Our Easiest DIY Condiments

Homemade condiments are often the special finishing touch that can take a meal from good to great. Thus, knowing how to make a few variations on classic, go-to condiments will always come in handy in the kitchen. Here are over 50 ways to easily amp up any meal with homemade mayos, ketchups, jams, jellies, sauces and chutneys.

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Pear, Olive, and Walnut Chutney

Pear, Olive, and Walnut Chunky Chutney image

Photo: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: , Food Styling:

Pear, Olive, and Walnut Chutney Recipe

This savory-sweet chutney is tangy, sweet, full of spice, and offers a deliciously surprising salty bite with the castelvetrano olives—in other words, it’s the perfect fall condiment.

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Creole Mayo

Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Heather Chadduck

Creole Mayo Recipe

This tangy dip is a great accompaniment to the veggies in the crawfish boil.

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Chipotle Mayo

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop stylist: Lindsey Lower

Chipotle Mayo Recipe

Almost too easy to whip up, this mayo definitely needs to go into your flavor-boosting ingredient arsenal. Use the smoky spread on sandwiches of all sorts, brush over meats before cooking, or incorporate into your favorite chicken salad recipe for an extra kick. The recipe is easily doubled or tripled, so don't hesitate to make a big batch.

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Skillet Mixed Berry Jam

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey

Skillet Mixed Berry Jam Recipe

This fresh berry jam could not be easier to whip up and makes for an amazing multipurpose summer condiment. Spoon the warm jam straight from the skillet over slices of pound cake, toast, biscuits, ice cream, waffles, or even savory dishes like grilled pork tenderloin. Or let it cool down, transfer to jars, and use it for breakfast, cheese boards, and more down the road. You can stash your quick skillet jam, stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to a month.

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Almond Parsley Pesto

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen

Almond Parsley Pesto Recipe

An intriguing spin on the Italian classic basil-and-pine-nut pesto, this sauce complements all sorts of roasted or grilled vegetables and meats.

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Easy Apple Butter

Southern Living

Easy Apple Butter Recipe

Test Kitchen Tip: Use a wooden spoon to draw a line through the apple butter on the bottom of the pot; if the line holds for 5 seconds before the apple butter merges back together, it's finished cooking.

Hands-on 55 min.; Total 1 hour, 50 min.

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Mushroom-Red Wine Sauce

Photo: Greg DuPree

Mushroom-Red Wine Sauce Recipe

You don't need to have cooked a beef roast to make this full-bodied sauce. The richness comes instead from sautéed mushrooms and red wine. Spoon the sauce over steak or a baked potato topped with blue cheese.

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Quick Peanut Sauce

Photo: Greg DuPree

Quick Peanut Sauce Recipe

The warmth and zing of fresh ginger and garlic put bottled versions of this sauce out of the running. For heat, stir in a generous pinch of crushed red pepper. Drizzle the sauce over grilled chicken or shrimp skewers. You can also use as a dip for spring rolls or toss with a soba noodle salad.

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Buttermilk-Dill Sauce

Photo: Greg DuPree

Buttermilk-Dill Sauce Recipe

Think of this no-cook sauce as your put-it-on-everything sauce. Spoon over baked fish or chicken. Beyond a main, use it to dress a potato salad or as a veggie dip. We prefer 2% Greek yogurt over nonfat for a milder tang that complements the buttermilk.

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Spinach-Walnut Pesto

Photo: Greg Dupree

Spinach-Walnut Pesto Recipe

An evergreen, everyday pesto will perk up pastas and pizzas when fresh basil is no longer in season. The warmth from the toasted walnuts will help the sauce emulsify; don't skip this step. Try the sauce on seared salmon or chicken.

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Tomato-Ginger Jam

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Tomato-Ginger Jam Recipe

Refrigerate this tasty tomato and ginger-flavored jam for up to 2 months.

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Rosé Jelly

Briana Riddock

Rosé Jelly Recipe

We went crazy over the idea of rosé jelly when it hit the internet, so here is our version of this boozy blush pink jelly. Your morning won’t be the same, now that you can have rosé for breakfast, as a midday snack, and basically anytime of the day you want. It’s the ultimate adult condiment. The recipe yields a few jars of jelly that you can keep for yourself stocked away or hand them out to family and friends as gifts. If you prefer red or white over rosé, you can substitute your favorite bottle of choice.

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Homemade Mayonnaise

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Styling: Rishon Hanners

Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe

Mayonnaise made from-scratch can be fairly life altering. Nothing against the shelf-stable, store-bought version, but homemade is truly in a league of it’s own when it comes to rich flavor and incredible texture. It’s super simple to whip up in the food processor and will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Make your first batch and see just how versatile this wonder condiment is. Add grated garlic and fresh herbs to create your own garlic aioli (pinkies up) or stir in chopped chipotle in adobo for a spicy, tangy chipotle mayo. Use your mayo as a base for countless dips, spreads, and savory fillings—as we do in this modern take on traditional tomato pie.

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Spicy Mayo

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Spicy Mayo Recipe

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Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam Recipe

This clever take on beloved thumbprint cookies is sweet and savory. Refrigerated dough keeps for days, and the baked cookies freeze well.

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Saffron Aïoli

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Saffron Aïoli Recipe

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Grand Aïoli

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Grand Aïoli Recipe

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Drawn Butter

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Rachael Burrow

Drawn Butter Recipe

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Red Pepper Mayonnaise

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Kathleen Royal Phillips

Red Pepper Mayonnaise Recipe

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Sweet Chili Sauce

Photo: Annabelle Breakey

Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

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Cilantro-Lime Aioli

Photo: Annabelle Breakey

Cilantro-Lime Aioli Recipe

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Lemon Aïoli

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Lemon Aïoli Recipe
Whip up this easy sauce that's great with vegetables and fish. You can cover and chill mixture up to 3 days.

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Mad-Delicious Sriracha

Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Mad-Delicious Sriracha Recipe
It's so easy to make your own hot sauce: Just lightly cook chiles in seasonings, and blend. That's all there is to it. And don't get us wrong--we love the bottled stuff, too.

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Spicy Ketchup

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

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Rosemary Thyme Mustard

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto

Rosemary Thyme Mustard Recipe
A thick, creamy, and intensely herby mustard that's delicious rubbed onto roasts (especially chicken, pork, and lamb) before cooking. You can also dollop a little into stews—both meat and vegetarian—about halfway through cooking.

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Rosemary Thyme Mustard

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto

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Basque-Style Green Sauce

Photo: John Kernick; Stylist: Alistar Turnbull/Pat Bates and Associates

Basque-Style Green Sauce Recipe
Basque-Style Green Sauce is a blend of chopped parsley, oregano, and basil leaves mixed with olive oil, sherry vinegar, and seasonings. This version of green sauce has a hit of jalapenos for extra pop.

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Fresh Herb Sauce

Photo: Anna Williams

Fresh Herb Sauce Recipe

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Southwestern Marinade

Photo: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Deborah Williams

Southwestern Marinade Recipe

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Mustard-Herb Sauce

Photo: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Deborah Williams

Mustard-Herb Sauce Recipe

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Balsamic-Shallot Sauce

Photo: Quentin Bacon

Balsamic-Shallot Sauce Recipe

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Clementine Glaze

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Charlotte Autry

Clementine Glaze Recipe

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Honey-Soy Glaze

Photo: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Deborah Williams

Honey-Soy Glaze Recipe

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Grainy Mustard Sauce

Photo: Quentin Bacon

Grainy Mustard Sauce Recipe

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Spicy Beer Mustard

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Spicy Beer Mustard Recipe
Chef Jeremy Nolen updates German classics at Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia, including this intense mustard for sausages.

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Brown Sugar-Pecan-Mustard Butter

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Brown Sugar-Pecan-Mustard Butter Recipe
Dress up your favorite sandwiches with a slathering of Brown Sugar-Pecan-Mustard Butter. With only 4 ingredients, this homemade mustard butter is quick to stir together and tastier than any store-bought version.

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Hot and Tangy Mustard

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Karen Shinto

Hot and Tangy Mustard Recipe
The feisty, horseradish-like kick of this mustard is tempered by acidity. It's good with just about everything—use in place of your favorite table mustard (just have facial tissue handy).

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Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce

Photo: Tara Donne; Styling: Erin Swift

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Mole Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

Mole Barbecue Sauce Recipe

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Sweet Barbecue Sauce

Sweet Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Fresh ginger and lemon juice give a bright, spicy kick to the ketchup and molasses in this easy homemade barbecue sauce.

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Quick Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Anna Williams

Quick Barbecue Sauce Recipe
When you need a barbecue sauce at the last minute, you can't go wrong with this 6-ingredient, 5-minute sauce. And all of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry.

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Green Barbecue Sauce

Green Barbecue Sauce Recipe
A slow simmer gives this tomatillo barbecue sauce its rich flavor. Serve over grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp.

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Cola-Coffee Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: MindI Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cola-Coffee Barbecue Sauce Recipe

This recipe goes with: Cola-and-Coffee Beef Ribs.

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Toasted Sesame and Soy Mayo

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Toasted Sesame and Soy Mayo Recipe
Add a bit of Asian flair to your burgers with Toasted Sesame and Soy Mayo.

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Garlicky Mayo

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Garlicky Mayo Recipe
Pungent garlic flavor comes through with Garlicky Mayo atop your burger.

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Herbed Mayo

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Herbed Mayo Recipe
Slather on Herbed Mayo to your burger for a flavor-packed condiment with fresh basil, chives, and thyme.

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Asian Mayo

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Asian Mayo Recipe
Asian Mayo gives eastern flare to plain burgers thanks to wasabi paste and soy sauce that's stirred into mayonnaise.

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Chipotle and Lime Mayo

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Chipotle and Lime Mayo Recipe
Slather a bit of Chipotle and Lime Mayo to your burger for added zing.

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Curry Mayo

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Curry Mayo Recipe
Give your burgers a bit of zing with Curry Mayo slathered on top.

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Mango-Mint Chutney

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Mango-Mint Chutney Recipe
This Mango-Mint Chutney recipe is a sweet accompaniment to a savory dish, and it costs just pennies to prepare. Add more sugar if your mangoes are tart. If you like heat in the chutney, stir in a pinch of crushed red pepper with the cumin.

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Red Tomato Chutney

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Red Tomato Chutney Recipe
This sweet-tart chutney pairs summery tomatoes with fall-flavored cranberries, making it an all-purpose condiment for late-summer and fall barbecues. Spoon it over burgers and grilled chicken. In cooler weather, toss a little chutney with roasted vegetables, such as parsnips, turnips, or sweet potatoes. Or mix it with low-fat mayonnaise to make a dip for raw vegetables.

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Cardamom-Plum Jam

Photo: Cedric Angeles; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cardamom-Plum Jam Recipe
Recipe from Liana Krissoff, author of Canning for a New Generation. "Spices! In jam! This was the jam that made me realize how good homemade preserves could be--and I'm pretty sure it landed me my book deal. You can use any kind of plums. Tart, even under-ripe, plums too puckery to eat out of hand make especially good jams."

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Strawberry-Lemonade Jam

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Strawberry-Lemonade Jam Recipe
Not only is Strawberry-Lemonade Jam spread between the layers of our Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake, this sweet-tart jam does double duty as a base for savory sides and entrees.

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Peach-Raspberry Jam

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Peach-Raspberry Jam Recipe
Keep this jam in the refrigerator up to 1 month.

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Our Easiest DIY Condiments

1 of 55

Pear, Olive, and Walnut Chutney

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Creole Mayo

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Chipotle Mayo

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Skillet Mixed Berry Jam

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Almond Parsley Pesto

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Easy Apple Butter

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Mushroom-Red Wine Sauce

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Quick Peanut Sauce

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Buttermilk-Dill Sauce

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Spinach-Walnut Pesto

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Tomato-Ginger Jam

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Rosé Jelly

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Homemade Mayonnaise

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Spicy Mayo

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Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam

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Saffron Aïoli

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Grand Aïoli

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Drawn Butter

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Red Pepper Mayonnaise

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Sweet Chili Sauce

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Cilantro-Lime Aioli

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Lemon Aïoli

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Mad-Delicious Sriracha

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Spicy Ketchup

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Rosemary Thyme Mustard

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Rosemary Thyme Mustard

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Basque-Style Green Sauce

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Fresh Herb Sauce

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Southwestern Marinade

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Mustard-Herb Sauce

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Balsamic-Shallot Sauce

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Clementine Glaze

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Honey-Soy Glaze

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Grainy Mustard Sauce

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Spicy Beer Mustard

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Brown Sugar-Pecan-Mustard Butter

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Hot and Tangy Mustard

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Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce

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Mole Barbecue Sauce