When you really think about it, there exists a plethora of condiments out there that we use to make our food taste absolutely delectable, but where do you get all your condiments from? The grocery store? Have you ever actually had a look at the ingredients on the back of the store-bought stuff? It’s full of preservatives, additives and other mysteriously unpronounceable ingredients that really look like they shouldn’t be in there. When you want something as simple as a honey and mustard dressing or a basic BBQ spice rub, the ingredient list really should not take up the entire bottle.

What many people don’t realize is that it’s actually ridiculously easy to make these staples from scratch. Not only does this save you money and a trip down to the store, but it gives you complete control over what goes in. Is your favorite blue cheese dressing a bit too pungent? Well you can make your own and use less cheese. Can’t find a mild enough sweet chili sauce for your sensitive taste buds? Well now you can make your own with fewer chilies than normal. See where I’m going with this?

Salad Dressings

Balsamic Shallot Vinaigrette

This recipe is a timeless classic that you can whip up quickly for absolutely any type of salad. If you can, really try to use avocado oil instead of regular olive oil because it just gives it that little something extra. And if you’re looking for a hint of sweetness, add a small dollop of honey.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PeaceLoveAndLowCarb

Creamy Avocado Dressing

I have always maintained that an avo a day keeps the doctor away, and I will stand by my words! The fruit—more specifically, berry(!)—is full of potassium and good fats, and of course, it tastes delicious! This creamy dressing is a great addition to any salad, taco or chicken meal.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – NoshMyWay

French Dressing

I love this sweet-yet-tangy French dressing, and it’s one of those that kids seem to like too. What’s also great is that you’re more than likely to have all the ingredients in your hoe already, so you can make this in a flash at any time.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – LittleDairyOnThePrairie

Smokey Tomato Vinaigrette

This recipe is both vegan and gluten-free, and the thing that really gives it that edge is the addition of liquid smoke. It gives it a fantastically delicious smokey taste that’s almost a bit bacon-y in flavor. I’d definitely try this on pasta, too!

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TastyYummies

Blue Cheese Dressing

Blue cheese is one of my all-time favorite types of cheese, so this is something that I make a lot – although I add in more cheese than the recipe suggests. Not only is this rich, creamy dressing great on a salad, but it also makes a fantastic dip for Buffalo wings, French fries, chips… you name it!

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TasteOfHome

Bacon Ranch Dressing

Everyone loves a good ranch dressing, right? It’s great for salads or as a dip for practically anything, in my opinion. So what can make it even better? Bacon. Always. Add. Bacon. You can keep this is the fridge for about one to two weeks in a sealed, air-tight container.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PeaceLoveAndLowCarb

Lemon Vanilla Dressing

I felt a bit dubious when I first read this recipe; I mean, lemon and vanilla? It just sounds weird. But after some digging around, it seems that a lot of people have been pleasantly surprised with their homemade batches, so now I’m itching to try it myself. The recipe calls for a specific type of vanilla bean paste, but if you struggle to find it, just replace it with one vanilla pod (split open and seeds scraped out).

Recipe Instructions and Credit – ShockinglyDelicious

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Honey and mustard is another classic combination in the food world, so you know this one is going to turn out well. Just make sure to use a good quality mustard and one that isn’t too strong so that it doesn’t overpower the other flavors. This also makes a delicious marinade.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PremeditatedLeftovers

Miso Sesame Ginger Dressing

This dressing is fantastic for a little bit of Asian inspiration, and the main ingredients are really, really good for you. The miso gives it a nice nutty flavor – combine that with the other strong flavors and you get a taste explosion! It lasts quite long in the fridge (about a month) and also tastes great on a good stir fry.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – BowlOfDelicious

Basil Honey Dressing

The thing that I really love about this recipe is that it is so very simple (just four ingredients), yet it really packs a punch in terms of flavor. I grow my own basil so I’m always looking for new ways to use it, and this versatile dressing is the way to go! You can even drizzle it on a quiche, fish or anything that needs a bit of a pick-me-up.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – ShockinglyDelicious

Thousand Island Dressing

Thousand Island dressing is one of those staple sauces that helps you get your kids to eat their salad, so why aren’t you making your own yet? This also adds a great depth of flavor to homemade burgers – both beef and chicken.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TheBlackPeppercorn

Raspberry Vinaigrette

If you’re looking for something fresh with the perfect mix of sweet and sour then you absolutely have to try this dressing. Although the recipe calls for canola oil, I recommend that you use extra virgin olive oil instead. This dressing pairs best with an arugula (aka rocket) or baby spinach and strawberry salad.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – Food

Spicy Mango Vinaigrette

I adore mangoes! They’re sweet, fresh, summery and tangy, and that’s why you should blend them up and pour them over your salads. The addition of jalapeños gives this dressing that nice little kick that it needs for a perfect marriage of sweet and spicy.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – HappyHealthnut

Seasonings / Herb and Spice Mixes

BBQ Rub

Everyone needs a good barbecue dry rub – one of those dependable mixes that can be used on literally any and all types of meat… This is the one.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – StoneGable

Blackened Seasoning

Blackened seasoning, also known as Cajun spice, has a nice spicy twang that is delicious on practically any type of meat, from steak to poultry to seafood.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PeaceLoveAndLowCarb

Ranch Seasoning

Everyone loves ranch dressing right, so I couldn’t give you the homemade dressing recipe without following it up with a homemade seasoning recipe! You can turn this into a dip or simply sprinkle it over your chicken as-is.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – GimmeSomeOven

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Are you from Jamaica? Because Jamaican me crazy! (I just couldn’t help myself…. Sorry.) This particular jerk spice mix is the only way to go if you love those Caribbean flavors.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – InspirationKitchen

Italian Seasoning Mix

This is a staple ingredient to any Italian dish, but of course, this fragrant herb blend can be used on just about anything! And if you have your own herb garden you can really make this from scratch by drying out your pickings.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – Bell’alimento

Poultry Seasoning

This mix is the perfect rub for any kind of poultry; you can rub it on your chicken breasts or drumsticks before cooking, or stuff it under the skin if you’re making a roast chicken.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TheYummyLife

Dry Onion Soup Mix

A lot of people actually use store-bought onion soup powder as a seasoning in mincemeat when making burger patties, but as we now know, it contains a whole lot of other nasty additives. Rather make your own delicious mix like this one to really elevate the taste.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PeaceLoveAndLowCarb

Seasoned Salt

Seasoned (or seasoning) salt should be a staple in your kitchen since you can sprinkle it on nearly anything from meats to veggies to crispy potato wedges. Seriously, you won’t stop the sprinkling once you try this.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – EatAtHomeCooks

Taco Seasoning

Next time you decide to make tacos, toss that processed seasoning that comes free in the box of tacos and make your own version! Your meat will tastier and healthier.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TheHumbledHomemaker

Pumpkin Spice

As soon as fall comes around we all turn pumpkin-spice crazy; so instead of going to Starbucks for your daily pumpkin spice latte, make your own spice mix to enjoy anytime.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TheKitchn

Chili Seasoning

Whether you’re making a nice steamy hot bowl of chili, a chili dog, or just want to add a bit of a kick to any meal, a good chili mix is the way to do it. It’s simple, it’s quick and, most importantly, it doesn’t come from a packet.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – FiveHeartHome

Cowboy Spice Mix

This is, apparently, the perfect steak rub so I’m pretty excited to try it out myself. What makes it so delicious? You get smokey heat from the chili and cayenne which is soothed by the sweetness of the sugar, and finished off with a hint of coffee.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – MissInformation

Sausage Seasoning

You may find that you stop buying sausages altogether once you have this magnificent homemade sausage seasoning mix! It’ll really elevate the flavor of ground pork, but will definitely work with any type of meat.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – Jen’sGonePaleo

Sauces

Ketchup

Ketchup is without a doubt one of the most popular condiments out there, so it’s actually strange that more people don’t make their own. Skip the Heinz and blow your family away with your homemade version. It’s quick to make, but try to let this sit in the fridge overnight before serving.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – SimplyScratch

Mayonnaise

Homemade mayo seems to have a reputation for being difficult to make, and I’m really not sure why; it’s actually really simple and you only need four ingredients. Once you’re comfortable with this basic recipe, you can add some Dijon mustard or roasted garlic for some extra flavor.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – MyHumbleKitchen

Sriracha/Hot Sauce

If you can’t stand the heat then stay out of the kitchen, right? Well I, for one, can’t stand the heat, but for those of you who love burning mouths, here’s a homemade hot sauce that you shouldn’t hesitate to make.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – Evermine

Mustard

I’ve honestly never even considered making my mustard, but now that I see how simple the process actually is, I’m getting rather giddy! You’ll be able to keep this in the fridge for a good three to four weeks before it spoils.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – WonkyWonderful

Taco Sauce

You’ve got your homemade taco seasoning so you might as well go all the way and make your own roasted tomato taco sauce. This one is relatively mild so if you like more heat, just add some chili peppers or cayenne.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – VegWithAnEdge

Sweet Chili Sauce

Everyone has a bottle of sweet chili sauce in their fridge, but have you actually ever thought of making your very own homemade version? You only need a few basic ingredients to make this simple yet much-loved sauce.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PlanningWithKids

Olive Tapenade

Olive tapenade is honestly one of my favorite things in the world. Apart from butter and cheese, there isn’t anything else I want on my freshly-baked bread other than olive tapenade. Thankfully, it’s really easy to make a delicious batch yourself. (Some may not technically consider this a sauce, but I just had to put it up here!)

Recipe Instructions and Credit – TalesOfAKitchen

Tartar Sauce

If you have some lovely fresh fish or crab cakes coming up, then you simply have to accompany it with a delicious homemade tartar sauce. And now that you know how to make your own mayo, you can use that for your base; so you’ve truly made it all from scratch!

Recipe Instructions and Credit – Mom…What’sForDinner

Teriyaki Sauce

There’s nothing like a sweet, thick, gooey teriyaki sauce to go with your salmon or Asian-inspired dish. This Japanese goodness is so easy to make, and you can store it in your fridge for up to three weeks (although I doubt I’ll have any leftover).

Recipe Instructions and Credit – UrbanBaker

Salsa

If you want an easy, quick and delicious salsa recipe then this should definitely be your go-to. It’s perfect as a chip dip on its own, but will also go great with ground meat or some shredded beef.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – DreamALittleBigger

BBQ Sauce

A good barbeque sauce should be sticky, salty, sweet, smokey and bold. That’s not too much to ask, is it? This recipe delivers exactly that: a robust sauce that you can use on absolutely any type or cut of meat, as a marinade, glaze, dipping sauce, basting sauce or pizza sauce.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – MyHumbleKitchen

Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce may not be that easy to say, but it’s actually really easy to make! You’ll be able to store this for quite some time so that you can enjoy it on your meats, stir fries, scrambled eggs etc.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – LittleHouseLiving

Avocado Salsa Verde

This salsa made from roasted tomatillos is an absolute winner when served with nachos, tacos or any type of Mexican cuisine. The tang that the tomatillos bring is what makes it so delicious, but if you’re looking for a way to enhance this classic then you’ll absolutely adore the addition of avocado.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – PeaceLoveAndLowCarb

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sweet and sour sauce is a classic staple in many Asian dishes, and this easy-to-make sauce is perfectly balanced for any meal. Whether you’re making stir fry, noodles or simply sautéing chicken, this sweet yet savory and bitter sauce won’t disappoint.

Recipe Instructions and Credit – LittleHouseLiving