Use up condiment packets with these easy sauces.
Ahhhh condiment packets. They are so convenient and long-lasting, but there always seems to be an excess of them lying around the kitchen or office refrigerator. Instead of letting those extra sugar, mayonnaise, or ketchup packets just sit in a drawer, put ’em to good use.
If you are like most home cooks, your pantry or office refrigerator is stocked with a variety of condiments, sauces, and seasonings in small packets. But the dilemma often arises: What to do with all these mismatched seasoning packets and leftover sauces?
Do not fret! Instead of letting them go to waste in the back of your refrigerator or pantry, put those little flavor gems to work in two creative ways.
Today we’re going to teach you how to make two delicious condiment sauces that will give your dishes a unique flavor and help you clear away some clutter too.
Innovative salad dressing recipes: there are simple, yet tasty uses for that extra ranch packet or mayo packet in your fridge.
So, forget about throwing out those sad looking leftovers. Unlock their full potential by learning how to use every last bit. Let’s get started.
Creativity in Recipe Development
You may wonder how we came up with these two great sauces. It is a funny answer. Desperate times call for desperate measures and when you are at work, and you forget your salad dressing at home. Not once, but twice! You get creative.
I was really shocked at how flavorful and tasty these two sauces turned out and they are a great way to use up fast-food restaurant packets. I used them as salad dressings, but they could easily be used as a dip. In fact, I love to use the mustard one to dip leaves of romaine lettuce!
What to do with Leftover Sauce Packets
There are various types of leftover condiment packets that you can choose from. Fast food restaurants give out extra packets all the time.
Taco bell gives out taco sauce and hot sauce packets. Subway gives you mayonnaise packets and mustard packets. Mcdonald’s hands out ketchup packets and sometimes tartar sauce. Chinese takeout may give out duck sauce or extra soy sauce packets.
These are super easy condiment sauces because it is mostly a 1:1:1 ratio. The best thing about these two recipes is that you can mix and match the various condiments to best suit your needs or based on what you have.
Get yourself to eat more greens
The first recipe I came up with was with packets in my workplace refrigerator door. I forgot my salad dressing.
But, I am on a streak of good eating habits so I didn’t want to miss my lunch salad. I scrambled around the tiny office kitchenette. I saw I had ranch, packets of mustard, and packets of sugar.
And guess what? I mixed those together and made a delicious dressing for my salad.
Romaine lettuce dip
The sweet mustard dressing sauce I now make regularly. It really helps me to use up old packets and I love dipping my romaine lettuce right into my dressing as a dip!
Not only do you cut down on the amount of sauce you use, but you eat more salad greens when you enjoy it. And I am usually terrible at eating lettuce, especially romaine. Now I love it!
DIY Honey French Dressing with Condiment Packets
My spouse loves Western dressing. My whole family does. And yet again I forgot my salad dressing for my work lunch.
So, the next dressing/dip I made was a very simply recipe for honey french dressing. Honey french dressing is very close to Western dressing. This recipe I whipped up on the fly would even work for my picky husband!
Basic Ingredients
I knew the basic ingredients of french dressing are; ketchup, oil, sugar, vinegar, and various spices.
However, I had to work with what I had which was spare packets of ketchup, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and single serve honey packets. This turned out to be a very sweet, creamy french-style dressing and I gobbled up my salad.
Using Other Leftover Packets and Substitutions
While these two salad dressing recipes use specific leftovers, they can be substituted for other little gems you may be stashing. Don’t be afraid to mix and match and try something new. You never know, you might just develop your next favorite dip recipe.
Use a low calorie sweetener in place of the sugar.
Honey mustard can be used in place of mustard and sugar.
If you only have sour cream and no ranch, use it, and add some salt and pepper.
Greek yogurt can also be substituted for ranch by adding some salt and pepper.
Other ways to dress up these sauces
If you happen to have these leftover packets stashed at home, it is easier to find other flavors to brighten up and enhance your final creation. Here are a few ideas to get you started on some delicious combinations.
- Add a dash of lemon juice to either dressing to brighten it up.
- Add parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle a few smokey spices into the Honey French.
- Use maple syrup in place of the honey
What else can I do with these sauces?
These sauces make fantastic dips for vegetables of all kinds. Try dipping french fries or sweet potatoes into the Honey French.
And I eat twice as much romaine lettuce when I use the Sweet Mustard as a dip instead of going through the work of making a whole salad.
This would also be so tasty on a tuna salad. Mustard and tuna play well together. The Sweet Mustard could also be used to dress up green beans or mixed vegetables.
Use up Condiment Packets! Make These Two Easy Sauces
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
Sweet Mustard Sauce Recipe
- 1 Tablespoon Ranch 1 packet
- 1 Teaspoon Mustard 1 packet
- 1 Teaspoon Sugar 1 packet or sugar substitute
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Honey French Dressing Recipe
- 1 Tablespoon Ketchup 1 packet
- 1 Tablespoon Honey 1 packet
- 1/2 Tablespoon Mayonnaise half packet
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix these ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Keeps for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
Other ways to dress up these sauces
If you happen to have these leftover packets stashed at home, it is easier to find other flavors to brighten up and enhance your final creation. Here are a few ideas to get you started on some delicious combinations.• Add a dash of lemon juice to either dressing to brighten it up.
• Add parmesan cheese.
• Sprinkle a few smokey spices into the Honey French.
• Use maple syrup in place of the honey
