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Frugal meals are at the heart of a frugal lifestyle, with many focusing on the kitchen for most of their budget cuts. It’s where they ensure that leftovers don’t go to waste, while food scraps like peelings and shells form a part of their composting regime.
Meal planning is essential to families on a budget, and we’re all looking for healthy, hearty dishes that don’t break the bank. We want taste, nutrition, and affordability. Those are high standards to meet, but many ideas fit the requirements.
These tips suggest finding meals that can be prepared for about $10. Some will be considerably less, but all options suit families on a budget.
1. Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti bolognese is an old family favorite, and for good reason. This delicious dish is a delicious way to feed the family without breaking the budget. The most expensive ingredient is the ground beef, while the tomato sauce, seasoning, and pasta combine to complete the meal.
A family of four can easily dine on spaghetti bolognese for under $10, and it’s a perfect fit for our criteria.
2. Omelet
An omelet is one of the cheapest meals you can serve. You can’t make it without breaking eggs, so break some, beat them, throw them in a pan, and add your flavors. Cheese, mushrooms, ham, and onions all work well, but the choice is yours.
Some cooks struggle with knowing when to turn the omelet, so here’s a quick tip: Baked omelets are easy and less labor intensive, but the results are equally delicious.
3. Chicken and Noodles
Instant ramen noodles are a store cupboard staple. They’re quick and filling, but eating ramen without an accompaniment will soon get boring. You can add many extras, but chicken strips, vegetables, and a dash of sesame oil are tasty suggestions.
Again, the cost of ramen for an average-sized family should come in at less than $10, and you’ll have a good balance of taste and nutrition with the chicken and noodles.
4. Mushroom Stroganoff
Eliminating meat can save you a lot of money on meals. If you’re already vegetarian or vegan, you have a head start, but meat eaters can also enjoy dishes such as mushroom stroganoff.
If you use a variety of mushrooms, including some of the meatier options, you won’t miss the beef. You’ll also save money while enjoying a delicious family meal.
5. Roast Dinner
While roast meals sound expensive, that doesn’t have to be the case. A relatively cheap meat cut, such as beef shin, is an ideal centerpiece. It requires slower cooking, but beef shin is perfectly tender when the cook has some patience and time.
Carrots, potatoes, parsnips, cabbage, and other vegetables are perfect, inexpensive accompaniments.
6. Cheesy Pasta Bake
I cook this favorite frugal meal when my vegetarian daughter is home. It’s simple and one that I’m always asked to prepare ahead of her return. The bake includes red onion, spinach, and mushrooms. I don’t often have leftovers with this dinner.
Cooked pasta in a rich cheese sauce finishes a hearty and comforting dish.
7. Slow Cooker Stew
A stew doesn’t have to be made in a slow cooker, but the lengthy cooking time helps make the meat even more tender. It’s also easy to make, which is perfect for the busy head of the family.
Brown some beef or your protein in a skillet, and add gravy and vegetables. It’s a simple dish that fits the frugal code, and stew is always ideal for those cold winter nights.
8. Stuffed Cabbage
If cabbage isn’t your thing, you can try this dish with zucchini or any other type of squash. The filling is up to you but usually involves savory ground beef with corn in a rich sauce.
A stuffed cabbage meal is also perfect for using any leftover vegetables, so it fits the frugal lifestyle as a cheap, healthy dish that reduces waste.
9. Grilled Chicken With Basil and Tomato
A grilled chicken breast is a popular meal, particularly at lunchtime. It won’t leave you overfull and sluggish as you attempt to get on with the rest of your day, but who wants to eat a plain dish with no accompaniment?
Grilled tomato and basil on the side and a drizzle of dressing bring this dish to life while keeping it within the frugal category.
10. Risotto
The arborio rice is the most expensive element of this dish, but it’s still a cheap option. You could replace it with regular rice, but arborio rice is about $3, so it’s a worthwhile investment.
Risotto makes this list because it’s a flexible, inexpensive, and healthy family meal. You can add many ingredients, but why not try bacon with a bit of goat cheese as an imaginative dish?
11. Lentil Dhal
Dhal and risotto are similar dishes. Both can be labor intensive and require lots of stirring, patience, and attention. However, there are slow-cooker dhal options that you can set and forget.
Dhals are also flexible, and you can add many different ingredients. Lentils are a staple to the dish, while my favorite dhal recipe adds halloumi cheese and roasted butternut squash.
12. Cottage Pie
This meal should cost comfortably less than $10, and it’s another winter family favorite. Ground beef surrounded by healthy vegetables and topped with mashed potato is a classic dish and one of the first I learned to cook at home.
Lovers of ground lamb can swap out the beef and make a shepherd’s pie as an alternative. Either option fits the frugal brief.
13. Beanburgers
Beanburgers can be tricky. They’re all about the right binder. Most people add an egg to ensure the burgers maintain their shape. If you can’t get that right, you can finish with beans and scrambled eggs. The flavor is also tricky since this meal requires lots of seasoning.
Once you master the art of the beanburger, it’s one of the cheapest family meals around and should cost less than $5 for four people.
14. Vegetable Curry
This is another dish that frugal families use to clear up leftovers. Virtually any vegetable can go into a curry for a healthy, spicy dinner. Curries are tasty and highly versatile. They don’t have to be spicy; the cook can easily regulate the spicing to suit all diners.
Cauliflower is a good centerpiece option for this dish. When perfectly cooked, it absorbs all the flavors and has a meaty texture.
15. Pizza
While it may not be the healthiest option on this list, pizza is a family favorite and qualifies because it can be cheap to prepare. There’s no need to call for an expensive carryout. The homemade version can be just as tasty.
If you’re not confident making the dough, pizza bases can be bought at the store. Tomato sauce and cheese are the essential base elements, and then you’re free to add whichever delicious toppings you desire.
16. Pork Chops in Cider
Pork and lamb chops are cheaper cuts of meat, but they’re always tasty family favorites. This dish only works with pork, and it’s suitable for all ages since the alcohol burns away, leaving the lovely apple flavor of the cider.
The chops are braised in the liquid, and adding vegetables such as leeks or mushrooms is common. Add a cheesy breadcrumb topping for a burst of fabulous frugal flavors.
17. Sausage Casserole
Pork is also the predominant meat in sausages, but this dish also works with beef, lamb, and chicken. Sausage casserole is another hearty main meal that can be prepared in the slow cooker if the cook is busy.
The dish ticks all our boxes: Delicious, simple to prepare, and inexpensive. The bonus for frugal followers is that you can adapt your sausage casserole to use a host of leftover vegetables.
18. Spanish Tortilla
This could be the cheapest option on the list. A Spanish tortilla requires potatoes, eggs, onion, garlic, and peppers to cook the dish for a family of four for less than $5.
All our other demands are met: It’s a tasty meal, another dish where you can veer from the classic recipe and add whichever vegetables you have left in the fridge.
