23 Healthy Recipes That Won't Break the Bank

Make the most of high-flavor, low-cost ingredients for budget-friendly meals everyone will love.

August 15, 2022

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Grilled Flank Steak, Portobello and Green Bean Salad

A balsamic marinade pulls double duty in Ellie’s five-star recipe. The sauce tenderizes flank steak, a tougher cut of meat, while infusing the dish with delicious flavor.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak, Portobello and Green Bean Salad

White Chili

Ellie's heart-healthy chili combines ground turkey with white beans, peppers, onions and spices to make for an incredibly flavorful bite.

Get the Recipe: White Chili

Penne With Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic, and White Beans

Pasta and canned beans are two inexpensive staples every pantry is stocked with. Bring them together for a simple yet hearty meal.

Get the Recipe: Penne with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic, and White Beans

Chicken Enchilada Rice Bake

Convert rotisserie chicken into a healthy and delicious dinner for four with this tasty rice bake.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Rice Bake

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stretch half a pound of ground beef into a hearty dinner for four by mixing the meat with rice, cheese and sautéed veggies.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Peppers

Aromatic Noodle Salad with Lime Peanut Sauce

Peanuts are high in good fat so sprinkle them on Ellie's favorite noodle dinner for added crunch.

Get the Recipe: Aromatic Noodles With Lime Peanut Sauce

Minestrone Soup

Soup is a great way to eat better on a budget. In one steaming bowl of Ellie's minestrone, you'll get five kinds of vegetables, plus protein-packed kidney beans — without breaking the bank.

Get the Recipe: Minestrone Soup

New Orleans-Style Shrimp

This low-budget dish of shrimp, corn and tomatoes gets its bold flavor from Creole seasoning, an aromatic and spicy mixture that includes paprika, cayenne pepper, dried herbs, plus granulated onion and garlic.

Get the Recipe: New Orleans-Style Shrimp

Greek Salad with Oregano Marinated Chicken

Dried oregano, garlic and lemon turn a simple salad into a Greek-inspired option for dinner tonight. Top the finished greens with grilled chicken for a complete meal.

Get the Recipe: Greek Salad with Oregano Marinated Chicken

Barley Risotto With Ham and Mushrooms

Stock your pantry for less by buying grains like barley, rice, quinoa and oatmeal in bulk they'll cost much less than boxed versions. Use quick-cooking barley in this recipe for a comforting, risotto-style grain dish.

Get the Recipe: Barley Risotto With Ham and Mushrooms

Spicy Tofu and Vegetable Lo Mein

Fresh ginger adds great flavor to this 30-minute lo mein — and as a bonus it contains gingerol, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Tofu and Vegetable Lo Mein

Spinach and Egg Sandwiches

Eggs are a low-cost protein source. They're also full of vitamins A and D, plus omega-3 fats, making this easy breakfast-for-dinner meal good for your heart and your wallet.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Egg Sandwiches

Skirt Steak With Roasted Root Vegetables

Skirt steak is known for its beefy flavor and low cost, but it can be bit chewy, so it benefits from a quick marinade before it's grilled.

Get the Recipe: Skirt Steak With Roasted Root Vegetables

California Grain Salad

Frozen veggies and puffed cereal contribute flavor and texture to this budget-friendly grain bowl.

Get the Recipe: California Grain Salad

No Guilt Caesar

Thought Caesar salad dressing was off-limits? Think again. Alton's version uses silken tofu to replace the raw eggs in Caesar salad dressing and can be made right in the blender.

Get the Recipe: No Guilt Caesar

Tropical Chicken Patties

Ground chicken pairs perfectly with a spicy pineapple salsa and checks in at an afforable $8 for four servings.

Get the Recipe: Tropical Chicken Patties

Sheet Pan Fried Rice with Tofu

As Katie says, "tofu is a great way to have a plant-based protein." It takes on the flavors that it’s cooked with, especially in Katie’s super-simple sheet pan fried rice. Bonus? Her recipe calls for cooked rice, so hold onto those leftovers!

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Fried Rice with Tofu

Peanut Noodles with Pork

Don’t let a half-empty jar of peanut butter go to waste — use it as the sauce for this healthy and satisfying noodle dish.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Noodles with Pork

Healthy One-Pot Spaghetti with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Knock out a pasta dinner with a rich Parmesan-and-cream-cheese tomato sauce in just one pan.

Get the Recipe: Healthy One-Pot Spaghetti with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Thanks to your Instant Pot, this inexpensive dinner is actually better than takeout. Canned tomatoes and just a cup of chicken broth (which you may already have in the fridge), combine to make an easy sauce for this classic Italian dish.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken and Egg Soup with Pastina

Have leftover rotisserie chicken at home? Use it to make this Greek-inspired soup, which relies on fresh lemon and dill for its bright and bold flavor.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Egg Soup with Pastina

Rice Bowls with Fried Eggs

Eggs are one of the best proteins to buy on a budget because they’re filling, versatile and easy to cook. Eat them for lunch or dinner as a topping on this 15-minute fried rice.

Get the Recipe: Rice Bowls with Fried Eggs