We’ve been talking about cooking on a budget all month on a planning level. This week, I’m going to give you a quick tour of a few of my favorite recipes that lean on inexpensive ingredients.
Pumpkin & White Bean Alfredo
Canned beans, canned pumpin, and pasta are the core of this recipe: not bank breakers. The most spendy item in here is Parmesan, and honestly, the cheaper shelf-stable stuff adds a flavor punch comparable to pricier deli options.
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Mediterranean Antipasto Tuna Salad
Canned light tuna and canned beans are humble and cheap ingredients. A little fresh veg (which you can sub with sale options) elevates them to a gorgeous and filling meal.
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Weeknight Shakshuka
This dish is mostly eggs. jarred pasta sauce, and canned beans. I don’t serve it with cheese, either, which saves a little bit on the dish.
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Chole (Garbanzos)
If your pantry isn’t stocked for Indian cooking, the spices in this one can add up. If you have to narrow them down, the one to keep is the garam masala, which is a tasty spice blend in its own right.
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Spicy Fish Taco Bowls
White fish like hake is often incredibly cheap, but not the most flavorful. Dishes like this that blacken the fish with spices and round the meal out with inexpensive pantry staples are a perfect partner for sale fish.
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Spinach-Artichoke Pasta Bake
Canned artichokes are one of my secret pantry staples. They add a salty, chewy punch to pizza or pasta. They take this dish from “weird mix of odds and ends” to “Oh, yum, let’s make this again.”
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Bean & Cheese Quesadilla
Quesadillas are a staple of inexpensive eating. Canned beans, a few veggies, and a little cheese toast up into a colorful, comforting, and delicious meal in no time.
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