Grocery Basics

The list I shop from most weeks, and the swaps that save dinner when something is missing. Tick things off as you go.

The everyday list

These are the things I keep on hand year round. Buy the ones your household actually eats and ignore the rest, this is a starting point and not a rulebook.

Proteins

  • Chicken breast or thighs
  • Ground chicken, turkey or beef
  • Eggs
  • Bacon or breakfast sausage
  • Canned tuna or rotisserie chicken for the week you have nothing left

Produce

  • Onions
  • Bell peppers
  • Garlic
  • Lemons or limes
  • Bagged salad or spinach
  • Whatever fruit is in season and cheap that week

Dairy and cold

  • Milk of choice
  • Plain Greek yogurt
  • Cottage cheese
  • Shredded cheese
  • Butter
  • Tortillas

Pantry

  • Rice
  • Short pasta
  • Oats
  • Chicken broth
  • Canned beans
  • Canned tomatoes or salsa
  • Olive oil

Freezer

  • Frozen vegetables
  • Frozen fruit for smoothies and oats
  • One bag of something you can bake straight from frozen on a bad night

Flavor

  • Salt and pepper
  • Garlic powder, onion powder
  • Smoked paprika
  • Chili powder and cumin
  • Italian seasoning
  • Ranch, buffalo sauce, soy sauce

How to build the cart

Start with two proteins for the week, not five. Pick one you will cook in a big batch and one for a single meal.

Then add the produce and dairy that go with them. Then check your pantry and only replace what has actually run out, which is where most of the overspending happens.

Everything after that is flavor. A new sauce or spice blend costs a few dollars and does more for variety than another cut of meat.

Swap it

Out of something? These get you through.

  • No Greek yogurt: sour cream, or blended cottage cheese
  • No buttermilk: milk with a splash of lemon juice, rested five minutes
  • No fresh garlic: garlic powder, roughly a quarter teaspoon per clove
  • No broth: water plus a bouillon cube, or water plus a little soy sauce
  • No heavy cream in a sauce: milk with a spoonful of cream cheese stirred in
  • No breadcrumbs: crushed crackers, cornflakes or pretzels
  • No taco seasoning: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt
  • No fresh herbs: use a third as much dried, and add them earlier in the cooking
  • No brown sugar: white sugar with a teaspoon of molasses or honey
  • No buns or tortillas: serve it as a bowl over rice and call it done