Is it possible to have cheap healthy meals within a reasonable budget? Well, many would say it is not. But are they right, though?
We have always thought that good food that is also tasty comes with a good price, usually enough to dig a hole in your pocket. However, what if we prove you wrong in some minutes?
The truth is you can have a good meal within a budget. Something tasty and also satiating. The good thing is, there is not just one but a huge list from which you can choose and make a meal when on a budget – all so good that you would not realize that they are budget meals.
Whether you want to cook something good for your special one, or the family, or some quick easy healthy meals when on a diet, there are options for all.
In the article below, we have listed a few of the tastiest and the easiest cheap healthy meals you can cook at home when on a budget.
Keep reading to know more.
Table of Contents
Cheap healthy meals for family
Like mentioned, there is a huge list of options for cheap healthy meals for all situations. Whether it is for a rich dinner or making diet healthy food, there are tasty recipes for all. Let us have a look at some of the best of these recipes.
Chicken Hummus Bowl
A chicken hummus bowl is hands down one of the most in-demand, delicious dinner options you can choose to make. Apart from making this easy and cheap, it is also one of the healthiest and tastiest dinners to cook.
If you want to make some cheap healthy meals for family or yourself in a really quick time, the chicken hummus bowl is your go-to dinner option.
What you would need to make this dish:
[table id=92 /]
This dish can be cooked in some simple steps. The steps are:
Step 1
Take hummus, lemon juice, lemon zest and mix them. Add water to the whole mixture to get a watery texture.
Step 2
Next, two bowls. Take mixed grains, cook these, and put them on the bowls as the dressing. Add spinach to both bowls.
Step 3
Take the avocado and cut it into two halves. Squeeze some lemon juice over it and keep it in both bowls.
Step 4
In this step, take whatever you have remaining- chicken, pomegranate seeds, almonds, onions, etc., divide it into two halves and keep it in separate bowls.
Step 5: Mix all of these ingredients. Serve it to your family and enjoy.
French Chicken
Want to indulge in a delicious, creamy dinner? Then French Chicken is one of the best things that you that cook. Along with being one of the cheapest tasty meals, it is also one of the healthy meals on a budget to lose weight that you can include in your diet.
What you would need to make this dish:
[table id=93 /]
This dish can be cooked in some easy steps. The steps are:
Step 1
Take a frying pan (preferably non-stick), put it in the oven, and heat it in medium-low flame.
Step 2
Once the pan heats up a little, add the chicken and let it cook for 2-3 minutes until it becomes brown.
Step 3
Add the fennel, celery, leek, tarragon, and garlic. Stir and then add the white wine, mix a little, and add the stock. Boil the whole thing for some time and then shift the complete thing on a slow cooker. Cook it for a minimum of 2 hours.
Step 4
The next step is to take the chicken and add the cream and let it cook until the chicken becomes soft and tender.
Step 5
Take another cooking pot and boil the veggies.
Step 6
On separate bowls, divide the chicken, the veggies, and the stock. Serve and enjoy.
Tomato Spaghetti with Smoky Bacon
Believe it or not, some lip-smacking cheap healthy meals can be cooked within 30 minutes. These dishes taste so good that you would feel you are in a five-star. One of such dishes is Tomato Spaghetti with Smoky Bacon. Wondering how to make this? Let us have a look.
Here are the ingredients you would require to make this dish:
[table id=94 /]
Let us have a look at the easy steps in which this dish can be made.
Step 1
The first step is to boil it. (In case you are not aware of how to boil it, you would get the instructions at the back of the wrap).
Step 2
Take non-stick cookware and put the bacon in. Cook it for 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes crisp.
Step 3
Once the bacon is cooked, add the onions and cook for another 2 minutes.
Step 4
Pop in the smoked paprika and the garlic and let it rest for a minute.
Step 5
Our dish is almost ready. Put the tomatoes in, let the whole thing boil, and cook for a good 5 minutes.
Step 6
Take the spaghetti. Pour the sauce and serve it to the family for a great dinner.
Chicken and Veggies Roasted in Herb and Lemon
Ever thought that your Sunday chicken roast plans that naturally dig a huge hole in the pocket can also come cheap yet healthy and tasty? We are going to show you how. Below is an easy recipe for cooking cheap healthy meals version of your Sunday Chicken Roast.
The ingredients that you would need to cook Chicken and Veggies Roasted in Herb and Lemon are:
[table id=95 /]
Here are some simple steps which you follow to prepare this dish.
Step 1
Take the baking sheet. Add the onion, celery, carrots, potatoes and sprinkle a tablespoon of olive oil on it.
Step 2
Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees. Once hot, put the sheet on the top rack for about 20 minutes.
Step 3
While the veggies get cooked, treat the chicken. Take the chicken breasts and sprinkle a teaspoon of olive oil, salt and teh poultry seasoning.
Step 4
Put it on of the oven with other veggies once they are cooked. Roast it for 20 to 25 minutes for 165 degrees.
Step 5
Your Chicken and Veggies Roasted in Herb and Lemon is ready to be served. Take it out of the oven. Cut the chicken pieces. Squeeze lemon juice on the veggies and the chicken roast. Divide the roast amongst your family and enjoy a good meal together.
Bonus: Did you know that this dish is also one of the cheap healthy meals that last a week.
Moroccan Spicy Pork Meatballs
Finding some cheap heathy meals filled with nutrients for the family is a task. Especially to find something nutritious yet delicious that the kids would love is something tha every household with kids looks for.
Thankfully, our Moroccan Spicy Pork Meatballs make one of such dishes. If you are looking forward to cooking lip-smacking and filling cheap healthy meals for two or something tasty for the family, this dish is your go-to for sure.
Some of the ingredients that you would need to prepare the dish is:
[table id=96 /]
The simple steps in which you can prepare this tasty, nutritious dish are:
Step 1
Take a bowl and add the fruit chutney, chives, Moroccan seasoning, and the red capsicum. Mix them together nicely.
Step 2
Once mixed nicely, take small portions of it on your hand and, with the help of your palm, make small balls from it. Keep it aside on a plate.
Step 3
Keep the oven to pre-heat on 180°C / 160°C.
Step 4
Put a baking paper on a baking tray and keep it in the oven to pre-heat.
Step 5
For the next step, take a frying pan and add some oil to heat on a medium-low flame.
Step 6
Once the pan is hot, put the meatballs in there and cook for a good 3 minutes until it becomes brownish.
Step 7
Transfer the meatballs into the baking tray and bake it for around 10 minutes.
Step 8
Put the steamed chutney, veggies, and couscous and serve to your family.
Penne Pasta
Who does not like the delicious antipasti that are served at restaurants? If you are a fan and yet cannot have too much of it considering how pricey they are, then there is a piece of good news for you. Our Penne Pasta recipe exactly replicates a five-star restaurant-style antipasto, and no, we are not kidding.
Therefore, this vegetarian dish makes its way to becoming one of the best cheap healthy meals. Listed below are the ingredients required and the steps to make this dish.
The ingredients required to prepare Penne Pasta are:
[table id=97 /]
The steps to prepare this dish are:
Step 1
The first step is to boil the pasta. If you are not aware of how to boil, you will find the instruction on the backside of the wrapper.
Step 2
While the pasta boils, take non-stick cookware and heat the olive oil in medium-high flame.
Step 3
Add the olives and artichoke hearts and stir nicely once the pan is a little hot. (In case you want to make this a non-vegetarian dish, you can add some sliced salami at this step. Cook it until the olive oil becomes reddish in color).
Step 4
Add the chopped tomatoes, olive brine, basil leaves, and the stock of the pasta when it was boiling. Bring all to boil for about 10 minutes. Let it boil until the water evaporates completely, making it a thick mixture.
Step 5
For the final step, take the boiled pasta, add the sauce we just made, and the mozzarella cheese. Serve it hot to your family and enjoy a great meal together.
Toast with Smoky Chickpeas
Another extremely easy and cheap healthy meals for one that can be prepared quickly within just 15 minutes is Toast with Smoky Chickpeas. Considered this one of the cheap healthy meals, this fuss-free, easy-to-cook dish can also contain very few calories. Let us have a look at how to prepare it.
The things you would need to make this dish are:
[table id=98 /]
Let us have a look at the simple steps in which this dish can be made.
Step 1
Take a frying pan. Add about half a teaspoon of oil and let it heat.
Step 2
Once hot, add the onions and cook for another 5mins.
Step 3
Add the chickpeas, vinegar, honey, passata, chipotle paste. Cook this for another good 5 minutes.
Step 4
Take the bread on a pan and make a toast.
Step 5
Put the toast on a dish and add the chickpeas paste. (In case you want to make this a non-veg dish, you can also add a poached egg on top of the toast and the chickpeas). Serve it to your family and enjoy.
Final thoughts
Unlike popular belief that good food comes at a huge price, some nice dishes can be cooked on a really low budget. These were some of the many cheap healthy meals that you can cook and surprise your family and friends with, even when you are on a budget. Hence, it is time to break free from your regular boring food and cook something amazing.
