by Top Spices Every Kitchen Should Have
My spice cupboard has grown over the years but I remember my surprise when I moved out at 18 and stood in the spice aisle trying to figure out which spices were necessary and which ones were not. This can be a daunting task but I want to help you tackle this problem so you can be in and out with what you need without all the hassle.
This list is great for anyone who is moving away from home for the first time, those newly married, or even someone who is cleaning out their spice cupboard and is trying to figure out what they really need. To come up with our list of Top Spices, I have consulted home cooks, restaurant chefs, and done research to provide you with the most comprehensive list.
If the prices at the grocery store scare you, remember that you can often get many of these spices at your Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or Dollar General. I have been buying my spices this way for years and find for the basic spices they work just as well as their name brand counterparts.
I also have a printable PDF for you at the bottom that you can you print for FREE and take with you when going to the store. This way you don’t have to write down the spices you need. Simply print the list and mark off the ones you already have.
Photo Credit: Flickr
Top Spices for Your Kitchen
- Table Salt
- Black Pepper/Black Peppercorns
- Garlic Powder/Garlic Salt
- Onion Powder/Onion Salt
- Smoked Paprika
- Seasoned Salt
- Cinnamon
- Oregano
- Cayenne
- Chili Powder
- Nutmeg
- Parsley
- Basil
- Thyme
- Allspice
If you are looking to add a few more spices to your spice cupboard these are extra spices that are frequently used in recipes.
- Poultry Seasoning
- Curry Powder
- Dried Rosemary
- Ground Cloves
- Bay Leaves
- Cumin
- Sea Salt and/or Kosher Salt
- Ground Red Pepper Flakes
Photo Credit: Flickr Adams Best
These seasoning blends are great to add flavor to a wide variety of proteins and can save time when cooking.
- Montreal Steak Seasoning
- Italian Seasoning
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Old Bay Seafood Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Chinese Five Spice
If you are stocking up your cupboards,make sure to get these other kitchen essentials.
- White Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Reader suggested spices:
- Tumeric
Now that your kitchen is stocked with the top spices, check out our Recipe Section for meal inspiration.
Click HERE or on the Image below to downloadyour FREE Printable Top Spices Checklist.
Facebook Comments
This is a great list! I have all those spices except for basil because I don’t like it. As for the others, it’s great to have powdered sugar on hand but if I don’t use it all up after opening it goes bad.
I have every spice you listed! Yay! I also suggest tumeric. It is usually used in Indian cooking, but you can also add it to too. It has amazing health benefits.
That is a good one. Adding it to the post now.