22 Better-Than-Store-Bought Recipes

better-than-store-bought recipes

While store-bought goods are always convenient, there’s nothing like homemade. The love and time put into recipes always makes the food taste better. Let’s ditch those store-bought foods and switch to these homemade versions instead!

Homemade Cheesy Italian Hamburger Helper

Homemade Cheesy Italian Hamburger Helper

“This is so much better than the stuff out of the box. You can taste all of the flavors and can modify it to your own liking.” - Kim
Homemade Croutons

Homemade Croutons

“I’m going to show you How to Make Homemade Croutons! Homemade Croutons will take a salad from average to extraordinary!” - Paula
Homemade Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Homemade Creamy Alfredo Sauce

“Holy cow this was good! All five of my kids loved it. So easy!! I just put the cream cheese, butter and parm chz (the cheap dried kind) in a lidded pan on low until melted, then whisked it and added the milk. Creamy, smooth and flavorful! Simmered chicken and broccoli in the sauce until cooked then spooned it over penne pasta. The kids are asking me to make this every week. Hubby’s not home yet but I have no doubt he will want to take leftovers to work for lunch tomorrow. Many thanks for this recipe!” - Anne
Skinny Pizza Rolls

Skinny Pizza Rolls

“I finally made these after waiting so long!! As you can see from the picture I added, my boyfriend tried to make his really look like the frozen pizza rolls, he kept calling mine pizza rangoons. It was fun and very tasty!!” - Ashley
Restaurant Style Salsa

Restaurant Style Salsa

“A quick, easy, tasty and healthy homemade pantry fire roasted tomato salsa (aka restaurant style salsa).” - Kevin
The BEST Chicken Pot Pie Ever!

The BEST Chicken Pot Pie Ever!

“I made this and it was spectacular! Looked impressive and tasted just yummy! Super comfort food!” - Robin
Chicken Taquitos

Chicken Taquitos

“These taquitos are delicious and simple to prepare. All the ingredients come together for a fiesta in your mouth! The recipe makes a large batch which makes them great for game day or if you're having a crowd over. You'll never want to buy them frozen from the store again.” - Kitchen Crew
Roast Sticky Chicken Rotisserie Style Like the Deli

Roast Sticky Chicken Rotisserie Style Like the Deli

“I made this for the second time just last night. My whole family thought this was the BEST roast chicken they'd EVER had! Even better than store bought, which I have always thought were too fatty anyways!” - Samantha
Carol's Cinnamon Rolls

Carol's Cinnamon Rolls

“My husband loves cinnamon rolls. I wanted something that tastes like cinnamon rolls that can be purchased at the mall so I began playing around and came up with these. We love them.” - Carol
Sloppy Joe Mix

Sloppy Joe Mix

“Absolutely the best Sloppy Joe I have ever had. This recipe is a keeper!” - Carol
Pennsylvania Dutch Soft Pretzels

Pennsylvania Dutch Soft Pretzels

“Don't let the pretzel making process intimidate you. It's easy and they turn out delicious. They are a soft baked pretzel and while the shape may not be perfect, but they're fun to make. The pretzels bake until slightly crisp on the outside while staying soft and chewy on the inside. Serve with a little German mustard or nacho cheese for a yummy game day snack.” - Kitchen Crew
Never Fail Homemade Mayonnaise

Never Fail Homemade Mayonnaise

“You’ll be surprised to find out mayonnaise is quick and easy to make at home. A handful of ingredients, probably already in the pantry, whip up the most delicious, silky mayonnaise. This no-fail recipe is going to become a fridge staple.” - Kitchen Crew
Low Carb/Gluten Free Cauliflower Pizza

Low Carb/Gluten Free Cauliflower Pizza

“Trying to find low carb/gluten free recipes that taste really good has been a challenge. I often think that because something is "healthy" for you, people think it has to taste bad. SOOO NOT TRUE with this pizza. To say I love this pizza would be an understatement. My son, who HATES cauliflower, steals my pieces when I'm not looking. And my skeptic husband, well.....let's just say this is on the menu for dinner tonight... AGAIN!” - Laura
Incredible Caramel Corn

Incredible Caramel Corn

“This is absolutely the best tasting Carmel corn I have ever made. It makes so much I shared it with a family of 7. They went crazy over it.” - Carol
Homemade Peanut Butter

Homemade Peanut Butter

“An easy how to guide to making basic, creamy Homemade Peanut Butter. This Homemade Peanut Butter is perfect by itself, in cookies, breads and bars.” - Paula
Homemade Ranch Dressing

Homemade Ranch Dressing

“Whether drizzled on a salad or served in a bowl alongside fresh veggies or Buffalo wings, this super easy homemade ranch dressing is going to become a staple in your kitchen.” - Kitchen Crew
Homemade Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Homemade Chocolate Covered Strawberries

“Chocolate covered strawberries are delicious all year long but become very popular (and expensive) around a holiday. But with just three ingredients, they are easy to make at home.” - Kitchen Crew
Easter Cake Pops

Easter Cake Pops

“I made these last weekend with my nieces. We had so much fun. They were fun to make and turned out adorable. I used a yellow cake mix and vanilla frosting, but you could use any combination that sounds appealing.” - Nadine
Deep Fried Onion Rings With Dipping Sauce

Deep Fried Onion Rings With Dipping Sauce

“These homemade onion rings are better than anything you'd find in the frozen food aisle. Fried until golden brown, they are delicious. The onions are warm and sweet with a fantastic crunch from the Panko. Creamy, tangy and spicy, the dipping sauce is the perfect complement.” - Kitchen Crew
Tartar Sauce Recipe

Tartar Sauce Recipe

“If you've never made homemade tartar sauce, then you're missing out. Making tartar sauce only takes 5-10 minutes and offers a real pop of freshness. This tartar sauce recipe is creamy, tangy, and bursting with flavor. If you're looking to make this a vegan tartar sauce, swap out regular mayonnaise for a vegan mayo. Don't just serve this with seafood. Try it alongside chicken strips, steak fries, grilled veggies or use it as a dipping sauce for fresh veggies. It's very versatile!” - Kitchen Crew
Crock Pot Apple Butter

Crock Pot Apple Butter

“Love, love, LOVE this recipe. I just made a batch less than a month ago, and co workers and family are asking for more already!” - Shannon
Buttermilk Biscuits n Sausage Gravy

Buttermilk Biscuits n Sausage Gravy

“While you can just make biscuits from a box mix, it is so easy and economical to make them from scratch. Once you get the hang of it, you need never use a box mix again. You can even whisk your dry ingredients together and bag it up ahead of time, to save time later.” - Linda