup or casserole when you need to make a pantry-based meal more substantial.
Parting Thoughts: Choose this multipack when convenience and dependable protein matter more than starting with raw chicken.
6. Great Value Saltine Crackers, 16 oz (often 4-count sleeves) – $1.88
Crisp saltines are the little extra that makes a bowl of soup or chili feel complete. They also work beside chicken salad or cheese when lunch needs to happen quickly between meetings.
Taste: A just-right level of salt keeps the flavor simple and savory. The crackers are crisp enough to provide contrast beside creamy soup and sturdy enough for dips.
Make It Better: Open only what you plan to use and keep the remaining crackers sealed so they stay fresh for the next soup night.
Parting Thoughts: Soup-and-cracker loyalists will get plenty of practical mileage from this inexpensive box.
7. Great Value Lentils, 1 lb – $1.92
Twenty minutes or less gets these no-soak lentils from the pantry into a warming soup, curry, stew, or simple side. Their protein and fiber make them particularly useful when I want an economical meatless meal that still feels substantial.
Taste: Lentils have a clean, understated flavor that readily absorbs herbs and seasonings. They cook evenly and become tender enough for soup while retaining more structure than a purée.
Make It Better: Rinse them first, then simmer with broth, herbs, and vegetables for a one-pot dinner with very little hands-on work.
Parting Thoughts: Budget cooks and dedicated meal stretchers alike can put this one-pound bag to good use.
8. Great Value Wide Egg Noodles, 16 oz – $1.78
Wide, flat egg noodles belong in the pantry when chicken noodle soup, creamed chicken, or a buttered comfort side is on the menu. Their easy-to-fork shape is especially welcome on low-key weeknights when nobody wants a complicated dinner.
Taste: The noodles bring a classic egg-pasta flavor that fits both brothy and creamy dishes. Cooked properly, they stay pleasantly tender and can hold up well when leftovers are reheated.
Make It Better: Serve them simply with butter and cheese, or add them to chicken broth and vegetables for a more complete cold-weather bowl.
Parting Thoughts: I’d call these a sensible pick for anyone whose idea of comfort food starts with a steaming bowl of noodles.
9. Great Value Tomato Basil Garlic Pasta Sauce, 24 oz – $1.97
Pasta night comes together quickly when tomato, basil, and garlic are already handled in one shelf-stable jar. Heat the sauce on the stovetop and spoon it over pasta for an uncomplicated dinner after a dark, chilly day.
Taste: Tomato leads, with basil and garlic supplying the familiar savory accents. The texture has the standard consistency of a jarred pasta sauce, making it easy to coat noodles evenly.
Make It Better: Bulk it out with cooked vegetables or meat when you want a heartier meal, or stir some into tomato soup for extra flavor.
Parting Thoughts: Skip it only if you strongly prefer building sauce from scratch; otherwise, it is a useful shortcut for warm weeknight dinners.
