QUICK ANSWER
The ingredients our 1,676 recipes buy most are garlic (868 recipes), chicken or vegetable broth (350) and lemon (341), followed by onions, limes, cilantro, carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggs and Greek yogurt. Add salt, pepper and olive oil, which nearly every recipe uses.
How we built this list.
Most “basic grocery lists” are someone’s opinion. This one is a count. For every recipe in the MealPot library we read the standard version’s ingredient list. Then we counted how many recipes use each ingredient, merging singular and plural (“lemon” and “lemons”). Each ingredient below shows that count. Pantry seasonings that recipes assume you already have are counted separately, and the full set is on the pantry staples list.
The library leans toward fresh weeknight dinners: salads, bowls, pasta, sheet-pan meals. That’s why garlic, citrus and fresh herbs rank above packaged foods.
Basic grocery list, by aisle.
The 40 ingredients recipes buy most, plus the 12 most-used pantry basics. The small number is how many of the 1,676 recipes use each one.
Basic grocery list
Produce
- Garlic868 recipes
- Lemon341 recipes
- Yellow onion284 recipes
- Lime281 recipes
- Cilantro263 recipes
- Red onion244 recipes
- Carrot225 recipes
- English cucumber218 recipes
- Red bell pepper213 recipes
- Shallot211 recipes
- Grape tomatoes210 recipes
- Ginger root206 recipes
- Avocado204 recipes
- Green onions (scallions)204 recipes
- Italian (flat-leaf) parsley195 recipes
- Tomato189 recipes
- Baby spinach164 recipes
- Fresh basil150 recipes
- Celery132 recipes
- Zucchini squash131 recipes
- Jalapeño pepper110 recipes
- Baby arugula97 recipes
- Yellow bell pepper84 recipes
- Spring mix (mixed greens)83 recipes
- Kale82 recipes
- Asparagus77 recipes
Meat & seafood
- Chicken breasts (boneless skinless)152 recipes
- Striploin (new york strip) steak86 recipes
- Chicken thighs (boneless skinless)84 recipes
- Lean ground beef84 recipes
Dairy & eggs
- Eggs192 recipes
- Plain greek yogurt185 recipes
- Parmesan cheese162 recipes
- Crumbled feta cheese128 recipes
- Cheddar cheese82 recipes
Bread & bakery
- Whole grain buns or rolls85 recipes
Pantry, canned & dry
- Chicken or vegetable broth350 recipes
- Basmati rice100 recipes
- Diced tomatoes87 recipes
- Kalamata olives (pitted)81 recipes
- Salt1522 recipes
- Black pepper1272 recipes
- Extra virgin olive oil1044 recipes
- Dijon mustard271 recipes
- Honey257 recipes
- Virgin coconut oil251 recipes
- Garlic powder231 recipes
- Cumin (ground)228 recipes
- Soy sauce221 recipes
- Crushed red pepper209 recipes
- Mayonnaise176 recipes
- Chili powder173 recipes
getmealpot.com/basic-grocery-list/ · Let MealPot write this list for you from your week’s recipes.
First apartment grocery list, priced.
Stocking a first kitchen? These 16 items make breakfasts, packed lunches and simple dinners for a week. All are store-brand or common-brand products at prices we recorded on walmart.com on 25 September 2026. Prices change and vary by store.
| Item | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cage-Free Large White Eggs | Great Value Cage-Free Large White Eggs, 12 Count | $1.67 |
| Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts | Great Value Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, 3 lb (Frozen) | $9.47 |
| Long Grain Enriched Rice | Great Value Long Grain Enriched Rice, 32 oz | $1.77 |
| Rotini | Great Value Rotini, 16 oz | $1.24 |
| Black Beans | Great Value Black Beans, 15 oz | $0.92 |
| Garbanzos Chick Peas | Great Value Garbanzos Chick Peas, 15.5 oz | $0.92 |
| Whole Kernel Corn | Great Value Whole Kernel Corn, 15.25 oz | $0.82 |
| Thick and Chunky Salsa Medium | Great Value Thick and Chunky Salsa Medium, 16 oz | $1.97 |
| Sharp Cheddar Shredded | Great Value Sharp Cheddar Shredded, 8 oz | $1.97 |
| Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt | Great Value Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt, 32 oz | $3.28 |
| Organic Baby Spinach | Marketside Organic Baby Spinach, 5 oz | $3.14 |
| Red Onion | Fresh Red Onion, each | $0.85 |
| Yellow Lemon | Fresh Yellow Lemon, each | $0.38 |
| Super Soft Flour Tortillas | Mission Super Soft Flour Tortillas, Soft Taco Size, 10 Count | $2.48 |
| Peas & Carrots | Great Value Peas & Carrots, 12 oz (Frozen) | $0.98 |
| Russet Potato | Russet Potato, each | $0.66 |
Total: $32.52 before tax, one of each item. Add salt, black pepper, olive oil and a couple of spices from the pantry staples list. To price your own version, use the grocery cost estimator.
Common questions.
What are the basic groceries everyone needs?
By how often recipes use them: garlic, chicken or vegetable broth, lemon, yellow onion, lime, cilantro, red onion, carrot. Add salt, black pepper and olive oil, which almost every recipe uses.
What should I buy for my first apartment?
Start with versatile, long-lasting items: eggs, rice, pasta, canned beans, frozen vegetables, a protein, cheese, yogurt, onions, lemons and tortillas. Our 16-item starter shop came to $32.52 at Walmart prices recorded on 25 September 2026.
How do I make a basic grocery list?
Plan four or five meals, write down everything they need, then cross off what you already have. Group what is left by aisle. The printable template has the aisles laid out.
Why is garlic the top ingredient?
It appears in 868 of our 1,676 recipes, more than any other fresh ingredient, because most savoury dishes start with it. Buy a whole head; it keeps for weeks in a cool, dry place.
Can MealPot make my grocery list?
Yes. Pick meals for the week and MealPot writes one grocery list from them, grouped by aisle. Free to download; full meal plans need MealPot Pro.
MealPot writes this list from your week’s recipes.
Pick the week’s meals on iPhone or iPad and MealPot turns them into one grocery list, grouped by aisle. Free to download; full meal plans need MealPot Pro.
Sources
- MealPot recipe library: 1,676 recipes, standard version of each, counted on 27 October 2026.
- Prices: walmart.com product listings recorded 25 September 2026 (national listing, no ZIP code).