Sometimes the budget is tight and you just need to feed your family without spending lots of money!
An unexpected bill or expense can really throw a wrench in your financial goals, and cutting food spending can really help out.
Using highly affordable meals throughout the week is also a way to pad your grocery budget. A dinner party, a birthday party or another higher food spending event can throw off your spending. However, throwing one or two super cheap meals into the mix can really help!
Low grocery spending is totally doable!
Check out how I grocery shop and meal plan, and some of my recent grocery hauls and meal plans!
Grab a couple of my super cheap (but totally tasty!) meal ideas to keep your budget on track!
47 Super Cheap Meals
1. Red Beans and Rice
All you need are a couple of cans of red beans, some rice and seasonings! We love Tony’s seasoning around here, but the options are endless!
2. Black Bean Taco Rice Bowls
Again, beans and rice make the bulk of this meal. Throwing in anything else is just extra!
3. Eggs and Toast
Breakfast for dinner? Yum! Super cheap. Super easy!
4. Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches
The bananas add a little something extra without adding expense! A great kid friendly option, too!
5. Tuna Casserole
Don’t hate on this until you’ve tried it. I made it recently and it was delicious! Cream of mushroom soup, any pasta you would like, tuna and green peas. Super cheap ingredients. Totally satisfying meal!
6. Tuna Salad
Tuna, boiled eggs, mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip!), and some pickles. Serve it on sandwiches, toast, crackers. Great to keep in the fridge too!
7. Pasta Salad
Pasta, Italian dressing, and whatever veggies you have in your refrigerator.
8. Black Bean Burrito Rice Skillet
Rice, black beans, tomato sauce and seasonings. Top with some cheese and it’s delicious and super satisfying!
9. Spaghetti with Marinara
Spaghetti noodles and marinara sauces. Done. SO cheap and SO easy!
10. Vegetarian Chili
All of the goodness of chili without the meat price tag! Black beans, chili beans, tomatoes! Yum!
11. Black Bean Tacos/Burritos/Quesadillas
A can (or 2) of black beans seasoned just like you would meat and thrown into a tortilla. Super cheap. Really easy!
12. Chicken and Rice Bake
There is something SO comforting to me about chicken and rice. 2 cups of rice, cream of chicken soup, and a little bit of chicken. YUM!
13. Egg Sandwiches
Fried egg, toast and cheese.
14. Tuna Patties
Tuna, saltines and eggs. A really satisfying meal with some of the cheapest ingredients you can buy!
15. Pancakes and Eggs
Who doesn’t love pancakes? Flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter. Ingredients you probably already have on hand!
16. Waffles and Eggs
Again, who doesn’t love waffles? Really filling and really kid friendly!
17. Cornbread and White Beans
Cornbread is all ingredients that you should already have in your pantry! White beans and cheap and the perfect combination with cornbread. Country cooking at its finest.
18. Meatless Taco Soup
All you need is a can of black beans, a can of corn, a can of tomato sauce, rice and seasonings!
19. Ground Turkey Taco Soup
If meatless isn’t your thing, buy some frozen ground turkey. It’s much cheaper than ground beef, but still gives you the added protein you might be craving.
20. Chicken Taco Soup
Use a can of chicken or a little bit of leftover chicken from another meal!
21. Chicken and Rice Soup
Carrots, a can of chicken, chicken broth and rice. So satisfying! So yummy!
22. Vegetable Soup
Use any veggies you have in your freezer or fridge! Peas, carrots, okra, corn! The options are endless!
23. Potato Soup
Potatoes (or hashbrowns), any milk or cream you have on hand and cheese! Who doesn’t love potato soup on a cold night?
24. Alfredo Pasta
Pasta, and Alfredo sauce. Top with some spinach or broccoli if you have some!
25. Egg Salad
Eggs, mayonnaise, mustard. Serve with crackers or toast.
26. Chicken Noodle Soup
If you’re sick or not, this is a delicious meal! Use canned or leftover chicken to make this really cheap!
27. Sweet Potato Tacos
Roasted sweet potatoes served on a taco with black beans! All of the deliciousness of a taco without the meat price tag.
28. Vegetarian Chili Potatoes
Bean chili on top of a baked potato! Total comfort food! Totally cheap!
29. Potatoes with Ground Turkey Casserole
Cubed potatoes with cream of chicken soup, sour cream and a little bit of ground turkey. Yum!!
30. Ham and Potato Casserole
Cubed potatoes, cream of chicken, sour cream and some leftover ham! Top with some cheese!
31. Ham and White Beans
If you have leftover ham, pair it with some white beans!
32. Chicken Salad with Crackers
Canned chicken, mayonnaise, eggs, and grapes! Keeps in the fridge and makes a great light supper.
33. Peanut Butter and Jelly
What a great cheap classic!
34. Grilled Cheese
Never underestimate the deliciousness of “kid” food! Sometimes a grilled cheese hits the spot (and misses the wallet!)
35. Macaroni and Cheese
Pasta, cheese, and milk. Make your own for a yummy dinner!
36. Oatmeal and Eggs
Who says you can only eat oats for breakfast? What a great, filling supper!
37. Hot Dogs and Macaroni
Make your own macaroni and throw in some sliced hot dogs! Not very classy, but gets the job done!
38. Hot Dogs on Bun
Grill some hot dogs and eat them with some mustard!
39. Ramen Noodles with Peas and Eggs
Make your own version of takeout! Throw some soy sauce into a skillet with ramen noodles and stir fry your own noodles.
40. Veggie Fried Rice
Rice, eggs, peas and carrots! Delicious and nutritious!
41. Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
A can of red beans, a cup of rice and an andouille sausage.
42. Homemade Pizza
Flour, yeast and water! Along with your favorite toppings! Way cheaper than take out!
43. Homemade Hamburger Helper
Pasta, ground turkey, seasoning and cheese.
44. Black Bean Soup
Yummy and nutritious!
45. Chili Dogs (Vegetarian Chili)
Throw some bean chili over top of a hot dog! Yum!
46. Hot Dog Chili
Slice up hot dogs and put them into a bean chili! Kid friendly!
When should you use super cheap meals?
Obviously, there are times that you should be using more cheap meals than others.
- If you have blown the budget on an unexpected expense, you may want to make your meal plan entirely from this list.
An easy way to recoup money FAST is by eating for next to nothing. A lot of these meals you can make from pantry items that you won’t even have to go out and purchase. That basically makes your meal plan FREE.
- If you want to save up for a more expensive meal, use meals from this list as a buffer!
You want to have steak and shrimp for dinner one night? Great! Just eat cheaply the days before and after so that you don’t feel the punch of the more expensive food.
Most of these meals will feed a family of 4 for under $2.
You DO have the money in the budget to feed your family WELL! You just may have to get a little bit creative while you’re doing it. 🙂
I hope this is helpful to you!
If you need help meal planning, download my free meal plan printable here!