Falafels are best made with dried chickpeas that you can soak the night before, and they’re even cheaper than canned. This recipe shows you how to make crispy, golden, flavorful falafel, perfect for stuffing into a fluffy pita with fresh veggies and hummus or tzatziki sauce.
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Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Ground beef is one of the more affordable protein sources out there. Make a big batch of this simplified bolognese sauce, and serve it on top of spaghetti, rice or even baked potatoes for a filling, inexpensive dinner the whole family will love. Get the recipe here.
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Raspberry Balsamic Baked Chicken Wings
These sweet and tangy wings only cost $2.27 per serving, and most of the ingredients are staples you probably already have on hand. Get the recipe here.
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Potato Tortilla
The great thing about a potato tortilla, or Spanish potato omelette, is that you can serve it cold or hot, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Our recipe only requires six ingredients, and it’s filling enough that you can serve it with a simple green salad on the side.
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Veggie Pita Pizza
These vegetarian pita pizzas are a great way to satisfy comfort food cravings without breaking the bank. Not to mention, they’re ready in 30 minutes and are made with whole wheat pizzas for extra nutritiousness. Get the recipe here.
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Homemade Fish Sticks
A handful of pantry staples and some affordable white fish fillets are all you need to make these crispy delicious homemade fish sticks. On top of that, they’re baked and much healthier than anything you’ll find in the frozen foods section of the grocery store. Get the recipe here.
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10-Minute White Bean Soup with Parmesan
This hearty, soothing soup is packed with fiber-rich white beans, spinach and parmesan cheese in a flavorful tomato-y broth. Made with humble ingredients, this recipe yields a big batch, so you can enjoy the leftovers for days.
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Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce
Inexpensive chicken thighs in a savory yet ultra simple satay sauce are the star combination in this delicious recipe. Whip these up in 30 minutes, and serve with a side of white rice or sesame noodles for the easiest Asian-inspired dinner.
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Classic Grilled Cheese
You can’t beat grilled cheese sandwiches when it comes to budget-friendly meals. All you need is cheddar (or American cheese slices), butter and white bread. Doesn’t get much better than that. Get the recipe here.
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Best Baked Potatoes with Broccoli & Cheese Sauce
Everyone’s favorite veggie-cheese combo also happens to be an excellent choice for stuffing into baked potatoes for a cheap and easy dinner. These are hearty enough to enjoy as a main course, though you can also easily serve them as a side. Get the recipe here.
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Mushroom Stroganoff
This vegetarian take on classic beef stroganoff is no less satisfying, thanks to meaty baby bella mushrooms and a lightened-up cream sauce. Served with wavy egg noodles, it’s ready in 30 minutes, and you won’t even miss the meat. Get the recipe here.
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Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Fried rice is a forever-reliable option for a low-cost dinner that comes together in a flash. This easy recipe includes traditional veggies with a boost of protein from chicken thighs and quick-cooking eggs.
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Super Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a great inexpensive meal, a guaranteed family-pleaser, and so easy to make! This version keeps the ingredient list to a minimum, without compromising on flavor. Get the recipe here.
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Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork Tacos
Pulled pork is a no-fail budget-friendly protein, due to its versatility and the fact that it uses pork shoulder (or pork butt), which is the one of the cheapest cuts. This crockpot recipe calls for 4-5 pounds of it, which means you’ll have plenty of leftovers to use throughout the week.
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Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
When watching your food budget, turn to old-fashioned dishes like this classic tuna noodle casserole. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s made with 5 pantry staples that won’t set you back. Get the recipe here.
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Healthy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Up your family’s veggie intake, and keep the food budget down by subbing in cauliflower for chicken wings. This recipe comes out of the oven hot and crispy, with just 127 calories per serving.
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Crispy Black Bean and Rice Burritos
Black beans and rice are some of the cheapest pantry staples out there, and in this Tex-Mex recipe, they form the hearty filling combo for crispy burritos. With the addition of cheese, veggies and seasonings, it’s guaranteed to fill you up without weighing you down.
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30-Minute Baked Potato Soup
Creamy potato soup is a delicious, hearty and affordable dinner option, and this easy recipe comes together quickly with veggies, chicken stock, milk and a few tasty toppings for extra flavor.
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Easy 5 Ingredient Chili
You can’t go wrong with a simmering, delicious bowl of chili that only requires 5 ingredients to make. This recipe is ready in 30 minutes and will satisfy your hearty comfort food cravings on busy weeknights.
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French Bread Pizza
When you don’t have the time or patience to make homemade pizza, you can still get your fix by replacing the dough with an inexpensive loaf of French bread. Using this recipe as a base, you can add all the toppings you want, or keep it simple with pepperoni, tomatoes and basil.
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Baked Caprese Chicken
Turn a classic summer salad into a winter delight with this easy, low-cost baked Caprese chicken. Pair it with pasta or roasted veggies on the side for a healthy yet satisfying Italian-style meal. Get the recipe here.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein
Satisfy your Chinese takeout cravings with this recipe for slow cooker chicken chow mein. Not only is it way less greasy, but you also control the quantity of each ingredient that goes in, so you can get your noodle fix guilt-free.
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Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet
Why buy the boxed stuff when homemade hamburger helper is literally a cinch to prepare? This delicious 15-minute recipe prepares it with a handful of everyday spices, budget-friendly ground beef, pasta and cheese.
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Moroccan Chicken with Couscous
Moroccan-spiced chicken is the perfect companion to savory pearl couscous, flavored with the same seasonings, aromatic veggies, sweet raisins and a bit of lemon juice. Even better, it’ll give you a delightful taste of North African food without leaving home. Get the recipe here.
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Easy Weeknight Coconut Curry Shrimp Bowls
Got some frozen cooked shrimp in the freezer? Make these quick and easy noodle bowls with inexpensive pantry staples. They make for an ideal takeout-style meal that won’t break the bank. Get the recipe here.
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Easy One Pot Lasagna
While most beef stews call for relatively inexpensive stew meat, you can make this hearty dish even more affordable by opting for ground beef instead. This recipe does just that, combining root veggies and pantry staples to create a deeply satisfying dish you’ll make again and again.
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The Best Lentil Soup
No need to seek out obscure or expensive organic ingredients to make a filling, vegan-friendly dish like this one-pot lentil soup. It’s got a lovely flavor profile with smoky, warm spices and fresh spinach to up the nutrition. Get the recipe here.
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Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings are one of the best, inexpensive comfort foods for many families. Even though many versions advocate buying refrigerated biscuits to save time, it’s ridiculously easy to make them from scratch. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll get what we mean.
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Oven Baked Denver Omelet
This 6-ingredient baked omelet is wonderfully fluffy and thick, not to mention perfect for sharing with the whole family. Cheap, easy and filling—it doesn’t get much better than that! Get the recipe here.
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Cacio E Pepe With Arugula And Lemon
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COVID-19 vaccine questions answered by medical experts: vials of vaccine Getty Images The swifter-than-ever approval of the COVID-19 vaccines was a welcome bit of good news to wrap up 2020. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially authorized emergency use of both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 11 and […]
