10 easy budget family meals
- Georgina Kiely
loading...
Try the Good Food app - subscribe today
To make cooking on a budget simple, we've devised these thrifty family meals. They're nutritious, easy to make and most importantly, taste delicious.
Need some budget-friendly meal inspiration for busy weeknights? These simple recipes won't break the bank, are really easy to prep and packed full of fresh ingredients and flavour. Try innovative, cost-conscious recipes that will help you make stress-free midweek meals to feed four. Rustle up a veggie supper like no other or a hearty meat feast – we've got it all.
Ad
This guide was brought to you by Cook Smart, a campaign designed by Good Food experts to help you save money and reduce food waste. Dive into more Cook Smart content in our budget hub.
3 easy budget hacks
For even more budget-friendly ideas, check out our collections of budget recipes and freezable family recipes, plus see our top 10 budget family meals. Also see our budget section for more money-saving tips and recipe inspiration.
1. Easy chicken stew
A healthy and satisfying family meal that makes the most of chicken thighs and plenty of chunky veg. Only 10 minutes prep time is required for this easy chicken stew, before letting it slowly simmer in the pan so all the flavours can meld. Serve in bowls with crusty bread or warm cheese scones.
2. Carrot biryani
Fancy a low-calorie curry with plenty of spice? Try our carrot biryani and prepare to be amazed by how much flavour this humble veg can bring to a dish. Plate up this casual curry in 25 minutes and serve with dollops of cooling yogurt. Try using speedy microwaveable pouches of rice for an even simpler supper.
3. Kale, chicken & pesto gnocchi
Serve a vibrant green bowl of goodness in just 20 minutes with this easy kale, chicken & pesto gnocchi. It's a perfect way to use up any leftover roast chicken and veg. Make your own zesty homemade pesto to really bring the dish alive – double the quantities to use in another pasta dish later in the week. Requiring just 10 minutes prep time, this low-calorie dinner is an easy weeknight go-to.
4. Egg fried noodles
Rustle up this veggie stir-fry in just 20 minutes for a speedy, low-cost family dinner. It uses just a handful of ingredients, including dried noodles, eggs, mushrooms and frozen peas, but you can also throw in any leftovers you have.
5. Halloumi flatbreads
These fully loaded halloumi & squash flatbreads are layered with salty slabs of grilled cheese, paprika-roasted squash and sweet chilli beetroot jam – can a sandwich get any better? The secret ingredient in the flatbreads is yogurt – it helps keep them soft. If you can’t find butternut squash, this recipe works well with other squashes or sweet potato.
6. Sausage ragu
Transform a pack of pork sausages into this comforting budget-friendly ragu, best served with chunky pasta, such as rigatoni. It's sure to become a family favourite, so why not make a larger batch and freeze the leftovers for another time?
7. Spinach falafel & hummus bowl
Bowl food at its best. This vibrant vegan salad is packed with nutrients and a fun way to achieve three of your five-a-day. Only 5 minutes of prep time are needed to whip up the silky hummus and homemade spinach falafel before baking the latter in the oven. Serve this spinach falafel & hummus bowl with warm pittas and salad for a nutritious and budget-friendly plant-based dinner.
8. Posh egg, chips & beans
In the mood for comfort food? We've given classic egg, chips & beans a healthy twist by making the smoky beans from scratch and baking the chips instead of frying. This satisfying supper makes the most of storecupboard ingredients and really is 'as cheap as chips' – perfect for a Friday night treat.
9. Chipotle sweet potato & black bean stew with cheddar dumplings
A showstopping veggie dinner if ever we saw one. Try our chipotle sweet potato & black bean stew for a guaranteed crowd-pleasing one-pot that makes the most of canned storecupboard ingredients. Topped with cheesy cheddar dumplings, it's perfect for feeding a hungry family – the chilli can be left out if you're feeding youngsters.
10. Italian veggie cottage pie
We love a twist on a classic dish, especially when it's combined with mash. Try our Italian veggie cottage pie for a super satisfying spoonful with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and cheesy, fluffy potatoes. This adaptable recipe can be tweaked to include your favourite veggies.
Enjoyed these basic budget recipes? Try other family meal ideas:
Top 10 budget family meals
5 nights of budget family suppers
5 nights of waste-free family meals
A week of healthy budget family meals
Budget family chicken recipes
One week of budget-friendly family dinners
Top 10 healthy family meals
Ad
What's your favourite low-cost family meal? Leave a comment below.
Comments, questions and tips
Choose the type of message you'd like to post
Choose the type of message you'd like to post
CommentQuestionTip
Ad
Ad
Loading...
Get 3 months of Good Food All Access
Get 3 months of Good Food All Access for just £6. Find triple-tested recipes that take the stress out of deciding what to cook, spend less time planning, and more time enjoying the season.
Ad
Loading...