This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

essential grocery list

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Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life, so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

grocery list iPad
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Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!

Fresh Produce

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Strawberries
  • Avocados
  • Bell Peppers
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Garlic
  • Lemons/Limes
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Cilantro
  • Basil
  • Potatoes
  • Spinach
  • Tomatoes

GRAINS

MEAT/PROTEIN

DAIRY

  • Butter
  • Sliced Cheese
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Milk
  • Sour Cream
  • Greek Yogurt

BAKING GOODS

  • Baking powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Brown Sugar
  • Flour
  • Honey
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Dry Yeast
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Powdered Sugar

FREEZER

  • Fruit and Berries
  • Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
  • Juice Concentrate
  • Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
  • Pie Crust
  • Cookie Dough

CANNED/DRIED GOODS

  • Chicken stock/broth
  • Salsa
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Jam/Jelly
  • Peanut Butter
  • Pasta Sauce
  • Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
  • Soups
  • Tuna
  • Green Chiles
  • Canned Veggies
  • Coffee or Tea

Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods

CONDIMENTS/SPICES

  • Black Pepper
  • Chili Powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Cumin
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Mayo
  • Nutmeg
  • Paprika
  • Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
  • Soy Sauce
  • Steak Sauce
  • Hot Sauce/Buffalo Sauce
  • Salad Dressings

OILS/VINEGARS

  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Coconut Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Vegetable/Canola Oil
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • White Vinegar
  • Cooking Wine
  • White Wine Vinegar

SNACKS

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!

Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!

I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!

Stock Your Kitchen

Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

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22 Comments
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LaMaya Newsome
LaMaya Newsome
January 19, 2024 6:13 pm

As a college student trying to learn how to cook this is AMAZING. Thank you

Lois Wisler
Lois Wisler
January 14, 2024 1:53 pm

Thank you so much for this grocery list! It helped me to remember a lot of things I need!
Greatly appreciated 🍽

Samantha Marceau
January 15, 2024 8:45 am
Reply to  Lois Wisler

We’re so happy to hear you found it helpful, Lois!

Joseph
Joseph
October 4, 2023 6:37 pm

Is there a mobile workable list like this?

GROCERY CHENNAI
GROCERY CHENNAI
June 9, 2023 8:01 am

I am a Designer from India
I will make use of this list for my grocery list

Onelia borges
Onelia borges
April 29, 2023 12:28 pm

Hi Cookie Rookie! Looking at this list for the first time and I love it. Will print it and will suggest to my friends to look at it.

Samantha Marceau
May 1, 2023 9:37 am
Reply to  Onelia borges

We’re so happy to hear you found it helpful, Onelia!

Katlyn Baker Colorado
Katlyn Baker Colorado
March 7, 2023 10:28 am

Thanks so much. My mom is out of town and it’s just my dad and I and my dad doesn’t know how to cook. I was really struggling with what we need so this helped a lot considering we are on keto.

Carl
Carl
January 3, 2023 9:33 pm

Dairy is categorised as grains on the printable

Screenshot_20230104_043240_org.mozilla.firefox.png
Samantha Marceau
January 4, 2023 10:49 am
Reply to  Carl

Thanks so much for pointing that out. New version just added :)

Lois
Lois
January 3, 2023 8:56 pm

Love the list! FYI, the printable has Grains listed twice. Should be Dairy. :-)

Samantha Marceau
January 4, 2023 9:16 am
Reply to  Lois

Thanks for pointing that out! We will get it updated asap!

Brandon
Brandon
October 19, 2022 12:48 pm

These are great lists! I use the Cooklist app to track what I have to make putting together my grocery list much easier

Caz
Caz
May 30, 2022 7:32 am

Looks great, just wish I had the money to buy it 😔