Eating well on a budget is mostly about leaning on the cheap stuff that fills you up, beans, lentils, rice, pantry staples, a little ground beef stretched a long way.
None of these dinners taste like you’re pinching pennies, but your grocery bill will know the difference.
Hearty, filling and easy on the wallet.
Let’s save some money.
Creamy Shrimp Verde With Spiced Rice
All that rice and beans stretches a little shrimp into a full, hearty meal. Creamy, comforting and filling. A small splurge made budget friendly.
Thai Beef with Carrot Basil Salad
One pound of ground beef over a big pot of rice feeds a few for cheap. Saucy, quick and satisfying. The carrot salad costs almost nothing and freshens it up.
Black Bean Burger
Cheap canned beans turned into a hearty burger. Costs next to nothing and fills you right up. A budget hero that doesn’t taste like one.
Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon
A can of salmon, an egg and some breadcrumbs makes dinner for six. About as cheap as a fish dinner gets. Pantry staples to the rescue.
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy joes from The Modern Proper, a little beef stretched with a sweet savory sauce. Cheap, filling and nostalgic. Buns and you’re done.
Taco Soup
Taco soup from The Modern Proper, loaded with cheap beans and pantry stuff. Stretches far and tastes great. Budget dinner that feeds a crowd.
Baked Mostaccioli
A big pan of cheesy baked pasta from The Modern Proper. Pasta and sauce go a long way for a little money. Comfort food on a budget.
Crock-Pot Taco Meat
Make a big batch of cheap taco meat in the crockpot, from The Modern Proper. It becomes tacos, bowls and nachos all week. Stretch one cook into many dinners.
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Stuffed pepper soup from The Modern Proper, all the flavor for less fuss and less money. Rice and a little beef fill it out. Cheap and cozy.
Easy Bolognese | The Modern Proper
A rich meat sauce from The Modern Proper that stretches over loads of cheap pasta. Make a double batch and freeze. Two budget dinners from one cook.
Easy Picadillo Recipe | The Modern Proper
Saucy, savory picadillo from The Modern Proper, ground beef stretched with potatoes. Serve over rice and it goes far. Cheap and full of flavor.
Sheet Pan Harissa Meatballs and Cabbage | The Modern Proper
Meatballs and cheap cabbage roasted on one pan, from The Modern Proper. Bold flavor, low cost, minimal cleanup. Budget cooking that still feels special.
Smoky Red Lentil Soup with Spinach
Red lentils are dirt cheap and so filling, and this smoky soup from Pinch of Yum makes the most of them. Hearty and nourishing. A few dollars feeds a few people.
Instant Pot Red Curry Lentils
Red curry lentils from Pinch of Yum, rich and cozy over rice. Cheap pantry ingredients, big payoff. A budget dinner you’ll actually look forward to.
Plantain and Pinto Stew with Aji Verde
A hearty plantain and pinto bean stew from Pinch of Yum. Cheap beans and starchy plantain make it filling. Different, warming and easy on the wallet.
One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale
A one pan farro with tomatoes and kale, from Pinch of Yum. Cheap grains made hearty and satisfying. Minimal ingredients, minimal cleanup.
Black Pepper Stir Fried Udon
Saucy black pepper udon from Pinch of Yum. Cheap noodles and a punchy sauce, ready fast. Beats takeout for a fraction of the price.
Sopa Tarasca (Pinto Bean Soup) with Jalapeño Corn Fritters
A creamy pinto bean soup from Pinch of Yum. Beans are about the cheapest protein there is, and this makes them shine. Filling and full of flavor.
Harissa Chickpeas with Whipped Feta
Spicy harissa chickpeas over whipped feta, from Pinch of Yum. Cheap canned chickpeas dressed up nice. Pile it on bread and call it dinner.
Smoky Beans & Greens Tacos with Aji Verde
Smoky bean and greens tacos from Pinch of Yum. Cheap, fast and full of flavor. Meatless taco night that keeps the budget happy.
Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls
Spicy peanut tofu bowls from Pinch of Yum. Cheap tofu and pantry peanut butter make a filling meal. Big flavor for not much money.
Chipotle Tahini Bowls
Smoky chipotle tahini bowls from Pinch of Yum, built on cheap grains and veg. Hearty, satisfying and meatless. A budget bowl that doesn’t feel cheap.
30 Minute Chili Honey Garlic Salmon Bowls.
A little salmon goes a long way over rice in these bowls from Half Baked Harvest. A modest splurge stretched into a full meal. Worth it now and then.
Healthy One-Pot Cheddar Chicken Chili
A one pot chicken chili from Half Baked Harvest, stretched with cheap beans. Makes a big batch that lasts. Filling, frugal and freezer friendly.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup from Honest and Truly, cheap and cozy. A little chicken, some noodles, a big pot of comfort. Budget cooking at its most classic.
Thai Chicken Chili
A Thai twist on chili from Honest and Truly, stretched with beans and coconut. Cheap, warming and a little different. A big pot that feeds you for days.
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
Hearty chicken and rice soup from Honest and Truly. Cheap rice fills it out and makes it stick to your ribs. Filling comfort for very little money.
So there’s a whole month of dinners that go easy on your grocery budget without going easy on flavor.
Beans and lentils and rice do the heavy lifting, a little meat stretches a long way, and the leftovers keep the savings going.
Stock the pantry, make big batches, and eating cheap turns into eating pretty darn well.