Making things from scratch is one of my favorite kitchen habits, whether it is a sauce, a dressing, a jam, or a jar of pickles. These are the homemade staples I actually keep on hand, most of them faster and cheaper than the store bought version.
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Sauces, Dressings & Seasonings
A good homemade sauce or spice blend makes everything taste better and skips the preservatives in the store bought versions. I keep most of these in the fridge or pantry at all times.
Exclusive Homemade Gochujang Paste (Quick & Easy Korean Chili Paste)
Quick Ginger Miso Tahini Dressing
Tomato Confit
Homemade Buffalo Sauce
Red Enchilada Sauce (15-minutes!)
Jalapeno Simple Syrup
Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Celery Salt Seasoning
Homemade Marinara sauce (With Canned Tomatoes)
Easy Thai Peanut Sauce
Cashew Basil Pesto
5 Minute Greek Yogurt Dip (Tzatziki)
Korean Spicy Mayo
Cranberry Orange Sauce (with Mandarin Oranges)
Dairy-Free Caramel Sauce
Copycat Raising Cane's Sauce
Baking & Snack Basics
These are the basics I turn to for baking swaps or a quick snack, from a natural sweetener to a gluten free flour blend.
Date Paste
Homemade Granola
No Bake Energy Bites
DIY Gluten-Free Flour Blend (4 Ingredients!)
Homemade Salad Dressings
A jar of homemade dressing in the fridge is the difference between eating a salad and not. All of these keep for at least a week.
Light Caesar Salad Dressing
Lemon Tahini Dressing
5-Minute Greek Yogurt Dressing
Low Carb Green Goddess Dip and Salad Dressing With Greek Yogurt (No Anchovies)
Jams and Spreads
Small batch, no pectin, and no canning equipment. Made in the amount you will actually use before it goes off.
10-Minute Chia Seed Jam
4-Ingredient Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (No Pectin!)
Pickles and Ferments
Quick pickles are ready in an hour and last for weeks. The sauerkraut takes longer but needs almost no attention.
Quick Pickled Red Onions
Pickled Cabbage Recipe
Quick 3 Ingredient Pickled Daikon Radish
How To Make Easy Canned Sauerkraut
Quick Pickled Radishes and Onions
Copycat Canned Soups
The base for a hundred casseroles, without the can. Freeze them in single can portions.
Cream Of Mushroom Soup Recipe (Campbell's Copycat)
Gluten Free Cream of Chicken Soup
Breads, Crackers and More
The slower staples, worth it when you have the time.
Sourdough Loaf
Homemade Graham Crackers
How To Make Homemade Croutons (4 Flavors)
Homemade Cottage Cheese
Sourdough Discard Crackers
Simple Sourdough Bread
Tips for Making Pantry Staples Last
- Label and date everything. A jar of homemade sauce looks like every other jar in the fridge after a week.
- Freeze sauces and soup bases in portions. Ice cube trays for small amounts, silicone bags for a full batch. Thaw only what you need.
- Quick pickles want a clean jar. Wash the jar in hot water first and use a fresh brine each time and they keep for weeks.
- Dressings separate, and that is fine. Shake before using. If one splits for good, blend it back together with a teaspoon of mustard or mayo.
- Make seasoning blends in bulk. Taco seasoning, celery salt, and spice mixes cost a fraction homemade and keep for months in a sealed jar.
- Taste before you salt a recipe that uses a homemade sauce or stock. Yours is likely less salty than the store version, so adjust up.
Homemade Pantry Staple Questions
Is it actually cheaper to make pantry staples at home?
For most sauces, dressings, seasoning blends, and jams, yes, especially if you already have the base ingredients. Things like sourdough and cottage cheese save money too, they just take time. Specialty items with hard to find ingredients are sometimes a wash.
How long do homemade sauces and dressings last in the fridge?
Most oil and vinegar dressings keep for two weeks, creamy or dairy based ones about a week. Cooked sauces like marinara last four to five days in the fridge or three months in the freezer. Quick pickles keep for several weeks.
Can I freeze homemade pantry staples?
Sauces, soup bases, pesto, and cooked jams all freeze well. Freeze them flat in bags or in portioned containers. Do not freeze mayonnaise based sauces, fresh dressings, or quick pickles, the texture breaks.
What homemade staple should I start with?
A batch of quick pickled red onions or a jar of taco seasoning. Both take five minutes, use up things you already have, and immediately make everything else you cook taste better.
Before You Go
If you found this post helpful, I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts, questions, or experiences. Your feedback helps me create content that truly serves this wonderful community. ❤️
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