These yummy meals are on rotation in my household on days when I struggle to make the food stretch until next pay day.
Got only basics in your fridge, freezer and pantry? These recipes are really simple, have very basic ingredients and are cheap cheap cheap!
1. Poor Man’s Lasagna
It’s cheap but tastes wayyy better than the ones you eat at restaurants. It’s a cheap Lasagna recipe you can modify and adjust according to your taste for a satisfying and hearty meal.
The main ingredients of this one consist of rice, ham, bell peppers and pineapples – it looks scrumptious and feels summery like I’m having lunch by the beach! Yummmm
3. Pinto Beans and Rice with Sausage
What makes me want to whip some Pinto Beans and Rice with Sausage is that the house smells so delicious when I make these! It’s going be a mouthwatering dinner – trust me! And something that will stay way lower than your budget.
4. Salmon (or Tuna) Patties
You’ll be shocked at how many recipes only need few, easy reach ingredients but can be turned into yummy meals.
Actually, this recipe is just a can of fish (whichever canned fish you prefer), some mashed potato, a bit of curry powder and whatever else you might have in the fridge.
It is also delicious on sandwiches the next day with a little tomato sauce! You can serve salmon or tuna patties on their own, or with some steamed veggies or just a plain salad. Keep the leftovers in the fridge covered in plastic wrap so the kids can just graze when they get hungry.
5. Yoghurt Baked Chicken Pieces
These are fabulous done on the barbecue – so you don’t even have to turn on the oven. The yoghurt makes the chicken pieces really tender, especially if you have the time to ‘marinate’ them overnight.
6. Banana Oaty Smoothie
This is a great recipe for breakfast or a snack in-between meals. Did you know you can use rolled oats in milkshakes to ‘fill empty bellies’? If you ever have any bananas that are starting to go a little black, never throw them out, always peel them and pop them in a ziplock bag and place them in the freezer. They freeze amazingly well and then your Banana Oaty Smoothie will be cold and delicious.
7. Faster Pasta
We named it Faster Pasta because you can make it in less than 15 minutes! Plus it is incredibly frugal. Make this for a cheap, quick, easy and delicious dinner on week nights!
8. Loaded Sweet Potato Bake
Ditch the expensive meat, you don’t need meat to make yummy meals. And sweet potato is so damn cheap, filling and bloody delicious!
9. Nicoise Salad With a Twist
Don’t feel like cooking? Yeah, me neither. This is a good one for the hot summer nights. A combination of tinned fish, salad and eggs, it is hearty and can be thrown together in literally two minutes.
10. Mince Wellington
It’s like a meatloaf but with sausage and definitely more delicious! It has lots of veggies, too. So it’s healthy and filling.
11. Banana Raspberry Coconut Baked Oats
Another recipe in this list of yummy meals to make when you’re a bit low in budget is breakfast and dessert rolled in one. Exciting right?! I am sure kids love the idea, too.
This Banana Raspberry Coconut Baked Oats is filled with healthy and tasty goodness.
12. Zucchini Slice
The Zucchini Slice is always a winner for us whether we’re trying to be frugal or just want to whip up something healthy and delicious at the same time. You definitely need to make some this summer!
13. Two Ingredient Greek Yoghurt Pizza Dough
You only need TWO FREAKING INGREDIENTS to make this delicious pizza base. No, we’re not kidding!!!! Then you just add whatever you have on top – with a bit of grated cheese – and dinner is done!
14. Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake
An easy pasta recipe with some veggies and cheese that makes an easy, flavourful and satisfying family dinner. When money is tight we need to have a few key recipes up our sleeves to stretch the grocery budget – Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake is on top of our list!
15. Mexican Red Rice
You got to give Mexican Red Rice a try! It won’t disappoint you. It’s flavourful, delicious and smells heavenly. The spices really amp up the flavour on this one.
16. Tuna Mornay
Eating Tuna Mornay never feels like we’re trying to be frugal. It doesn’t make you think money is tight when each bite gives you a cheesy, luscious and pleasurable experience. PS. Substitute with salmon if you want!
17. Hot Dog Casserole
Hot Dog casserole lets you use up leftover BBQ sausages that the kids have ignored since yesterday. Hotdog Casseroles always get gobbled up as soon as I’m done making them – leftover or not! The kids love it.
18. Crispy Smashed Potatoes
All you potato lovers out there – this recipe will be a favourite! These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are heavenly soft on the inside and wonderfully crispy on the outside.
Being broke isn’t too bad with these delicious recipes, right?
So, what are you going to make for dinner?
