Groceries are often the biggest expense we have after rent. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to save on groceries like meal planning. What’s more, sticking to a food budget doesn’t have to be boring or bland. Here are some of our favorite budget-friendly meals.
5 Budget-Friendly Weeknight Dinners
Sausage, Potato, and Green Bean Packets
It’s a fresh take on the classic foil packet meal. Instead of the usual, bland hamburger patty and veggies, this brings the flavor with Cajun spices and sausage. Check it out.
Here are the ingredients:
- 12 ounces of smoked sausage
- 1.5 pounds of baby potatoes, quartered
- 8 ounces of green beans (fresh or frozen)
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Aluminum foil
You can grill or bake these packets. This recipe makes 4 servings and costs roughly $8 to $10, including the Cajun seasoning and foil. That’s $2 to $2.50 per serving!
Salsa Verde Enchilada Pie
If you love verde chicken enchiladas, you’ll love this recipe. It is just as delicious but half of the work. Instead of making individual enchiladas, you turn it into a layered pie. It saves time and money – because you don’t need to go to your favorite Mexican restaurant to get your enchilada fix.
Here are the ingredients:
- 1 cup salsa verde
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 bunches of cilantro
- Salt and pepper
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 2 scallions
- 1.5 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 16 corn tortillas
Since this recipe uses pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, it only takes about 35 minutes to make from start to finish. Plus, you only use half of the chicken, so you use the other half for meals later in the week. The recipe makes 6 servings and the ingredients cost around $16. That equals $2.66 per serving.
Lasagna Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Looking for a healthier way to enjoy lasagna? We’ve got you covered with this recipe. Spaghetti squash makes a great base with fewer calories and carbohydrates than traditional lasagna noodles. With the broccoli, it’s also a delicious way to get a serving of vegetables.
Here are the ingredients:
- 2 small spaghetti squash
- 1 cup cottage or ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 8 ounces of frozen broccoli florets, thawed
- ¾ cup marinara or tomato sauce
- 3 ounces part-skim mozzarella
This dinner takes about 40 minutes and makes 4 servings. The ingredients cost around $15 which equals $3.75 per serving. Since you don’t use all of the ingredients, except for the spaghetti squash, you could easily double the recipe and freeze some for later. If you do that, you’ll spend roughly $21 but the cost per serving drops to $2.62 per serving.
Crustless Vegetable Quiche
Going meatless once or twice a week is a great way to cut back on the grocery bill. With this healthy, delicious quiche, you won’t even miss the meat. Guaranteed.
Here are the ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of butter (to grease pie pan)
- 16 oz of frozen mixed vegetables
- 8 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
This recipe makes 8 servings or slices, and each one only has 192 calories! Serve with a salad for lunch or dinner. Then, save the rest and heat it up for breakfast throughout the week. This versatile meal is a must-have go-to recipe, and the ingredients only cost about $7.50. That’s just $0.94 per serving!
Breaded Tilapia with Sautéed Zucchini and Tomatoes
Fish is a heart-healthy, lean protein and there are so many tasty options. We like this recipe because it uses budget-friendly tilapia while incorporating a serving of vegetables. It’s a tasty, light, budget-friendly weeknight meal.
Here are the ingredients:
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 1 egg, whisked
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
You can eat this dinner as-is or serve with a side salad and rolls. The ingredients cost around $8.60 which makes it about $2.15 per serving. The next time you meal plan, plan to try one of these recipes. You’ll save money by making these budget-friendly meals at home, helping you move towards your financial goals.
