Eating well does not have to cost a lot of money. With a few cheap staples like beans, lentils, eggs and rice, you can cook tasty meat-free dinners that fill you up.
Saving money on food leaves more cash for the things you love, and cooking at home is a skill that lasts forever. Grab a pan, check your cupboards and get ready to find your new favourite budget meal.
1. Red Lentil Dhal
Picture a cold Tuesday night and a steaming bowl of golden comfort. Red lentils cost about a pound per bag and cook in just twenty minutes, no soaking needed.
Fry onion, garlic and ginger, then add turmeric, cumin and a tin of chopped tomatoes. Stir in the lentils with water and let them bubble until soft.
Serve with rice or warm flatbread. One pot easily feeds four hungry people for well under five pounds.
2. Classic Veggie Chilli
Kidney beans are the secret hero of student kitchens everywhere. A tin costs around 40p, and it packs plenty of protein to keep you going.
Brown an onion and a pepper, then add chilli powder, cumin and smoked paprika. Pour in chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and a tin of black beans.
Simmer for half an hour so the flavours deepen. Leftovers taste even better the next day, stuffed inside a jacket potato.
3. Spanish Tortilla
Did you know Spanish families have argued for years about whether a tortilla should contain onion? We say yes, because it adds lovely sweetness.
Thinly slice potatoes and an onion, then cook them gently in olive oil until tender. Beat six eggs, mix everything together and cook slowly in the pan.
Flip it using a plate, which feels a bit scary the first time. Eat it hot or cold for lunch tomorrow.
4. Chickpea and Spinach Curry
Got a tin of chickpeas hiding at the back of your cupboard? Then dinner is almost sorted already.
Soften onion and garlic, add curry paste, and pour in tomatoes plus half a tin of coconut milk. Tip in drained chickpeas and simmer for fifteen minutes.
At the very end, stir in a few handfuls of spinach until it wilts. Frozen spinach works just as well and costs even less.
Serve over fluffy rice.
5. Cheesy Jacket Potatoes with Beans
Few British dinners feel as cosy as a crispy jacket potato loaded with beans and cheese. It is the taste of school canteens and family kitchens.
Rub potatoes with oil and salt, then bake for about an hour until the skin crackles. A microwave start can cut cooking time in half.
Split them open, add butter, hot baked beans and grated cheddar. Four portions cost roughly three pounds, leaving change for a side salad.
6. Pasta e Fagioli
Italian grandmothers have been stretching a few cheap ingredients into hearty meals for centuries. Pasta e fagioli simply means pasta and beans.
Cook onion, carrot and celery in olive oil, then add garlic, tomatoes, stock and a tin of cannellini beans. Throw in small pasta shapes and simmer until tender.
The starchy pasta makes the soup thick and silky. Finish with black pepper and a little grated hard cheese if your budget allows.
7. Egg Fried Rice
Leftover rice from last night? Perfect, because day-old rice actually fries better than fresh.
It stays fluffy instead of turning mushy.
Heat oil in a big pan, scramble two or three eggs, then push them aside. Add the rice, frozen peas, sweetcorn and a splash of soy sauce.
Toss everything over high heat for a few minutes. Sliced spring onions on top add crunch.
It beats a takeaway on both price and speed.
8. Shakshuka
Brunch cafes charge around ten pounds for this dish, yet you can make it at home for a fraction of that price.
Fry onions and peppers with garlic, cumin and paprika. Pour in two tins of tomatoes and let it thicken for ten minutes.
Make little wells and crack eggs into each one.
Cover the pan until the whites set but the yolks stay runny. Mop it all up with crusty bread.
9. Mushroom Risotto
Stirring a risotto can feel oddly relaxing, like a little kitchen meditation. The reward is a creamy, restaurant-style dinner.
Fry onion and sliced mushrooms in butter, then add risotto rice and toast it briefly. Add hot vegetable stock one ladle at a time, stirring until each splash soaks in.
After about twenty minutes, the rice turns soft and silky. Stir in some cheese at the end.
Cheap chestnut mushrooms work brilliantly here.
10. Homemade Bean Burgers
Shop-bought veggie burgers can be pricey, but homemade ones cost pennies each. Kids love squishing the mixture with their hands, too.
Mash a tin of black beans or kidney beans with breadcrumbs, grated onion, an egg and some spices. Shape into patties and chill for twenty minutes.
Fry them until crispy on both sides. Pile into cheap buns with lettuce, tomato and ketchup.
Extra patties freeze beautifully for busy nights.
11. Vegetable Stir Fry Noodles
Fast, colourful and crunchy, a stir fry is the answer when the fridge looks a bit sad. Almost any vegetable can join the party.
Slice carrots, peppers, cabbage and onion thinly so they cook quickly. Toss them in a hot wok with garlic and ginger, then add cooked noodles.
Make a quick sauce from soy sauce, honey and a splash of vinegar. Dinner lands on the table in about fifteen minutes.
12. Leek and Potato Soup
Some recipes feel like a warm blanket on a rainy day. Leek and potato soup is one of them, and it costs very little.
Slice two leeks and gently soften them in butter without browning. Add chopped potatoes and vegetable stock, then simmer for twenty minutes.
Blend until smooth, or leave it chunky if you prefer. A splash of milk makes it extra creamy.
Fun fact: leeks are a national symbol of Wales.
13. Macaroni Cheese
Ask anyone for their favourite childhood dinner and macaroni cheese often comes up. Making it from scratch is easier than you think.
Melt butter, stir in flour, then slowly whisk in milk until thick. Add mustard and plenty of grated cheddar, then mix with cooked macaroni.
Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and bake until golden and bubbling. Adding frozen peas or broccoli sneaks in extra veg without anyone complaining.
14. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
Meat lovers often never notice the swap in this clever twist on a pub classic. Green or brown lentils give a rich, hearty filling.
Cook onion, carrots and celery, then add lentils, tomato puree, stock and a dash of Marmite or soy sauce. Simmer until thick.
Spread creamy mashed potato over the top and bake until crispy. One big dish feeds a family of four for around four pounds.
15. Bean and Cheese Quesadillas
Crispy outside, gooey inside, and ready in ten minutes flat. Quesadillas are a lifesaver for anyone who gets home tired and hungry.
Mash refried beans or tinned pinto beans with a little cumin. Spread onto a tortilla, add grated cheese and sweetcorn, then fold it over.
Toast in a dry pan until golden on both sides. Cut into triangles and dip in salsa.
Supermarket wraps keep the cost really low.
16. Roasted Vegetable Couscous
Couscous might be the laziest grain around, and that is a compliment. Just pour boiling water over it, cover, and wait five minutes.
While it soaks, roast chunks of pepper, courgette and red onion with olive oil and spices. Toss in some chickpeas for extra filling power.
Fluff the couscous with a fork and mix everything together. A squeeze of lemon brightens it up.
Leftovers make a brilliant packed lunch.
17. Tomato and Basil Pasta
Simple food done well never goes out of style. A basic tomato pasta proves that a handful of ingredients can taste amazing.
Gently cook sliced garlic in olive oil, then add a tin of tomatoes, salt and a pinch of sugar. Let it bubble for fifteen minutes.
Toss with spaghetti and a little pasta water to make the sauce glossy. Tear over fresh basil.
Total cost sits around two pounds.
18. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos
Taco night just got a whole lot more exciting. Sweet potato turns soft and caramelised in the oven, pairing perfectly with smoky beans.
Dice a sweet potato, toss with oil and chilli powder, and roast for twenty five minutes. Warm a tin of black beans with cumin.
Pile into soft tortillas with shredded cabbage and a squeeze of lime. Everyone can build their own, which makes dinner feel fun.
19. Cauliflower Cheese
Usually served as a Sunday side dish, cauliflower cheese deserves the main spotlight. One cauliflower often costs less than a pound.
Break it into florets and boil until just tender. Make a cheese sauce with butter, flour, milk and mature cheddar for the strongest flavour.
Pour the sauce over, sprinkle extra cheese on top, and grill until bubbling. Serve with crusty bread or a baked potato for a satisfying supper.
20. Minestrone Soup
Think of minestrone as a tidy-up soup. Italians traditionally made it with whatever vegetables were left over, so nothing went to waste.
Chop onion, carrot, celery and any spare veg, then soften in olive oil. Add tomatoes, stock, beans and a handful of small pasta.
Simmer until everything is tender. A big pot lasts several meals and freezes well.
It is healthy, filling and wonderfully kind to your wallet.
21. Halloumi-Free Veggie Fajitas
That sizzle from the pan gets everyone running to the table. Fajitas feel like a treat, yet the ingredients are cheap and cheerful.
Slice peppers and onions into strips and fry on high heat with fajita spices. Add a tin of drained kidney beans to bulk things up.
Wrap in warm tortillas with plain yoghurt and salsa. Skipping pricey halloumi keeps the meal comfortably under budget while staying full of flavour.
22. Vegetable Frittata
Half an onion, a lonely pepper, some wilting spinach. Instead of binning them, turn those odds and ends into a tasty frittata.
Fry the vegetables in an ovenproof pan until soft. Whisk six eggs with salt, pepper and a little cheese, then pour them over.
Cook gently for a few minutes, then finish under the grill until puffed and golden. Slice into wedges and serve warm with salad.
23. Peanut Noodle Bowl
Yes, the jar of peanut butter in your cupboard can make dinner. It creates a rich, nutty sauce in about two minutes.
Whisk peanut butter with soy sauce, a little honey, lime juice and hot water until smooth. Toss with cooked noodles while still warm.
Top with grated carrot, sliced cucumber and spring onions for crunch. Add chilli flakes if you like heat.
It tastes great cold, too.