40 budget recipes

Looking to cut down on waste? We've also shared our top 10 money saving hacks to use up food leftovers.

40 budget meal ideas

Tuna pasta bake

Tuna pasta bake is an absolute classic which doesn't break the bank, and we've taken it up a notch with the simple addition of dried chilli flakes and rosemary. You can use the grill as an alternative to the oven, too.

Vegetable omelette

Try this quick and easy dinner for one – we've jazzed up this omelette with plenty of low-cost toppings, including grated courgette, kale, peas and chilli flakes.

Vegetable slice

Adding red lentils to this vegetable-packed frittata not only provides an extra boost of protein but also adds a subtle texture. As an affordable storecupboard staple, red lentils make this a budget-friendly and nutritious choice.

Chicken fried rice

Prepare this quick and effortless meal when time is short. It's perfect for using up leftover rice or chicken, helping to reduce waste while keeping costs low.

Classic mac 'n' cheese

This warming comfort food classic only needs five ingredients, and hits the spot every time. Perfect when you're in the mood to cozy up with a bowl of cheesy carbs but don't want a pricey trip to the shops.

If you don't want to use an oven, grill for 20 minutes until golden and crisp on top.

One-pan sausage pasta

For a budget-friendly twist on meatballs, squeeze the sausage meat directly into the tomato sauce. This minimises effort and cost and delivers a hearty meal in 30 minutes.

Healthy turkey burgers

Try these herby burgers featuring turkey mince for a healthier, low-cost burger alternative – they're low in calories and packed with protein.

Red lentil curry

Try our vegetarian spiced crispy egg and lentil curry for a low-calorie, high-protein, comforting winter meal. Enjoy with pilau rice or a fresh paratha.

Singapore noodles

This speedy vegan dinner is flavoured with everyday cheap ingredients such as ginger, garlic, chilli and soy, while the frozen stir-fry veggies keep prep to a minimum.

Spinach, chickpea and potato curry

Make the most of low-cost storecupboard ingredients such as potatoes, chickpeas and chopped tomatoes in this lightly spiced vegan curry. It makes a wholesome midweek meal for four.

Bread pudding

Use up stale bread to make this comforting old-school dessert – it's simple to whip up and most of the ingredients you'll already have at home.

Corned beef hash

This filling dish with crispy potatoes and corned beef will never go out of style, plus it's highly likely you'll already have most of the ingredients required.

Quick tamarind potato curry

This simple vegan tamarind potato curry is packed with punchy flavour, it's low in calories and easily serves 4, a great warming family meal

Egg fried rice

This versatile dish means you can thrown in whatever frozen mixed veg you have, making it an inexpensive, yet wholesome and delicious one-dish meal.

Overnight oats

A hearty way of filling up, these simple and healthy overnight oats keep breakfast cheap and cheerful.

Scrambled eggs

The perfect quick and easy breakfast – discover how to make the creamiest scrambled eggs with just two ingredients. Even more delicious when served over buttered toast.

Spicy chickpea, potato and filo slice

For a delicious and budget-friendly vegetarian family meal, try our spicy chickpea, potato and filo slice. Tinned chickpeas and potatoes are affordable storecupboard staples, while using ready-made filo pastry keeps preparation quick and hassle-free.

Chicken souvlaki

Make this Greek fast food dish with whatever veg you have lying around, skewered with chicken and served with flatbread. We've made this dish lighter by using chicken breast, rather than thighs.

Cabbage soup

Warm up with an aromatic bowl of cabbage soup, made punchy and colourful with dill, tomato and lemon. Cabbage is affordable, and the soup can be easily frozen in portions to last longer.

Tomato, spinach and mascarpone gnocchi

This veggie gnocchi uses just five low-cost ingredients and is ready in just 20 minutes. Instead of using the oven, grill until bubbling and golden.

Sweet potato and lentil curry

Once you have your cumin, coriander and turmeric, this vibrant vegan curry becomes a brilliant budget dish.

Quinoa and black bean chilli

Leave out the avocado to keep costs down in this vegan chilli – once you have your spices, this is an inexpensive dinner to add to your repertoire.

Linguine with fresh puttanesca sauce

On the table in just 15 minutes, use up any linguine hidden at the back of the storecupboard to make this tangy, salty puttanesca. It's flavoured with easy-to-find staples such as capers, garlic and chilli.

Vegetarian lentil bolognese

A tin of Puy lentils is the hero ingredient in this bolognese – it's a great vegetarian alternative for when you don't want to use a meat substitute but still want a substantial meal. Plus, it's easy to make and healthy.

Chicken and spinach pilaf

Use up left-over roast chicken to make this quick and nutritious pilaf, flavoured with spices you'll most likely already have in your cupboard.

Orzo, bean and tuna salad

Turn storecupboard staples such as orzo, tinned tuna and black olives into this nutritious orzo pasta salad with roasted red peppers.

Super storecupboard salad

Keep costs down by using a pouch of cooked mixed grains to make this fresh and thrifty salad.

Vegetable pasta bake

A Mediterranean-inspired freezable pasta bake packed with summer veg – use frozen if not in season.

Baked sweet potatoes with smoky beans

A nifty and microwavable recipe that's perfect for midweek dinners – you'll find you have most of these storecupboard ingredients already.

Golden onion and spring veg pilaf

Add plenty of colour midweek with this nourishing vegetarian one-pot packed with plenty of greens.

Broccoli pasta

This five-ingredient broccoli pasta is easy, vegan, and ready in just 20 minutes – ideal for a midweek meal on a budget.

Courgette fritters

Top our lightly spiced courgetti fritters with poached eggs for a quick dish that uses storecupboard staples such as flour and hot sauce.

Baked spinach and ricotta pancakes

Ready-made pancakes are used as an alternative to pasta in this simple Italian-inspired dish with ricotta, spinach and tomato sauce.

Tomato and red pepper soup

This tomato and red pepper soup is cheaper (and easier) to make than you might think – serve with crusty bread to make a filling lunch or dinner.

Purple sprouting broccoli and fried eggs on toast

Cumin seeds and chilli flakes add punch to this vegetarian dish. It's low in cost without sacrificing on health or flavour.

Gnocchi with peas, pesto and spinach

This cheap and cheerful recipe requires just five ingredients, including peas and baby spinach – it's ready in just 10 minutes, too.

Aubergine parmigiana

Create a classic Italian dish that is both hearty and comforting – a true family favourite. Using budget-friendly ingredients like tinned tomatoes and aubergines, this meal is rich in flavour without stretching your wallet.

No-cook recipes

Falafel, beetroot and hummus grain bowl

Buy a cheap pack of microwavable cooked mixed grains to make this simple yet stylish meal for two.

Vegan burrito bowl

Chuck a handful of cheap ingredients together to make this vegan burrito bowl, delivering all the big flavours you'd want without using the oven.

Chia pudding

Using a handful of storecupboard staples, top this creamy chia pudding with quickly cooked apples to make a simple and healthy brekkie.