Budget Meals Recipes

Make the budget work harder

Low-cost meals are most useful when they also reduce waste. Beans, rice, pasta, potatoes, eggs, and ground meat stretch well, while planned leftovers can become fried rice, burritos, quesadillas, soup, or a second lunch.

Compare price per serving rather than the package price alone, and treat optional garnishes as optional. Many recipes here include swaps for a more expensive protein or vegetable; keep the cooking method the same, but adjust liquid and timing when the replacement contains more moisture.

Recipes in this collection

• Creamy Tuscan White Bean Skillet
• Family-Style Fried Rice
• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• Easy Lo Mein
• Baked Potato Bar
• One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
• Beef and Bean Burritos
• Chicken Quesadilla Night
• Garlic Parmesan Rice
• Loaded Baked Potato Soup
• Sloppy Joes
• Ants on a Log