You won't have much success swapping salad greens with frozen spinach, but my rule of thumb is this: If a recipe calls for fresh spinach to eventually be cooked down or wilted, you'll save an ungodly amount of money by opting for a bag of the frozen stuff. Unlike fresh spinach, it also keeps for months in the freezer instead of mere days, which means you'll avoid that awful moment when your fresh spinach turns to smelly, soggy mush two days after buying it.

Your spinach might not taste like it was freshly plucked from the farm, but I'll take the marginal difference in flavor if it keeps my wallet happy. Let's say you're cooking up a pasta recipe that calls for five ounces of baby spinach to be wilt. A singular can of full-fat coconut milk makes this dish incredibly rich and filling, and cooking the frozen spinach down until it's velvety soft lends a luxuriously silky mouthfeel that I'll never get enough of.

If tofu isn't your thing, no sweat; I've used cubed rotisserie chicken before and achieved equally tasty results, and the same goes for cooked lentils or chickpeas.

Other favorites: A budget-friendly spinach and artichoke pasta that gives "adult mac 'n' cheese" vibes in the best way possible, or these spinach and feta turkey meatballs that are a meal prep dream come true.

Hot take: I think orzo is the most adaptable pasta shape out there, and I will die on this hill. It's the only type of pasta I know of that works as well in soups and stews as it does in traditional pasta dishes or pasta salads!

At this point, I also have a killer orzo recipe for every single season. Summer is all about supplementing with fresh veggies, herbs, and vibrant dressings to create WFH-approved salads, while the winter months are better suited for stews and creamy pasta dishes.

Maybe I should just go ahead and join the orzo lobby, but I don't think there's an occasion, holiday, or time of year that I couldn't find an orzo recipe to perfectly match.

This zingy pasta salad calls for avocados, which aren't usually the most budget-friendly ingredient, but I've used a variety of other ingredients to bulk things up when I can't find a decent avo deal — chopped cherry tomatoes add a pop of brightness if you want something light and refreshing, or you can use sautéed zucchini for a similarly soft and creamy texture that the avocados would otherwise lend.

The endless options for customization are the reason why I keep this recipe in my regular rotation. Other favorites: A light and bright and summer-friendly orzo salad with lentils and zucchini , or this shockingly simple skillet chicken with buttery orzo.

As a cabbage fanatic, my best tip is to remove only as much as you need and to leave the rest of the cabbage whole in your crisper drawer. Honest to god, it could last you many weeks. If any of the cut sections start to brown, just trim it off with a knife and the rest will be as fresh as the day you bought it.

A minute trip to the oven does something magical to the wedges of cabbage and chunks of carrots that comprise this dish: they turn sweet and nutty, and they soften to a consistency that's creamy yet substantial. The fresh lemongrass takes the whole thing over the top, but I've used a spoonful of green curry paste when I can't get my hands on the former, and it's just as mouthwatering.

Other favorites: This cheesy cabbage gratin that will become a centerpiece at your next holiday table and every holiday after that , or this sesame pasta salad with cabbage and quinoa that really strikes the perfect balance between "pasta" and "salad.

Eggs will always be the first item I reach for when I need a fast meal made with whatever ingredients I can find around my kitchen; egg tacos doused in hot sauce, five-minute fried rice, and even "cheater's" deviled eggs save my wallet and stomach on a near-daily basis.

Knowing that I have a laundry of list of tasty egg recipes in my arsenal, I also keep eggs in the fridge so I'm less tempted to order takeout or dine out when I can't figure out what to make. As someone who doesn't even particularly enjoy most egg salads, this is the one recipe I swear by.

While traditional egg salad can be mayo-heavy and chalky, Japanese-style egg salad and the sandwiches that result from the recipe are light, silky, and full of flavor. The best part is that the leftovers keep exceptionally well so well, in fact, that I swear this dish tastes best on day two or three.

Other favorites: A comforting bowl of pastina when you want a comforting and cheap meal on the fly, or a piping hot skillet of eggs in purgatory made with your favorite jarred marinara to be served alongside a loaf of warm, crusty bread. Sure, canned beans aren't exactly the most delicious food you could grab at the grocery store, but their wallet-friendly pricepoint and inherent versatility make them worthy of claiming a shelf or two in your pantry.

Crack open the can, rinse and drain them, and you've got an ingredient that plays well with others in every single capacity, whether you're using them as a topping or turning them into the main event. On the other hand, dried beans require planning, prep, and some babysitting, while canned beans only require a can opener — and maybe a dollar or so per can.

Though these tacos taste like they're deep-fried, I can assure you they're not; instead of frying the tacos, the store-bought corn tortillas are lightly coated in oil and then baked at a high temperature, which gives them an irresistible shattering texture.

They're exquisite on their own, but even better with a fresh batch of guacamole or your favorite jarred salsa and sour cream for dipping; or, for the best sauce ever, mix sour cream and a spoonful of mayo with a generous drizzle of adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo. Other favorites: An actually-tasty batch of black bean burgers that'll make you wonder why you don't eat black bean burgers more often, or these sweet potato and black bean enchiladas that are surprisingly meaty for a dish that's completely vegetarian.

Bone-in chicken can be scary, but I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be. One of the best cost-saving strategies I've implemented in my kitchen is to ensure that I always have a large pack of chicken thighs in my freezer.

I use chicken thighs as the base for homemade soups or even homemade stocks and roast them to use the meat in salads, and hardly a summer weekend goes by when I don't whip up a massive batch of BBQ chicken thighs on the grill.

IMO, the only way to cook bone-in chicken thighs is to slightly overcook them, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. He loves to serve it at a casual dinner party. The key to bold flavor here: 10 smashed cloves of garlic, plus an extra clove to rub on the toast.

No bread on hand? You could substitute tortillas, farro, quinoa, rice…whatever you have around. For tips on what to do with any leftover capers and salmon , check out this story from Joe Sevier. One of the secrets of great budget cooking is knowing how to lean on shelf-stable pantry staples. Jarred red peppers, for example, can add sweetness and tang to a wide variety of dishes.

Or make this fantastic pasta, topped with garlicky bread crumbs. Looking for easy and cheap meals to make on your grill? In this simple, hearty salad, black beluga lentils and summery produce play important supporting roles. But crispy cheese is the star.

The recipe calls for bread cheese, but Halloumi or paneer would work as well. Looking for ways to use up the rest of your lentils? We have a few lentil recipes to help with that. Use any leftover rolls for making egg sandwiches for breakfast. Drizzle any leftover sauce over some rice or sautéed greens.

Gotta go shopping? Toss the cooked beans with red onion and a lemony cumin dressing, then wrap in lettuce and eat with your hands.

Pan-sear these salmon patties in a little olive oil, then dollop with a tangy mix of plain yogurt, Dijon mustard, and fresh dill. The rice and garlic both get crispy and aromatic.

Top with an egg to round out the meal. The nutty flavor of whole wheat pasta pairs well with bold ingredients like capers and anchovies. Breadcrumbs are a budget-friendly topping that adds crunch and personality—no expensive wedge of Parm required. This is one of those cheap meal ideas that gets even cheaper because of its flexibility.

Follow the recipe to the letter if you wish, or swap out the potatoes for any leftover cooked vegetables that you have in your fridge. The best cheap dinner ideas get the most flavor possible out of every ingredient—here, you crisp some bacon so that you can char peaches and bread in the rendered fat.

All that gets paired with with tomatoes tossed in a garlicky, spicy brine. Joe Sevier.

Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information But that doesn't mean meals have to taste boring! These tasty, cheap, budget-friendly recipes are short on ingredient costs, but long on flavor Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank

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Cheap recipe ingredients - 10 Budget-Friendly Ingredients · 1. In-season fresh fruits and vegetables · 2. Frozen fruits and vegetables · 3. Beans · 4. Canned tomatoes · 5 Eating on a Budget · Brown Rice (or Other Whole Grains) · Canned Beans · Dried Spices · Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information But that doesn't mean meals have to taste boring! These tasty, cheap, budget-friendly recipes are short on ingredient costs, but long on flavor Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank

Styles include everything from sautéing to grilling and roasting. Oils can also be used to make creamy dips, sauces, spreads and dressings. Not sure which oil to choose?

We recommend selecting those that are high and healthy fats. Oils that include healthy fats are olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil, among others. When purchasing oil, make sure it's one that you will use, or else it will likely sit at the back of your cupboard unnoticed.

The more you begin to cook at home, the easier it will be to identify healthy, budget-friendly meals. Keeping a well-stocked pantry of these 15 items is necessary for flavorful cooking on a budget. Now, that doesn't mean you have to purchase all of these ingredients at once. Instead, we encourage you to choose a few ingredients from this list that you enjoy and work them into your weekly meal rotation.

Once you have your basics determined and ready to go, you can begin adding more ingredients to your shopping list. Of course, the ingredients you choose and use from this list is entirely up to you.

Because each person's taste preferences vary, there are likely to be items on this list that appeal to you and others that do not. To make your decision easier, think back to the foods you enjoyed as a child. Did your family cook with a lot of olive oil? Maybe a sweet potato mash was a family tradition around fall?

Whatever ingredients stand out to you, add them to your pantry. And remember, at the end of the day, this is just a suggestion. These foods are versatile, nutritious and delicious. It just depends on how you choose to use them in your kitchen. Your email address will not be published. Copy Link Print Pinterest Facebook.

Home Our Blog Healthy Living 15 Cheap Ingredients You Should Always Have on Hand. Fresh Fruits and Veggies It's no secret that fruits and veggies are great for you. Frozen Fruits and Veggies Now, if you're still craving fruit that is out of season and want to find a more cost-effective way to purchase it, then buying frozen goods is the way to go.

Beans If you genuinely want to save money, then purchase dried beans. Canned Tomatoes Purchasing canned tomatoes, instead of fresh tomatoes, is a great way to extend your ingredients' shelf life.

Grains It's no surprise that we'd put grains in this list; we love them! Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes have recently grown in popularity in the health industry, and it's no surprise as to why.

Eggs Eggs are a great way to stretch your dollar. Precooked Meats Purchasing pre-cooked meat like a rotisserie chicken is a great way to save time and money.

Tofu Looking for more plant-based ways to add protein to your diet? Protein Powder For an efficient and budget-approved way to add more protein to your meals, purchase flavorful protein powder. Condiments Condiments and pickled vegetables can transform a bland meal into a flavorful one in seconds.

Dried Herbs Don't have a fresh herb garden at home? Oil When it comes to cooking, oils often get a bad rap. by Bob's Red Mill. budget friendly meals cheap ingredients.

Add Your Comment Your email address will not be published. This one is easy, cheesy, and a smart way to finish up that jar of kimchi hanging out in the fridge.

Although we and most of our readers love the mixture of nutritional yeast , garlic powder, and onion powder on these vegan nuggets, one commenter was less impressed. If you too crave something bolder, try the method with taco seasoning instead. The humble onion is given center stage in this cheap meal.

Seared, then gently roasted with paprika and tomato paste, these onions prove they have star quality. Transform a can of pumpkin purée into a near-instant pasta sauce—no slow cookers here— that delivers major fall feels. Bonus: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days.

With a generous layer of caramelized onions and plenty of sharp Gruyère cheese, this tart packs the depth of French onion soup into every bite. The tofu in this cheap recipe absorbs all of the flavors in the sauce—and there are a lot of them: shallots, ginger, garlic, cumin, red chile, turmeric, coconut cream , and peanut butter.

It all becomes a sauce you have to make and see to believe. Crunchy fried onions transform a simple cabbage salad into a sensorial delight: hot and cold, crisp and soft, sweet and spicy. Make sure to assemble it just before eating in order to capture those different textures. When the coffers are dry and so is the bread on the counter, this is the one.

This cheap meal requires just a few other ingredients, most of which are already in your kitchen. A garlicky mixture of ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup cooks down until almost sticky in this riff on a Chinese-American classic sesame chicken.

An untraditional but logical addition to the sauce: tahini. You might be surprised by just how flavorful a combination of chicken stock, celery, and chickpeas can be. Garlic, red chiles, lemon, and fresh cilantro contribute to making it so—while still keeping it feeling clean.

If you can swing it, add a big pinch of asafetida for an extra savory note. Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them.

These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze. It means you have croutons.

Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness. The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work.

Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper. Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor.

This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season. In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.

This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs. Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them.

A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles.

In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright.

Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.

One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four. These enchiladas may be ridiculously easy to make, but you would never guess they are made with frozen taquitos!

Simply dump a can of enchilada sauce over top along with some shredded cheese for this delicious Mexican inspired meal. Break out your muffin pan for this family friendly meal! The Pillsbury biscuit dough makes for the perfect little edible bowls.

You can vary it up every time you make it by adding ground beef, sausage, or veggies to the layers, along with the ravioli of your choice! This fun twist on cheeseburgers uses refrigerated biscuits instead of buns!

A total upgrade if you ask me. Simply dump a few chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, a block of cream cheese and some taco seasoning into your slow cooker.

Wait a few hours, and then watch as magic happens. This shredded chicken and gravy is exquisite over mashed potatoes or rice!

It kind of reminds me of Thanksgiving which makes me feel all happy inside. Serve this main dish with a side of your favorite veggies to make a complete family meal. Do you think frozen burritos are dry and boring?

Try smothering them in enchilada sauce and cheese! This classic recipe is popular for a reason! Frozen garlic toast makes for the perfect last-minute pizza crust.

Top it with your favorite pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the toppings of your choice such as pepperoni or olives.