"I’m almost 30 years old, and I still haven’t figured out how to control myself in a grocery store. I’m like a toddler constantly grabbing shiny and new products from every endcap. I know I’m in the minority when I say that I love to grocery shop, but there really is a thrill that comes with filling a cart with new finds and pantry staples.
Unfortunately, my grocery shopping-induced joy came to a screeching halt earlier this year when I ran through my budget and realized I was getting a little too carried away. Groceries are getting more expensive by the minute (way to rain on a girl’s parade!), so I took a hard look at what I was buying. To no one’s surprise, I was spending a lot of money on things I could easily make at home—from my go-to sauces to the treats I keep secretly tucked away.
In an effort to rein in my grocery bill, I started making some of my favorite pantry staples at home instead of buying them at the store. Ahead, I’m sharing 10 fool-proof recipes for common pantry staples that’ll save you $$ at the grocery store. Trust me, they are so good, so fast, and so easy—you’ll never add the store-bought version to your cart again.
1. Roasted Garlic Hummus
The first time I made hummus at home, I was immediately embarrassed that I used to buy it every single week. What was once a $6-8 purchase turned into $1, as I replaced my favorite organic hummus with a can of organic chickpeas. All you need is a blender, chickpeas, and a few staples (salt, lemon, tahini, and olive oil), and you’ve got hummus. The best part? You can easily customize it. For a variation on this basic recipe, drop the garlic and add dill or roasted red peppers.
2. Almond Pecan Granola
It wasn’t until I made granola at home that I realized how outrageously priced it is at the grocery store. All you have to do is mix together oats, maple syrup or honey, coconut oil, and whatever fruits, seeds, or nuts you want in a bowl and pop it into the oven. You probably have a lot of these ingredients on hand already! If not, you can buy them in bulk and have enough to make several weeks’ worth of granola.
3. Strawberry Chia Jam
In my household, we go through jam like it’s nobody’s business. And unfortunately for our grocery budget, good-quality jam isn’t cheap. However, this seriously-easy recipe requires only four ingredients and comes together in under 15 minutes. I love to top my yogurt bowls with it and regularly slather it on toast for my 10-month-old, while my husband has recently been hyper-fixated on breakfast sandwiches with an oozy layer of jam.
4. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is another thing that we go through quickly, so I used to buy it every other week. Thankfully, peanuts are one of the less expensive nuts, and you only need a food processor or blender to make your own at home. Three cups of peanuts and a little bit of salt yield one cup of peanut butter per this recipe. Even if you don’t go through it at the rate my family does, you’ll be saving quite a few dollars making it yourself. Wanna kick it up a notch? Add a little honey!
5. Everything Bagel Seasoning
Sorry, Trader Joe’s, but now that I know how to make my own Everything But the Bagel seasoning, I’m never looking back! I will warn you: Buying all of the ingredients up front will cost you more than just buying the container of seasoning. However, it will yield much more seasoning in the long run. Also, I find that pre-portioned everything bagel seasoning never has enough onion (am I alone in this?), so another perk of making your own is that you can customize the ratios to your liking.
6. Croutons
I used to think you had to be a full-on chef to make your own croutons. Something about it just seems so… elite? Turns out that it’s one of the simplest pantry staples you can make. All you need is crusty bread, garlic, olive oil, salt, and a little dried parsley, which I’m willing to bet you already have on hand. I make a batch of croutons whenever I have bread going stale, and then I store them at room temperature.
7. Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut butter cups are my kryptonite, but this little treat really adds up at the grocery store. I’ve been making this recipe on repeat since the day I found it. All you need is chocolate, peanut butter, coconut flour (to give the peanut butter that mousse-like texture), and a little salt. Since I must have a little something sweet at the end of the night (and in the middle of the day), these don’t last long in my house.
8. Honey Mustard
If you need a dipping sauce at all times, allow me to introduce you to your new favorite. As a honey mustard fiend, I used to have a hard time finding one that was affordable without a ton of added ingredients. This recipe is made with ingredients I always have on hand anyway (like yogurt, dijon mustard, olive oil, and garlic powder), which makes whipping it up a breeze. I use this as a dressing or as a dip for veggies, too.
9. Taco Seasoning
We eat taco bowls at least once a week for dinner, and even though taco seasoning packets only cost a dollar or two, they were becoming such an unnecessary weekly expense. I already had all of the spices required at home (I bet you do, too!), so I mixed them together and now have enough to last me weeks if not months.
10. Pickled Onions
From taco bowls to avocado toast, wraps, and salads, I could put a pickled onion on anything. Imagine my surprise when I learned just how easily I could make them myself. At my grocery store, a jar of pickled onions costs anywhere from $7-10, which is wild considering all you need is an onion, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, water, salt, and a jar.
Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.