Think from-scratch cooking is hard or time-consuming? Discover how simple substitutions, a well-stocked pantry, and a few foundational skills make healthy, homemade meals easy, even on busy weeknights.
When I first started cooking as a newlywed, I thought I was cooking from scratch. But if a recipe called for a cake mix or a box of cornbread, and I didn’t have it on hand, I’d hop in the car and drive half an hour (sometimes an hour!) just to pick it up. Back then, I truly believed I couldn’t make those recipes without the box.
One day, when our little town store didn’t carry a vanilla cake mix, the sweet shop owner, Mary, photocopied a recipe for me and said, “Honey, you don’t need a mix to make a cake.”
That was a turning point. I realized from-scratch cooking wasn’t nearly as complicated as I’d been led to believe. It was just a matter of learning the basics.
And here’s the truth: once you learn the foundations, you don’t need to rely on boxes, mixes, or last-minute store runs. You can cook from what you have on hand, save money, and serve healthier, better-tasting meals.
Myth #1: You Need Exact Ingredients for Recipes to Work
One of the biggest myths I believed was that if I didn’t have the exact ingredients, the recipe wouldn’t turn out. Now I know that substitutions not only work, but often taste just as good, sometimes better.
- No sour cream? Use Greek yogurt.
- No whole milk? Add butter to 2% or even nonfat.
- Recipe calls for Bisquick? You can make your own homemade biscuit mix.
Learning substitutions makes you a confident cook and frees you from dependency on the store.
👉 Related: 37 Ingredient Substitutions Every Cook Should Know and DIY Mixes in a Jar
Myth #2: From-Scratch Cooking Takes Too Long
I used to think cooking from scratch meant spending hours in the kitchen. After all, my mom made everything from scratch, and it did take her all day. But when I started making my own replacements for boxed and canned items, I was shocked.
Take condensed soup, for example. For years, I bought those little cans for casseroles and slow cooker recipes. When I cut them out for health reasons, I discovered I could make a homemade cream of soup in four minutes flat. And it tasted better!
👉 Try these: Homemade Cream of Soup Recipes (includes chicken, mushroom, onion, bacon, celery, potato and gluten-free options)
Myth #3: Meal Planning Has to Look the Same for Everyone
For years, I tried to force myself into strict meal planning; writing out every dinner for a month, two weeks, or even one week. It never worked. I always felt stressed if the plan didn’t fit our schedule.
What finally worked? Knowing what protein I had thawed and keeping a well-stocked pantry. With those two things, I can whip up dinner in 30 minutes or less without the stress.
For others, though, like my friend Michelle, detailed meal planning is what makes dinnertime easier. The key is finding what works for you and your family.
👉 Learn more: How to Meal Plan Without the Stress
Myth #4: Leftovers Aren’t Worth Saving
So many people dislike leftovers because they don’t know how to reheat them properly. The microwave often makes food rubbery or soggy, but reheating in a cast iron skillet, toaster oven, air fryer, or Instant Pot can make leftovers taste fresh again.
Cooking once and eating twice (or three times) not only saves time, it creates variety when you use leftovers as building blocks for new meals.
Not to mention, certain foods like rice and potatoes, when refrigerated, create resistant starch that’s actually better for your body and digestion (glycemic response)!
Myth #5: Boxed Foods Are Faster and Easier
From scalloped potatoes to Hamburger Helper, many of us grew up thinking boxed meals were the only way to get dinner on the table quickly. But once you learn the scratch versions, you realize they’re just as fast and far more nourishing.
- Scalloped potatoes are simply real potatoes, cheese, and milk.
- Hamburger Helper? Brown some beef, add spices, pasta, and homemade sauce.
👉 Try this recipe: Homemade Hamburger Helper
The Secret to Making From-Scratch Cooking Easy
The real secret isn’t a set of perfect recipes; it’s having a stocked pantry and knowing how to use those staples in flexible, creative ways.
Whether you thrive on menu planning or prefer to wing it with what’s on hand, foundational cooking skills and a few reliable substitutions make dinnertime stress-free.
If you’d like more help with this, join me for my free live training on September 8th, 2025:
👉 Register here for From-Scratch Cooking Made Easy
We’ll cover what to keep in your pantry, how to make substitutions, and how to avoid the dreaded “5 PM dinner panic.” Plus, I’ll share handouts you’ll only get if you join us live.
