On a super tight budget and need to eat cheaply? Here are some simple meals to make when you have no money!
Although things are fine now, there were quite a few times when my family needed some really cheap dinner ideas.
We’ve gone through 4 job losses, two of which my husband John was the sole money earner. And with a young daughter, that can prove to be tough!
Each time though, we’ve gotten through it. I had to be super creative with food to keep a $30/week grocery budget for a family of 3, but we ate well and survived. In fact, all the recipes we made can be found in my e-book, Emergency Meals.
The following 16 meals are some cheap family meals. Those “Oh crap, I don’t have a lot of money next week” meals. They’re not fancy, but they get the job done. And when you’re on a super tight budget, you’re just looking for the cheapest meal ideas!
Whether you’re looking for the cheapest meal to make, or what to make with no money, hopefully these meals will give you ideas on what to feed your family.
Are these meals healthy?
Some of the cheapest meals below may not be nutritionally balanced. That is, they have bare-bones ingredients and may not include any fruits or vegetables.
When you have no extra money, you do what you can with what you have; and when you can add extra veggies to your meal, do it so you can add some extra nutrition. But I believe these easy recipes are perfectly fine to serve to your family, whether or not you are in a rough financial spot!
Here are 16 cheap meals, breakfasts and dinners alike, that you can make with very little money.
Meals to Make When You Have No Money
1.) Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
This one’s a bit obvious, but PB&J is a classic staple and a REALLY simple meal. It’s kid-friendly, requires cheap ingredients, and is just plain good. I like to eat mine with a banana and string cheese or yogurt.
Whole wheat bread can go well with this because it has extra protein and fiber- which keeps you full longer!
Someone once told me that PB&J is not actually a real meal; but it’s in my belly, so it must be!
2.) Pasta and jarred sauce
These are items I recommend you keep in your pantry at all times. You never know when you need an emergency meal, and pasta and sauce is as easy as it comes. When you head to the grocery store next time, think about buying one of each just in case.
If you have shredded mozzarella, you can even mix cooked pasta and sauce in a casserole dish, sprinkle the cheese on top, and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes for a simple pasta bake!
3.) Bean and cheese burritos
Here’s my favorite recipe. Homemade refried beans and a little shredded cheddar cheese make an easy burrito. These freeze well, too!
If you don’t like refried beans, black beans or lentils work well too. You can also add sour cream or salsa.
4.) Pancakes/waffles
You don’t even need boxed pancake mix to make pancakes/waffles. It costs pennies to make up a simple batch, and it’s a very cheap dinner alternative.
I’m fond of this oatmeal pancake recipe, and this Freezer Whole Wheat Waffles recipe. This is comfort food my whole family enjoys!
5.) Grilled cheese sandwiches
The classic grilled cheese. You can do pretty much anything with this, but my favorite is sliced cheddar with fresh baked bread. I could probably eat about 5 in one sitting.
To add to this simple tasty meal, buy a can of tomato soup if you’re able.
6.) Chili cheese dogs
Very simple and filling dinner. Canned chili is the easiest, although if you made chili earlier in the week, you can use leftovers as a great way to save money!
7.) Sloppy Joes
Ground beef/turkey with a few condiments cooked together, and it’s a simple dinner! Here’s my favorite Sloppy Joe recipe, and if you’re going meatless, here’s a slow cooker Lentil Sloppy Joe recipe. This one makes a ton!
8.) Goulash
Who knew something so simple could be so good? Cooked macaroni, ground beef, and tomatoes! Here’s the recipe we use for a low cost meal.
9.) Baked potatoes
I LOVE making baked potatoes for dinner. You can add broccoli and cheese, bacon, taco toppings, or even baked beans. I’d never heard of that last one until recently, but it sounds interesting!
10.) Quesadillas
This is one of my favorite meals because they’re so customizable. Add anything to it: Rice, black beans, shredded chicken breasts, ground beef, or even just plain cheese.
11.) Red beans and rice
A good way to make plain rice and beans taste better. Here’s my favorite recipe!
12.) Biscuits
Biscuits make a great breakfast item. Make an egg sandwich, add a simple gravy on top, or eat plain with butter and honey. Here’s my favorite biscuit recipe.
13.) Tuna melts
The most basic recipe calls for tuna and mayo, with a slice of cheese, but you can add hard-boiled eggs, relish, or other simple ingredients to make it more filling.
14.) Egg and cheese burritos
Breakfast burritos are great in the mornings, and even freeze well. You can add ground sausage to stretch it more.
15.) Rice and beans burrito bowl
Maybe I’m weird, but I’m okay with eating just rice and black beans. It’s one of those easy weeknight meals using food already in my pantry.
The best combination, for me, is adding roasted sweet potatoes, and eating it with salsa and shredded cheese.
16.) Oat bars
Any kind of baked oatmeal is cheap and great for breakfast. You can add bananas, chocolate chips, blueberries… The possibilities are endless, and they’re all delicious.
Here is a cheap one that contains just peanut butter.
17. Yogurt Parfait
While Greek yogurt has more protein, it is more expensive. Feel free to use plain regular yogurt and any cheap fruits- apples or berries, depending on the season, and this makes an excellent breakfast idea!
Granola is delicious in yogurt as well! You can be frugal about it and make your own, like this Honey Vanilla Granola.
18. Ham and Beans
Do you have a ham bone in the freezer? Use that along with a bag of dried pinto beans to make a delicious and frugal Ham and Beans! It makes a ton, and you can serve it with homemade cornbread.
19. Soup
The great thing about soup is that you can add pretty much anything to it. Leftover chicken, beans, pasta, any kind of vegetable… Soup can serve a ton for a low price, and is amazing with homemade bread!
On weeks when we were a little low on cash for food, I would use Swagbucks to help earn gift cards for stores like Sam’s Club to stock up on essentials like toilet paper. That can get expensive, especially when your grocery budget includes household items!
Swagbucks really helped when we needed to pay for Allison’s baby formula. Click here to create an account and start earning FREE gift cards to stores like Sam’s Club, Wal Mart, Amazon, and Target!
Making meal plans every week is really one of the best ways to save money and get the best deals on groceries. Follow my beginner’s guide to get started today!
Other frugal meal ideas to help you out:
- 20 Dinners That Cost 5 Dollars or Less
- 50 Cheap Healthy Meal Ideas
Jaime
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach and professional writer. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.
As an enthusiast with extensive knowledge in budget-friendly meal planning and creative cooking on a tight budget, I've navigated through challenging financial times, facing job losses and the need to sustain a family of three on a mere $30 per week for groceries. During this period, my resourcefulness led to the creation of an e-book titled "Emergency Meals," compiling practical and affordable recipes that helped my family not only survive but eat well.
Now, let's delve into the concepts introduced in the article, providing insights and additional information where relevant:
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches:
- Expert Tip: Whole wheat bread adds extra protein and fiber, making the meal more filling.
- Additional Information: Including a banana and string cheese or yogurt complements the simplicity of this classic, kid-friendly meal.
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Pasta and Jarred Sauce:
- Expert Tip: Keep pasta and jarred sauce in your pantry for emergency meals.
- Additional Information: Enhance it by creating a simple pasta bake with shredded mozzarella.
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Bean and Cheese Burritos:
- Expert Tip: Homemade refried beans and shredded cheddar cheese make for an easy and freezer-friendly burrito.
- Variations: Black beans or lentils can be used as alternatives, and additions like sour cream or salsa enhance flavor.
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Pancakes/Waffles:
- Expert Tip: Making pancakes/waffles from scratch is cost-effective and offers a cheap dinner alternative.
- Recommended Recipes: Oatmeal pancake and Freezer Whole Wheat Waffles recipes add a comforting touch.
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Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:
- Expert Tip: Sliced cheddar with fresh-baked bread elevates the classic grilled cheese.
- Enhancement: Pairing it with canned tomato soup creates a more satisfying meal.
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Chili Cheese Dogs:
- Expert Tip: Canned chili simplifies preparation for a quick and filling dinner.
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Sloppy Joes:
- Expert Tip: Ground beef/turkey with condiments creates a simple yet flavorful dinner.
- Variation: A meatless option using a slow cooker Lentil Sloppy Joe recipe is provided.
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Goulash:
- Expert Tip: Combine cooked macaroni, ground beef, and tomatoes for a surprisingly good and low-cost meal.
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Baked Potatoes:
- Expert Tip: Baked potatoes are versatile; toppings like broccoli and cheese, bacon, or baked beans add variety.
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Quesadillas:
- Expert Tip: Quesadillas are customizable; ingredients like rice, black beans, shredded chicken, or ground beef can be added.
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Red Beans and Rice:
- Expert Tip: A simple way to make plain rice and beans tastier.
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Biscuits:
- Expert Tip: Biscuits are not just for breakfast; they can be paired with various toppings for a satisfying meal.
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Tuna Melts:
- Expert Tip: Basic tuna and mayo can be enhanced with hard-boiled eggs, relish, or other ingredients.
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Egg and Cheese Burritos:
- Expert Tip: Breakfast burritos freeze well; adding ground sausage can stretch the meal further.
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Rice and Beans Burrito Bowl:
- Expert Tip: A simple combination of rice and black beans; adding roasted sweet potatoes, salsa, and shredded cheese enhances flavor.
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Oat Bars:
- Expert Tip: Baked oatmeal, like peanut butter oat bars, is a cheap and delicious breakfast option.
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Yogurt Parfait:
- Expert Tip: Using plain regular yogurt with cheap fruits and granola creates a nutritious and budget-friendly breakfast.
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Ham and Beans:
- Expert Tip: Utilize a ham bone with dried pinto beans for a frugal and flavorful Ham and Beans dish.
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Soup:
- Expert Tip: Soup is versatile; leftovers, chicken, beans, pasta, or any vegetable can be added for a low-cost and filling meal.
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Additional Frugal Meal Ideas:
- Expert Tip: Utilize platforms like Swagbucks to earn gift cards for essential items, helping manage a tight grocery budget.
- Meal Planning: Creating weekly meal plans is an effective strategy for saving money on groceries.
In conclusion, these budget-friendly meal ideas not only provide cost-effective options but also showcase the adaptability and creativity required to maintain nutritious and satisfying meals even in challenging financial situations.
