Grocery stores are full of tiny, overpriced packages of things you could easily make yourself at home. From sauces to snacks, many of these foods cost just a fraction of the price when you use simple ingredients from your own kitchen.
Making food at home also lets you control what goes into it, which usually means fewer preservatives and more flavor. Once you try making these yourself, you may never go back to the store-bought versions.
1. Hummus
Store-bought hummus comes in tiny plastic tubs that cost way too much for what you get. Making it at home takes about five minutes with a blender or food processor.
All you need is canned chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil.
Blend everything together and adjust the flavor to your liking. You can make a huge batch for less than the cost of one small container at the store.
It also tastes noticeably fresher.
2. Granola
Those little bags of fancy granola at the store can cost eight dollars or more, and half of it is air. Homemade granola is one of the easiest things you can bake, and it fills your whole kitchen with an amazing smell.
Mix oats with honey, oil, and your favorite add-ins like nuts or dried fruit. Spread it on a baking sheet and roast it low and slow.
You end up with a huge jar for just a couple of dollars.
3. Salad Dressing
Bottled salad dressings are mostly water, oil, and preservatives, yet they cost three to five dollars for a small bottle. Making your own at home is almost laughably simple.
A basic vinaigrette is just olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and a pinch of salt.
Shake it in a jar and you are done in under two minutes. Ranch, Caesar, and balsamic glaze are equally easy to whip up.
You will wonder why you ever bought the bottled stuff.
4. Pesto
Fresh pesto from the store is expensive and disappears fast. A small jar can cost six dollars or more, and it barely covers one bowl of pasta.
Homemade pesto is fresher, brighter, and way more flavorful.
Blend fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, and olive oil together until smooth. You can swap in walnuts or sunflower seeds to cut costs even further.
Make a big batch and freeze portions in an ice cube tray for later use.
5. Yogurt
Greek yogurt at the store is pricey, especially the small single-serve cups that vanish in two bites. Making yogurt at home sounds intimidating, but it really just involves warming milk and adding a spoonful of existing yogurt as a starter.
Let it sit in a warm spot overnight, and by morning you have a whole pot of creamy yogurt. Strain it through a cloth for a thicker, Greek-style result.
The savings over a month add up fast.
6. Bread Crumbs
Buying a canister of breadcrumbs feels almost silly once you realize what they actually are: old bread that has been dried and crushed. Instead of tossing stale bread, dry it out in the oven and pulse it in a food processor.
Season with garlic powder, Italian herbs, or parmesan to make flavored breadcrumbs that beat the store version every time. You are basically turning something you would throw away into a useful pantry staple.
Zero waste and zero extra cost.
7. Nut Butter
Almond butter, cashew butter, and fancy peanut butter can cost ten to fifteen dollars for a small jar at the store. The secret ingredient in all of them is just the nut itself.
Roast your nuts in the oven for a few minutes, then blend until creamy.
It takes about five to ten minutes of blending, but the result is pure, fresh, and additive-free. Add a pinch of salt or a drizzle of honey to customize the flavor however you like.
8. Tomato Sauce
Jarred pasta sauce is convenient, but you are paying a lot for something that takes very little effort to make from scratch. Canned crushed tomatoes are cheap, and a simple sauce comes together in about twenty minutes on the stovetop.
Saute garlic in olive oil, add the tomatoes, season with salt, basil, and a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity. Let it simmer and it is done.
One large pot makes enough sauce to last the whole week.
9. Flavored Popcorn
Microwave popcorn bags and fancy pre-flavored varieties are overpriced and full of artificial ingredients. Popping your own kernels on the stovetop costs almost nothing and takes less than five minutes.
Once popped, the flavor options are endless. Toss it with melted butter and nutritional yeast for a cheesy taste, or try cinnamon sugar for a sweet treat.
A bag of kernels from the grocery store makes dozens of batches and costs less than two dollars total.
10. Whipped Cream
Canned whipped cream deflates almost instantly and costs more per ounce than the heavy cream you use to make the real thing. All you need is cold heavy cream, a little powdered sugar, and a hand mixer or even a whisk if you have the energy.
Beat it for two to three minutes until soft peaks form. The result is rich, stable, and far better tasting than anything from a can.
Make it right before serving for the best texture.
11. Vegetable Broth
Those small cartons of vegetable broth at the store add up fast, especially if you cook a lot of soups and grains. Here is a trick most home cooks love: save your vegetable scraps in a bag in the freezer.
Onion skins, carrot peels, celery ends, and herb stems all work perfectly. Once the bag is full, simmer everything in a big pot of water for an hour.
Strain it and you have free, flavorful broth with ingredients you would have otherwise thrown away.
12. Crackers
Artisan crackers at the grocery store are tiny and expensive, often costing five dollars for a box that barely fills a snack plate. Homemade crackers require just flour, oil, water, and salt, plus whatever toppings you enjoy.
Roll the dough thin, cut into squares, and bake at a high temperature until crispy. The whole process takes under thirty minutes.
Try adding rosemary, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning on top for a result that feels way fancier than the price tag suggests.
13. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise sounds like something you should just buy, but homemade mayo takes about two minutes with an immersion blender and tastes completely different from the jarred kind. It is silkier, richer, and you know exactly what is in it.
Combine one egg, a teaspoon of mustard, lemon juice, and a cup of neutral oil, then blend. That is really all there is to it.
You can flavor it with garlic, sriracha, or herbs to create custom aioli spreads at no extra cost.
14. Pancake Mix
Boxed pancake mix is mostly flour, baking powder, and salt, which means you are paying a premium for someone else to do the measuring. Making a big batch of your own dry mix at home takes about five minutes and fills a mason jar that lasts for weeks.
Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a jar and shake it up. When you want pancakes, just add milk, an egg, and butter.
The results are just as fluffy and cost a fraction of the price.
15. Pickles
Quick refrigerator pickles are one of the most satisfying and budget-friendly things you can make at home. You do not need any special canning equipment or experience.
Just slice cucumbers thin and pack them into a jar with garlic and dill.
Pour a warm brine of vinegar, water, salt, and sugar over the top. After a day in the fridge, you have crunchy, tangy pickles that taste better than most store-bought brands.
A whole jar costs under a dollar to make.
16. Flavored Butter
Compound butter, which is just regular butter mixed with herbs, garlic, or other flavors, sells for five to eight dollars for a tiny log at specialty stores. Making it at home takes two minutes and a fork.
Soften butter and mix in whatever sounds good, like roasted garlic, fresh chives, lemon zest, or honey. Roll it into a log using plastic wrap and chill until firm.
Slice off rounds to melt over steak, vegetables, or warm bread whenever you need a quick flavor boost.