My husband is the most impressed when I cook full meals when we seem to have no food. The trick is a fully stocked pantry and a slightly-less-but-still-adequately-stocked freezer. Here is a list of items I have around at all times.

The Basis for 90% of This Blog:
Garlic
Onions (typically, I use yellow)

Oils:
Extra virgin olive oil
Canola oil (neutral, and healthier than vegetable oil)
Toasted sesame oil (not great for cooking, but excellent for drizzling on the end of Asian dishes)
A misto/sprayer for oil comes in very handy, too.

Vinegars:
Balsamic
Red wine
White wine
Rice
Cider

Rice/Grains
Rice (short grain, medium or long grain, brown, and any other variety you like)
Couscous (I opt for whole wheat)
Whole wheat pasta in short and long shapes (brand rec: Bionaturae)
Enriched pasta (hey, sometimes you just want to indulge)
Barley and/or Farro
Quinoa and/or Bulgur
Rolled oats (you can always pulse them to make them “quick” oats)
Cornmeal
Panko and/or plain breadcrumbs

Canned/Dried
Tomatoes (crushed, diced, paste, sauce)
Broth (chicken, beef, vegetable)
Beans (black, kidney, cannelini)
Lentils
Raisins, figs, or other dried fruits

Jarred/Bottled
Sundried tomatoes
Olives
Soy sauce
Fish/Oyster sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Salsa (because sometimes, it’s easier)
Salad dressing (because sometimes, it’s easier)
Honey
Pure maple syrup
Unsweetened applesauce
Dijon mustard

Nuts and Nut Butters
I use/eat almonds and cashews relatively quickly. The rest get stored in the freezer.
Pine nuts
Walnuts
Pecans
Cashews
Raw almonds
Tahini (sesame seed paste)
Peanut butter (I use natural)

Dried Herbs/Spices
Too many to list, but choose a variety. Some examples:
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern: oregano, rosemary, basil, thyme, allspice
Mexican: cumin, chili powder(s), cayenne
Asian: five spice, crushed red pepper
Baking: cinnamon, ginger, cloves

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper make a big difference, in my opinion, too!

Baking
AP Flour
Whole wheat flour (keep it in the freezer)
Corn starch
Baking powder
Baking soda
Sugar (granulated, brown, confectioners)
Vanilla extract
Almond extract
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Chocolate bars and/or chips

Freezer
Various meats
Peeled/Deveined Raw Shrimp
Peas
Corn
Spinach
Bell pepper strips
Berries/cherries
Tortillas (corn, sprouted grain)
Wine (freeze it in small containers or a covered ice cube tray when you open a bottle and don’t use it all!)
Pesto (make a batch and freeze it in an ice cube tray before popping out the cubes and throwing them in a freezer bag)