52 Ingenious Ways To Eat Healthy On A Budget

For happy wallets and heavy plates.

Chances are, for these past few months — or years — you've been cooking more than usual. That's why you'll love these smart, realistic, and creative recipes that prove cooking on a budget can actually be satisfying and delicious.

1. Vegan 3-Bean Chili

Simple Veganista / Via simple-veganista.com

The recipe calls for a mixture of kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, but of course you can swap in whatever canned beans or grains that are already in your kitchen.

Recipe: Vegan 3-Bean Chili

2. Egg Pizza With Scallions

acouplecooks.com

Feel free to use store-bought pizza dough to make this recipe a cinch to throw together.

Recipe: Egg Pizza With Scallions

3. Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala

budgetbytes.com

This hearty chickpea masala is the perfect recipe for vegetarians and can be prepared spicy or mild, depending on your taste. The recipe calls for a splash of heavy cream, but you can use coconut milk to keep it vegan.

Recipe: Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala

4. Taco Pizza

Kitchen Gidget / Via kitchengidget.com

This easy, kid-friendly dish starts with crescent roll dough on the bottom, then it's loaded with ground beef, cheese, and any of your favorite taco toppings.

Recipe: Taco Pizza

5. Bacon and Egg Toast Cups

damndelicious.net

This recipe uses baby kale to stuff the toast cups, but feel free to use spinach or arugula if kale isn't your favorite.

Recipe: Bacon and Egg Toast Cups

6. Baked Eggs With Roasted Vegetables

cottercrunch.com

Feel free to use any hearty veggies you have on hand in place of the beets and radishes. Brussels sprouts, diced sweet potatoes, and carrots would all work well.

Recipe: Baked Eggs With Roasted Vegetables

7. White Cheddar Mac 'n' Cheese With Chicken and Broccoli

budgetbytes.com

This creamy mac 'n' cheese is loaded with all kinds of good stuff, like white cheddar, broccoli, and seared chicken. Vegetarian? Leave out the chicken. Broccoli isn't your favorite? Feel free to substitute it with whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Recipe: White Cheddar Mac 'n' Cheese With Chicken and Broccoli

8. Caprese Grilled Cheese

food52.com

This baby is everything you love about caprese and grilled cheese crammed into one delicious sandwich. Serve it with salad or soup, and you've got yourself a dinner that's both fancy and budget-friendly.

Recipe: Caprese Grilled Cheese

9. Chicken Noodle Soup

Courtesy Love Grows Wild / Via lovegrowswild.com

This recipe calls for a lot of basic ingredients you'll already have in the pantry. It makes six to eight servings too, so you can enjoy leftovers for lunch all week. 

Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup

10. Dal

Alexandra Stafford / Via food52.com

Dal is a timeless classic — and this version is an ideal starter if you've never made it before. You only need a handful of ingredients, and the whole thing only takes 20 minutes. The original recipe calls for red split lentils, but if you want to get more creative, add some French lentils, too.

Recipe: Dal

11. Black Bean Burgers

Tasty

Black bean patties are one of the most popular alternatives to meat. They're also pretty easy to make.

Recipe: Black Bean Burgers

12. Caprese Balsamic Grilled Chicken

Closet Cooking / Via closetcooking.com

All you really need are five ingredients to whip up this family-friendly chicken dinner: any kind of boneless, skinless chicken, mozzarella cheese, tomato, basil, and balsamic vinegar.

Recipe: Caprese Balsamic Grilled Chicken

13. Tuna Melt

therecipecritic.com

Grilled cheese meets tuna salad.

Recipe: Tuna Melt

14. Sweet and Spicy Glazed Chicken

budgetbytes.com

This chicken recipe breaks down to only $4.83, and the all-purpose glaze — with paprika, brown sugar, and cayenne — is packed with flavor. Pair it with any greens you have handy!

Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Glazed Chicken

15. 20-Minute Kimchi Fried Rice

healthynibblesandbits.com

Tangy, spicy kimchi (or Korean-style fermented vegetables) is another way to add a ton of flavor to a dish for not a lot of money. Keep a jar stocked in the fridge, then work it into fried rice, noodle bowls, or burgers.

Recipe: 20-Minute Kimchi Fried Rice

16. Classic Chicken and Avocado Burritos

closetcooking.com

When it comes to cheap and fast dinners everyone will love, it's hard to beat DIY burritos or tacos. Keep them simple with chicken, cheese, and avocado — or load up with all your favorite toppings.

Recipe: Classic Chicken and Avocado Burritos

17. Rice Bowl With Fried Egg and Avocado

bonappetit.com

Top it off with your favorite hot sauce and you're good to go. 

Recipe: Rice Bowl With Fried Egg And Avocado

18. Bibimbap

crazyvegankitchen.com

Bibimbap — a Korean staple that's a mix of rice + veggies + meat + sauce — is the perfect canvas for a budget-friendly dinner. In this vegan version, pricier meat gets swapped out for mushrooms.

Recipe: Bibimbap

19. Sheet Pan Blackened Tilapia With Veggies

naivecookcooks.com

Frozen fillets would work here too, if you need a cheaper option. For easy cleanup, line the sheet pan with foil or parchment paper first.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Blackened Tilapia With Veggies

20. Southwest Turkey, Vegetable, and Rice Skillet

reciperunner.com

One-pan creamy goodness.

Recipe: Southwest Turkey, Vegetable, and Rice Skillet

21. Creamy Tomato Shells

pinchofyum.com

This recipe calls for only three ingredients, and you can always add a protein to the mix if you want.

Recipe: Creamy Tomato Shells

22. Chicken Pesto Bowl

damndelicious.net

Healthy, tasty, and cheap!

Recipe: Chicken Pesto Bowls

23. Zucchini Corn Quesadillas

damndelicious.net

Ready in 25 minutes, these quesadillas are a perfect spring dinner.

Recipe: Zucchini Corn Quesadillas

24. One-Pan Pizza Chicken

damndelicious.net

You had me at pizza.

Recipe: One-Pan Pizza Chicken

25. Super-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad

budgetbytes.com

Guaranteed to be just as good as your local salad bar, for half the price.

Recipe: Super-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad

26. One-Pot Caprese Chicken Pasta

reciperunner.com

Ready in 35 minutes for the perfect weeknight dinner.

Recipe: One-Pot Caprese Chicken Pasta

27. Vegan Creamy Kale Pasta

pinchofyum.com

Deliciously creamy, and without any meat or dairy.

Recipe: Vegan Creamy Kale Pasta 

28. Greek Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

twopeasandtheirpod.com

A protein-packed vegetarian dinner.

Recipe: Greek Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

29. One-Pot Bacon Broccoli Mac 'n' Cheese

budgetbytes.com

Pretend your mac 'n' cheese is actually healthy by adding some broccoli to the mix.

Recipe: One-Pot Bacon Broccoli Mac 'n' Cheese

30. Spicy Chipotle Buddha Bowl With Cauliflower Rice

saltandlavender.com

Fast, budget-friendly, and healthy: What more do you need?

Recipe: Spicy Chipotle Buddha Bowl With Cauliflower Rice

31. Chicken and Mandarin Salad With Simple Sesame Dressing

budgetbytes.com

A super-fast summertime salad for your weeknight dinners.

Recipe: Chicken and Mandarin Salad With Simple Sesame Dressing

32. 5-Ingredient Coconut Curry

pinchofyum.com

The perfect option for your meatless Monday.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Coconut Curry

33. Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro With Shrimp

pinchofyum.com

😍

Recipe: Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro With Shrimp

34. Vegetarian Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan

damndelicious.net

A healthy-ish, delicious, and vegetarian take on the classic chicken Parmesan.

Recipe: Vegetarian Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan

35. Vegetable Enchilada Casserole

budgetbytes.com

If you want to add some meat, you can always brown some chicken and add it to the mix.

Recipe: Vegetable Enchilada Casserole

36. Burst Tomato and Zucchini Spaghetti With Avocado Sauce

pinchofyum.com

The recipe calls for both whole wheat spaghetti and zucchini noodles, but you can skip the spaghetti if you want to go fully low-carb.

Recipe: Burst Tomato and Zucchini Spaghetti With Avocado Sauce

37. Amazing Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos

ambitiouskitchen.com

If you're looking for inspiration for your next Taco Tuesday, search no more.

Recipe: Amazing Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos

38. P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

damndelicious.net

A great copycat recipe for the perfect night in.

Recipe: P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

39. Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers

reciperunner.com

A super-straightforward weeknight dinner that you can serve with grilled chicken if you want some added protein.

Recipe: Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers

40. Creamy Pappardelle Al Limone

Family Style Food / Via familystylefood.com

Introducing your new favorite pasta sauce, made with nothing more than egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, and fresh lemon.

Recipe: Pappardelle Al Limone

41. 5-Ingredient Thai Green Curry

Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

This recipe calls for tofu, broccoli, and sweet potato, but you can always swap in whatever protein and veggies you like best.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Thai Green Curry

42. Lemon Parmesan Risotto With Peas

Sweet Tea and Thyme / Via sweetteaandthyme.com

While this recipe tastes totally restaurant-quality, there's not much to it: Arborio rice, frozen peas, and chicken broth form the base of this creamy risotto.

Recipe: Lemon Parmesan Risotto With Peas

43. Sausage and Creamy Cajun Orzo Skillet

Gal on a Mission / Via galonamission.com

Orzo, sliced sausage, bell pepper, heavy cream, and a handful of spices are all there is to this Cajun-inspired skillet.

Recipe: Sausage and Creamy Cajun Orzo Skillet

44. Pasta e Ceci (Italian Chickpea Soup)

Pina Bresciani / Via pinabresciani.com

This Roman-inspired recipe is made with canned chickpeas, your favorite pasta, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and a bunch of diced veggies.

Recipe: Pasta e Ceci (Italian Chickpea Soup)

45. 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup

Dash of Sanity / Via dashofsanity.com

Grab some chicken broth, rotisserie chicken, canned diced tomatoes, ranch dressing, and canned fiesta corn mix to make this heartwarming chicken soup with a Mexican flair.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup

46. White Bean and Artichoke Basil Toasts

Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

Have toast for dinner, but make it fancy with this mixture of artichoke hearts, spinach white beans, and basil mashed into a creamy and savory spread.

Recipe: White Bean and Artichoke Basil Toasts

47. Portobello and Poblano Fajitas

Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

Don't let the ingredient list overwhelm you. All you really need to make these fajitas are portobello mushrooms, peppers, onion, and tortillas. Swap the avocado sauce for store-bought guacamole or diced avocado and you've got a delicious meal.

Recipe: Portobello and Poblano Fajitas

48. Spicy Lentil Nachos With 3-Cheese Sauce

pinchofyum.com

Lentils are often used as a healthy staple — but they can also be gloriously indulgent.

Recipe: Spicy Lentil Nachos With 3-Cheese Sauce

49. Flourless Black Bean Brownie Muffins

ambitiouskitchen.com

Black beans in chocolate muffins might sound odd, but they get super creamy and batterlike — and it absolutely works.

Recipe: Flourless Black Bean Brownie Muffins

50. Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce

damndelicious.net

You can also use coconut curry as a marinade for your meats. Here, the chicken marinates for two hours in a mixture of coconut milk, soy sauce, curry powder, turmeric, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and fish sauce.

Recipe: Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce

51. Sun-Dried Tomato, Kale, and White Bean Skillet

budgetbytes.com

Beans and greens = always worth reaching for.

Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato, Kale, and White Bean Skillet

52. Grilled Cheese and Cream of Tomato Soup

smittenkitchen.com

Cozy comfort in a bowl.

Recipe: Grilled Cheese and Cream of Tomato Soup

This article contains content previously curated by Hannah Loewentheil, Jesse Szewczyk, Marie Telling, Melissa Jameson, and  Ailbhe Malone. It was compiled by Lavanya Narayanan.