I tested 15 store-bought pancake mixes, and the cheapest one beat every premium brand

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Before turning my talents to all things shopping, I worked as a pro baker, and the idea of starting my day with what is essentially cake has always appealed to me. So when I was tasked with finding the best pancake mix, I was genuinely excited. As someone who usually makes pancakes from scratch, it had been years since I'd reached for a boxed mix, and I was curious to see how today's options stacked up against homemade.

That said, I'm picky about pancakes. If they're thin, gummy, dense or bland, I'm reaching for waffles instead. My ideal stack is light and fluffy with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, balanced by a little salt and a hint of buttermilk tang. And because pancake mix is supposed to make life easier, I gave extra points to "complete" mixes that require only water. If I'm cracking eggs and measuring ingredients anyway, I might as well make my go-to recipe from scratch.

To find the winners, I tested 15 popular pancake mixes from brands including Bisquick, Hungry Jack, Pearl Milling Company and Kodiak. To keep the playing field level, I focused on traditional pancake mixes rather than gluten-free or protein-forward options (though I plan to test those in a future update). Ready to see which boxes earned a permanent spot in my pantry? Let's dig in.

Yield: 6-8 pancakes per cup of dry mix | Serving size: 1/4 cup of dry mix | Sugar content per serving: 6g | Fat content per serving: 1g | Ingredients needed: 3/4 cup of water per cup of dry mix

I vaguely remember seeing boxes of Hungry Jack pancake mix in the pantry when I was growing up, but we weren't a very brand-loyal family, so I don't have distinct memories of how this one tasted. Now that I've tried 15 varieties back to back, let's just say I won't be forgetting it again anytime soon.

Not only was it among the easiest to whip up (just add water and whisk, baby!), but it also wildly surpassed my expectations in the taste and texture departments. I was skeptical that a pancake made without melted butter, fresh eggs and buttermilk could impress me, but, as I wrote in my notes, "I wanted to keep eating it."

It was one of the few mixes that achieved crispy, lacy edges, and the speckled, golden brown color reminded me of diner pancakes (a compliment of the highest degree, in my book). They were fluffy, not sticky, and I tasted buttery, salty notes, with a slight tang courtesy of dried buttermilk in the batter. If you're looking for an easy, quick and delicious breakfast, you can't go wrong with this one. Plus, I was pleasantly surprised by its relatively short ingredient list.

Pancakes had a fluffy texture with lacy, crispy edges

Very flavorful, with notes of salt, butter and buttermilk

Has slightly more sugar per serving than my other top picks

Yield: 8-10 pancakes per cup of dry mix | Serving size: 1/3 cup of dry mix | Sugar content per serving: 5g | Fat content per serving: 1.5g | Ingredients needed: 2/3 cup of water per cup of dry mix

I buy a lot of baking products from Bob's Red Mill, so I wasn't exactly surprised that this pancake mix ended up in my top three. (That said, when I tested the brand's boxed chocolate cake mix , it didn't make the cut, so you never know!)

I had this batter mixed up in no time and thought the pancakes' uniform hue made them especially appetizing. The batter was thicker than Hungry Jack's, resulting in puffier pancakes, so if you like yours on the lofty side, you might prefer this brand.

"Can taste salt — very good," is what I wrote in my notes, though I didn't detect much buttermilk flavor. That said, I'll be reaching for this one again.

No additional ingredients required aside from water

Not as buttermilk-forward as my other top picks

Yield: 6 pancakes per cup of dry mix | Serving size: 1/3 cup of dry mix | Sugar content per serving: 4g | Fat content per serving: 4g | Ingredients needed: 1/2 cup of water per cup of dry mix

Like Bob's Red Mill, King Arthur is one of my go-to brands, and its boxed pancake mix didn't disappoint. While it had a slightly grainier texture than my other favorites, I was pleased by its detectable tanginess. If you're looking for a pancake that actually tastes like it was made with buttermilk, this one's a great bet.

"Puffed up beautifully," I wrote. "Nice browning; soft, not crispy. Overall, solid." Like the other two, this one only requires water.

When testing store-bought pancake mixes, I tried to cook the way most people at home would, rather than rely on the tricks I learned in professional kitchens. To keep the playing field level, I prepared each mix according to the package directions, paying close attention to details like batter amounts and resting times. If a brand suggested adjusting the liquid to create thicker or thinner pancakes, I stuck with the standard measurement listed on the package for consistency.

I made each pancake in the same cast-iron skillet . At the start of each batch, I brushed a thin layer of vegetable oil onto the pan with a pastry brush and let the skillet heat up while the batter rested.

Once the skillet was hot, I portioned the batter according to the package directions, usually about 1/4 cup per pancake. I cooked each pancake until bubbles formed on the surface and the bottom developed an even golden-brown color, then flipped it and finished it on the second side.

In my book, pancakes are best eaten the moment they come off the griddle, so I tasted each batch immediately after cooking. I tried the pancakes with maple syrup, then sampled them again plain to get a clearer sense of their flavor. Throughout the process, I took detailed notes on taste, texture, appearance and ease of preparation, which ultimately determined how the mixes ranked.

Dolly Parton's Buttermilk Complete Pancake Mix : This brand didn't impress me when I tested the best boxed chocolate cake mixes , so I was surprised that I really enjoyed its pancake mix. "Very fluffy, with a nice bit of salt," I wrote. Ultimately, I preferred Hungry Jack, but this is still a solid option.

365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix : I loved the pancakes I made using this mix, and even noted that they "tasted like they were made from scratch." That said, they required an egg, milk and melted butter, so they're not exactly weekday morning-friendly. The batter was also quite thick and difficult to shape into rounds, but the flavor and texture were among the best of the bunch. Unfortunately, this mix seems to be unavailable in many parts of the country, but if you can find it, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Birch Benders Organic Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix : I had never tried this brand, but it's apparently very popular. I liked the pancakes, with their buttery taste and crispy edges, but they were a little too dense and sticky for me.

Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix : I'm not a fan of whole-grain pancakes like these — I find most of them too bitter. That said, I didn't have an issue with this Kodiak pancake mix, and I even described the flavor as "pleasant." The thick batter made it hard to tell when to flip, as it took a while for bubbles to form, and the rounds were denser than fluffy.

Trader Joe's Buttermilk Pancake & Baking Mix : I was expecting more flavor from this mix, since it called for eggs, but the flavor was very subtle. If you're looking for a blank canvas to add mix-ins to, it would work well, but it's muted on its own. While the pancakes were fairly fluffy, they were denser than my top picks.

Betty Crocker Bisquick Shake 'n Pour Buttermilk Pancake Mix : These pancakes didn't blow me away, but if you're trying not to dirty more bowls than necessary, you could do a lot worse! This mix's appeal lies in the fact that you add water to the jug it comes in, and, as its name implies, shake it all up and pour it out. The pancakes were a bit bland and dry, but I was impressed by their fluff factor and uniform color.

Krusteaz Light and Fluffy Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix : Here's another popular brand that I was unfamiliar with — I found it difficult to make the pancakes round, but did achieve a little crispiness. "Fluffy, but a tad sticky," is what I wrote in my notes. "Good salt flavor, but a slightly bitter aftertaste."

Betty Crocker Original Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix : No offense to my grandparents, who used to make pancakes for me using this very mix, but I was underwhelmed! "Bready, not much flavor, unappealing matte brown color," I noted. In all seriousness, I preferred the Shake 'n Pour pancakes.

House Autry Buttermilk Supreme Pancake & Waffle Complete Mix : I had to do a double-take after I tried these pancakes, because the first thing I tasted was cinnamon. Sure enough, cinnamon is included in the ingredients list, but not mentioned on the front of the package at all, which I found odd. I like cinnamon, but it wouldn't be my go-to pancake flavoring — and taste aside, I thought they were a bit dry and sticky.

Arrowhead Mills Organic Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix : This mix is on the pricier side, so I had higher expectations. Alas, while the pancakes achieved a nice color and puffiness, they were too sticky and didn't have much flavor. "Meh," I wrote.

Great Value Complete Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix : I didn't care for the pancakes I made using this mix; they tasted chalky, had a sticky texture and barely got any color.

Pearl Milling Company Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix : This store-bought pancake mix had the worst packaging by far — it came in a box that you're supposed to open on the side and pour from, a surefire way to make a mess (and attract bugs, as the mix wasn't inside a bag). Taste-wise, I didn't mind the buttery flavor, and the pancakes had some fluff and crispiness, but were also a little mealy.

How to make the best homemade pancake mix

Can I let you in on a secret? Making pancakes from scratch is only slightly more work than using a boxed mix, and it gives you complete control over the ingredients. My go-to recipe comes from John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen and requires just a handful of pantry staples:

Time-saving tip: Kanell recommends whisking together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar and salt) ahead of time and storing the mixture in an airtight container. When pancake cravings strike, you'll already have your homemade "mix" ready to go.

In my quest for the best store-bought pancake mix, I had to do a lot of cleaning between batches because I used the same tools for consistency. So trust me when I say a silicone balloon whisk like this one will come in clutch, as the batter will be easy to rinse off. It's also safe to use on your nonstick cookware.

Leave no morsel of pancake batter behind! I adore this spoon-spatula hybrid because it's flexible enough to get into the corners of cookware and has scooping abilities. Giada de Laurentiis is a fan of the brand as well.

Don't be deterred by the seafood reference in this turner's name. It's equally as effective at flipping pancakes, thanks to its ultra-thin blade that can easily get under everything from salmon skin to flapjacks.

I prefer to weigh my ingredients using a kitchen scale versus scooping them with a measuring cup (the former method is much more precise!), but for boxed pancake mixes, the latter suffices. In fact, all of the measurements on the packages were listed by volume rather than weight, so you sort of have to do it that way!

I used measuring cups to portion out the dry mix and wet batter, and I appreciate that these have the measurements etched in so they won't fade over time.

Whether your pancake mix calls for milk or water, you'll need a liquid measuring cup. I own classic Pyrex cups in several sizes, but this Oxo version is also pretty neat, as you can see the measurements from the top rather than having to crouch down for a view of the side.

If there's one hill I'm willing to die on, it's that using a cast-iron skillet results in the best pancakes one can make at home. It retains and distributes heat beautifully, resulting in flapjacks that are consistent in color. And as long as it's well-seasoned, the pan is essentially nonstick.

I don't use any other pan for making pancakes, and even Ina Garten considers it a kitchen must-have. (Speaking of breakfast treats, it also produces amazing cinnamon rolls.)

I almost exclusively use metal bowls for mixing because they're sturdier than glass or ceramic (meaning, they won't shatter if I have literal butterfingers and accidentally knock 'em off the counter). Plus, they're lightweight and usually pretty affordable.

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.