5 Grocery Store Staples
You Can Stop Buying
Some of the easiest things to make from scratch are the very things we toss into our grocery carts without thinking twice.
Packets of onion soup mix, cans of condensed soup, chicken bouillon, bottled salad dressing, and seasoning blends are all convenient to have around. But did you know you can make homemade versions of every one of them?
And you don’t need a pantry full of unusual ingredients to get started!
Feeding a family of seven has taught me that a well-stocked pantry can make everyday cooking a whole lot easier. Instead of keeping dozens of specialty products on hand, I love having a few basic ingredients that can be used in all sorts of different ways.
These five homemade grocery store staples are easy to prepare, versatile, and perfect for keeping on hand when you need them.
1. Homemade Cream of Soup Mix
If you’ve ever reached for a can of cream of chicken soup while making dinner, this is one pantry staple you’ll want to try.
My homemade cream of soup mix is a dry pantry base that can be turned into cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, or cream of celery soup.
That’s three different canned soups you can replace with just one jar!
The base is made with dry milk powder, cornstarch, and a few simple seasonings. When you’re ready to use it, you combine the dry mix with liquid, add the flavorings you need, and cook until thickened.
Why I love it:
- One dry mix can make three different cream soups.
- It’s convenient for casseroles and slow-cooker meals.
- You can prepare only the amount you need.
- You don’t have to keep several varieties of canned soup in the pantry.
I especially love having this on hand for chicken and rice casserole, creamy chicken dishes, and recipes that call for condensed soup.
Get the Homemade Cream of Soup Mix Recipe →
2. Homemade Onion Soup Mix
Onion soup mix is one of those little packets that does a lot more than make soup.
It’s great in dips, pot roast, meatloaf, burgers, potatoes, and all sorts of savory dishes.
And making your own is incredibly simple!
My homemade onion soup mix combines dried onion and seasonings into a flavorful mix you can keep ready in a jar.
Ways to use homemade onion soup mix:
- Make homemade French onion dip.
- Add flavor to pot roast.
- Mix into hamburger patties or meatloaf.
- Season roasted potatoes.
- Use in casseroles and other savory dishes.
One of our family’s favorite uses is homemade onion dip. It’s such an easy thing to whip up when you have the mix already prepared.
Instead of buying another box of packets, I can make a batch and have it ready for several meals.
Get the Homemade Onion Soup Mix Recipe →
3. Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder
Chicken broth is something I use constantly, but I don’t always want to open an entire carton when a recipe only needs a cup or two.
That’s why I love having homemade chicken bouillon powder in my pantry.
This recipe uses chicken bone broth powder, nutritional yeast, and seasonings to create a flavorful dry bouillon that can be mixed with water whenever you need broth.
It took a little experimenting to get the flavor just right, but the finished recipe has become a handy addition to my pantry.
Use it for:
- Homemade soups and stews
- Chicken gravy
- Rice and noodles
- Casseroles
- Sauces and other savory dishes
The best part is being able to make exactly the amount of broth you need.
For my homemade version, I use 1¼ teaspoons of bouillon powder per cup of water.
You can also add a little directly to recipes when they need more savory chicken flavor.
Get the Homemade Chicken Bouillon Powder Recipe →
4. Homemade Italian Dressing Mix
If you have a few basic herbs and seasonings in your pantry, you’re already well on your way to making homemade Italian dressing.
Instead of purchasing another bottle of salad dressing, I like keeping the dry mix ready so I can prepare fresh dressing whenever I need it.
The blend combines familiar pantry seasonings into a versatile mix that works for much more than green salads.
Try homemade Italian dressing with:
- Garden salads
- Pasta salad
- Cucumbers and tomatoes
- Chicken marinades
- Fresh vegetables
You can also use the seasoning blend as a starting point for other dressings and marinades.
It’s especially convenient during gardening season when we’re eating plenty of fresh vegetables.
I love that I can keep the dry ingredients ready and prepare the dressing when we want it.
Get the Homemade Italian Dressing Mix Recipe →
5. Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Lemon pepper is one of those seasonings that’s easy to overlook until you realize how many things it tastes good on.
Chicken, fish, roasted potatoes, and vegetables all benefit from that bright lemon flavor paired with black pepper.
And you can make your own seasoning blend at home!
I especially love using my homemade lemon pepper on chicken wings. It’s a simple way to add plenty of flavor without making a complicated sauce or marinade.
Our favorite ways to use lemon pepper:
- Chicken wings and chicken breasts
- Fish and seafood
- Roasted potatoes
- Steamed or roasted vegetables
- Homemade marinades
- Grilled chicken
A little goes a long way, so I recommend seasoning to taste.
Keeping a jar in the spice cabinet makes it easy to add a little extra flavor to whatever we’re cooking.
Get the Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe →
Why Make Grocery Store Staples at Home?
I don’t believe making food from scratch has to mean spending hours in the kitchen every day.
In fact, one of the reasons I love homemade pantry staples is that they make cooking easier.
When I purchase ingredients in bulk, I want to get as much use out of them as possible. Instead of buying a different packaged mix for every recipe, I can use many of the same basic ingredients to make a variety of useful staples.
Here are a few reasons I prefer keeping homemade versions on hand.
Fewer Things to Buy at the Grocery Store
Making your own pantry staples can simplify your grocery list.
Instead of remembering several different packaged products, you can stock the basic ingredients you need to make them.
More Control Over Ingredients
Making mixes at home lets you decide exactly what goes into them.
You can adjust seasonings to suit your family’s preferences and choose ingredients that work for the way you cook.
Convenient for Everyday Meals
Having homemade mixes prepared in advance saves time when you’re cooking.
A jar of soup mix or bouillon powder is just as easy to reach for as a store-bought package.
A Great Way to Use Bulk Ingredients
If you purchase spices, dry milk, or other pantry ingredients in larger quantities, homemade mixes are a practical way to put those ingredients to work.
Depending on the ingredients and prices where you shop, making them yourself may save money, too.
Tips for Stocking Your Pantry With Homemade Mixes
You don’t have to replace everything in your pantry at once.
Start with a few recipes your family uses regularly and build from there.
- Use airtight containers. Clean, dry glass jars work well for storing homemade dry mixes.
- Label everything. Include the recipe name, preparation directions, and date so you don’t have to look up instructions every time.
- Keep moisture out. Always use dry utensils when scooping from jars, and follow each recipe’s storage directions.
- Start with the mixes you use most often. There’s no reason to make a large batch of something your family rarely eats.
- Keep the full recipes handy. That way you’ll always know how much mix to use and what additional ingredients are needed.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The goal isn’t to make everything from scratch. It’s to make the foods you already enjoy a little easier to prepare at home.
More Homemade Seasonings to Try
If you’re ready to replace even more grocery store products, don’t miss my collection of homemade seasoning mixes.
You’ll find five more recipes to make at home:
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning
- Homemade Seasoned Salt
- Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Homemade Italian Seasoning
These simple recipes are a great place to start if you’re building a homemade spice cabinet.
Your Pantry Can Do More
A well-stocked pantry isn’t about having every product the grocery store sells.
It’s about keeping ingredients on hand that can be used in lots of different ways.
A few jars of homemade soup mix, bouillon, salad dressing mix, and seasonings can make everyday cooking easier without relying on quite so many store-bought products.
Whether you’re trying to simplify your grocery list, make better use of bulk ingredients, or just enjoy making more of your food from scratch, these five recipes are a great place to start.
Which grocery store staple would you like to make at home next? Let me know in the comments!
Your Pantry Can Do More.
