You’ve just finished building your dream kitchen from a leading kitchen designer in Denver, which was expensive. Plus, inflation across the board recently hit a 40-year high, making affordably feeding your family a bigger challenge than ever before. But of course, you want to put your new culinary space to good use.
To regulate damage control, here are 10 budget-friendly recipes to feed your family without breaking the bank. We’ll be hand-picking recipes from a number of sites to show a variety of different foods, accommodate certain limitations like vegan and gluten-free options, and add levels of difficulty, the time required, and serving sizes.
One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Rotisserie Chicken
Ingredients Required:
- 4 cups of water,
- 8 ounces whole-grain linguine or fettuccine, broken in half,
- 2 tablespoons olive oil,
- 3/4 teaspoon salt,
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest,
- 2.5 tablespoons lemon juice,
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper,
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken,
- chopped fresh basil for garnish
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 25 minutes
Estimated Cost: $10-15
This hearty, healthy meal is sure to fill up a family of four at a reasonable price. Serve with a side salad and a glass of red wine. This recipe is free of eggs, soy, nuts, and is high in protein.
Sweet Potato, Black Bean Tacos
Ingredients Required:
- 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- ½ cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 (15 ounces) can of no-salt-added black beans, rinsed
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 8 (5-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
- ⅓ cup crumbled queso fresco
- 1 medium avocado, thinly sliced
- Sour cream, salsa, toasted pepitas, and/or fresh cilantro leaves for serving (optional)
- Lime wedges
- chopped fresh basil for garnish
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 45 minutes
Estimated Cost: $15-25
This healthy, vegetarian option provides a satisfying taco experience without the overabundance of salt and greasy meats. Serve with tortilla chips and salsa. This recipe is free of eggs, gluten, soy, and nuts.
Egg-In-A-Hole Fried Quinoa
Ingredients Required:
- 3 tablespoons peanut or canola oil, divided
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- 2 cups green beans, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 small yellow squash, diced
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 2 cups cold cooked quinoa (see Tip)
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, preferably vegetarian
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 25 minutes
Estimated Cost: $10-20
Eggs fried to order and quinoa make for a protein and fiber duet in a flat skillet. This innovative take on a stir-fry-like meal can be served for any meal of the day. This recipe is free of dairy, gluten, and soy, as well as being vegetarian, heart healthy, and low-calorie.
Vegan Salad Bowls
Ingredients Required:
- 7 ounces of couscous
- 14 ounces of canned mixed beans
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ¾ small bunch of dill, torn
- 2 watermelon radishes or 6 small ones, sliced
- ½ cucumber, peeled into ribbons
For pickling:
- 1 large red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ small red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ small bunch of dill leaves picked
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 15 minutes
Estimated Cost: $10-15
This healthy, vegan, no-cook option is a tasty and easy meal for all eaters. With fresh, bright ingredients with a nice pickling aspect, this light meal is sure to fill you up also. This recipe is free of nuts, dairy, gluten, and is vegan and vegetarian, and nutritious.
Two-Ingredient-Dough Margherita Pizza
Ingredients Required: for dough
- 1 ¼ cups self-rising flour (whole wheat preferred)
- 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
Other ingredients:
- All-purpose flour for rolling
- ½ teaspoon cornmeal
- ⅓ cup prepared pizza sauce
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup torn basil leaves
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 15 minutes
Estimated Cost: $10
Save on the delivery fee and make an easy, healthy pizza option for your family. This recipe is vegetarian, egg-free, nut- and soy-free, and is high in calcium, low in calories, and promotes bone health and healthy aging.
Cheeseburger Cups
Ingredients Required:
- 1 pound of ground beef
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of yellow (or spicy) mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tube (12 ounces) of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
- ½ cup cubed Velveeta cheese
Servings: 5
Total Time Required: 30 minutes
Estimated Cost: Under $10
This kid-friendly fun meal brings innovative junk food to your kitchen. Enjoy cheeseburger bites for a child’s sleepover, birthday party, or easy family meal.
Fruit-Glazed Pork Chops
Ingredients Required:
- ⅓ cup hickory smoke-flavored barbecue sauce
- ½ cup apricot or peach preserves
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 bone-in pork loin chops (¾ inch thick and 8 ounces each)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon
Servings: 6
Total Time Required: 20 minutes
Estimated Cost: $10-12
After watching Masterchef, elevate your home pork chop game with this sweet and savory family meal. Serve over a bed of sauteed vegetables like squash and peppers. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and high in protein.
PB&J French Toast
Ingredients Required:
- ¼ cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- ¼ cup jelly of your choice
- 8 slices of bread
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk or alternative
- 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
- Optional: maple syrup or fruit topping
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 15 minutes
Estimated Cost: Under $10
A fun meeting of a breakfast dish and peanut butter and jelly sandwich, this sweet treat makes for a solid snack, breakfast-for-dinner meal, or decadent lunch. This vegetarian delight is a guilty pleasure, fun to make, and good for kids.
Creole Shrimp and Sausage
Ingredients Required:
- ½ cup of water
- ½ cup of chicken broth
- 1 cup of quick-cooking bulgur
- ½ teaspoon of chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon Creole seasoning
- ½ pound of smoked sausage, cut into ¼-inch slices
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- 1 medium chopped onion
- 1 medium chopped green pepper
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 can (16 ounces) of kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (14 ½ ounces) of undrained diced tomatoes
- ½ pound uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 30 minutes
Estimated Cost: $10-15
This budget-friendly taste of New Orleans can bring a voodoo-spicy array of flavors in one big clump. This seafood dish is an affordable and fun recipe to make at home with the entire family. Not for those with a spicy food intolerance.
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Roll-Ups
Ingredients Required:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
- ¼ cup hot sauce or buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 1 cup crushed corn flakes
Servings: 4
Total Time Required: 45 mins (prep and bake)
Estimated Cost: Under $10
This classic is perfect for game-day celebrations, family gatherings, or simple family meals around the table. This wholesome recipe combines classic crispy chicken and spicy buffalo sauce, which could be perfect for hangover relief as well. Serve with french fries, mashed potatoes, broccoli or asparagus, carrots and celery.
You’re All Set
Now equipped with 10 of the best recipes for an affordable family meal, your dream kitchen can take the blunt of the bill, while your meals allow you to count your savings.
