When it comes to creating budget-friendly meals, these delicious recipes will inspire you. I’ve provided creative pasta dishes that cost literally just a few dollars per meal, along with side dishes and more. These are all recipes I have made over the years, most of the time on a very tight budget!
Budget Friendly Meal Ideas that Use Pasta
Pasta is one of the most inexpensive and cheap meals you can make for a family dinner. Fortunately, with the right ingredients, you don’t have to sacrifice flavor to meat your budget. The Italians know how to make simple pasta dishes taste amazing even on a dime, so let’s get started!
This budget friendly pasta recipe avoids expensive heavy creams and uses regular milk and cheese. Alfredo recipes shouldn't require a runny sauce where the pasta is swimming in it. For this recipe, a little goes a long way. Plus, I like using this recipe with leftover chicken – no one would ever know it used yesterday's chicken!
This recipes can use as little as 3 ingredients! Pasta, cheese and olive oil. As simple as it sounds, this dish is classic Italian – no sauce needed just a flavorful cheese and extra virgin olive oil. It's quick, easy and costs next to nothing using basic pantry ingredients!
I never truly enjoyed peas until I had this recipe many years ago. No extra sauce is required. This recipe is a traditional Italian dish and I show you how to make it in no time. It's literally ready to serve by the time the pasta is done cooking.
I learned this recipe from my Sicilian mother-in-law many years ago. It uses basic ingredients found in most pantry's. The breadcrumbs are flavored with Italian seasoning and toasted in a pan until crispy. It's incredibly affordable and can be used with a variety of pasta shapes.
If you don't usually have olive oil on hand, you can use butter for this dish. It's become popular for meal planning over the past few years, but it's been around forever in Italian circles. The garlic cooked in the butter gives it a wonderful flavor and then mixed with pasta and cheese. Make sure to check out my tips for more modifications.
This dish is great for the summer, especially when you are growing your own vegetables. By using your own veggies, you're drastically reducing the cost of ingredients. This dinner is colorful, flavorful, and super easy to make!
Check out more pasta recipes that are easy and delicious!
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Budget Friendly Side Dishes
Here are some side dishes I often make that are very affordable. Use them alongside weeknight dinner meals, or even to round out your holiday dinner plans.
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Roasted Cauliflower with Romano Cheese
You can use Parmesan cheese as well for this dish which tends to be less expensive. But it's not as flavorful and robust as Romano, but it doesn't mean it still won't be delicious!
Yep, even Italians use string beans in their cooking. This is another super affordable recipe that looks festive and tastes great, especially if you're fortunate enough to grow your own vegetables!
To have a delicious salad doesn't mean you have to use a ton of ingredients. The secret with this salad is the quality of the extra virgin olive oil. Make sure it's a flavorful one and follow the tips I provide.
Cabbage is not only healthy, it goes a long way. For this recipe from my Aunt, it's as simple as simple can be. It uses oregano as the main seasoning. Check it out for how to make it as a low-cost side dish.
Potato salad comes in many forms, but this one is dairy-free, making it even cheaper to put together. It's similar to a German potato salad, but slightly different.
When on a tight budget for your groceries and meals, using healthy grains will help tremendously. That's because they are full of fiber which helps us feel more full and satisfied. With barley, a little goes a long way making it even more budget-friendly.
The reason I'm including this side dish is because you can use frozen broccoli from the grocery store. I have found buying frozen broccoli is not only cheaper, but more convenient since it's already cleaned and chopped. Cooked with garlic and olive oil it couldn't be easier.
This recipe is great for the summer when whole large tomatoes are in season. Stuffed with tuna from a can, along with other common ingredients, this flexible recipe is show-stopper for sure! No one would ever guess this was on a budget meals list.
When my husband and I are on a tight budget, we often resort to soup making. It is so economical and can last days if you make enough. You can also freeze leftovers to use when your starting to max out your grocery spending.
Here are some of my favorite low-cost soups! Want more soups? Check out our full collection of soups here.
19
Kale and Potato Soup
This soup is meat-free, which means it will save you money. It's also very tasty thanks to the use of the vegetables. The kale is not overpowering and the potatoes make this a filling and satisfying lunch or dinner.
Beans are full of protein and they are low-cost whether you purchase them dry or in a can. I use canned beans and pasta to bulk up the soup. It's a traditional Italian soup that is easy to make and very flexible.
The premise of this soup is simple – very small pasta shapes and chicken bullion. We use it when we're sick as it's a popular Italian comfort soup. You can make it as brothy as you want or not. I like mine less brothy, but it's very flexible to suit your own preference.
Minestrone can be made in large batches and frozen. My recipe creates enough for at least 6 people. Adjust quantities and use what you have on hand. I break it all down in my post.
When thinking about desserts, budget-conscious doesn’t usually come to mind. But here are some of my favorite low-cost sweets that I make without feeling guilty for an after-dinner dessert.
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Ricotta with Apricot Jam
The beauty of this recipe is that it uses what you have. Although I love apricot jam, you can use other jams as well such as orange, strawberry, etc. Serve in a nice pretty stem glass and enjoy the simplicity of a rich tasting dish!
I prefer to use espresso for the extra flavor, but strong brewed coffee will work well too. This pudding is homemade and you'll be surprised at how easy it is to make. It's decadent and rich in flavor.
You seriously can't get cheaper than this when the main ingredient is water! Grab some lemons and sugar and you'll have this refreshing after-dinner dessert at a fraction of what you'd pay in the store.
Grab some whole milk ricotta at the grocery store like Aldi along with some chocolate cocoa powder. That's all you need! It's perfect for chocolate lovers with a budget friendly price.
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My name is Liz, a 2nd generation Italian-American. I love sharing easy Italian recipes through my blog and videos to anyone who enjoys Italian cooking. Learn more about me.
