10 Homemade Mixes That Need to Be in Your Pantry (2024)

10 Mixes That Should Be in Your Pantry

I love making mixes to keep on my pantry shelves! Perhaps I just love looking in the pantry to see the shelves lined with Mason Jars that are telling me I have plenty of food to feed my family.

Here are some of the reasons why dry mixes in my pantry are here to stay.

I love the convenience.

Nothing is better than being able to save time when I need to get a meal on the table. Having mixes on hand allows me to have the convenience of a store-bought mix using my own recipes. When my little ones are looking for something to eat I prefer to be able to make it in the shortest amount of time possible. Mixes can help with that.

I love the ingredients.

Being an allergy family is hard. I no longer shop the middle aisles of the grocery store anymore which means that we basically only stick with produce and meats. When I make my own mixes I get to choose the ingredients so I know they will be a a “safe” food for us. I also know that I can skip the preservatives, dyes, and any of the other additives that I’d rather not have from the store-boxed mixes.

Now on to some of my favorite mixes!

Rice Roni Mix

Rice Roni Mix is one of my favorite mixes to keep on hand. It’s SO easy to put together and it can be used for several different things. I use it as a side dish once in a while but I also love to add it into soups. Here on the website I have a recipe for a plain/chicken version but I also have the variations for Spanish Rice and more in my book.

Breadmaker Mix

Breadmaker Mix is one of the easiest ways to make bread. If you use a bread machine you need to have this mix on hand! Once you have it you will only need to take about 5 minutes (or less) to create a fresh loaf of bread.

Need more bread recipes? Here is a huge list of 50 Bread Recipes From Scratch!

Instant Oatmeal Packets

Breakfast is a meal that we always seem to struggle with. Even if I have a plan laid out, it seems that something always goes awry in the mornings. I like to keep Instant Oatmeal Packets on hand just in case we need a quick, filling breakfast that doesn’t require much thought. You can make them in individual packets or in a bulk mix.

Speaking of oatmeal…have you made thisFrom-Scratch Oatmeal Cream Pie Reicpeyet?

Scone Mix

Scones are another good breakfast treat that can also be an easy snack. Scone Mix is fun to customize with your favorite flavors or try new combos for something different.

Brownie Mix

Let’s talk about dessert. Our family isn’t really dessert people. It’s more of a special treat than it is something that follows a meal. But once in a while when we are looking fr a good dessert I don’t feel like taking much time to prep it. Brownie Mix can be made up ahead of time and stored for when you get that chocolaty craving!

Oatmeal Cookie Mix

Another great dessert that you can have on hand as a mix is Oatmeal Cookie Mix. This is also one of my favorite mixes to give as a gift because it layers nicely in a jar.

Want another cookie mix in a jar? Check out this recipe for Soft Sugar Cookie Mix!

Hamburger Helper Mix

Regular “hamburger helper” mixes from the store are convenient to use but contain way, way too many unnecessary ingredients for me to buy them. Luckily it’s super easy (and cheap!) to make your own Hamburger Helper Mix at home! This recipe is for a plain version but I have several variations in my book if you are interested.

Sugar Doughnut Muffins

This is a fun little mix to have on hand because it’s something that’s a treat but also a little bit out of the ordinary for a mix. Sugar Dough Muffins are easy to make and the mix takes only a few minutes to put together. I’m not sure I would eat these for breakfast since they are pretty sweet but they make a good little dessert or snack.

My favorite doughnut recipe is this one for Yellow Squash Doughnuts. If you haven’t already you need to try them asap!

Ranch Dressing Mix

This is another one of my favorite mix recipes. While it doesn’t make a baked good like most of those above, it’s great for seasoning certain dishes and making a tasty dip for chips or veggies. Either way, Ranch Dressing Mix is something you should have in your pantry!

Lemon Poppyseed Bread Mix

This Lemon Poppyseed Bread Mix is another one of my favorites to give as a gift. It’s a quick bread mix so it sits nicely in a jar but it has teh unexpected twist of being lemon poppyseed. It’s fun and tasty!

You can find even more Mix Recipes here.

Looking for more mixesthat you can make quickly and easily? My book,Little House Living: The Make Your Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self Sufficient Life has over 130 recipes just like these!

What are some of your favorite mixes to make?