Made with bouillon granules, dried onion, dried garlic, dried navy beans, dried oregano, bay leaves, peppercorns, dried tomatoes, dried celery slices, dried carrot slices
Time: under 30 minutes
Make Ahead Recipes

Have you ever started cooking something and wished you had prepared some of it in advance to save time? Or, have you gone to grab something out of the pantry only to realize you're out of it? Frustrating, right?
That's where these "make ahead" recipes come in handy!
Maybe you like the convenience of having baking or biscuit mix on hand so you can whip up a batch of something quick? The mixes in the store can get expensive and often contain extra ingredients you don't need or want. You can make your own at home for pennies compared to what the commercial versions cost.
Not only are homemade mixes healthier since they don't contain preservatives and the additives manufacturers put in to maintain shelf life, but they'll usually taste a heck of a lot better too.
jump to the recipes
Minestrone Soup Mix
Pumpkin Mini Muffin Mix In A Jar
Made with pumpkin, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, or chopped nuts
Time: under 30 minutes
S'Mores In A Jar
Made with brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolate pieces
Time: under 30 minutes
Making Cream Cheese
Made with salt, milk, butter, liquid lecithin, mesophilic cheese culture, rennet
Method: stovetop
Time: over 5 hours
Muffin Mix
Made with shortening, muffin mix, lemon pudding mix, poppy seeds, lemon peel, milk, egg, vegetable oil, powdered sugar
Method: oven
Time: under 30 minutes
Every day we send out a featured recipe and our editor's favorite picks. Don't miss out!
Rice Pilaf Mix
Made with allspice, garlic powder, curry powder, long grain white rice, dried apples, currants, instant chicken bouillon
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Buttermilk Substitute
Made with lemon juice, whole milk, cream of tartar, white vinegar
Time: under 30 minutes
Jambalaya Mix
Made with crushed red pepper, thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, long-grain rice, onion, green bell pepper flakes, parsley, bay leaf, beef bouillon granules
Time: under 30 minutes
Texas Hot Chocolate Mix
Made with salt, ground allspice, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, cocoa powder, flour, sugar
Time: under 30 minutes
Make Ahead Antipasto
Made with marinated artichoke hearts, carrots, green bell peppers, cauliflower, mushrooms, sweet pickles, celery, black olives, green olives, pickled onions
Method: stovetop
Time: 1-2 hours
Hamad Mraquade (Preserved Lemons)
Made with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, ripe lemons
Time: over 5 hours
Christmas Soup Mix
Made with dried mixed vegetable flakes, dried onion, poultry seasoning, black pepper, garlic powder, water, chicken, mixed vegetables, pasta
Time: under 30 minutes
Mochaccino Mix
Made with powdered chocolate milk mix, powdered creamer, instant coffee granules, ground cinnamon
Time: under 30 minutes
Acapulco Cafe Ole
Made with cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon, sugar, dry milk powder, instant coffee powder, cocoa powder
Time: under 30 minutes
Chewy Coconut-Almond Cookies in a Jar
Made with vanilla extract, egg, coconut, sliced almonds, brown sugar, biscuit baking mix, butter or margarine
Time: under 30 minutes
Winter Bean Soup Mix
Made with garlic powder, cumin, dried yellow split peas, dried green split peas, dried lima beans, dried pinto beans, dried kidney beans, dried Great Northern beans, instant minced...
Time: under 30 minutes
Cinnamon Pancake Mix in a Jar
Made with salt, ground cinnamon, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder
Time: under 30 minutes
Colonial Cornbread Mix (In A Jar)
Made with baking powder, sugar, biscuit, pancake, or waffle mix, cornmeal
Time: under 30 minutes
Jelly Bean Jewels Cookie Mix In A Jar
Made with jelly beans, yellow cake mix, pecans or walnuts, crisped rice cereal
Time: under 30 minutes
Homemade Extracts
Made with navel orange, vanilla beans, brandy, vodka, lemon, water
Time: over 5 hours
Country Soup in a Jar
Made with alphabet pasta, barley, dried split peas, rice, dry lentils, dried minced onion, parsley, salt, lemon pepper, beef bouillon granules
Time: under 30 minutes
Barbecue Chicken Pasta (Freeze Ahead)
Made with celery, water, boneless chicken breast without skins, onion, vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard
Method: oven
Time: 1-2 hours
Not to be confused with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk is very sweet (and very sticky) and used primarily in desserts.
Pizza night is always a favorite, especially when you have great tasting pizza from some of the most popular restaurants.
This Italian cheese is so versatile that it can be used in both sweet and savory recipes from cheesecakes to lasagnas.






































