QUICK ANSWER
Print the template below. It fits on one page, with checkbox lines under eight categories: produce, meat & seafood, dairy & eggs, bread & bakery, pantry, frozen, snacks & drinks, and household. To get a PDF, choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog.
The printable grocery list template.
Grocery list
Produce
Meat & seafood
Dairy & eggs
Bread & bakery
Pantry, canned & dry
Frozen
Snacks & drinks
Household
getmealpot.com/grocery-list-template/ · Let MealPot write this list for you from your week’s recipes.
Grocery list by category: the staples checklist.
The ingredients our 1,676 recipes use most, sorted by aisle. Tick what you need and use the spare lines for the rest. Salt, oil and spices are on the pantry staples list.
Grocery list: staples checklist
Produce
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Yellow onion
- Lime
- Cilantro
- Red onion
- Carrot
- English cucumber
- Red bell pepper
- Shallot
- Grape tomatoes
- Ginger root
Meat & seafood
- Chicken breasts (boneless skinless)
- Striploin (new york strip) steak
- Chicken thighs (boneless skinless)
- Lean ground beef
Dairy & eggs
- Eggs
- Plain greek yogurt
- Parmesan cheese
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Cheddar cheese
Bread & bakery
- Whole grain buns or rolls
- Whole grain bread
Pantry, canned & dry
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Basmati rice
- Diced tomatoes
- Kalamata olives (pitted)
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- Jasmine rice
Frozen
- Raw peeled shrimp (fresh or frozen)
getmealpot.com/grocery-list-template/ · Let MealPot write this list for you from your week’s recipes.
Grocery list categories, in store order.
Most US supermarkets put fresh food around the edges and shelf-stable food in the middle aisles. Listing your shopping in that order is quicker than listing it the way you thought of it. Our order is produce, then meat and seafood, dairy and eggs, bread, the pantry aisles, frozen (last, so it stays cold), snacks, drinks and household.
| Category | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Produce | Fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh herbs, garlic, ginger |
| Meat & seafood | Fresh and packaged meat, poultry, fish, deli meat |
| Dairy & eggs | Milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, eggs, tofu (often shelved here) |
| Bread & bakery | Sliced bread, buns, tortillas, pita |
| Pantry, canned & dry | Rice, pasta, beans, canned tomatoes, broth, oils, spices, sauces |
| Frozen | Frozen vegetables and fruit, frozen fish |
| Snacks & drinks | Crackers, nuts, coffee, juice |
| Household | Paper towels, foil, dish soap |
How to use a grocery list template.
- Plan the meals first. A list written before the week’s meals are chosen fills up with “maybe” items. The weekly meal plan template has a column for exactly this.
- Check the fridge and pantry. Cross off anything you already have before you leave the house.
- Write each item under its aisle. Add quantities (“2 lb chicken”) so you don’t overbuy.
- Set a budget. The grocery cost estimator prices a list, and the unit price calculator settles “big pack or small pack?”.
Common questions.
Is there a free printable grocery list?
Yes, this one is free with no sign-up. Use “Print the blank list” for an empty template, or print the staples checklist. Both fit on one letter or A4 page.
How do I save the grocery list template as a PDF?
Press a print button on this page and choose “Save as PDF” (Mac, Windows and Chrome) or “Save to Files” (iPhone) as the printer.
What categories should a grocery list have?
Group the list the way your store is laid out: produce, meat and seafood, dairy and eggs, bakery, pantry (canned and dry goods), frozen, snacks and drinks, and household. Eight groups covers most weekly shops.
What should be on a basic grocery list?
The basic grocery list ranks ingredients by how many of our recipes use them. Garlic, lemons, onions, eggs and broth come near the top.
Can an app write my grocery list?
MealPot does. Pick the week’s meals and it 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.