Budget-Friendly Cooking: Inexpensive and Tasty Recipes for Every Domestic Chef
Cooking on a budget doesn't have to mean sacrificing taste or nutrition. Here are some simple and budget-friendly recipes that you can try for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast
Start your day right with budget-friendly and satisfying breakfast options.
Breakfast Burritos
Made with scrambled eggs, vegetables, and your choice of protein (such as bacon or sausage), breakfast burritos are an easy and affordable way to fuel up for the day. You can even make them in advance and freeze them for quick and easy breakfasts throughout the week.
One-Pot Pasta
For a simple and versatile breakfast dish, try one-pot pasta. Cook sautéed onions, garlic, pasta, water, and vegetables in a large pot, and you'll have a budget-friendly meal ready in no time.
Lunch and Dinner
Veggie Stir-Fry
Veggie stir-fry is a great way to use up leftover vegetables and create a nutritious meal. Heat oil in a pan, add a variety of vegetables, and stir-fry until tender. You can also add a simple sauce made from soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for extra flavor.
Soup
Budget-friendly soup is an excellent way to stretch your budget. You can make it by sautéing onions, carrots, and celery in a large pot, adding broth, protein (such as beans or lentils), and any vegetables. Serve it with crusty bread for a satisfying meal.
DIY Pizza
Making pizza from scratch is a cost-effective way to enjoy a homemade pizza. Start by rolling out dough, adding your favorite toppings, and baking until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
Lentil Curry
Lentil curry is a flavorful and filling budget-friendly dish made with pantry staples. Sauté onions, garlic, and ginger, then add spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander, lentils, coconut milk, and vegetable broth. Serve it over rice or with naan bread.
Tips for Budget-Friendly Cooking
- Use staples like rice, pasta, potatoes, beans, and frozen vegetables as a base since they are affordable and nutritious. Adding inexpensive aromatics like onions and garlic boosts flavor without increasing cost significantly.
- Look for one-pot or one-pan meals such as one-pot hotpots and various curry dishes, which minimize cleanup and make the most of inexpensive ingredient combos.
- Explore meal prep and group-friendly recipes that stretch ingredients and use freezer-friendly components, such as baked pasta dishes, veggie stir-fries, and burritos with beans and cheese.
- Prioritize recipes that include versatile vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, bell peppers), affordable proteins (such as lentils, beans, eggs, deli ham), and pantry items (such as tortillas, jarred sauces).
- Use online videos and blogs focusing on budget meals under $13 or weekly meal prep for inspiration and practical demonstrations of affordable cooking techniques and ingredient substitutions.
Sources offering many simple, economical, and delicious recipes include cooking blogs like This Gal Cooks, budget meal videos on YouTube (such as family dinners and weekly meal prep), and recipe round-ups for groups with easy-to-scale ingredients. These resources emphasize minimal waste, nutrient-dense veggies, and flavor layering to keep meals satisfying without high cost.
- Try DIY breakfast burritos for a cost-effective, nutritious, and easy breakfast option that can be made in advance.
- For lunch or dinner, opt for veggie stir-fry as a versatile and affordable meal using leftover vegetables and simple sauces.
- Budget-friendly one-pot pasta, a versatile dish, is a simple and quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner option.
- A budget-friendly soup recipe with economical ingredients such as onions, carrots, celery, broth, beans, and bread can be a satisfying meal.
- Refer to budgeting-focused cooking blogs like 'This Gal Cooks' or meal prep videos on YouTube for cost-effective recipe ideas, demonstrations of affordable cooking techniques, and ingredient substitutions.
