Over 40 Recipes That Taste Better Homemade Than Store-Bought (2024)

Published: · Modified: by sandi · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

40 Things to Make From Scratch

I'm just going to say it: I almost always love homemade over store-bought stuff. While I'm all about saving time in the kitchen, a lot of store-bought items are expensive, full of preservatives, and just don't taste as good as recipes made from scratch.

Cooking from scratch doesn't have to be hard. Sometimes all it takes is knowing that you have a winning recipe.

That's why I've collected over 40 recipes that taste better homemade than store-bought. I guarantee that if you try a few, you'll be surprised by how much better they are, and you'll find more and more recipes that you can make at home.

Ready to get started?

Breakfast

These breakfast recipes are a great starting point for making food from scratch.

Easy Drop Biscuitsfrom Finding Zest (pictured)
Chocolate Chip Wafflesfrom Family, Food, and Travel
Classic Dinner Pancakesfrom Pinch of Yum
Delicious Crispy Hash Brownsfrom Cookie and Kate
Everything Bagels from Elephantastic Vegan

Snacks & Drinks

You'll be surprised by how easy these snack recipes are -- and that you ever bought a jar of salsa when you could make it in 5 minutes at home.

Easy Homemade Guacamole with Salsa from The Welcoming Table (pictured)
Homemade Hummusfrom The Welcoming Table
Easy Homemade Salsafrom The Welcoming Table
French Onion Dip fromPeter's Food Adventures
Cold Brew Coffeefrom The Rising Spoon
Homemade Limemadefrom Finding Zest
Crockpot Applesaucefrom A Cedar Spoon

Breads

Making bread from scratch may take a little more time, but the end result is worth the effort.

Big Batch Dinner Rollsfrom Karen's Kitchen Stories (pictured)
Honey Oat Bread from Beyond the Chicken Coop
Flour Tortillas from Nourish and Fete
Homemade Pita Breadfrom Recipe Pocket
Homemade Pizza Dough from Joy, Food, Sunshine
Homemade Naan from Zestful Kitchen

Pasta

Homemade pasta and sauces are definitely a step above store-bought in the taste department.

Homemade Pasta from I Just Make Sandwiches (pictured)
Easy 25-Minute Marinara from Jersey Girl Cooks
Basic Italian Meatballs from Mission to Save
Best Alfredo Sauce from We're Parents
Pesto Sauce from The Things We'll Make

Soups

Don't grab a can of soup when you can make delicious ones at home.

Grandma's Homemade Chicken Soupfrom Fearless Dining (pictured)
Homemade Chicken Stock from Ramshackle Pantry
Cream of Mushroom Soupfrom Dinner Then Dessert
Easy Homemade Chilifrom The Welcoming Table
Vegetable Beef Taco Soupfrom The Welcoming Table

Condiments & Seasonings

Some of the EASIEST and MOST DELICIOUS homemade recipes are condiments, sauces, salad dressings, and seasonings. Try a couple and see!

Mayonnaisefrom Foodal (pictured)
Teriyaki Saucefrom Served From Scratch
Enchilada Sauce from Dinner Then Dessert
White Barbecue Saucefrom Foodal
Raspberry Jam from Canning and Cooking at Home
Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipefrom Joy, Food, Sunshine
Gluten-free Barbecue Saucefrom Greedy Gourmet
8 Standby Salad Dressing Recipesfrom Recipe Tin Eats
Homemade Taco Seasoningfrom To Simply Inspire
Homemade Seasoned Saltfrom Mashup Mom

Desserts

Don't reach for a can of pie filling or a container of frosting from the baking aisle -- make your own with one of these recipes.

Homemade Cherry Pie Fillingfrom Savor with Jennifer (pictured)
Homemade Rainbow Chip Frosting from House of Nash Eats
Homemade Whipped Cream from The Unlikely Baker
Copycat Boxed Brownie Mix from Served From Scratch
3-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce from Smells Like Home
Easy Strawberry Sauce from It's Not Complicated Recipes

While store-bought stuff sometimes feels more convenient, cooking food from scratch is cheaper and definitely tastes better. Try one of these recipes, and you'll be hooked!

Which one of these recipes are you most looking forward to making? Tell me in the comments!

If you like this post, you'll love 15 of the Best Mexican Party Food Ideas!

Over 40 Recipes That Taste Better Homemade Than Store-Bought

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy

    Awesome! I love making most things from scratch whenever I can so I can control the ingredients. There are certain things like pesto sauce that I refuse to buy anymore just because it's so much different from (worse than) the homemade sauce.
    There's something about the taste of fresh, uncooked basil that's so aromatic and somehow lost when they try to can the commercially made sauces. Luckily, it freezes really well, so I make large batches and am able to always have some on hand.
    Thanks so much for sharing my pesto recipe, and for putting together such a great mix of foods from scratch. So many of them sound (and look) delicious.

    Reply

  2. Peter

    Great list! So many recipes that taste better than store bought!!! Thanks!

    Reply

  3. Ben Myhre

    A great looking list. They all look great, but that chicken stock recipe looks top shelf! 😉

    Reply

    • sandi

      🙂

      Reply

  4. Sandi

    Thank you so much for including my Grandma's soup. Sharing all around!

    Reply

    • sandi

      You're welcome!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Over 40 Recipes That Taste Better Homemade Than Store-Bought (2024)

FAQs

What foods taste better homemade? ›

Here's what people had to say.
  • "Mashed potatoes. They just always taste best made from scratch in your own kitchen." ...
  • "Matzo ball soup. ...
  • "Grilled cheese. ...
  • "Tamales. ...
  • "Vegetables. ...
  • 6. " ...
  • "Chili. ...
  • "Soup.
Jan 9, 2022

What homemade food sells best? ›

Here are some ideas that are likely to sell quickly:
  • Candy and other confectionery.
  • Cookies, pastries, and other baked goods.
  • Dry herbs, seasonings, and herb mixes.
  • Homemade fresh bread.
  • Hummus and other dips.
  • Jams, jellies, and other preserves.
  • Nuts, coated, and uncoated.
  • Pickles and other pickled vegetables.

What tastes better when aged? ›

Many cheeses get better with age, especially cheddar, gouda, parmigiano and pecorino, according to Chef Adler. That's because aging allows for the formation of calcium lactate crystals, which translate to hearty and complex flavors often described as umami.

What ingredient makes everything taste better? ›

Many food ingredients, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), NaCl, and sweeteners have been termed 'taste enhancers' but their main effect is simply to add more molecules that generate additional taste or smell sensations.

What foods can I make at home instead of buying? ›

7 Foods to Make From Scratch
  • Stock. If you only take one thing from this article, keep a container of veggie scraps in your freezer. ...
  • Bread. This one can be as easy or as complicated as you want, depending on what you are trying to make. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Salad Dressing. ...
  • Pasta Sauce. ...
  • Pickles. ...
  • Granola, Bars & Bites.
May 17, 2020

What is the easiest food to sell? ›

Hot dogs and sausages: Hot dogs and sausages are classic concession stand foods that are easy to prepare and can be customized with a variety of toppings to suit different tastes. Popcorn: Popcorn is a popular snack that can be sold at a relatively low cost, and is easy to make in large quantities.

What is the most profitable food item to sell? ›

7 most profitable restaurant foods
  1. Burgers. Burgers are not only an American favorite but also a profitable choice for restaurant operators. ...
  2. Pizzas. Pizza is versatile and can offer substantial profits. ...
  3. Pasta dishes. ...
  4. Sandwiches. ...
  5. Vegetables and vegetarian dishes. ...
  6. Soups and stews. ...
  7. Fried foods.

What is the number one selling food item? ›

"In 2022, one in four carts contained bananas and this number has remained relatively consistent from year to year. As for the future popularity of bananas, they're not going anywhere," Romaniuk added.

What two tastes do elderly lose first? ›

Remaining taste buds shrink as we get older too, resulting in diminished sense of taste. Typically, seniors notice this loss of taste with salty or sweet foods first.

What to eat when you can't taste anything? ›

Some patients with issues related to smell and taste find that chilled or frozen foods taste better to them than warm or hot foods. If that's true for you, too, try yogurts, smoothies, shakes, egg salad or frozen fruit.

What are the 3 most important foods you can eat for healthy aging? ›

Tips for Picking Healthy Foods as You Get Older
  • Lean protein (lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans)
  • Fruits and vegetables (think orange, red, green and purple)
  • Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta)
  • Low-fat dairy (milk and its alternatives)

How to make home cooked food taste like restaurant? ›

5 Hacks to make your home food taste like it's from a restaurant
  1. Hack #1: Base gravies all the way!
  2. Hack #2: Cook on a high flame.
  3. Hack #3: Brown your onions, golden brown!
  4. Hack #4: Cook like calories don't count.
  5. Hack #5: Combinations matter and presentation goes a long way!
Nov 7, 2022

What is the most commonly used flavor enhancer? ›

5 Most Common Flavor Enhancers and What They Do
  • Monosodium glutamate. ...
  • Honey. ...
  • Citric acid. ...
  • Corn syrup. ...
  • Salt (Sodium Chloride)
Feb 10, 2023

How to make every food tasty? ›

Here are some simple tips from America's Test Kitchen for prepping, cooking, and seasoning designed to boost flavor in everyday cooking.
  1. Don't Prepare Garlic and Onions in Advance. ...
  2. Don't Seed Tomatoes. ...
  3. Keep Fats Tasting Fresh. ...
  4. Strike Only When the Pan Is Hot. ...
  5. Never Discard the Fond. ...
  6. Season with Sugar, Too.

What foods make you taste the best? ›

8 Foods That Make You Taste Delicious (Wink Wink)
  • Pineapple. Healthy and happy vagin*s have a naturally acidic pH. ...
  • Kiwi. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Green tea. ...
  • Cranberries or cranberry juice. ...
  • Sweet potatoes. ...
  • Celery. ...
  • Water.
Jul 7, 2018

Why does homegrown food taste better? ›

One simple reason locally grown, farm-fresh foods are so full of flavor is the simple fact they are harvested at ideal ripeness. When crops are picked at their peak ripeness, you get the fullest flavors. Produce that has to be shipped and distributed to local retailers is picked before it reaches peak freshness.

What makes homemade food better? ›

You eat fewer calories without even realizing it.

Restaurant meals are often heavy on butter and salt, while packaged food is typically loaded with sodium and additives. Dishes made at home, however, tend to be more nutritious and contain fewer calories.

How do you make homemade food taste like restaurant? ›

5 Hacks to make your home food taste like it's from a restaurant
  1. Hack #1: Base gravies all the way!
  2. Hack #2: Cook on a high flame.
  3. Hack #3: Brown your onions, golden brown!
  4. Hack #4: Cook like calories don't count.
  5. Hack #5: Combinations matter and presentation goes a long way!
Nov 7, 2022

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