Low on funds but craving tasty food? You're in for a treat! Here are 12 easy budget-friendly dinners foodies swear by, from pantry staples to Eastern European favorites. Read on to discover what foodies eat when they are short on cash!
Sausage & Cabbage & Bacon Fat
One foodie shared their favorite cheap (and easy!) meal: a fry up consisting of Polish sausages, bacon, cabbage, onion, salt and pepper. Quick, easy, cheap - and since everything is seared in bacon fat it ends up utterly delicious!
Cheesy Shells & Peas
This simple version of mac and cheese takes frozen peas, pasta shells, and cheese and creates a delicious dinner that even has some greens in it. All in just a minute or so more than it takes to cook the pasta - and you only need to get one single dish dirty!
Bruschetta
Grab a slice of bread, some tomatoes, a garlic clove, and some olive oil. Roast the bread, rub with garlic & drizzle with olive oil, and top with finely diced tomatoes. Make it fancier by mixing the tomatoes with dried basil, salt, pepper and olive oil first - or just add them au natural.
Instant Ramen, But Better
If you have a pack of instant ramen, you always have a meal on hand. And while you can just go for what's in the package, it's even better if you add some extras. It can be as simple as topping the ramen with a soft-boiled egg, chopped spring onions, mixing in some spinach or bean sprouts, or just adding a dash of sriracha sauce - or more elaborate with fried tofu, a poached egg, or kimchi. Either way, it will make your instant ramen so much more enjoyable!
Pinch of Yum has a delicious version with butter and honey. Get the recipe: Shortcut Sesame Butter Noodles.
Eggs & Rice
A Korean foodie says their go-to meal is a couple of sunny-side-up fried eggs on top of rice, all seasoned with sesame oil and soy sauce, and then mixed together. The undercooked yolks coat everything for a delicious meal, and it just takes a few minutes to make. For a Japanese version of the same, you can mix a raw egg with rice, chopped green onions, and Furikake seasoning - it's SO tasty!
Black Bean Chili
You can make more elaborate versions of Black Bean Chili, but you can also go far with this super simple version. All you need is one can each of diced tomatoes and black beans, an onion and a few garlic cloves, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté the onion and garlic, then add everything but beans and simmer. Finish with beans, and when they're hot, you are ready to eat! It's cheap, easy, and delicious.
Peanut Butter Noodles
Grab a pack of instant ramen noodles or whatever noodles or pasta you have at home, and mix with a simple sauce made from peanut butter, soy sauce and garlic. So delicious, and a dish I find myself craving quite often! Another tasty version is to mix the noodles with chili oil, soy sauce, and sesame seed oil.
Fried Egg Sandwiches
This classic sandwich is a great option for a quick dinner, and the egg ensures you will stay full longer than if you just have a regular ham and cheese sandwich. Top with anything extra you have at home; cheese, bacon, ham, chopped green onions...
Simple Egg Drop Soup
This delicious Chinese restaurant staple is super easy to make a version of at home, but I can't promise how traditional this recipe is. Just heat up chicken stock, add soy sauce and some ginger if you have it, mix in corn starch slurry, and simmer. Then gently stir in two beaten eggs and top it all with chopped green onions. Now I'm hungry!
Quesadillas
If you have flour tortillas and cheese, you can make delicious quesadillas. You really don't need anything else, but it's even better topped with some salsa, tomatoes, or avocado.
Pizza Sandwiches
If you're craving pizza but can't afford it, you can make a super simple "pizza" sandwich with just bread, ketchup, oregano, and cheese. Top the bread with ketchup, oregano, and cheese, and bake in the middle of the oven until the cheese is melted. No, it's definitely not the same as a pizza - but that cheesy oregano-tomato flavor might just fool you long enough to get your next paycheck.
For a just slightly fancier version, Sustainable Cooks has a great recipe. Get the recipe: French Bread Pizza.
Baked Potatoes
A baked potato topped with butter, salt, and pepper is really all you need for a filling dinner. It's even better if you have some crispy bacon, shredded cheese, or sour cream to top it with. Either way, it's a delicious meal that won't make you feel like you're eating a poverty meal!
Get the recipe:Â Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Source: Reddit.
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