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Frugal Meals that Are Also Healthy & Delicious
These 29 Healthy Recipes for Delicious Frugal Meals will help you eat well while not blowing your grocery budget.
I don’t know anyone who isn’t trying to tighten their belt and their food budget. From groceries to gas, everything is getting more expensive lately.
Before we dive into recipes for frugal dinners, let’s step back for just a second and think about ways we can better spend our grocery money on a tight budget and how we can reduce food waste once we get those groceries home. Both of these posts are chock full of suggestions and actionable ideas. Incorporating some of these frugal living suggestions will further help us reign in our grocery bills and save money.
So, with that info under our belts, let’s look at some healthy, delicious, and filling frugal dinner ideas and recipes that use relatively inexpensive ingredients. These recipes run the gamut, from potato soup to pasta dishes and everything in between.
Frugal Meal Recipes
Just because these fall into the ‘frugal recipes’ category doesn’t mean they aren’t also healthy and delicious. Frugal and Delicious are not mutually exclusive.
Crock Pot Pinto Beans
These delicious crock pot pinto beans, flavored with onions, jalapeños, garlic and spices, have become a staple in our home because they are effortless to make and very versatile. In addition to the slow cooker pinto beans recipe, we discuss whether to soak or not soak your beans, as well as how to cook this recipe in an Instant Pot and on the stovetop.
The simplest Marinara sauce is the best sauce. Five minutes of prep time and 15-20 minutes of cook time result in the most flavorful and quick Marinara sauce.
Rigatoni al Forno, literally 'Rigatoni from the oven,' is Italian comfort food at its best. Pasta baked in a flavorful tomato sauce with oodles of delicious mozzarella cheese. It is virtually impossible to mess up this simple recipe.
This Chicken Vegetable Soup recipe is an uncomplicated soup that really lets the flavors of the chicken shine through. But, you could also consider this recipe a jumping-off point; you’ll get a nice, flavorful broth chockful of chicken, carrots, celery, and onion. Then, feel free to add in your favorite veggies before serving to make this soup just what your tastebuds are craving.
This Tuscan White Bean Soup can be made in the Slow Cooker or on the Stove Top. The results are equally delicious; it’s just up to you what would make your day easier!
Let chuck roast slowly simmer in garlic, onion, Worcestershire, and soy sauce for the day, and you'll have the best fork-tender, pull-apart beef for sandwiches, enchilada or burrito filling, and more. Add this Slow Cooker Pulled Beef recipe to your recipe stash; it will be one you return to repeatedly.
This crockpot turkey chili recipe is the perfect 'set and forget' meal. Whether it's a game day, a ski day, a busy day or just a cold night, this ground turkey chili will be a welcome meal come dinner time. A few minutes of prep time in the morning will yield a big batch of healthy and hearty turkey chili for dinner.Both crockpot and stovetop instructions are provided.
This easy-to-make Brothy Beans Recipe is in regular rotation at our home. Large White Beans (Cannellini Beans) are cooked in the oven until they are tender, flavorful, and brothy. Suggested variations to this original recipe are included.
This 15 Bean Soup Recipe is easy to make in the slow cooker and can be made healthier by substituting Smoked Turkey Wings and/or Legs instead of Smoked Ham Hocks. Instructions for making this soup in the slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the oven are included, as well as adjustments for soaking or not soaking your dried beans.
Hummus Wraps are an easy, quick, healthy, and economical lunch and light dinner options that can also be vegetarian and gluten-free depending on the wrap used.
This light and creamy Bow-Tie Pasta recipe is easy enough for everyday, elegant enough for company. A restaurant-quality farfalle pasta dinner; creamy, loaded with flavor, ready in about 20 minutes.
Ready in less than 30 minutes, this Gemelli Pasta recipe is so delicious! A garlic lemon pasta recipe that will keep your family at the table for seconds!
Greek Quinoa Bowls are ideal for meal planning with nutty quinoa, heatlhy Romesco sauce, veggies and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Vegan & Gluten Free.
A healthier copycat recipe for Panera Autumn Squash Soup that the whole family will love. This easy, vegetarian copycat autumn squash soup recipe is silky smooth and delicious.
Our Asian spaghetti squash recipe fuses ethnic flavor with a fall veggie staple for a healthy weeknight meal. If you want a unique, nutrient-dense dish
Roast cherry tomatoes with garlic, then toss with fresh mozzarella cheese and angel hair pasta to create a truly amazing weeknight dinner the entire family will enjoy!
Air fryer stuffed peppers combine the flavor power of peppers with lean beef, tomatoes, onions, garlic and Italian spices to create a delicious fast-to-the-table entree.
This baked barbecue chicken is mouth-watering and finger-lickin’ good! My oven barbecue chicken is basted with a tangy Memphis-style BBQ sauce to create a delicious glaze.
These air fryer chicken thighs are surprisingly crispy with how little oil you need. Enjoy tender bites of poultry with a smoky citrus flavor for a simple weeknight meal.
Creamy Spinach Spaghetti Squash Casserole combines fresh “squaghetti” noodles with sautéed spinach, red bell pepper, and garlic plus three kinds of cheese to create a rich, yet delicate dish.
Nothing says comfort like a bowl of hearty soup! Pasta Fagioli Soup is one of our favorites, right up there with Taco Soup, and Citrus Chicken Soup. This
More Ideas for Frugal Meals That are also Simple Meals
In addition to these delicious recipes, some other very frugal meals are:
Tacos (with ground beef or turkey)
French Bread Pizzas (Cut a loaf of french bread in half, top it with pizza sauce and sprinkle it with cheese. A couple of minutes under the broiler and you have a filling meal that is perfect when paired with a healthy salad)
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Garbage Soup (gather your leftover meat and vegetables and put them in a pot with some broth, seasonings, and diced tomatoes. This was a staple in our home growing up.)
Bean and Cheese Burritos (any beans will work, but seasoned black beans or pinto beans are our favorites)
Omelets
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Baked Potatoes or Baked Sweet Potatoes topped with broccoli, chili, sour cream, and/or cheese.
Make quesadillas with your leftover taco meat or season leftover meat with taco seasoning. Fill with refried beans, cheese, and vegetables. The variations are endless.
Sloppy Joes
Once you’ve gone through these recipes, a good idea is to make your weekly meal plans incorporate several of these recipes that use similar ingredients. Having items on your shopping list that you’ll use more than once is a great way to save money.
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Sooo many great recipes, my weekly meal planning is now done! Whoop!
Oh yay! That’s the intention.