What counts as a cheap meal?

On this page, under $4.00 a serving, priced from the ingredients themselves. Beans, eggs, pasta, rice and the cheaper cuts do most of the work. Nothing here is a punishment recipe.

Why does a small budget mean fewer recipes?

Because the week spends the money you actually have. A bigger budget fills seven meals. A tight one still gives you real meals — just as many as the ceiling allows — instead of a plan you can't afford.

Is the price what I pay at the store?

It is the cost of the amount the recipe uses, at typical US grocery prices. You will pay a little more at checkout for whole packages, and that leftover food is what makes the next week cheaper.

Cheap meal ideas

Under $4.00 a serving, priced from the ingredients. A cheap week that still tastes like food —1096 recipes from the same catalog are below.

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Under $4.00 a serving

Prices come from the ingredient catalog, not a number typed onto the recipe. From $0.19 up.

The rest of the catalog is on all recipes.

A cheap week

A cheap week for two

A tight week for two at about $150. 23 minutes on average, 6 main proteins, one grocery list.

Open the full cheap week →

Grocery list for that week

33 items · sorted by store section

Produce

Lemons16
Firm tofu4.4 lb
Potatoes4.4 lb
Baby potatoes3.3 lb
Arugula11 oz
Cherry tomatoes9 oz
Onions3
Garlic4
Shallots6
Green beans14 oz
Fresh cilantro2 oz
Spinach3.1 lb
Mushrooms1.3 lb
Fresh basil1 oz
Broccoli1.5 lb
Fresh parsley3 oz
Kale7 oz
Eggplant6
Bell peppers3
Zucchini4

Meat & seafood

Sirloin steak3 lb
Lamb chops14 oz
Ground beef1.1 lb
Chicken thighs2.2 lb

Dairy & eggs

Greek yogurt1.1 lb
Parmesan5 oz
Mozzarella9 oz
Feta7 oz
Eggs12
Butter9 oz

Bakery

Bread16

Pantry

Chickpeas (can)6
Strained tomatoes17 fl oz

Check your pantry

You probably have these already.

Olive oil
Dried oregano
Balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper
Red pepper flakes

Meal BFF app

Spend the budget you have

Tell it how much the week can cost. It comes back with the meals that fit and one grocery list.

Cheap meal questions

What counts as a cheap meal?: On this page, under $4.00 a serving, priced from the ingredients themselves. Beans, eggs, pasta, rice and the cheaper cuts do most of the work. Nothing here is a punishment recipe.
Why does a small budget mean fewer recipes?: Because the week spends the money you actually have. A bigger budget fills seven meals. A tight one still gives you real meals — just as many as the ceiling allows — instead of a plan you can't afford.
Is the price what I pay at the store?: It is the cost of the amount the recipe uses, at typical US grocery prices. You will pay a little more at checkout for whole packages, and that leftover food is what makes the next week cheaper.

Cheap meal ideas

Under $4.00 a serving

Broccoli broccoli plate

Broccoli spinach plate

Broccoli kale plate

Mushroom broccoli plate

Mushroom spinach plate

Mushroom kale plate

Broccoli green beans plate

Mushroom green beans plate

Cashew-stuffed roast mushrooms

Air-fryer paprika mushrooms & peppers

Cumin mushroom & zucchini roast

Peanut broccoli plate

Peanut spinach plate

Peanut kale plate

Peanut green beans plate

Cashew paprika pepper boats

Peanut eggplant air-fry cubes

Peanut-butter broccoli tray

Dump lime peanut green beans

Pressure peanut broccoli ginger

Peanut zucchini lime skillet

Tahini spinach mushroom skillet

Tahini steamed broccoli bowl

Tahini zucchini air-fry spears

Grilled peanut zucchini planks

Broccoli zucchini plate

Broccoli peppers plate

Broccoli mushrooms plate

Mushroom zucchini plate

Mushroom peppers plate

Mushroom mushrooms plate

Dump tahini lemon spinach

Pressure tahini kale lemon

Grilled tahini eggplant slabs

Grilled cashew peppers onion

Coconut kale peanut pot

Dump coconut peanut kale

Roasted tahini eggplant halves

Broccoli asparagus plate

Mushroom asparagus plate

Pressure lime cashew green beans

Peanut spinach oat bowl

Cashew broccoli air-fry basket

Peanut spinach coconut steam

Chili peanut kale skillet

Pine-nut asparagus basket

Grilled pine-nut asparagus

Eggs broccoli plate

Eggs spinach plate

Eggs kale plate

Pressure coconut tahini spinach

Peanut zucchini plate

Peanut peppers plate

Peanut mushrooms plate

Eggs green beans plate

Peanut asparagus plate

Dump mushroom yogurt finish

Dump lentil potato spinach

Cinnamon tahini banana oats

Pine-nut zucchini ribbon bake

Pine-nut green beans lemon

Slow mushroom arborio pot

Instant Pot mushroom stroganoff

Tofu broccoli plate

Tofu spinach plate

Tofu kale plate

Banana peanut spinach oats

Mushroom stroganoff

Tofu green beans plate

Turmeric coconut banana bowl

Chili mushroom tofu skillet

Chickpeas broccoli soup

Microwave cumin chickpeas & spinach

Dump coconut soy potato kale

Paprika kale chickpea skillet

Chickpea broccoli skillet

Chickpea broccoli skillet

Chickpea broccoli skillet