Recipes
Garlic Sesame Noodles
Spaghetti tossed in a salty-sweet garlic sesame sauce. A takeout-style dinner for under $1.50 a serving.
Budget cooking, made delicious
Eat well. Spend less.
Tested recipes with the price of every ingredient listed, so you know exactly what dinner costs before you shop.
- $1.55average per serving
- 17tested recipes
- 30 minor less for most
Lowest cost first
Cheapest dinners right now
Meal Prep
Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Five no-cook breakfasts in five minutes, for about 80 cents a jar.
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Clean-Out-the-Fridge Fried Rice
Day-old rice, frozen veggies, and eggs turn into dinner in 15 minutes.
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15-Minute Vegetable Stir Fry Noodles
Ramen noodles (toss the seasoning packet) in a savory soy and garlic sauce with crisp vegetables.
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Full recipes, meal prep plans, fast weeknight dinners, and money-saving guides.
Sample meal plan
Five family dinners for about $32.64
Feed a family of four Monday through Friday for less than one takeout order. Each dinner below serves 4, and the price is the full cost of the ingredients.
Learn to meal prep| Day | Dinner | Time | Cost for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Golden Red Lentil Soup | 40 min | $4.73 |
| Tuesday | Weeknight Ground Beef Tacos | 25 min | $9.97 |
| Wednesday | Garlic Sesame Noodles | 17 min | $2.86 |
| Thursday | Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Potatoes | 50 min | $8.75 |
| Friday | Crispy Black Bean Quesadillas | 15 min | $6.33 |
| Week total | $32.64 | ||
Short on time
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Fried Egg and Cheese Toast Sandwiches
A 10-minute diner-style sandwich for breakfast, lunch, or a lazy dinner.
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Crispy Black Bean Quesadillas
Melty, crunchy, and ready in 15 minutes. A family favorite for about $1.60 per serving.
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Microwave Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes cook in 10 minutes in the microwave. Pile on beans, cheese, and salsa.
Recipes
Creamy Tomato Basil Penne
A silky tomato cream sauce that comes together while the pasta boils.
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Budget tips that actually work
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The list is the single best money-saving tool you own. Here is how to make it work.
The $40 Pantry: Staples That Make Every Meal Cheaper
A well-stocked pantry turns a few fresh ingredients into dozens of different dinners.
Cook Once, Eat Twice: Smart Leftover Strategy
Plan leftovers on purpose and you will cook half as often and waste almost nothing.
Every price, shown
Each ingredient lists what it costs, with the total and the price per serving.
Tested at home
We cook every recipe in a normal home kitchen with regular grocery store ingredients.
Weeknight friendly
Simple steps, short ingredient lists, and few dishes. Real food for busy people.
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