Feeding a family does not have to be expensive. Budget family meals work best when they use pantry staples, affordable proteins, and ingredients that create leftovers.
Best Budget Ingredients for Family Meals
- Rice
- Beans
- Pasta
- Eggs
- Potatoes
- Cabbage
- Lentils
- Chicken drumsticks
- Ground beef
- Frozen vegetables
Affordable Family Meal Ideas
These meals are easy on the wallet and easy to repeat.
Rice and Beans
An affordable one-pot rice and beans that stretches to feed a family.
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 40 minutesServes: 6Cuisine: Global
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cups broth or water
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic in oil 3 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, cumin, and paprika.
- Add rice, beans, and broth. Bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer on low 20 minutes until rice is tender.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Pasta Bake
A cheesy pasta bake that uses pantry staples and stretches well.
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 30 minutesServes: 6Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup parmesan
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt, pepper
Instructions
- Boil pasta until just under al dente, then drain.
- Brown meat with onion, then stir in marinara and seasoning.
- Combine pasta and sauce in a baking dish.
- Top with mozzarella and parmesan.
- Bake at 400F (200C) for 18 minutes until bubbling.
Beans Porridge
A budget-friendly Nigerian beans porridge with palm oil and plantain.
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 60 minutesServes: 5Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown beans or black-eyed peas
- 1/3 cup palm oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 scotch bonnet, blended
- 2 tbsp ground crayfish
- 2 bouillon cubes
- 1 ripe plantain, diced (optional)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Soak beans 1 hour, then boil until soft, about 45 minutes.
- Add palm oil, onion, pepper, crayfish, bouillon, and salt. Simmer 10 minutes.
- Add plantain and cook 8 more minutes until soft.
- Stir and serve warm.
Yam and Egg Sauce
Boiled yam served with a quick tomato and egg sauce.
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 30 minutesServes: 4Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients
- 1 medium yam, peeled and sliced
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 scotch bonnet, diced
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 bouillon cube
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Boil yam in salted water 15 minutes until tender, then drain.
- Sauté onion in oil, add tomatoes, pepper, and scotch bonnet. Cook 5 minutes.
- Season with bouillon and salt.
- Pour in beaten eggs and stir gently until just set.
- Serve warm with the yam.
How to Make Meals Stretch
- Add beans or lentils to bulk up dishes
- Use rice as a base
- Turn leftovers into lunch
- Buy family-size proteins
- Cook soups and stews in bulk