85 Frugal Meals You Can Make Even On A Small Budget

Are you one of the millions who overspend on groceries? It’s okay, we were too!

Its hard work to make a meal plan week after week, especially one that you’ll actually want to stick to. It’s even more difficult when you’re living on a budget.

Frugal meals can be extremely hard to come by if you don’t know where to look, so I took it upon myself to find some of the most affordable meals.

What Makes A Meal A Frugal Meal

The definition of frugal can differ from person to person. When it comes to frugal meals, it must have one of these attributes.

It Has A Small Ingredient List

If a recipe only requires a handful of ingredients it can usually be deemed affordable. Next time you make your grocery list try and stick to meals that have less than 5 ingredients.

Most Of The Ingredients Are Herbs Or Seasonings

Don’t overlook a recipe just because the ingredient list looks long. I use to look at the length of an ingredient list and then dismiss it before reading it.

What I found is that a lot of amazing frugal recipes require a handful of seasonings or herbs but in reality, these are items that you probably already have in your cupboard.

Frugal Food Tip: Meals start getting expensive when you add meat. Try cooking without meat a few days a week.

It Has To Look And Taste Good

Let’s face it, if a meal doesn’t look appetizing it probably isn’t. Even if you do purchase the ingredients, chances are when dinner rolls around you aren’t going to want to make it.

Having a meal that looks good makes you more likely to cook it! 

Frugal Eating Tip: If you’re looking to save money next time you grocery shop, make sure you are taking advantage of the Ibotta app! I save hundreds of dollars a year on groceries with this app.

Frugal Eating articles:

• What Are The Best Cheap Foods To Buy When Broke
• The Best Grocery Store Hacks That Will Help You Save Money On Food
• 8 Genius Hacks For Meal Planning On A Budget That’ll Save You Money
• Extreme Couponing Tips- From a Money Saving Guru
• 20 Cheap Grilling Ideas You Need Before Summer Ends

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To take all the painful work out of meal planning for you, I went on a hunt and found 85 frugal meal ideas that meet all the criteria above.

Hopefully, these cheap, easy meals will satisfy your taste buds and your budget!

Easy Chicken Recipes With Few Ingredients

1. Lemon Garlic Chicken Dump Recipe | via Freezer Meals 101

2. Hawaiian Chicken | via Gluten Free Palate

3. Gluten Free Enchiladas | via Gluten Free Palate

4. Ginger Chicken Recipe | via A Girl Worth Saving

5. Air Fryer Chicken Quesadilla |via Recipes From A Pantry

6. Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Thighs | via Bliss Health Coaching

7. Sheet Pan Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs and Vegetables | via Cook It Real Good

8. Honey BBQ Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks | via Plating Pixels

9. Healthy Curry Chicken Salad |via Tasty Galaxy

10. 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Mexican Chicken | via Joyfully Thriving

11. Mediterranean Chicken Thighs with Olives | via Recipe Pocket

12. Low Carb Instant Pot Salsa Chicken | via Tasty Galaxy

13. Chicken Enchilada Casserole | via Faith Filled Food for Moms

14. Skillet Chicken Sausage with Apples | via Montana Happy

15. Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters | via Where Is My Spoon

16. 5 Ingredient Chicken Curry | via Go Healthy Ever After

17. Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken | via Aileen Cooks

18. Instant Pot Southern Chicken and Rice |via Meaningful Eats

19. Baked Chicken Thighs with Spinach and Tomatoes | via Lori’s Culinary Creations

20. Quick and Healthy Chicken Scampi Recipe | via Eating On A Dime

21. Slow Cooker Garlic Lime Chicken Thighs | via Mashup Mom

22. Grilled Chicken Salad | via Drugstore Divas

23. Quick and Easy Chicken & Dumplings | via DIY With My Guy

Easy Recipes With Beef and Pork

24. Delicious Instant Pot Pulled Pork | via Awe Filled Homemaker

25. Cajun Green Beans With Sausage | via A Sprinkle Of Cayenne

26. Crock Pot Pork Roast and Gravy | via The Cozy Cook

27. Easy Meat Lasagna Recipe | via The Curious Frugal

28. Not Quite Mississippi Crockpot Roast | via Intelligent Domestications

29. Beefy Rice Slow Cooker Casserole | via Freezer Meals 101

30. Sausage and Squash Skillet | via The Gifted Gabber

31. Instant Pot Beef and Gravy | via Recipe This

32. Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast | via The Cozy Cook

33. Paleo Sloppy Joes | via One Clever Chef

34. Pressure Cooker Hamburger Stew | via Two Sleevers

35. Easy Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowl | via Recipe Pocket

36. Crockpot Beef Tips and Gravy | via Intelligent Domestications

37. Lime Teriyaki Carne Deshilachada y Arroz Recipe | via Whispered Inspirations

38.Slow Cooker Kielbasa with Sauerkraut and Potatoes | via I Believe I Can Fry

39. Slow Cooker Crock Pot Port Tenderloin | via Wicked Spatula

40. Turkey Sausage Paleo Breakfast Casserole | via Whole Some Yum

41. Tacos al Carbon | via The Anthony Kitchen

42. Oven Baked Meatball Sandwich | via Home Cooking Memories

43. 4 Ingredient Stove Top Meatloaf | via Cook Eat Go

Meatless Meals On A Budget

44. BBQ Beans Instant Pot | via Freezer Meals 101

45. Easy Pizza Potatoes | via Foodal

46. 5 Mins Air Fryer Pita Bread Pizza | via Recipes From A Pantry

47. Sweet Potato, Lentil and Chickpea Curry | via Cook It Real Good

48. Mushroom Masala- Mushroom Curry | via Recipes From A Pantry

49. Flatbread Pizza | via Little Sunny Kitchen

50. Easy Quinoa Salad | via Cultured Palate

51. 20 Minute Pork Chop Rice One Pot Recipe | via Call Me PMc

52. Roasted Tilapia and Broccoli Sheet Pan Dinner | via No Plate Like Home

53. Slow Cooker White Beans | via The Flying Couponer

54. Homemade Refried Beans | via Cultured Palate

55. Cheap and Easy Tuna Casserole | via Saving Talents

56. Opened Faced Tuna Melts | via Food Meanderings

57. Eggplant Chickpea Peanut Curry | via Rhians Recipes

58. The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili | via Happy Kitchen

59. Instant Pot Vegetable Curry | via Happy Mothering

60. 3 Ingredient Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash | via Home Cooking Memories

61. Instant Pot Lentils and Rice | via Piping Pot Curry

Simple Easy Pasta Recipes

63. Caprese Pasta Bake | via Little Sunny Kitchen

62. 20-Minute Bow Tie Pasta Alfredo | via Moms Who Save

64. Cheesy Taco Penne Ziti | via This Ole Mom

65. Cheeseburger Casserole | via Crayons and Cravings

66. Creamy Macaroni and Cheese | via Cultured Palate

67. Cauliflower Tuna Pasta Bake | via Mrs Jones’s Kitchen

68. Creamy Baked Million Dollar Chicken Spaghetti | via Faith Filled Food for Moms

69. 5 Ingredient Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells | via Happy Kitchen

70. One Pot Cheesy Chicken Pasta | via Call Me PMc

71. Homemade Hamburger Helper | via The Anthony Kitchen

72. Instant Post Pasta and Meatballs | via Cook Eat Go

73. Vegetarian Fajita Pasta – Instant Pot | via Piping Pot Curry

74. Spinach and Cherry Tomato Spaghetti | via A Taste Of Madness

75. Parsley Parmesan Pasta | via Brooklyn Farm Girl

Frugal Soup Recipes

76. Cauliflower and Bacon Soup | via Cook It Real Good

77. Instant Pot Three Sisters Soup | via MOON and spoon and yum

78. Healthy Roast Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup | via Recipe Pocket

79. Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup | via The Flying Couponer

80. Smoky Black Bean Soup | via Nibble and Dine

81. Sprouted Lentil Stew Recipe | via Happy Mothering

82. Vegan Coconut Curry Lentil Soup | via A Taste Of Madness

83. Instant Pot Split Pea Soup Recipe | via The Typical Mom

84. The Very Best Ham And Potato Soup With Peas | via On My Kids Plate

85. Cheap and Easy Hamburger Soup | via Foodal

There you have it! 85 of our favorite broke meals. If you looking for delicious frugal family meals, I hope you found a few to add to your menu above.

What are your favorite go-to frugal meals that you love? Let us know in the comments below!

If you love these recipes make sure to save this post for later and come join us over on Pinterest!

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