Cheap doesn’t have to mean boring. These recipes stretch ingredients into meals that feel rich, indulgent, and satisfying. Flavor is never sacrificed, and creativity shines through every plate. Saving money never tasted this good.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

A plate of creamy pasta with sliced grilled chicken, garnished with parsley and lemon, sits on a red patterned cloth—an inviting example of budget recipes—next to a bowl of shredded cheese and fresh vegetables.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta that is bursting with bright, lemony flavors and perfect for both busy weeknights!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chicken Orzo Pasta

How to Cook Navy Beans in the Crockpot

Navy Beans cooking in a crockpot for a hearty meal.
How to Cook Navy Beans in the Crockpot. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Discover how to cook Navy Beans in the Crockpot with this easy recipe. It’s a simple way to prepare a hearty and nutritious meal.
Get the Recipe: How to Cook Navy Beans in the Crockpot

Sticky Baked Asian Chicken Wings (Fall Off the Bone)

Baked tender, sticky, and savory Asian chicken wings on a plate.
Sticky Baked Asian Chicken Wings (Fall Off the Bone). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Baked Asian chicken wings are a delicious appetizer that features chicken wings seasoned with Asian flavors and then baked in the oven.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Baked Asian Chicken Wings (Fall Off the Bone)

Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Bowl of mashed potatoes with a pat of butter on top, garnished with parsley. A spoon and a sprig of parsley are next to the bowl.
Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Upgrade your mashed potatoes with cottage cheese! Creamy, delicious, and packed with protein. Perfect for holidays or busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins with Chocolate

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins with Chocolate. Photo credit: .

This peanut butter banana muffins recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. The combination of sweet bananas, creamy peanut butter, and chocolate makes a tender muffin with a delicious soft texture.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Muffins with Chocolate

Easy Smoked Sausage and Pasta

A bowl of penne pasta with sliced sausage, tomatoes, and grated cheese, garnished with herbs. A fork is placed beside the bowl.
Easy Smoked Sausage and Pasta. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

This Smoked Sausage and Pasta is the perfect weeknight meal. Make with smoked sausage, tender pasta, fresh vegetables all cooked in a creamy sauce. Your family will love it!
Get the Recipe: Easy Smoked Sausage and Pasta

Cucumber Carrot Salad

A white bowl contains a salad made of sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, and diced red onions. Fresh carrots are placed beside the bowl.
Cucumber Carrot Salad. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

This Cucumber Carrot Salad is a light and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer. It’s easy to make, full of fresh vegetables and bursting with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Carrot Salad

Sichuan Stir-Fried Chinese Shredded Potato (酸辣土豆丝)

Stir-fried shredded potatoes with green onions and dried red chilies on a green plate, accompanied by black chopsticks.
Sichuan Stir-Fried Chinese Shredded Potato (酸辣土豆丝). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

Chinese shredded potato is a delightful and easy-to-make dish that brings the flavors of Sichuan cuisine to your table.
Get the Recipe: Sichuan Stir-Fried Chinese Shredded Potato (酸辣土豆丝)

Beef Chow Fun Recipe (Beef Ho Fun, 干炒牛河)

A plate of stir-fried noodles with beef, green beans, bean sprouts, and onions.
Beef Chow Fun Recipe (Beef Ho Fun, 干炒牛河). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

The beef chow fun recipe is a popular Cantonese dish with stir-fried thinly sliced beef, rice noodles (ho fun), and vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Beef Chow Fun Recipe (Beef Ho Fun, 干炒牛河)

The Best Crispy Roasted Parmesan Carrots Recipe

A plate of crispy carrot parmesan fries, with a golden-brown appearance.
The Best Crispy Roasted Parmesan Carrots Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Parmesan carrots are a delicious side dish that can be the star of the show at any family dinner or holiday gathering. Roasted in the oven with a cheesy, crispy crust, this recipe highlights the natural sweetness of carrots with a hint of garlic for extra flavor.
Get the Recipe: The Best Crispy Roasted Parmesan Carrots Recipe

Easy Homemade Four Cheese Ravioli Recipe with Filling

A white plate with multiple four cheese square ravioli served on a marble countertop; cooking ingredients visible in the background.
Easy Homemade Four Cheese Ravioli Recipe with Filling. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Get the step-by-step instructions to create your own homemade ravioli and filling and serve a delightful and satisfying homemade meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Four Cheese Ravioli Recipe with Filling

Cheeseburger Crunch Wraps

A sliced quesadilla filled with seasoned ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes on a plate, accompanied by a small bowl of red sauce.
Cheeseburger Crunch Wraps. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

These Cheeseburger Crunch Wraps are a delicious and budget-friendly meal that the whole family will love! Made with ground beef, cheese, and crunchy tostada shells, these wraps are perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Crunch Wraps

Bundt Cake Breakfast Recipe

Two slices of bundt cake on a white plate, featuring visible bacon bits and green herbs, with a backdrop of blurred bread and a dotted napkin.
Bundt Cake Breakfast Recipe. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

This Bundt Cake Breakfast is the ultimate meal for your family. Full of eggs, bacon, and cheese this is a crowd pleaser with young and old alike.
Get the Recipe: Bundt Cake Breakfast Recipe

Oven Baked Hamburger Steaks

A serving spoon lifting Salisbury steak with mushrooms and onions from a baking dish with sauce.
Oven Baked Hamburger Steaks. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

These Oven Baked Hamburger Steaks are tender and flavorful ground beef patties that are simmered in an onion and mushroom gravy for a simple meal.
Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Hamburger Steaks

Easy Tofu Fried Rice Recipe: For Busy Weeknights

A plate of fried rice with tofu, peas, corn, carrots, and egg.
Easy Tofu Fried Rice Recipe: For Busy Weeknights. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

This tofu fried rice recipe is not only easy to make but also incredibly versatile and packed with healthy ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tofu Fried Rice Recipe: For Busy Weeknights

Chicken Taquito Casserole

A plate of chicken taquito topped with melted cheese, black olive slices, and chopped parsley. A fork is placed on the plate, and a dish of olives is partially visible in the background.
Chicken Taquito Casserole. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

This Chicken Taquito Casserole takes frozen taquitos and turns them into a delicious and easy dinner option. Whether you’re short on time or just looking for a budget-friendly meal, this recipe will become a new family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Taquito Casserole

Cheesy Potato Puff Recipe

Five cheesy potato puffs on a plate with a fork.
Cheesy Potato Puff Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

These cheesy mashed potato puffs are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and packed with flavor — a great way to use leftovers while making a delicious side dish or snack.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Potato Puff Recipe

Sourdough Soft Pretzels

Five sourdough soft pretzels stacked on a plate.
Sourdough Soft Pretzels. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

These Soft Sourdough Pretzels are the perfect snack for any occasion. Made with a classic sourdough base, they are soft and chewy on the inside with a crispy crust on the outside.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Soft Pretzels

Baked Chicken and Orzo

A plate with baked chicken thigh and orzo pasta mixed with tomatoes, garnished with herbs, with a fork and knife beside.
Baked Chicken and Orzo. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

This Baked Chicken and Orzo is the perfect busy weeknight meal. Made with juicy chicken thighs, and fluffy rice it’s always a crowd-favorite.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken and Orzo

Slow Cooker Chicken Minestrone Soup

A white bowl of vegetable soup with pasta rings, carrots, zucchini, and greens, placed on a table with a spoon and carrot in the background.
Slow Cooker Chicken Minestrone Soup. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Hearty, healthy, and easy! Slow Cooker Chicken Minestrone Soup combines chicken breasts, beans, and pasta for a flavorful, comforting bowl.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Minestrone Soup

Ground Beef and Noodles

A bowl of creamy beef stroganoff with egg noodles on a striped cloth next to a fork and a sprig of parsley.
Ground Beef and Noodles. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Ground Beef and Noodles are made with tender ground beef, flavorful pasta, and homemade beef gravy. It’s the perfect dinner for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Noodles

Beer Braised Short Ribs

Beer braised short ribs on a plate on top of a bed of mashed potatoes.
Beer Braised Short Ribs. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

These Beer Braised Short Ribs are a hearty and delicious meal. The rich and savory flavors of the tender beef, combined with the rich beer, make this dish a comforting and satisfying choice for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Beer Braised Short Ribs

Strawberry Pound Cake

A loaf of strawberry bread on a white plate, with a bowl of fresh strawberries in the background.
Strawberry Pound Cake. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

This Strawberry Pound Cake is a moist, buttery, vanilla pound cake base that is filled with fresh strawberries and then topped with a sweet glaze. It’s a great dessert for potlucks, holidays, or any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pound Cake

Baked Beans with Hamburger

A plate of baked beans mixed with ground beef, placed on a white plate. The plate is on a colorful tablecloth, with a red cloth and greens nearby.
Baked Beans with Hamburger. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

These Baked Beans with Hamburger are the ultimate side dish. Tender beef and flavorful beans all cooked in a smoky and tangy sauce. Perfect for cookouts!
Get the Recipe: Baked Beans with Hamburger

Carrot Banana Muffins

A stack of carrot banana muffins on a white plate, surrounded by fresh carrots and a striped cloth.
Carrot Banana Muffins. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

These Carrot Banana Muffins are sweet and nutty, with a fresh flavor. If you are looking for a moist muffin to start off your day then this is the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Banana Muffins

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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