How to Start Cooking from Scratch at Home: Easy, Wholesome Recipes
Cooking from scratch at home is one of the simplest ways to serve healthy, wholesome meals without relying on boxed mixes or processed foods. It’s about using simple, real ingredients to create meals your family will love. Whether you’re baking bread, simmering a homemade soup, or whipping up a pantry staple, scratch cooking helps you eat healthier, reduce waste, and save money.
This page is your gateway to making wholesome food at home with confidence. Explore our best from-scratch recipes and resources, broken down by category so you can easily find what you need. Whether you’re a beginner or just looking for fresh ideas, you’ll find inspiration here for every meal.
Explore our subcategories below to dive into each area of scratch cooking.
This post contains affiliate links. This will not cost you anything but will help us to offset the cost of running the blog. We only share products we use and would recommend to a friend. Thank you for your support! Click ‘HERE’ for more info.
What is Cooking from Scratch? Real Food Explained
Cooking from scratch means preparing meals with basic, whole ingredients—think flour, eggs, fresh vegetables, butter, and herbs—instead of using boxed mixes or pre-made components. It’s the opposite of convenience cooking.
You’re in control of what goes into your food, from the type of fat you cook with to how much salt or sugar is used. Whether you’re baking bread, simmering soup, or mixing your own seasonings, scratch cooking is about making real food, often with fewer additives and preservatives.
It may take a bit more time, but the payoff is healthier, more flavorful meals and a deeper connection to what you’re feeding your family.
Why Cook from Scratch: Benefits for Health and Budget
There’s nothing like a home-cooked dinner made from simple, healthy ingredients. These from-scratch meals are hearty, comforting, and perfect for feeding your family on busy weeknights or special occasions. From soups and bakes to classic pot pies and roasts, these recipes bring real food to your table.
Not only is cooking from scratch healthier than buying prepackaged meals or eating out, but it is a huge money-saver too. You pay for convenience in today’s world, so things perceived to be easier will be more expensive.
Making homemade meals goes hand in hand with homesteading and natural living. Learning to cook real food recipes isn’t difficult if that is your goal. Start small and you’ll soon be self-sufficient in cooking and providing healthy, cost-effective meals for your family.
Homemade Desserts Made from Scratch
Looking for something sweet? Learn How to Make Desserts from Scratch at Home in our guide for wholesome treats made the old-fashioned way. From pies and crumbles to chess cake and cheesecake bars, we have something that everyone will love.
While we’ve only included a taste here, these featured recipes give you a glimpse into the kind of simple, satisfying desserts you can make with pantry staples and seasonal ingredients. Head over to our desserts page and dig into our timeless favorites, and helpful tips for making homemade desserts.
- Chess Cake – Ooey Gooey Cake – Rich, buttery, ooey gooey cake with a crisp top and soft center.
- Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crumble Top – Creamy pumpkin pie topped with a sweet, crunchy pecan crumble.
- Easy Raspberry Crumble – Juicy raspberries baked under a crisp, buttery crumble—simple and delicious!
Pantry Staples and Mixes
Skip the store-bought packets, boxes, and jars—making your own seasonings and dry mixes is simple, budget-friendly, and far more flavorful. These recipes show you how to whip up your own taco seasoning, spice blends, and pantry staples with ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Taco Seasoning – Homemade taco seasoning made simple and flavorful!
- Pumpkin Spice Seasoning – A warm, cozy blend of spices you can mix at home in minutes.
- How to Make Brown Sugar – Mix white sugar and molasses for a quick homemade substitute.
Homemade Breads & Baking
Homemade breads, including yeast breads, quick breads, and sourdough, not to mention biscuits and muffins, have gained popularity in the last couple of years. We’re excited to expand on this topic with easy and delicious recipes that will help you make more of your meals from scratch. Here are our favorite Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins and Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread recipes to get you started.
Comfort Foods and Classic Recipes
Let’s get back to the classic comfort foods that your grandma used to make! These recipes warmed the kitchens of past generations, and I love making them in mine. These are some of my family’s favorite recipes because they are homey, hearty, and delicious.
Learning how to make classic recipes from scratch has been one of my favorite things to do as a homemaker, and I’m excited to be able to pass these traditional skills on to my kids! Grab these traditional casseroles, roasts, and soups to add to your recipe arsenal.
- Chicken Pot Pie – Classic comfort food with tender chicken, veggies, and a flaky crust.
- Traditional Steak Pasty – A hearty, handheld meat pie filled with steak, potatoes, and root vegetables.
- Prime Rib Roast – Juicy, flavorful roast perfect for holidays or special gatherings.
- How to Cook a Whole Frozen Chicken in an Instant Pot – Fast, no-thaw method for getting a whole chicken on the table quickly.
- Minestrone Soup – Hearty vegetable soup with beans, pasta, and rich tomato broth.
More Homemade Recipes to Try From Scratch
- Penne Pasta Bake – Cheesy, hearty, and perfect for a quick family dinner.
- Taco Bake – A layered, oven-baked twist on taco night.
- Crockpot Taco Chili – Easy slow cooker chili with bold taco flavor.
- Hot Pockets – Homemade, freezer-friendly pockets for easy meals.
- How to Roast a Pumpkin – Step-by-step guide to roast fresh pumpkin at home.
- Flour Tortillas – Soft, homemade tortillas with just a few ingredients.
- Pickled Red Onions – Quick, tangy topping for tacos, bowls, and more.
- Peach Salsa – Sweet, spicy, and fresh — great with chips or grilled meats.
Is Cooking from Scratch Cheaper or More Expensive?
It might feel that way at first, especially if you’re starting with a nearly empty pantry. But over time, cooking from scratch is often much more affordable than relying on packaged meals or eating out.
When you buy basic ingredients like flour, oats, rice, and dried beans, you’re paying for the food, not the packaging, processing, or brand name. Those simple staples stretch far and can be used in countless meals.
You’ll also save money by avoiding waste. Leftover roasted chicken becomes soup. Extra veggies get tucked into casseroles or baked into muffins. From-scratch cooking helps you use what you have more creatively.
Buying in bulk, preserving seasonal produce, and making your own mixes (like taco seasoning or pancake mix) are all ways to cut grocery costs. Homemade doesn’t just taste better—it keeps more money in your pocket, too.
Essential Tools for Scratch Cooking
We’ll just stick to the basics here and include some of our favorite essential tools for the kitchen. There are always more gadgets to add that can make cooking from scratch a little easier, but starting with the must-haves is far less overwhelming.
For everyday baking and casseroles, glass casserole dishes are a versatile and non-toxic alternative to coated pans. They’re ideal for everything from pasta bakes to roasting vegetables, and they won’t leach chemicals into your food.
Cast iron skillets are a true homestead staple. They’re naturally nonstick when seasoned properly, last a lifetime, and add a rich depth of flavor to everything from cornbread to roasted meats. A cast iron sheet pan is also a great addition — perfect for high-heat roasting and baking without the worry of flaking nonstick coatings. It gives vegetables and meats a crisp, even finish and is nearly indestructible.
Other essentials include a wooden cutting board (more sustainable and gentler on your knives), a stainless steel mixing bowl set or glass mixing bowl set, a sturdy pie pan for homemade desserts and pot pies, a set of measuring cups and spoons for dry ingredients, and a liquid measuring cups — both are essential for accurate, consistent cooking and baking.
You don’t need a lot to cook from scratch — just a few well-chosen, durable tools that you’ll use again and again.
Ready to Start Cooking from Scratch?
Cooking from scratch is all about using simple, wholesome ingredients to create nourishing meals your family will love. From comforting classics to homemade pantry staples and desserts, everything you need to get started is right here.
Explore each section below—whether you’re baking bread, whipping up your own spice blends, or mastering hearty comfort foods. Each category is filled with approachable recipes and helpful tips to support your scratch-cooking journey.
- From Scratch Desserts
- Pantry Staples & Mixes – coming soon
- Homemade Breads & Baking – coming soon
- Comfort Foods & Classic Recipes – coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking from Scratch
Got questions about making meals from scratch? This section covers common concerns—from ingredient swaps and pantry prep to how to get started without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re new to this or looking to deepen your skills, these answers will help you feel more confident in the kitchen.
Not at all. Start with basic tools like a cutting board, mixing bowls, a cast iron skillet, a casserole dish, and measuring cups. A good knife and a few baking pans go a long way.
Batch cooking, meal planning, and keeping pantry staples on hand can make scratch cooking faster and easier. It’s okay to start small—choose one meal a day or prep on weekends until it becomes a habit.
Yes! You control what goes into your food—less added sugar, sodium, and preservatives. It’s easier to use whole grains, healthy fats, and fresh vegetables when you’re cooking at home.
Start by replacing one store-bought item at a time—like taco seasoning, pancake mix, or salad dressing. Involve your kids in the kitchen, and slowly introduce homemade versions of their favorite meals.
Stock your pantry with flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, beans, pasta, rice, canned tomatoes, and dried herbs. Eggs, butter, milk, and cheese are also key staples for scratch cooking.
