10 Budget Friendly Meals (Easy, Delicious, & Affordable Recipes!)

Are you looking for delicious and easy budget friendly meals? Finding affordable meal options can be a huge help when you’re trying to save money.  Because the cost of food has gone up so much in the past couple of years, nearly everyone can benefit from having ideas for recipes for budget friendly meals.  In…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: May 24, 2023

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10 Best Budget Friendly Meals

Are you looking for delicious and easy budget friendly meals?

Finding affordable meal options can be a huge help when you’re trying to save money. 

Because the cost of food has gone up so much in the past couple of years, nearly everyone can benefit from having ideas for recipes for budget friendly meals. 

In fact, food prices have gone up by over 11% in the past year, but there are still ways to eat delicious food without going over budget. 

In today’s post, I have ten recipes that will help you save money as you prepare tasty meals for you, you and your partner, or your family. 

The recipes in this post are for all different tastes and diet types. There are vegetarian options, gluten-free meals, kid-friendly meals, and more. 

I am so excited about the recipes I’m sharing with you today, and here are some of the ones I know you’ll love:

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl – You can top these burrito bowls with everything from avocados, sour cream, cilantro, tomatoes, green onions, and more. Use whatever you have in the fridge to make this even more budget friendly.
  • Pan-Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu – If you’ve always wanted to try tofu, this is a great beginner recipe. It’s delicious over rice and with some frozen or fresh vegetables.
  • Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadillas – This vegan meal will make you forget about meat. For anyone who isn’t vegan, you can easily substitute regular cheese.
  • Creamy Sausage Pasta – This recipe feels fancy, but it’s very affordable. You can leave the sausage out to make it vegetarian, and I love to make it spicy with red pepper flakes.

Whether you are trying to get a handle on your food budget, fight inflation, or looking for new dinner ideas, these budget friendly meals are great additions to your meal plan.

Besides trying any of the budget friendly recipes in this post, there are other ways to save money on food. 

Here are a few other great tips for reducing your food costs:

  • Always shop with a list and meal plan. This way you can plan your meals based on what is on sale at the store and never buy something unless you really need it.
  • Eat less meat. Meat is often one of the most expensive parts of a meal, and going vegetarian for just a couple of meals a week can help you save money.
  • Buy in bulk. If you can afford to buy in bulk, you can reduce your per item costs.
  • Repurpose your meals. I love doing things like roasting a chicken for one meal and planning to use the leftovers for another meal. You can do the same with roasted vegetables, rice, beans, and more.

I hope you enjoy these budget friendly meals! Sharing easy and delicious recipes is something I love doing, and you can find more in the following posts:

10 Budget Friendly Meals

 

1. Pan-Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu

Get the recipe here.

budget friendly meals

 

2. Au Gratin Potatoes

Get the recipe here.

healthy budget friendly meals

 

3. Stir-Fried Peanut Sesame Noodle

Get the recipe here.

healthy budget friendly meals for two

 

4. Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadilla

Get the recipe here.

healthy budget friendly meals for a crowd

 

5. Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl

Get the recipe here.

What is the cheapest meal you can make?

 

6. Creamy Sausage Pasta

Get the recipe here.

cheap easy healthy meals

 

7. Chicken Fried Rice

Get the recipe here.

cheap dinner ideas for 4

 

8. Crunch Wrap Supreme

Get the recipe here.

vegan budget friendly meals

 

9. Buffalo Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Get the recipe here.

budget friendly meals

 

10. Vegan Miso Mushroom Risotto

Get the recipe here.

budget friendly meals

What are your favorite budget friendly meals?


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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. interesting. recipes are perfect also for lazy days and when there are last minutes guests. Thanks for sharing!!!

  2. Thanks Michelle,
    I had to try the chicken fried rice. So easy to make and so very tasty. I’m not looking back 🙂

  3. Good morning and happy Sunday Michelle,

    I have to say that this foodie blog post on budget-friendly meals is an absolute game-changer. It inspires people like myself to be creative when it comes to strategizing meal planning and thinking out-of-the-box methods to stay on track with my current weight loss progress. As someone who’s constantly seeking creative ways to save money without compromising taste, I was thrilled to stumble upon your post. The tips and recipes shared here are nothing short of brilliant.

    Your approach of providing wholesome, cost-effective meal ideas and blogging about “affiliate marketing and side hustles” is truly commendable. It’s refreshing to see that eating on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on nutritional value or taste.

    I particularly enjoyed the variety of recipes presented, such as the One-Pot Veggie Pasta and the Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. The step-by-step instructions and helpful tips made it easy to follow along and replicate these dishes in my own kitchen. Someday, I may need to put my creative thinking juices to dual use, as I ‘may’ hopefully have “great things to look forward to achieving in the future” 🙂

    #smiling

    In addition to the recipes, the post provides valuable insights on meal planning, smart shopping, and making the most of leftovers. These practical tips have not only helped me save money but also reduced food waste in my household.

    And once again, this blog post in my personal opinion is a goldmine of budget-friendly meal ideas and practical advice. Michelle, I know you’ll continue to do well in your affiliate marketing and blogging endeavors for years to come. Thank you for sharing such a valuable resource. And, thank you for just being you! (smile)

    Your affiliate marketing friend,

    Drewry from Flatbush Brooklyn

    a.k.a.

    Sha-LO

    #PBC4Life

  4. Ray Taylor Tetreault

    Thank you! I printed the Peanut Noodles and Sausage Pasta for next month’s menu planner.