101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight

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Including an Aldi budget meal planner and Aldi shopping list

If you wonder around Aldi weekly and have no idea what recipes you could be making your family then this post is for you. We have 101 Aldi recipes that will help you fill up your meal planner for a whole week and still keep to your budget.

We all get stuck in a rut when it comes to food and feeding our family. Sticking to a budget weekly food shop isn’t easy, even if you shop at a discounter.

The same rules of shopping savvy should still apply and ignoring all those “special” offer tags can be hard when you know that it’s cheap.

If you are looking for more dinner ideas then have a look at:

31 Aldi Slow Cooker Recipes For The Whole Family – These are the best slow cooker recipes that use Aldi food. You can make them in the morning and have a great meal ready for you by the time you get it.

The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List – This is our full list of £1 a head family meals. Use these to help bring your shopping bill right down.

Store Cupboard Meals: 41 Store Cupboard Recipes to Try – If you have a lot of food in your cupboards then use our meal ideas here that will help you save money and cook really yummy family meals.

Here’s our top 3 tips to staying on budget when you’re trying to do the family shop at a discounter:

1. Don’t go overboard. Stick to your shopping list and meal plan. You can use ours here by joining The Resource Vault or write a list by hand yourself. It’s easy to get distracted when everything is cheap!
2. Watch the packet sizes. Smaller sized items don’t always mean lower prices. Use your phone to do a quick search if you’re unsure. are you really getting good value for money?
3. Downshift. Start by buying the very bottom brand and work your way up. You’ll be surprised how nice the very basic item is! If you don’t like it then go up one.

Not knowing what to cook or add to your meal plan for next week can see you leaning toward a quick fix experience ready meal or even a take out.

The below 101 Aldi recipes are perfect if you’re looking for dinner ideas on a budget or just recipes to fill up your meal plan this week.

 Aldi shopping list

If you’re looking for weekly meal plans or saving money printables then come join The Resource Vault. It’s free to use and all the resources can be downloaded as many times as you need.

This also includes a range of Aldi budget meal planners and Aldi shopping lists for the whole family so you don’t even have to think about what to cook!

Come join us today by click here!

(By entering your email address you agree to be added to our mailing list. You will never be spammed. You can unsubscribe at anytime and still receive your printables.)

Aldi meal plan

Before you even step foot in a grocery store make sure you do these 6 things first. all of these will help you save your family money!

Meal Plan Sheets

Depending on how comfortable you are, either find a spare pad or print out 8-10 copies of a weekly meal plan sheet.

You’ll need enough space to write down a simple menu for each day and a shopping list as you go.

You can make your own weekly meal plan or download my meal plans and shopping lists for free from the Resource Vault. Having several copies on hand will help inspire you to get started and keep up the meal plans for several weeks.

If you’ve never meal planned before then start here by reading how it can save you hundreds of pounds! 

Save money on food

No more tins or jars, it really is just as quick to make up a pasta bake sauce or homemade soup then opening one.

Have a look at our £1 meals here that you can make from scratch:

Easy Chickpea Curry That Costs Under £1 a Head

Epic Vegan Tacos Recipe For Under £1 a Head

Easy Creamy Chicken and Pepper Pasta

Easy Chicken Fajita Recipe: A Family Meal for 94p a Person

If you are struggling to make your family healthy meals then have a look at Spicentice. They offer easy to follow meals with a shopping list, and their spices to help you make home cooked meals from scratch.

They are really great if you are short of time or unsure of how to cook your family favourites from scratch.

We tried them and made everything from homemade burgers to curries to kebabs!

Use our link here with our code LASAVE20 to get 20% off every purchase*.

Look at the below stores to see if you can save some money:

Get FREE FOOD with this app: checkoutsmart*

Muscle Food lean meat hamper – muscle food*

Get your groceries up to 70% off RRP – approved food*

Remember to come join our FREE Facebook Messenger Group for all the latest deals, freebies and quick family money saving tips!

Cashback websites

Of course there are plenty of other ways to save money, and once you start seeking them out then you will be amazed at what you find.

Every time you buy online you could be getting cashback. Have a look at:

OhMyDosh* – OhMyDosh is a great way to make extra money at home. It’s completely free to use. In this OhMyDosh review we talk you through how OhMyDosh works and how you can make money by using the website.

Unlike other cashback sites though, OhMyDosh* is completely free to use with no subscription needed for the better deals.

You can also earn extra by referring your friends and family to OhMyDosh. More on that near the bottom of the post. You receive £5 for every person you introduce to OhMyDosh* and as long as they complete the sign up you get paid and they get a £1 as a thank you for joining. 

Quidco* – Quidco* is a great way to save money. We’ve saved over £200 in the last few months and their site is really easy to use.

It’s free to join Quidco* and they have access to over 4,000 retailers, and a lot of these are big household names.

Swagbucks* – Swagbucks* is free to join and like Quidco you can save money while shopping online. The good thing about Swagbucks is that you can also earn money by watching videos, playing games and taking part in surveys.

There’s an option to download their SwagButton* for free which pops-up and reminds you about the cashback you could earn.

Go to these sites first before you buy anything online and see if you can get money back. Anything goes from hotel stays to toys and train tickets.

Budget your money

Use an app like Plum* to keep track of your spending and to help you save.

Using Plum* can help you build up your savings, pay off dent quicker and invest to make your money work harder. It’s free to join!

Join our 6-week FREE money saving course that walks you through how you can save your family money. No filler. Just real tips and advice from us on how we save money daily.

Use your slow cooker

Having a slow cooker to hand means that you can cook loads of meals while you are out. You can also make bulk out slow cooker meals easily with cans of kidney beans or baked beans.

If you don’t own a slow cooker then we use this one, which is a Morphy Richards Slow Cooker Sear and Stew 460012 3.5L Black Slowcooker*. 

For slow cooker meals, have a look at:

31 Aldi Slow Cooker Recipes For The Whole Family
31 Easy Family Slow Cooker Recipes
7 Gammon Slow Cooker Recipes That Are Budget Friendly
9 Slow Cooker Chicken Curry Recipes That Are Budget Friendly

101 Easy Aldi Recipes

So here are our 101 Aldi recipes that will give you dinner ideas for tonight plus help you stick to your weekly food budget.

(We are assuming you have some of our budget cupboard staples already brought. If not, please see our full list of Staple Food Store Cupboard Essentials here.)

For more dinner party ideas have a look at The Diary of a Jewellery Lover’s post here.

A lot of these are also perfect for leftovers. So if you make to much, freeze and use again at the end of the week or take for lunch!

We have loads of £1 a head meal ideas here:

The Best Cheap Recipes For Families
The Best Fakeaway Recipes For Under £1 a Head
Cheap Chicken Recipes That Are Under £1 a Head
11 Cheap Pasta Recipes That Are Under £1 a Head
13 Leftover Chicken Recipes That Are Under £1 a Head
7 Simple Minced Beef Recipes

These are Aldi recipes that we use ourselves to save money. Bu using our recipes you could save yourself hundreds of pounds.

Remember that the freezer is always your friend! Buy frozen vegetables and frozen fruit if you can and frozen meat can be defrosted as and when you need it.

We have divided the below recipes for you depended on what meal you are looking for.

Breakfast

These are the best breakfast recipes that you can make from shopping at Aldi.

1. Waffles

These are great for a waffle maker and make a great weekend treat. We have them with frozen fruit or with chocolate spread.

4 large eggs 32p

300g plain flour 30p

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 5p

2 tbsp golden caster sugar 5p

50g butter 25p

600ml semi-skimmed milk £1.20

Total: £2.17 that’s 54p a person.

2. Breakfast egg wraps

These are great for four people and make a great breakfast on the go. You can add anything to these but our favourite is below:

500g pack closed cup mushrooms £1.50

4 tsp sunflower oil 5p

320g cherry tomatoes 90p

2tbsp parsley 5p

40g porridge oats 10p

10 eggs 80p

4 tsp English mustard powder 7p

Total: £3.92 that’s 98p a person for 4 people.

3. Breakfast smoothie

This is a quick breakfast that is great for the whole family. You can whizz it up and add whatever fruit you like.

1 banana 13p

40g porridge oats 10p

80g frozen soft fruit 75p

150ml milk 30p

1 tsp honey 5p

1 tsp vanilla extract 5p

Total: £1.38 that’s 34p for 4 people.

4. Vegan pancakes

This eggless recipe makes 10 pancakes which can be frozen then grilled back to warm. They take about 5 minutes to make and about 2 minutes to cook.

Read how we make The Best Eggless Pancakes Recipe Ever here.

150g self-raising flour 10p

1 tablespoon baking powder 2p

1/2 teaspoon salt 2p

2 spoonfuls of maple syrup, or granulated sugar 10p

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 15p

250ml soya milk 17p

Total: 56p that’s 14p per person.

5. Overnight oats

This is a yummy breakfast for the whole family. You make it the night before and add it to the fridge before you go to bed.

¼ tsp ground cinnamon 5p

50g rolled porridge oats 8p

2 tbsp natural yogurt 10p

50g mixed berries 25p

drizzle of honey 5p

Total: 53p that’s 13p per person.

6. Cooked breakfast

We love a classic cooked breakfast. This is really easy to make and is cheap on the wallet too.

4 hash browns 60p

400g tin of baked beans 30p

4 scrambled eggs 32p

Total: £1.22 that’s 30p per person for four people.

7. Mexican egg roll

This is a quick and easy lunch idea that the kids will love. You can even make these the night before and wrap them in foil and keep in the fridge.

1 large egg 8p

1tbp sunflower oil 5p

2 tbsp tomato salsa 10p

Total: 23p that’s just 5p a person.

8. Egg muffins

These egg muffins are really easy to make and are great for lunch boxes. They are super cheap and you can add anything to them. All you do is mix the ingredients up and then oven cook them for 20 minutes on 180 degrees.

3 eggs 24p

40g red Leicester cheese 75p

Total: 99p that’s 24 a person.

9. Omelette

You can add loads to this basic omelette recipe. You can add cheese, herbs, and mushrooms.

3 eggs 24p

1 tsp sunflower oil 5p

1 tsp butter 5p

Total: 34p that’s 8p per person.

10. Breakfast quesadillas

This is a quick breakfast meal that you can take on the run if you are running late. You can add anything to these wraps including peppers, tomatoes, chicken or ham. Go crazy and use whatever you have leftover in the fridge.

8 wraps 85p,

100g cheese 50p,

100g ham 25p.

Total: £1.60 that’s 40p for 4 people.

11. Eggy bread

This is a quick and easy breakfast for the whole family. We griddle pan ours on high heat once the egg is mixture is on the bread.

Bread 14p

4 eggs 32p

Total: 46p that’s 11p per person.

12. Baked oats

This may look like a cake but its a yummy and heathly breakfast recipe that you can make at the start of the week and store for the whole week ahead.

100g porridge oats 7p,

200g fat free yogurt 40p,

1 tbsp sugar 5p,

100g defrosted frozen fruit 46p,

3 eggs 16p.

Total: £1.14 that’s 28p for four people.

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees fan. Put the porridge oats, yogurt, sugar and frozen fruits in a bowl. Mix it all together. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs then add them to the other ingredients. Mix together in a bowl. Pour the mixture into a baking tray and cook for around 30 minutes. Like a cake, you will need to check if the middle is cooked. We use a toothpick. If it comes back clean then it is fully cooked inside.

13. Omelette in a bun

The kids love this omelette recipe. It goes into lunch boxes quickly and is healthy too.

1 tbsp olive oil 5p

1 medium potato 25p

1 spring onion 37p

4 eggs 32p

9 small cherry tomatoes 20p

10g grated cheddar 25p

4 Asda Essential rolls 35p

Total: £1.79 that’s 44p each.

14. Breakfast Potatoes

This does take about 40 minutes to cook but is a really filling breakfast for the whole family. You can use your air fryer to cook your potatoes or the oven.

Start by setting the oven or air fryer to 185 degrees. Cut the potatoes into quarters, this helps them cook quicker. Add the potatoes to a bowl with the Paprika, Salt, Oregano and pepper. With a spoon, stir all the ingredients together so the potatoes are covered.

Then, cut the mushrooms into quarters, all the frozen peppers, frozen onions and a handful of spinach. Spray it all in the pan with some low fat cooking spray.

If you are using stock, then add it now to the deep pan. If you are using your air fryer, you probably don’t need the stock. You can eat this with eggs or with your cooked breakfast.

15. Hashbrown Frittata

We love this Hashbrown Frittata as it’s really easy to make a you can chuck in whatever you have left in the fridge or freezer.

We tend to use frozen vegetables but you can use fresh as well.

6 eggs

250g white potato

100g frozen onion

100g frozen peppers

50g spinach

Start by whisking the eggs in a bowl. Then add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. In a deep frying pan, spray the bottom with some low cal spray then add. Fry for a few minutes until the eggs are all cooked through.

16. Baked eggs

This is a really easy breakfast recipe that is very filling. You can add pretty much anything to this to make it yummy. It does take about 25 minutes to cook but is worth it. This recipe makes two.

100g frozen onion

6 tomatoes

1 tsp tomato paste

1 clove of garlic

50g spinach

100g vegetable stock

2 eggs

Start by pre-heating your oven to 180 degrees. Add the garlic, tomatoes and onions to a pan and fry lightly. Add the tomato paste and boil until it looks like a sauce. Stir in the spinach for a minute or two. Using two small deep dishes, add the sauce then crack an egg in the middle. Add to the oven and cook for around 15 minutes if you are looking for a soft runny yolk.

17. Pan Oat Pancakes

This is a really easy no flipping pancake recipe that you can make and chuck in the oven while you get ready. You can add any fruit to this at all. Our kids favourites are bananas and frozen mixed berries.

100g rolled porridge oats

2 tsp baking powder

150g plain fat free yogurt

2 eggs

5g cinnamon

1 tsp of vanilla extract

200g frozen berries

100g banana

Start by pre-heating your oven to 180 degrees. Blend the porridge oats till they are small, as this gives you soft no lump pancakes. Add the baking powder, salt and cinnamon to the mix. Then add the egg, vanilla and yoghurt and put this with the oat mixture. Leave it all to sit together for about 15 minutes as this lets the oats suck it all in. In a small baking tray, add some baking paper, and put the mixture in. Add your fruit at this point by sprinkling it on the top. Add to the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown on the top. Let it sit for a few minutes before you cut as it’s very hot.

18. Strawberry Oatmeal Waffles

This strawberry waffle recipe is really easy to make and you can use frozen strawberries if you prefer.

250g wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground allspice

250g oats

100g unsweetened applesauce

100g unsweetened non-dairy milk

3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

150g frozen strawberries

Start by sifting the flour, baking powder, salt and allspice into a mixing bowl.

Whizz the oats so they are small then add to the mixing bowl. Make a small well in the centre of the flour mix and add the applesauce, milk, maple syrup, oil and vanilla.

Stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Let the batter rest for 5 minutes or so in the fridge, it will thicken a bit don’t worry. If it does look thin, add a little more flour and mix again, then wait.

Keep doing this until you are happy. Add in the frozen strawberries. These van be defrosted or cut up smaller frozen. We cook our waffles in a waffle maker.

Spray the inside first, then add about a tablespoon of batter. The first one, like a pancake might be a bit rubbish but don’t worry, the rest do get better.

19. Vegan banana bread

This is a great way to use up your brown bananas!

3 large ripe bananas

75ml vegetable oil

100g brown sugar

225g plain flour

3 heaped tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon or mixed spice

20. Peanut Butter Pods

Made with whizzed up porridge oats, soya yogurt and cinnamon, this peanut butter cups are a great breakfast idea for the whole family. You can add whatever fruit you like here but our favourite is almost brown banana as it adds that sweetness that this sometimes needs.

300g porridge oats

2 tsp cinnamon

2 medium bananas

500g soya yogurt

80g peanut butter.

21. Homemade vegan bagels

This makes about 10 homemade bagels. You can even freeze them and defrost them when you need them.

7g sachet dried yeast

4 tbsp sugar

2 tsp salt

450g bread flour

These bagels are really easy to make. Start by adding the yeast with 4 tbsp sugar into a large bowl, and pour in 100ml warm water. Leave for 10 minutes as the mixture needs to bubble. In the same bowl, add 200ml warm water, flour and kneed.

The mixture might be sticky, so you may need extra flour. Separate the dough into little balls and leave to raise. They need about an hour or longer if possible. Heat your oven to 200 fan. Weight the dough and try and get them the same size.

Use a teaspoon to put a hole in the middle. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add one bagel and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Then add to the oven for 25 minutes or until full cooked through.

Aldi breakfast products:

Harvest Morn light benefit bars

Harvest Morn Wheaties

Benefit lighter granola with strawberries

Harvest Morn bran flakes with Brooklea Fat Free Greek Style Lemon Yogurt

Everyday Essentials Porridge Oats

Village Bakery Toastie Bread with Banana

Aldi Lunch recipes

Soup:

22. Slow Cooker Chicken Soup

This is a really easy soup recipe that you can throw into your slow cooker in the morning and have ready by the time you get home.

100g onion 25p,

2 celery sticks 10p

2 carrots 10p

2 leeks 15p

300g chicken breasts £1.25

2l chicken stock 8p

1 tbsp lemon 5p

Total: £1.93 that’s 48p per person.

23. Sweet Potato Carrot Soup

This sweet potato carrot soup recipe is really easy to make and is great for weekend lunches. Everything you need should be in your cupboard or freezer.

Read how we make our Sweet Potato Carrot Soup Recipe here.

The roasted sweet potatoes taste really nice in this soup.

500g chopped and cubed sweet potatoes 55p

400g tin carrots 49p

3 tbsp olive oil 5p

100g frozen onion 16p

2 garlic cloves 5p

1L vegetable stock 5p

100ml tin coconut milk 82p

10g pinch chilli flakes 10p

Total: £2.27 that’s 56p a person.

24. Carrot & lentil soup

This is great slow cooker soup recipe that can be made in the morning and ready for when you get home. 2 tsp cumin seeds 5p

1 pinch chilli flakes 5p

2 tbsp olive oil 8p

600g carrots 55p

140g split red lentils 28p

1l hot vegetable stock 5p

125ml milk 85p

Total: £1.91 that’s 47p for four people.

25. Parsnip soup

We love this easy parship soup as it can be eaten chunky or smooth. It is really easy to make and tastes great the next day as well. This makes enough for four people but you can double it to make extras for leftovers.

2 tbsp butter 5p,

50g frozen onion 4p,

1 crush garlic clove 5p,

500g parsnips 60p,

500ml vegetable stock 5p,

225ml milk 25p.

Total: £1.04 that’s 26p for four people.

26. Chicken noodle soup

On a cold winter day, there is nothing better than a warming soup. You can make extra for leftovers. This is made for four but double it for 8 portions.

2 tbsp butter 5p,

50g frozen onion 4p,

400g tin carrots 28p,

1 crush garlic clove 5p,

2 chicken breasts £1.28,

500ml chicken stock 5p,

100g noodles 30p.

Total: £2.05 that’s 51p for four people.

27. Tomato & lentil soup

We love this soup as you can make it spicy if you prefer abd the lentils in the soup help yo keep you filled up till dinner. This recipe makes enough soup for four people but you can double it to make leftovers for the next day if you prefer.

1 tbsp oil 5p,

400g tin carrots 28p,

50g frozen onion 4p,

100 ml vegetable stock 10p,

400g tin tomatoes 38p,

200g red lentils 50p.

Total: £1.35 that’s 33p for four people.

Start by frying the onions in the pan, then add the carrots. Add the stock, tomatoes and lentils. Bring it all to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. When ready, blend the soup to your chosen consistency. We like ours smooth.

28. Thai Vegetable Soup

This is a simple soup recipe that you can eat on the move. It is full of vegetables and perfect for cold water nights.

100g frozen onion

180g of aubergine

100g sweet potato

2 tsp Thai Red Curry Paste

120ml vegetable stock

1 tsp fish sauce

100g courgette

300g frozen mixed veg

120ml coconut milk

Peel the sweet potato and cut into chunks. Roast the chucks in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are soft. In the pan, fry off the aubergine and onion and add a little salt. Wait until the aubergine in soft. Add the sweet potato into the pan as well.

Add the curry paste and fish sauce. Then add the stock and reduce down. Add the courgette and frozen veg to the pan about 10 minutes before the end. The coconut milk can go right in at the end and then you can serve.

Aldi lunch ideas:

These are the best lunch ideas that are perfect for the whole family.

29. Burritos

I do these burritos when I know friends are coming over. I love the idea of everyone helping themselves and tucking straight in.

Frozen onion 10p,

350g long-grain rice 40p,

400g tin Red kidney beans in water 21p,

8 Tortilla wraps 92p,

2 Little Gem lettuce 75p,

31g Fresh basil 80p,

300g Salsa 69p (Optional),

Total: £3.87 that’s 96p for four people.

30. Eggy cheese crumpets

These eggy cheese crumpets can be grilled once submerged in the egg mixture. They make a great treat breakfast for the whole family.

3 eggs 24p

50ml milk 10p

6 crumpets 25p

250g cherry tomatoes £1

drizzle of vegetable oil 5p

40g cheddar 35p

Total: £1.99 that’s 49p per person.

31. Spicy mixed bean tortillas

These Spicy mixed bean tortillas are great for weekend days when you want something quick and easy. All of these ingredients come from tins or the freezer.

8 tortilla wraps 85p

200g onion 10p

1 tin of carrots 49p

400g can chopped tomatoes 39p

400g can kidney beans 30p

400g can of mixed beans in a mild chilli sauce 30p

100g mature cheddar cheese, grated 49p

Total: £2.92 that’s 73p for 4 people.

32. Smoky beans on toast

This is such a easy recipe that is great for the whole family. We like ours spicy but you can easily tone down the spices and mustard if you prefer.

150g rashers streaky bacon 95p

100g frozen onion 16p

400g can baked beans 29p

1 teaspoon brown sugar 6p

1 teaspoon English mustard 5p

1 teaspoon smoked paprika 5p

1 teaspoon ground cumin 5p

10g chopped chillis 5p

250g ciabatta bread £1

Total: £2.66 that’s 66p per person.

33. Pizza roll-ups

These pizza roll ups are great for lunchboxes and great for fussy eaters. You can add whatever you want to these.

375g Ready-made pastry. £1.75,

100g puree 80p,

100g cheese 95p.

Total: £3.50 that’s 87p for 4 people.

Start by getting the pastry out of the fridge so it can come up to room temp. When ready, spread the puree over the pastry and add the grated cheese. Cut the pastry into lines then shape into circles. Cook for 20 minutes on 180 degrees fan.

Aldi Dinner recipes:

Pasta:

These are the best pasta recipes that are made with all Aldi ingredients.

25. Carbonora

350g Spaghetti 14p

250g Cooking Bacon 37p

62g mushrooms 13p

3 garlic cloves 5p

2 eggs 10p

60g Grana Padano 80p

Total: £1.59 for 4 people that’s 40p a person.

This amazing Carbonara recipe is a really quick family meal that you can put together within 10 minutes. It takes 5 minutes to prep and 13 minutes to cook. Cook the spaghetti first as per the packet instructions, normally for 12 minutes.

While it’s cooking, cut the bacon into small chucks and start to fry it. You shouldn’t need any oil, as the bacon is pretty fatty. Add the mushrooms to the frying pan and fry until soft. Add the garlic. Whisk the eggs and Grana Padano cheese together in a bowl.

Drain the pasta and add it to the frying pan with the egg mixture. Stir quickly so the egg does not scramble. Salt and pepper to taste.

26. Penne with Arrabbiata

Now, this arrabbiata is my go to recipe if I fancy a bit of spice. I tame it down a bit for the kids, so might add some chili flakes in at the end for myself and my husband. It takes 20 minutes to boil down but is so worth it.

Wholemeal penne (500g) 55p

Onion 22p

Chillies (60g) 55p

Passata (500g) 35p

Vegetable stock (12x10g) 50p

Total: £2.17 that’s 54p for four people.

27. Italian Meatball Marinara

This is a gorgeous meatball recipe that the whole family will love. It’s a healthy meal that uses a basic tomato sauce recipe that can be used for loads of meals.

Make this amazing meatball marinara here.

500g minced meat £1.99

2 onion 16p

3 glove garlic 7p

1 egg 10p

1 tsp salt 2p

2 tsp low cal spray 10p

1 tin passata 32p

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 3p

Half tablespoon sugar 5p

Half tablespoon salt 3p

210g Spaghetti 8p

Total: £2.95 that’s 73p for four people.

You can download this list and a FREE meal plan by joining our Resource Vault here. 

28. Bacon and Cheese Pasta

This bacon and cheese pasta is my little one’s favourite dinner. She’d eat this every night if we let her, and I have to say, at just £3.41 for the four of us, this is a bargain!

Mushrooms 22p

English medium Cheddar cheese £1.74

unsmoked middle bacon £1.04

Pasta 31p,

Onion 8p,

Garlic 24p,

Total: £3.41 that’s 85p for four people.

29. Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

This is one of those “chuck in whatever you have” recipes. It’s mega easy and even grilling the tomatoes only takes minutes.

Wholemeal penne (500g) 55p,

Cherry tomatoes (250g) 53p,

Dried basil (14g) 69p,

Total: £1.77 that’s 44p for four people.

30. Spicy Sausage and Cheese Bake

As long as you have butter, flour, and milk in your cupboards, then this sausage and cheese bake comes in way under budget.

Pasta shapes (500g) 30p,

Thick sausages (12 per pack – 681g) 88p,

Chosen by You English Mature Cheddar (200g) £1.27,

Mozzarella (125g) 44p,

Total: £2.89 that’s 72p for four people.

31. Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Cheesy pasta is a family favourite in my house. Try it in the slow cooker for an extra easy weeknight dinner.

200g macaroni pasta 13p,

200g cheese £1,

100g plain flour 10p,

Stock cube 6p,

25g butter 3p,

Total: £1.32 that’s 33p for four people.

32. Spaghetti Bolognese

This spaghetti bolognese recipe is so simple and the longer you leave it in the more intense the flavour. The sauce can be left to cook all day, ready to be mixed with freshly-cooked pasta when you get home.

1 onion chopped 22p,

1 tbsp tomato puree 10p,

2 tins chopped tomato 58p,

1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p,

1 celery stick chopped 10p,

250g minced beef 83p,

1 carrot chopped 7p,

2 cloves garlic chopped 4p,

1 tsp oregano 2p,

2 large mushrooms chopped 75p,

1 beef stock cubes 6p,

1 handful Parmesan for sprinkling 20p,

Total: £3.01, that’s 75p a head.

33. Tuscan chicken pasta

This creamy pasta is a real hit in my house. It only takes 15 minutes to cook and is a great fast dinner if you are in a rush. Boil the water for the pasta and add a stock cube. Wait until it has desolved and add the pasta and cook. Normally about 12-15 minutes. In a different pan, add the chicken cubes to the pan. You can use oil but I use a little water to stop it sticking. Add the garlic and tomatoes and simmer on a low heat. Add the cream cheese and cream to the pan and simmer for about 10 minutes or until it looks more reduced. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir.

1 chicken stock cube 5p,

200g Pasta Shapes 15p,

1 tbsp mixed herbs 5p,

2 frozen Chicken Breast Fillets £1.26,

2 garlic 10p,

175g tomatoes 25p,

100g Soft Cheese 26p,

25ml double cream 20p,

400g tin tomatoes 28p,

200g frozen carrots 22p,

100g Spinach Leaves in Water 30p,

50g Grana Padano 73p.

Total: £3.85 that’s 96p for four people.

34. Chicken and pepper pasta

This creamy pasta recipe is great for the whole family. It uses only frozen vegetables and chicken so is really cheap to make.

Read how to make our Easy Creamy Chicken and Pepper Pasta here.

100g Lightest Philadelphia 80p

125g Wholemeal pasta 14p

125g Frozen peppers 25p

125g Cherry tomatoes 25p

10g Garlic 2p

400g Frozen chicken breasts £2.54

Total: £4 that’s £1 a head.

35. Tuna pasta bake

This pasta dish is easy to make and great if you need a quick and cheap meal.

500g pasta 50p

50g butter 10p

50g plain flour 5p

600ml milk 80p

250g strong cheddar £2.15

2 x 160g cans tuna steak in spring water £2.40

330g can sweetcorn 47p

Total: £6.47 that’s £1.61 a person.

36. Pesto pasta

All these vegetables can be grilled can be quickly grilled and mixed in with the green pesto and spaghetti. This makes a great and easy family dinner when you are in a rush.

210g spaghetti 25p

2 corn on the cob 95p

100g frozen squash 50p

165g tomatoes 42p

100g spring onions 37p

75g green pesto 37p

Total: £2.86 that’s 71p for 4 people.

37. Grilled Ratatouille Linguine

This is an easy ratatouille recipe that is really quick to make. You can grill all these vegetables and mix them when ready with the vegetables.

210g linguine 10p

80g courgette, cut into chunks 40p

100g red or yellow peppers, cut into chunks 40p

100g onion 30p

Total: £1.20 that’s 30p per person.

38. Vegan Mushroom Bolognese

Just like a meaty bolognese, this vegan one makes the best comfort food dish for a weekend. We use mushrooms to get that amazing flavor.

1 onion chopped 22p

1 tbsp tomato puree 9p

2 tins chopped tomato 58p

1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p

1 celery stick chopped 10p

1 carrot chopped 7p

2 cloves garlic chopped 4p

1 tsp oregano 2p

2 large mushrooms chopped 75p

1 vegetable stock cubes 6p

210g spaghetti 25p

Total: £1.94 that’s 48p per person.

Related Posts: 

• £1 a Head Family Meals: Recipes That Will Keep Your Food Bill in Check
• A Budget Weekly Menu: Here’s How To Feed a Family for Just £18
• One Month of Cheap Aldi Slow Cooked Dinners Plus a Free Month Meal Plan

Dinner ideas for tonight

Still lacking inspiration and unsure what to do? Then Budget My Meals is for you. We give you plan templates that take all the thinking away. We can create your budget weekly menus, shopping lists and send you the recipes every week so you don’t even have to think about it.

No coupons. No yellow stickers, just easy family-friendly recipes.

Implementing a weekly meal plan really does save you money and time. It stops you going for the takeaway menu when the family go nuclear and means you don’t have to face a cupboard full of food with no clue or inspiration on what to cook.

It also means that you are building up your recipe bank so when you no longer need us, you have all our recipes to fullback on.

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If you’re struggling to meal plan and want to try by yourself then start by:

Reading our Budget Meal Planning: How to meal plan so it saves you time and money post here. This will help you to get the basics of meal planning.

Check all your cupboards. Have you got these budget pantry staples? These are going to be your cupboard essentials and will help you bring your shopping bill down.

Grab a piece of paper or use your phone and write down every time you or your family finish something from the cupboards or fridge etc. This gives you a good list to start from when you are trying to meal prep in a hurry.

Pick your meals from the below but remember to check your calendar first. There’s no point deciding to cook a full on family meal if everyone!

Have fun and be flexible! Just because you  meal plan doesn’t mean that your food is set in stone. Change it around if you want and add or take away a meal. Just remember to add it to next weeks meal plan and freeze it if needed.

If you have a few fussy eaters at home, don’t worry, you can still shop on a budget. Here’s the recipes we use when our kids don’t want to try new food. 

Laura x

If you enjoyed this post and would like some more family friendly budget recipes or meal plan ideas, then head over to the budget food section here on Savings 4 Savvy Mums where you’ll find over 30 cheap posts dedicated to helping you cook and shop wiser for less. There’s enough tips to help you save over £300 a month! You could also pop over and follow my family food Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on how to eat well and spend less; Family Meal Plans on a Budget, Budget Family Meals & Budget Slimming World Recipes for Families.

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