18 Pantry Staples You Can Make at Home to Save Money and Eat Better

Have you ever checked your grocery bill and thought, “There must be an easier way”? As a mother of three, I always try to save money and be more organized. I found that making things at home helps with both.

This way not only helps our family budget, but also lets us choose healthier options and use less waste. Over time, we have made a long list of things we now create ourselves.

These homemade items often taste better, have fewer preservatives, and let us pick all the ingredients. There is something very satisfying about making food with your own hands.

In this article, I’m happy to share 18 things you can easily make at home. For each, I will tell you why it’s good to make on your own and give a quick guide on what you need and how long it takes.

Do you make any of these at home? What is your favorite recipe? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Nut Butter

Nut butters have lots of protein and good fats, but store-bought ones can be expensive and usually have extra oils or sugars. Making your own is very easy. Pick your favorite nuts like peanuts, almonds, cashews, or a mix.

Lightly roast them to bring out the taste, then blend in a food processor until smooth. It takes about 15 minutes of blending, stopping sometimes to scrape the sides. Add a pinch of salt if you want, and you will have fresh, natural nut butter without any extras.

You can make it smooth or chunky, and try adding honey or cocoa for different flavors.

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Salad Dressings

Those bottles of salad dressing in the store often contain preservatives and unhealthy oils. Making your own dressings at home is quick, easy, and allows you to create flavors you love. 

Start with a basic vinaigrette: mix olive oil with vinegar or lemon juice, add a spoonful of mustard, and season with herbs and spices. Shake it all up in a jar, and you’ve got a fresh dressing in under 5 minutes. 

You can get creative with different oils, vinegars, and add-ins like garlic or honey. Homemade dressings taste better, cost less, and you know exactly what’s going into them.

Hummus

Hummus is a versatile and healthy snack, but store-bought versions can be expensive and often contain preservatives. Making it at home is simple and lets you adjust the flavors to your liking. Blend chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice in a food processor. 

In about 10 minutes, you’ll have smooth, creamy hummus that’s perfect for dipping or spreading. You can easily customize it by adding roasted red peppers, extra garlic, or different spices. 

Homemade hummus is not only cheaper but also fresher and more flavorful than what you’ll find in the store.

Bread

The aroma of freshly baked bread filling your home is hard to beat. Making bread at home allows you to skip the preservatives found in most store-bought loaves. You can customize it to your liking, whole wheat, gluten-free, or packed with seeds and nuts. 

The process is simpler than you might think. Mix flour, water, yeast, and salt, knead the dough, let it rise, and bake. In about 2-3 hours, including rising time, you’ll have a warm, crusty loaf that tastes amazing and costs a fraction of artisanal bread prices. 

Your family will love the fresh taste, and you’ll love knowing exactly what’s in it.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a common food in many homes, but store-bought ones often have extra sugar and preservatives. Making yogurt at home is easy and saves money. You only need milk and a small amount of plain yogurt to start.

Heat the milk, stir in the yogurt, and keep it warm for 8-12 hours. You will get creamy, slightly sour yogurt that has good bacteria. You can make it thicker or more sour if you like, and add any flavors you want.

This way, you get all the health benefits without any harmful additives.

Granola

Store-bought granola can be expensive and often contains more sugar than necessary. Making your own at home lets you control the ingredients and customize the flavors. Mix oats with your choice of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. 

Add a bit of honey or maple syrup for sweetness, and a touch of oil to help it crisp up. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The result is a crunchy, delicious granola that’s perfect for breakfast or as a snack. 

You can make a big batch and store it for weeks, saving both time and money in the long run.

Vegetable Broth

Vegetable broth is a basic kitchen item that’s easy to make at home and helps cut down on food waste. Collect vegetable scraps like carrot tops, onion skins, and celery leaves during the week. When you have enough, cook them in water with some herbs for about an hour.

Strain the liquid, and you have homemade vegetable broth with no added salt or chemicals. It works great for soups, sauces, and cooking grains. Plus, it costs almost nothing because you use scraps you might throw away.

The taste is stronger than store-bought broths, and you can change it depending on the vegetables you choose.

Meat Stock/Broth

Homemade meat stock or broth tastes better and is healthier than the kind you buy in stores, just like vegetable broth. Use bones left after a meal, such as chicken, beef, or any other meat.

Put the bones in a big pot with water, vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery, and some herbs. Let it cook slowly for 4 to 8 hours so all the flavors and nutrients come into the broth. You will get a thick, tasty stock full of good nutrients.

This stock is great for making soups, sauces, and gravies. Making your own stock helps you use your food well and cut down on waste. It is also much cheaper than store-bought stock, and you can decide how much salt to add.

Mayonnaise

Making mayonnaise at home is easier than you might think, and it tastes much better than store-bought versions. You’ll need egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, mustard, and oil. Whisk the egg yolks with the vinegar and mustard, then slowly drizzle in the oil while continuing to whisk. 

In about 10 minutes, you’ll have creamy, fresh mayonnaise without any preservatives or artificial ingredients. Homemade mayo has a richer flavor and smoother texture than what you find in jars. 

You can customize it too, adding herbs or garlic for different flavors. Once you try homemade mayo, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought.

Tomato Sauce

A good tomato sauce is the base for many dishes, and making it at home lets you choose the ingredients and taste. Use ripe tomatoes (or canned if fresh are not an option), olive oil, garlic, and salt.

Cook these items together for about 45 minutes, breaking the tomatoes as they get soft. You can add herbs like basil or oregano to boost the taste. The sauce you make will be fresh and full of flavor, much better than store-bought jars.

Homemade tomato sauce does not have preservatives or extra sugars that are often in store sauces. Make a large batch and freeze some for quick meals later.

Jam or Fruit Preserves

Making your own jam or fruit preserves is a great way to capture the flavors of seasonal fruits. You’ll need fruit, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook these ingredients together for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens. 

The process is simple, but it does require some patience. Homemade jam has a fresher taste than store-bought versions and allows you to control the sweetness. You can experiment with different fruit combinations or add spices like cinnamon or vanilla. 

It’s a wonderful way to use up ripe fruit and enjoy summer flavors all year round. Plus, homemade jam makes a great gift for friends and family.

Ice Cream

Making ice cream at home is a fun and rewarding treat. You need milk, cream, sugar, and a flavor like vanilla. Mix these ingredients, then either churn them in an ice cream maker or whip the cream separately for a no-churn way.

After freezing for 4-6 hours, you will get smooth, tasty ice cream. One great thing about making ice cream at home is you can create special flavors not found in stores. You can also control how sweet it is and use healthier options than sugar.

Homemade ice cream tastes fresher and is creamier than many brands from the store. It’s also a fun thing to do with children.

Spice Blends

Creating your own spice blends at home is easy and allows you to customize flavors to your taste. Start with individual spices like cumin, coriander, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix them in proportions that suit your palate. 

It only takes about 10 minutes to create a unique blend. Homemade spice blends are fresher and more potent than pre-made mixes you buy at the store. They’re also free fillers or anti-caking agents often found in commercial blends. 

You can make classics like Italian seasoning or taco seasoning, or create your own signature blend. Store your mixes in airtight containers, and they’ll stay fresh for months.

Pizza Dough

Making pizza dough at home is easy and much cheaper than buying ready-made dough. You will need flour, yeast, water, and salt. Mix these ingredients, knead the dough, and let it sit to rise for about an hour. The whole process takes 1-2 hours, but most of the time is just waiting.

Homemade pizza dough tastes better and feels nicer than dough from the store. You can make a large amount and freeze some to use later. It’s also fun to have kids help shape and add toppings to their own pizzas.

Once you start making dough yourself, pizza night will become a regular and budget-friendly family event.

Ketchup

Homemade ketchup might sound unusual, but it’s easy to make and tastes much fresher than the bottled kind. You’ll need tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Cook these ingredients together for about 30 minutes, then blend until smooth. 

The result is a flavorful ketchup without the high fructose corn syrup found in many commercial brands. You can adjust the sweetness and spices to your liking. Homemade ketchup has a more complex flavor than store-bought versions. 

It’s a great way to use up extra tomatoes from your garden and avoid artificial preservatives. Once you try homemade ketchup, you might never go back to the store-bought version. 

Pasta

Drying your own herbs is a simple way to keep their flavor and save money. If you grow herbs in your garden or have extra fresh ones, don’t throw them away. Tie small bunches of herbs together and hang them in a dry, airy place for 1-2 weeks.

You can also dry them in the oven at low heat for a few hours. After drying, crumble the herbs and put them in containers that close tightly. Homemade dried herbs taste stronger than store-bought and can last for many months.

This way works well for basil, rosemary, thyme, and other herbs. It is an easy way to enjoy your garden’s flavors all year long.

Pickles

Homemade pickles are crunchier and more flavorful than their store-bought counterparts. Start with fresh cucumbers, vinegar, water, salt, and your choice of spices. Combine these ingredients in a jar, making sure the cucumbers are fully submerged in the liquid. 

Let them sit for 24-48 hours, and you’ll have crisp, tangy pickles. You can adjust the flavors to your liking, make them sweeter, spicier, or more garlicky. This method works for other vegetables too, like carrots or onions. 

Homemade pickles are free artificial preservatives and have a fresher taste. They’re also a great way to preserve a bumper crop of cucumbers from your garden.

Dried Herbs

Drying your own herbs is a simple way to keep their flavor and save money. If you grow herbs in your garden or have extra fresh ones, don’t throw them away. Tie small bunches of herbs together and hang them in a dry, airy place for 1-2 weeks.

You can also dry them in the oven at low heat for a few hours. After drying, crumble the herbs and put them in containers that close tightly. Homemade dried herbs taste stronger than store-bought and can last for many months.

This way works well for basil, rosemary, thyme, and other herbs. It is an easy way to enjoy your garden’s flavors all year long.

Kitchen Magic: Save Money and Eat Better

Making these things at home has turned into a fun and rewarding part of our family time. We have saved a lot on groceries, and we eat healthier, better food.

Begin with one or two items that you like the most. You may be surprised by how fast you learn these kitchen skills. As you feel more sure, try more recipes. Soon, you will have many homemade basics.

Keep in mind, it’s not about being perfect, but enjoying the work and the tasty results.

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AI was used for light editing, formatting, and readability. But a human (me!) wrote and edited this.