Cooking at home can be expensive. Buying specialty ingredients, pricey meats, and random spices seriously adds up! But all you need is a bit of planning to make home cooking affordable
So we rounded up 16 recipes you can make for less than $10 — from creamy mac and cheese to hearty slow cooker chili.
A note about recipe costs: All recipe costs have been either provided by the recipe authors or roughly calculated using Instacart. We went ahead and assumed you had some staple ingredients in your pantry — like olive oil and spices — so actual recipe costs may differ.
This creamy mac and cheese is loaded with all kinds of good stuff like white cheddar, broccoli, and seared chicken. Vegetarian? Leave out the chicken. Broccoli isn't your favorite? Feel free to substitute it with whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Estimated recipe cost: $6.66
This creamy mac and cheese is loaded with all kinds of good stuff like white cheddar, broccoli, and seared chicken. Vegetarian? Leave out the chicken. Broccoli isn't your favorite? Feel free to substitute it with whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Estimated recipe cost: $6.66
2. Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
If you love Buffalo chicken, you'll love this vegetarian take on the classic. Hearty chickpeas take the place of chicken making it both vegetarian and budget-friendly.
Estimated recipe cost: $3.84 (for two servings)
3. Bean and Cheese Burritos
These simple bean and cheese burritos can be assembled ahead of time, placed into Ziploc baggies, and stashed in the freezer for a quick dinner. When you're ready to eat them, just heat them up in the microwave or wrap them in foil and bake in a 350ºF oven for 40 minutes.
Estimated recipe cost: $6.93
4. Sheet-Pan Crispy Chicken Strips and Veggies
One pan of roasted veggies, and another filled with crispy chicken tenders. What's not to love?
Estimated recipe cost: $10
5. Roasted Sausage With Broccoli and Fennel
Because sausage and fennel are a match made in heaven — and broccoli goes with just about everything, so why not include it. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Estimated recipe cost: $9.50
6. Penne Aglio e Olio
Although aglio e olio is traditionally made with spaghetti, this rendition makes the ultimate budget-friendly meal. It only takes a handful of staple ingredients and comes together in a flash.
Estimated recipe cost: $3.89
Just throw everything into your slow cooker except the beans and let it do its thing. After a few hours, dump the beans in, garnish with whatever your heart desires, and dinner is done.
Estimated recipe cost: $9.90
Just throw everything into your slow cooker except the beans and let it do its thing. After a few hours, dump the beans in, garnish with whatever your heart desires, and dinner is done.
Estimated recipe cost: $9.90
8. Chickpea Masala
This hearty chickpea masala is the perfect recipe for vegetarians and can be prepared spicy or mild depending on your taste. The recipe calls for a splash of heavy cream, but you can use coconut milk to keep it vegan.
Estimated recipe cost: $4.10
9. 15-Minute Roasted Chicken and Veggies
This fuss-free recipe roasts everything on a single sheet pan for the easiest weeknight dinner you could ever imagine.
Estimated recipe cost: $8.13
10. Creamy Tomato Shells
This pasta is ultra creamy but doesn't call for any dairy. The secret? Blending cashews into reserved pasta water. It thickens the sauce and gives it a silky texture without having to add any cheese or heavy cream.
Estimated recipe cost: $8.73
11. Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers
Roasted red peppers, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese give this simple pasta dish a ton of flavor without a ton of effort.
Estimated recipe cost: $9.70
This pasta salad is totally make-ahead friendly and comes together in no time. It uses store-bought pesto as a flavorful dressing, making it a cinch to throw together.
Estimated recipe cost: $10
This pasta salad is totally make-ahead friendly and comes together in no time. It uses store-bought pesto as a flavorful dressing, making it a cinch to throw together.
Estimated recipe cost: $10
13. Sesame Peanut Noodles
Make a big batch of these noodles and enjoy them for several meals. You can top them with salmon, chicken, a soft-boiled egg, or eat them all by themselves.
Estimated recipe cost: $4.88
14. Caprese Grilled Cheese
This baby is everything you love about caprese and grilled cheese crammed into one delicious sandwich. Serve it with salad or soup, and you've got yourself a dinner that's both fancy and budget-friendly.
Estimated recipe cost: $9.08
All you need is soy sauce + garlic + honey to make simple chicken breasts taste amazing.
Estimated recipe cost: $6.39
All you need is soy sauce + garlic + honey to make simple chicken breasts taste amazing.
Estimated recipe cost: $6.39
Serve this spicy pork stir-fry over rice, noodles, or enjoy it all by itself. It's the perfect quick recipe for make when your strapped for time, and it tastes amazing, too.
Estimated recipe cost: $5.19
Serve this spicy pork stir-fry over rice, noodles, or enjoy it all by itself. It's the perfect quick recipe for make when your strapped for time, and it tastes amazing, too.
Estimated recipe cost: $5.19
Looking for more budget-friendly recipe inspiration? Check out these posts:
• 27 Easy Meals That Won't Break The Bank