The Top 10 Most Inexpensive Recipes

Food is non-negotiable. No matter how tight your budget, you and your family still need food on the table, and you deserve to not just be fed, but nourished, both nutritionally and emotionally. Fortunately, even with high inflation and limited options, it’s not tough to make a weeknight meal that’s delicious, reasonably nutritious, and doesn’t blow a hole in that months’ budget spreadsheet. Here are just 10 options to mix up your meal routines and save money at the same time:

1. Roast Pork with Apples and Onions 

Apples and pork have been a winning combination for decades; this classic pairing is so popular that it even became the basis of one of the most famous Brady Bunch scenes! Roasting onions alongside the two helps remove the onions’ more aggressive edge while adding just the right bite to the flavors.

Fortunately, this combo of roast pork, onions, and apples is not just delicious, but also straightforward and very cost-effective. The whole dish comes in at under $2 per serving, and that’s assuming you don’t already have bushels of apples and onions sitting around your kitchen just waiting to be used already.

Source: TasteofHome.com

2. Herby Lemon Chicken Skewers

Looking to impress your Summer cookout guests without breaking the bank? These chicken skewers are simple to assemble, require only a few (inexpensive) ingredients, and come bursting with flavor thanks to the herbaceous and tangy lemon juice-based marinade.

Not only do they grill up quickly for a tasty and affordable protein that goes well with any side dish, but they’re relatively healthy too–olive oil and fresh garlic give all the flavor with none of the heaviness you might get with other cookout favorites like burgers and dogs.

Source: Simply-Delicious-Food.com

3. Ramen Stir Fry

A filling, flavorful, easy, and (relatively) nutritious meal for under $5 total is like finding a needle in a haystack, but this Ramen Stir Fry works like magic to tick every box you need. Frying up dried ramen noodles is quick and easy, while the simple and satisfying sauce evokes your favorite Chinese takeout without requiring any fancy specialty ingredients.

Not only is this a shockingly affordable dinner idea, but it becomes even more cost-effective when you realize it’s endlessly adaptable–rather than buying the perfect ingredients, you can make this stir fry just about any night of the week by tossing in any produce or proteins that would otherwise go to waste.

Source: TheStingyVegan.com

4. One-Pan Cheesy Sausage, Potatoes, and Broccoli

It’s tough to go wrong with taking simple meats and veggies, chopping them up, and tossing them into the oven. These sorts of one-pan dinners are quick and easy to prep, and you can easily use whatever ingredients fit your budget the best (but try to keep it to items that have similar cooking times for the best results!).

In this case, you’re roasting up affordable turkey sausage, potatoes, and broccoli for a nutritious and hearty one-sheet dinner–and topping it with cheese, because… well, why wouldn’t you?! 

Source: Number-2-Pencil.com

5. Carbonara with Summer Vegetables

Pasta Carbonara is one of those dishes that proves what classic Italian cooking is all about: With just a few good ingredients and a little care, you can come out with a meal that’s far more than the sum of its parts.

This Summer twist isn’t exactly traditional, trading the pricier (and harder-to-source) guanciale and Pecorino Romano for regular old bacon and parmesan, and adding summer vegetables for a brighter flavor and more nutritional value. But even if it’s not exactly “how Grandma used to make it,” the bacon-egg-cheese-pasta combo is still luscious, flavorful, and deeply affordable.

Source: TasteofHome.com

6. Cabbage and Beans with Marinara Sauce

The easiest way to create a substantive meal that doesn’t cost a lot of money but does pack a lot of flavor is to get creative by combining your cheap “staple” ingredients. Think beans, rice, potatoes, pasta, and more. These pantry basics never cost an arm and a leg, but offer endless tasty variations if you think outside the box.

This recipe combines cabbage and cannellini beans with a simple Marinara sauce (that you can make yourself or buy jarred) to pack protein, fiber, vegetable nutrients, and more into one affordable and flavorful bowl that’s sure to satisfy (and give you leftovers for lunch the next day).

Source: TheLifeJolie.com

7. DIY Chicken Burrito Bowl

We love a good, hefty burrito from Chipotle, but once you start adding up an additional burrito for each family member, that “not a bad deal” starts to get really pricey, really fast. This DIY Chicken Burrito Bowl recipe isn’t exactly a 20-minute “weeknight warrior” recipe, but it does allow you to meal prep all the goodness of those glorious Chipotle burritos at home.

Yes, you are making each addition by hand, but the ingredients are all reasonably priced and the end result is a huge batch of burrito components that’ll last your family a week while being as good–if not better–than the spendy restaurant alternative.

Source: AmbitiousKitchen.com

8. Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup

For those who grew up on Hamburger Helper, the thought of ground beef and macaroni can conjure unpleasant memories of “stretched” childhood dinners. But this recipe takes that same basic formula but the end result is a hearty, completely homemade soup that’s deeply comforting without costing notably more than that old dinner-in-a-box.

Best of all? Unlike some soups that take an afternoon of simmering to perfect, this one comes together in less than an hour–or significantly faster if you have an Instant Pot to speed up the process–letting you get this flavorful and affordable dinner on the table easier than ever.

Source: TheKitchenMagpie.com

9. Green Bean and Potato Curry

When you’re looking for the intersection of flavor and frugality, little else on Earth can beat the humble curry. Saucy and spicy, curries work with just about any protein or vegetable you have on hand, and can be stretched far as the eye can see by serving it over a staple starch like rice or noodles.

For this curry, a basic combination of potatoes and green beans provide the sustenance, while curry powder, fresh garlic, and coconut milk bring that luscious fattiness and full flavor that makes curry so mouth-watering. Even better? It’s all vegan by default, so you can eat well even within the vegan lifestyle.

Source: AVirtualVegan.com

10. Baked Mac and Cheese

Sometimes you want something fresh, full of nutritious vegetables and light proteins. But not all the time. Sometimes, you just need something that’s stick-to-your-ribs soul-satisfying; one of those rich, decadent meals that’s perfect for special occasions, cheer-me-up dinners, and “just because” treats.

And what better fits the bill than a classic baked macaroni and cheese? Thick, cheesy, and with that perfect crunch on top, this is the type of dish that becomes a signature–you know, the kind of greatness that you bring to Thanksgiving year after year. What’s even greater is that this recipe takes less than an hour and costs less than a $10 bill.

Source: BudgetBytes.com

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