21 Easy Frugal Meals with Five Ingredients or Less

Are you looking for quick, frugal meals for busy weeknights?

Or maybe you are looking for some easy frugal meals because you don’t like cooking but you are trying to save money by not eating out?

As a working mom of two boys who are active with sports year-round, I’m always on the lookout for easy meals. And as you may know, I am a super frugal mama who loves saving money!

So I am always looking for really easy frugal meals that can be quickly thrown together before I have to cart my kids off to sports practices.

I try to avoid meals that have complicated recipes and loads of ingredients during the week so I can get dinner on the table as quickly as possible.

And I figure if I am always looking for different easy meal ideas, other moms probably are too!

So I reached out to some of my favorite frugal living and personal finance bloggers to find out what their favorite throw-together (aka easy) frugal meals are.

And today I am going to share them with you!

All of these meals have 5 ingredients or less (besides common ingredients you probably already have in your pantry) so they are really quick to make.

And since they only have 5 ingredients, they are also super frugal meals!

Included with the meals are the approximate prices of the ingredients and the total cost of the meals.

I have also broken down the cost per serving so you can see how frugal these meals really are!

I am sure you will find a few meals on this list that your family will love.

Important side note: These amazing women have some incredible blogs with tons of valuable information about money and how to live a more frugal lifestyle!

You will find information on:

• Budgeting & paying off debt
• Family finance
• Frugal living
• Saving money
• Investing
• Financial wellness
• Financial independence
• Earning more money
• Meal planning

And so much more!

So be sure to check out each and every blog (just click the links provided) for tons of valuable information that could help you improve your finances.

There really is something for everyone on these ladies’ blogs, no matter where you are on your financial journey.

You may even find your new favorite personal finance or frugal living website(s)!

Okay, let’s get back to the easy frugal meals! Enjoy!

21 Easy Frugal Meals for Busy Weeknights

#1 Cheeseburger Pasta from Katelyn at Hey You Finance

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 can cheddar cheese soup – approximately $1.50
• 1 can tomato soup – approximately $1.50
• 1 lb ground beef – approximately $4.00
• 1 lb pasta shells – approximately $1.00
• 1 cup water, or more as you see fit.

Directions:

1. Ground the beef in a skillet until cooked completely. Drain the grease.
2. Add the soups, pasta, and water, and bring to a boil. Stir thoroughly.
3. The water will cook the pasta while the flavor of the soup soaks in. Add more water if pasta is not getting done.
4. Once pasta is cooked, let sit for a minute to cool, and enjoy!
5. Add your own seasoning to taste.

Total cost: approximately $8

Cost per serving: $2

#2 Veggie Frittata from Kari at Money for the Mamas

Since I’m a finance blogger, it makes sense that I despise wasting money; thus, I hate wasting food. Yet, no matter how hard I try, something always seemed to get a bit squishy, moldy or sour. (Yikes!)

I heard of a tip a while back and instantly knew this was what I needed in my life and my fridge! We have a clear plastic tub (like an 8×12 size) with a label that says “eat now.”

Every other day I go through the fridge and see if anything is starting to go a bit south. If it is, then I put it in the tub. If my husband or kiddo needs a snack, they know this is the food to go to first!

If we don’t have a meal already prepped for the night, I throw a frittata together with whatever veggies are in that tub. (I also keep a few bricks of frozen spinach in my freezer to bulk the frittata up if need be.)  

The flavor combos are infinite, so many different things to add in! You can use any veggies, and it will be great!

It also helps that I keep some flavorful cheeses (goat, pepper jack, sharp cheddar, etc.) which helps keep the flavor profile of the frittata exciting. It’s never just “plain veggie frittata.”

Servings: 4

Tools:

• a 10′ cast iron skillet
• cutting board
• knife

Ingredients:

• 6 – 8 eggs (If you have fewer veggies, then use eight eggs; if more veggies, use 6) $2.00
• 1/4 cup milk – I use 2% (skim would be too watery)
• 1 tsp salt (depending on other salty ingredients like bacon or sausage)
• a few grinds of pepper (to taste)
• 1-2 Tbs oil
• Whatever veggies you have on hand – about 2 cups worth give or take
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• Cheese (if you want) $2.00
• Already cooked meat option (optional) – bacon, Canadian bacon, breakfast sausage pieces $2-$4

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 with your rack in the middle
2. Mix the first five ingredients in a bowl, set aside
3. Chop up veggies into bite-size bits, set aside
4. In your cast iron, heat oil to a shimmer
5. Sautee your veggies – do the hard, crunchy ones first (like onions, broccoli, etc.), then after a few minutes, add in your lighter density ones (i.e., mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, etc.).  
6. Clear a circle in the middle of the pan, add garlic, cook until fragrant, and mix it all together. Don’t forget to add salt & pepper to taste! Cook for a few minutes.
7. Add in pre-cooked meat if using any – make sure it’s in bite-size pieces.
8. Lastly, add in your leafy greens, if using any, sautee for a few minutes.
9. Remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes.
10. Spread veggies out evenly in the pan, and slowly pour in the egg mixture, careful not to push the veggies to one side. 
11. Sprinkle cheese and herbs on top if using any.
12. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes; ovens may vary, so just be sure it’s not jiggly in the center.

Total Cost: $4-$8

Cost per serving: $1-$2

Photo Credit: Unsplash

#3 Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Sauce from Maria at Call It Adventure

If we look at our monthly expenses, we’ll be amazed at how much we spend on food and meals.

Every frugal family has its way of managing food expenses. For example, meal planning is an important habit that can save an average family hundreds of dollars per month.

Unfortunately, the idea of meal planning seems quite intimidating when you are new to frugal living. It’s much easier to start with just a couple of simple recipes with a short list of ingredients.

Spaghetti Squash is one of my favorite recipes to help you transition into a frugal lifestyle and save money and time.

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• One medium spaghetti squash (halved lengthwise and seeded) $4.00
• 4 cups marinara sauce $2.00
• salt & pepper to taste
• Optional: Parmesan cheese, fresh basil

Preparation:

1. Put squash into a preheated oven at 400 F. Wait until squash becomes soft (around 60 minutes depending on the size of the squash). Alternatively, you can microwave it for 30 minutes.
2. Take out spaghetti squash from the oven.
3. Use two forks to scrape the strands.
4. Mix into sauce or pour tomato sauce over strands
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with parmesan cheese if you like.

Total cost: $6

Cost per serving: $3

#4 Cafe Rio Chicken from Tana at Debt Free Forties

My kids are notoriously picky eaters, and their tastes change from day to day, which makes finding meals we all enjoy quite the hurdle.

However, this Cafe Rio Chicken crockpot meal is one they always love to eat! It’s tangy and perfect for fall or winter – and so incredibly easy to make.

Prep time is about 10 mins, and the longer you let it cook, the easier the chicken is to shred and the more the flavors combine. Not to mention it’s very cheap to make at only $1.70 per serving!

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 4 – 6 chicken breasts ($3.18 a pound average; about 1.5 pounds, so $4.77)
• 1 cup of Zesty Italian dressing ($1.48, generic brand)
• 3 tablespoons of dry ranch dressing (about one packet) (50 cents)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

Sides:

• Rice ($1.48 for the entire bag)
• A bag of frozen steamer veggies ($1.97)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a crockpot, and cook on low for 4 – 6 hours.
2. Once cooked, shred the chicken.
3. Serve over rice and with a side of steamed veggies fresh from the microwave!

Total Cost: $10.20

Cost per serving: $1.70

Photo credit: Unsplash

#5 Chili from Jane at This Mama Blogs

Our most favorite frugal meal is chili which I only cook with three main ingredients: ground beef, kidney beans, and tomato sauce. I usually cook a huge batch of chili and make different meals with it!

You can eat it by itself, pair it with rice, crackers, bread or chips, put in a tortilla wrap or salad, and more!

For a family of 4, it only costs $5-7 per meal, depending on where you buy the ingredients.

More frugal tips:  prepare x2 or x3 of this batch and divide the leftover into several portions, store each portion in a Ziplock bag and freeze! Heat it up when you need quick meals or snacks—perfect for busy days!

Servings: 4

• 1 lb of ground beef $3.88 (Walmart)
• 2 cans of tomato sauce $0.31 x 2 = $0.62 (Walmart)
• 2 cans of red kidney beans $0.62 x 2 = $1.24 (Walmart)

Common Spices (use to taste):

• Paprika
• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sugar

Directions:

Just sauté the ground beef with garlic and onions, a bit of vinegar, and soy sauce if you have it. Then, season with paprika, chili powder, and a bit of cayenne powder, salt and pepper, and sugar. Add in the tomato sauce, beans, and some water, and bring to a boil.  

Optional**:** Add slices of celery

Total Cost: $5.74

Cost per Serving: $1.44

#6 Cheap and Tasty Cold Pasta from Martina at Stack Your Dollars

This meal is so cheap and easy to make, I put it together while in a hotel room, and it only took me about 30 minutes! It’s delicious, healthy, and very filling.

It’s also one of the go-to meals I recently started making while buying groceries on a budget of $200/mo! 

The main ingredients needed are any type of pasta you like and Italian dressing. After that, you can throw in any food that you have on hand.

Here are two ways I’ve recently made my own (both approximately $5 and 4 servings):

Photo Credit: Stack Your Dollars – Cheap & Tasty Cold Pasta

Photo Credit: Stack Your Dollars – Cheap & Tasty Cold Pasta

Servings: 4

The main ingredients needed are any type of pasta you like and Italian dressing. After that, you can throw in any food that you have on hand. Here are two ways I’ve recently made my own:

Version 1 ingredients:

• Rotini Pasta= $0.87
• Italian Dressing= $1.00
• Onion= $0.69
• Grape Tomatoes= $1.48
• Broccoli (frozen)= $0.96

Version 2 ingredients:

• Bowties Pasta= $0.87
• Italian Dressing= $1.00
• Onion= $0.69
• Carrot= $0.99
• Broccoli (frozen)= $0.96
• Black Beans= $0.81

Directions:

First, cook the pasta with a little bit of salt. While waiting on that, cut up the ingredients that you’d like to add. When the pasta is almost done, add the broccoli until soft but not mushy. Then, drain and wait to cool or pop it in the freezer for a bit. The last step is to toss in the Italian dressing and mix it all together then serve. 

For extra pizazz, you can also add some garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano to the mix. But it tastes great either way; Enjoy!

Total Cost: $4-$5

Cost per serving: $1-$1.25

#7 Quick and Easy Burrito Casserole from Melissa at Adventures of Frugal Mom

Photo Credit: Adventures of Frugal Mom – Quick & Easy Burrito Casserole

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of frozen burritos $4.24
• 14 oz can of enchilada sauce $1.62
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese $3.00
• 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (optional)- depends on the price of one tomato, about $1.00
• sour cream (optional) $.92
• 4 cups shredded lettuce $2.38

Directions:

1. Place burritos in a casserole dish. Cook 20 minutes according to the directions on the package.
2. After 20 minutes, take the burritos out, cover them with enchilada sauce and cheese and cook another 10 minutes.
3. Once the burritos are done cooking, top with tomatoes and lettuce.
4. Serve with sour cream if you would like.
5. Enjoy!

Total Cost: $13.16

Cost per serving: $2.19-$3.29

#8 Tilapia, Rice, Broccoli, and Salad from Alyssa at The Life Hunt

My go-to meal is a quick fish dinner. I use the frozen family pack of Tilapia fillets and thaw them out the night before.

To pair with the fillets, I steam some broccoli, heat up some healthy rice and quinoa in the microwave, and toss a salad.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 frozen tilapia filets: $6
• Broccoli head: $1.50 
• Seeds of Change Rice/Quinoa Mix: $2.50 per bag
• Romaine head $3.00
• Salad dressing $2.00

Directions:

1. Thaw the tilapia out the night before
2. Season with butter, lemon, salt, pepper, and chili flakes
3. Bake in the oven for 14-17 minutes (depends on how flakey you prefer your fish)
4. Steam a head of broccoli
5. Heat up a bag of rice/quinoa mix. It takes only 90 seconds.
6. Toss a salad and serve!
7. Add some lemon wedges and avocado slices if you want 🙂

Total Cost: $15.00

Cost per Serving: $3.75

#9 Korean Beef Bowl from Minda at Cents and Family

Photo Credit: Cents and Family – Korean Beef Bowl

Servings: 3

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup brown sugar 
• 3 tbsp soy sauce, dark preferred 
• 2 tsp sesame oil $2.98/bottle
• 3 cloves garlic, minced $1.87 per jar
• 1 lb ground beef $3.88
• chopped green onions – optional 
• rice $1.48 for entire bag

Directions:

1. Pan-fry the ground beef till done and drain the fat.
2. Mix the top 4 ingredients in a bowl/measuring cup.
3. Add the mixture to the ground beef in the skillet and pan-fry for another 2 minutes.
4. Serve with rice, green onions, and add favorite sides (see picture). 

Total Cost: $10.21

Cost per serving: $3.40

Photo Credit: Unsplash

#10 Buttered Noodles with Broccoli from Laurie at Cents and Order

We love this one because it’s easy and it’s comfort food with a bit of nutrition!

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. your favorite pasta $1.00
• 4 T. real butter $2.98 for 16 oz
• 8 oz. frozen or fresh chopped broccoli $1.00 (frozen)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta as directed.
2. Throw broccoli in 10 minutes after pasta started and cook until pasta is tender.
3. Drain, return to pan.
4. Mix in butter until melted and well covered.
5. Add salt and pepper.

Substitutions: Peas, carrots, zucchini, or any of your favorite vegetables! 

Total Cost: $4.98

Cost per serving: $1.25

#11 Old Fashioned Home Made Goulash from Merissa at Little House Living

Photo Credit: Little House Living – Old Fashioned Homemade Goulash

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pint Canned Tomatoes (Can also use 2 cups canned diced or stewed tomatoes. Do not drain) $1.00 for store bought
• 16 oz. Pasta $1.00
• 1 pound Ground Beef $5.34
• 1 medium Onion $.78
• 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic 
• Salt and Pepper To taste

Merissa’s Tip: This recipe is perfect for using home-canned tomatoes because you need the liquid for cooking the pasta. You can use fresh tomatoes but you will need to add some kind of liquid (water or beef broth) to be able to cook the noodles.

Directions:

1. Brown up hamburger first with onion. 
2. Add in the garlic. 
3. Pour in tomatoes and all the liquid with them.
4. Add in the noodles and cook until the noodles are al dente.

Total Cost: $8.12

Cost per serving: $2.03

#12 Easy Cheese Chili and Tortilla Chips from Latasha at Arts & Budgets

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 pound organic ground chicken $3.18
• 2 cans of red kidney beans $1.24
• 2 cans of organic diced tomatoes $1.96
• 1 package of Siete Mild Taco Seasoning – 1.31oz $2.99
• Violife vegan cheddar cheese $5.49
• Pepper and onion seasoning for taste (optional)
• Tortillas chips $1.74

Directions:

1. Cook the ground chicken
2. Add kidney beans & diced tomatoes
3. Simmer for 15-20 minutes
4. Add the taco seasoning
5. Add cheese and season to taste
6. Serve with Tortilla Chips

Total Cost: $16.60

Cost per serving: $2.77

#13 Creamy Sausage and Potatoes from Lydia at Thrifty Frugal Mom

Photo Credit: Thrifty Frugal Mom – Creamy Sausage and Potatoes

Servings: 5

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground sausage $3.57
• 1 medium onion, chopped $1.00
• 4 to 4 1/2 cups diced potatoes (no need to peel) $3.98 for a 3 lb bag
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 cup milk
• parsley (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook Sausage and onion until browned.
2. Add enough water to cover sausage, cook for 10 minutes. Do not drain.
3. While sausage is cooking, dice potatoes.
4. Add potatoes, salt, and pepper to the pan of meat.
5. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
6. Whisk milk and four together until smooth.
7. Add to sausage and potato mixture and cook until just thickened.
8. Top with parsley. Enjoy!

Total Cost: $8.55

Cost per serving: $1.71

#14 Sausage and Peppers Served Over Rice from Jill at Organizational Toast

This is one go-to frugal meal we love: Sausage and Peppers served over rice. The rice and peppers really fill out the recipe so it can feed our family of 4 easily!

You can also serve with garlic bread and fruit to round out the meal! This is a meal I shared in my Frugal Walmart Meal Plan.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• Great Value Italian Sausages (5 Count) – $3.66
• Great Value Frozen Pepper & Onion Blend  – $2.33
• Rice (2 cups) – $.50
• Salt, Pepper, Italian herb blend, 2 TBS spaghetti sauce (optional) 

Directions:

1. Brown the sausages whole
2. Once browned, take them out of the pan and slice into quarter-inch slivers
3. Return them to the pan to cook all the way through
4. After the sausages are cooked through, add the frozen peppers and season to taste with salt, pepper, and a dried Italian herb blend
5. Optional: Add 2 tablespoons of spaghetti sauce
6. Cover and let the peppers cook through.
7. Serve the sausage and peppers over a bed of rice

Total Cost: $6.49

Cost per serving: $1.62

#15 Easy Homemade Tomato Soup from Theresa at In The Game Investing

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2-3 garlic cloves ($1.98 for jar of minced garlic)
• 1 small diced onion ($1.00)
• 4 cups chicken broth ($1.33)
• 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes (can mix with spicy crushed tomatoes) ($1.84)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream ($1.60)

Seasonings:

• Olive oil
• Red pepper flakes (to taste, if desired for spice)
• Saffron thread (if desired for spice)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and lightly brown (approximately 15 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, saffron, salt pepper, and red flakes (if desired). Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook until desired consistency.

Use an immersion blender to puree to perfect consistency. Add cream and heat through.

Serve with your favorite Grilled Cheese sandwich or enjoy by itself! 

Total Cost: $7.75

Cost per serving: $1.29

#16 Ranch Chicken from Shannon at Making Frugal Fun

Photo Credit: Making Frugal Fun – Ranch Chicken

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

• Ranch packet: 69 cents (check out her recipe for how to make ranch seasoning from scratch!)
• 1/4 cup Parmesan: 2.49
• 1/4 cup traditional bread crumbs: 2.69
• 1/4 cup milk
• Boneless skinless chicken breasts (approx $3/pound depending on location)

Sides:

• Potatoes $2.70 for 3 large
• Bag of frozen veggies $1.00

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. In one medium bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and ranch seasoning packet.  Fill another small bowl with 1/4 cup of milk.
3. Dip each chicken breast in milk, and then coat in breadcrumb mixture.  Place all chicken breasts in a shallow baking dish.
4. Bake chicken for about 10 minutes, then flip and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the middle (about 10-15 more minutes, depending on thickness).
5. Remove from oven and serve with veggies and a baked potato. 

Total Cost: $9.88

Cost per Serving: $1.65

#17 Beef Casserole and Dumplings from Emma at Tuppennys Fireplace

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 400g (3/4 lb to 1 lb) diced beef ($3.50 or £2.50)
• 2 white onions (free from our veggie garden or aound $1.50)
• 3 carrots (free from our veggie garden or around $.82 for 1 lb bag)
• 2 cloves garlic (as above or $.92)
• 1 box dumpling mix ($0.69c or 50p)
• Seasoning and herbs (salt, pepper & paprika)

Directions:

As I am both unconfident and a lazy cook I run with throwing everything except the dumpling mix into the slow cooker, ensuring the carrots and onions are at the bottom.

Add a little water but not too much as slow cookers keep all vegetable liquids in. Cook on low for about 5 hours.

45-60 mins before you want to eat, make up the dumpling mix as instructed (mine is simply to add water), make it into balls, and add it to the casserole.

I find the dumpling mix very sticky so I use spoons to make the balls, saves me getting it all over my hands!

To make this recipe cheaper you can reduce the beef quantity and increase the vegetable content. I try to get the beef when it’s reduced in price because that’s just being frugal, isn’t it?!

Total Cost: $7.43

Cost per serving: $1.86

Photo Credit: Unsplash

#18 Baked Potatoes with Toppings from Charlotte at Looking After Your Pennies

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 Baked Potatoes ($3.98 for 3 lb bag)

Charlotte’s favorite toppings (cost varies – about $2-$4):

• Grated Cheese
• Baked beans
• Coleslaw
• Cottage cheese
• Chili

Directions:

Bake the potatoes in the oven, or if you are in a hurry, cook them in the microwave. Top with your favorite toppings and serve!

Total Cost: $5.98-$7.98

Cost per serving: $1.50- $2.00

#19 Crockpot Chicken Taco Bowls from Megan at Megan Makes Sense

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast: $6.00
• 1 packet of taco seasoning: $0.30
• 1 can black beans: $0.75
• 1 can yellow corn: $0.75

Directions:

Throw all ingredients into the crockpot on low for 8 hours. Shred the chicken and serve with rice, tortilla chips, taco shells, or lettuce.

This meal is a great way to mix up your meal prep during the week since you can use the chicken/beans/corn mixture in a variety of ways. It’s super easy to make and easily scales if you want to make a larger portion to save for later.

Total Cost: $7.80

Cost per serving: $1.95

#20 Beef Fajita Soft Tacos from DeShena at Extravagantly Broke

Photo Credit: Extravagantly Broke – Beef Fajita Soft Tacos

So, the thing that makes this recipe unique is that it’s super simple, very fulfilling, tasty, and it’s very similar to something you might get from Chipotle for less than half the price per person.

Plus, it has almost no artificial ingredients and I purchase all the ingredients from Walmart except the shredded cheese which I get from Krogers.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 14 oz. John soules frozen beef fajita strips ($9.48 per family size bag)
• 8 Ole’ Extreme Wellness high fiber tortillas ($3.58)
• 14 oz bag of frozen peppers and onions ($2.33)
• 7.5 oz. Sargento 4 State Shredded Cheddar cheese ($2.99)

Directions:

I toss the whole bag of frozen beef into the pressure cooker for about 15 minutes to get the meat really tender.

You could also defrost in the microwave and steam on the stove with about 1/2 cup of water and cover with a lid.

Then, I add the entire bag of frozen veggies along with the meat inside the pressure cooker and cook for about 5 more minutes. Season with salt and stir.

Then, I heat about 2 tortillas at a time in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Next, I lay each tortilla on a plate, scoop in an equal portion of the meat and veggie mixture, add 1/4 cup shredded cheese and that’s it!

When the meat mixture is hot the cheese begins to melt. You can top them with lettuce, pico de Gallo, guacamole, or Picante sauce if you prefer.

Total Cost: $18.38

Cost per serving: $4.60

Photo Credit: Unsplash

#21 Black Bean Soup & Cheese Quesadillas from Lisa (me!) at Adapt Your Dollars

This recipe for black bean soup was given to me many years ago by a patient I had at the nursing home where I work.

She called it 3-2-1 Black Bean Soup (3 cans of black beans, 2 cups of water, and 1 jar of salsa).

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 3 cans of black beans (drained and rinsed) $1.86
• 2 cups of water
• 16 oz jar of salsa ( we use mild, but can use medium or hot) $2.00
• Soft taco flour tortillas (medium or large size) $2.00
• Bag of cheddar shredded cheese $2.00

Directions:

1. Combine black beans, water, and salsa in a large pot.
2. Bring to boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes
3. While the soup is simmering, heat up the frying pan for quesadillas
4. Place flour tortilla in the pan, cover half of it with cheese and fold the tortilla in half.
5. Brown on each side and make sure cheese is melted.
6. Optional: Serve with sour cream, salsa, & guacamole
7. This recipe yields a large batch of soup, so freeze leftovers for a quick side dish in next month’s meal plan!

Total Cost: $7.86

Cost per serving: $1.97

Photo Credit: Unsplash

How to Make Frugal Meals

Are you wondering how to turn regular meals into frugal meals? Or maybe you are looking for an answer to one of these questions:

• How do you make a meal for your family that is cost-efficient?
• How do you make a meal with the least amount of waste or with the best use of resources (food and time)?

There are several ways to keep your meals cost-efficient, and therefore, frugal. Once you start using some of these tips and tricks, you will be well on your way to cooking easy frugal meals for your family at home!

Here are my top 5 favorite tips to help you start cooking ultra frugal meals!

Meal Plan

Meal planning is key to cooking your family frugal meals and eating at home. Meal planning allows you to save money on groceries and avoid food waste by planning meals that use some of the same ingredients.

For example, ever find an old, half-used container of sour cream in the back of the fridge from who knows when?

That happened to me all the time before I started meal planning years ago.

To avoid throwing out forgotten about containers of food, plan your meals with thought and purpose.

Related Posts:

• How to Make a Weekly Meal Plan With Grocery List
• Cheap Weekly Meal Plan for 1: The $57 Reality Check
• Meal Planning on a Budget
• How to Create a Meal Planning Binder
• Super Easy Meal Planning with Dinner Theme Nights
• The Easy Way to Make a Monthly Meal Plan

Use Leftovers

Many of the bloggers that contributed their favorite easy frugal recipes in the section above refer to using up what you have on hand.

This means cleaning the fridge out and using up any leftovers you have in other meals.

There are many easy ways to use up leftovers. Some ways to use up your leftovers are:

• Use them in casseroles
• Eat them for lunch
• Put them in soups
• Top a salad with leftover meat
• Incorporate them into a bowl style meal

If you would like to read about other ways to use up leftovers, check out my post here.

Being intentional with your ingredients and avoiding waste will help you make frugal meals.

Keep meals simple

Frugal meals are typically very simple meals with few ingredients. As you can see by the recipes above, frugal meals usually only have a couple of main ingredients.

The main ingredients in frugal meals are usually wholesome, natural, and unprocessed foods that are nutrient-dense.

By keeping your recipes simple (5 ingredients or less!) and using real food, your meals will end up being ultra frugal.

Photo Credit – Unsplash

Go Meatless

Making meals for your family that are meatless will result in extremely frugal meals. Since the meat is usually the most expensive part of any meal, cutting out the meat will save you money.

However, be sure to substitute the meat with something equally dense in nutrients to keep your frugal meals healthy.

Challenge yourself to plan one meatless meal per week. There are several meatless meal ideas above you could try!

Other meatless meal ideas include:

• Baked cheese ravioli or tortellini
• Homemade pizzas
• Vegetable soup
• Mexican Quinoa
• Grilled cheese and tomato soup
• Rice and bean burritos
• Breakfast for dinner (waffles, pancakes, French toast, eggs, hash browns)
• Meatless chili
• Whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce
• Veggie burgers or black bean burgers

If you have meat lovers in your family that can’t go without meat, try serving smaller portions of meat and larger portions of the side dishes to decrease the cost of the meal.

Shop at discount grocery stores

Shopping at discount grocery stores will save you a ton of money on groceries. And cheap ingredients equal frugal meals!

My favorite discount grocery stores are Aldi and Lidl. However, if you don’t have one of those near you, you can do a quick Google search to see if you are near another discount grocery store.

If you don’t have any discount grocery store near you, try doing your grocery shopping at Walmart. The value and quality you get with Walmart’s store brands are incredible!

Plus, you could try Walmart Grocery Pickup to save time and money. And shopping for groceries online can really help you stick to your food budget.

I love Walmart Grocery Pickup for so many reasons! You can read my review of Walmart Grocery Pickup here.

If you would like to read about more ways to save money on groceries and meals, take a look at these posts:

• Easy and Dirt Cheap Meals for a Tight Food Budget
• How to Stop Eating Out to Save Money and Eat Healthier
• Ways to Cut Food Expenses so You Can Save More Money

Final Thoughts

Incorporating frugal meals into your lifestyle is a big part of taking control of your finances. Monthly food costs are one of the largest line items in a household budget.

But food costs can be easily reduced.

By being intentional with your meal plan and using money-saving tips when buying your groceries, you will be able to create easy frugal meals for your family, even on those crazy, busy weeknights.

Why not start with some of the delicious meals recommended by the personal finance and frugal living bloggers above?

Also, don’t forget to check out all of their amazing blogs! You will find so much incredibly valuable information to help you manage your money better and reach your financial goals!

What are your favorite easy frugal meals? Please share them in the comments!