Canned tomatoes can be the basis for a hot meal like chili, soup or a stew. You can also blend canned tomatoes with some spices like Italian seasoning to create your own pasta or pizza sauce. Canned tomatoes are also yummy in casseroles or baked pasta dishes.

10. Bacon

It may come as no surprise to some of you, but bacon is a great ingredient to have on hand. Bacon (even the soy variety, for our vegetarian friends) adds wonderful flavoring to any number of dishes. Sprinkling some bacon on top of your pasta dish, over your potatoes, or in a soup are just some of the ways you can spruce up a meal.

Beside the typical BLT's, you can also create an easy delicious sandwich by cooking up a few slices of bacon and sliding them into your grilled cheese sandwich before cooking it in a skillet. It can also make for a heartier egg dish if you cook the bacon first, crumble it up and then add to the eggs you are scrambling.

There you have it. With these top 10 simple ingredients on hand you'll never be more than a few steps away from an easy and delicious meal between trips to the grocery store.