IncIncluding £1 a head meals for four people
These are cheap family meals that will help you to save your family money.
There’s no way around it, budget meal planning can save you and your family money every week, but if your family is anything like mine, then come dinner time, the family have turned into a crazed pack of wolves and just want to eat straight away.
Implementing a family meal planner can stop you going for the takeaway menu when the family goes nuclear and means you don’t have to face a cupboard full of food with no clue or inspiration on what to cook.
If you’d prefer to meal plan yourself and feel short of time, then try breaking it down.
By just spending a few minutes a day writing down what you’ve used, and maybe would like to eat next week, can help cut your food bill.
Meal planning alone has helped me make fewer trips to the grocery store, eat out less and stop going for the kids staple chicken nuggets and chips every night. (Saying that we do have it on days I just can’t fit dinner in!)
If you are looking for more cheap meals ideas then have a look at:
The Best Cheap Recipes For Families – This gives you more cheap recipes that will help you to fill up your meal plan.
The Best Fakeaway Recipes For Under £1 a Head – Looking for £1 a head meals that you can have instead of a takeaway? Then this post is for you.
£18 a Week Food Budget Shopping List UK – This is our £18 a week meal plan for weeks when you have very little money.
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How to budget meal plan
To help, I’ve broken my own process down into 9 easy to follow steps. I really do believe that budget meal planning can save you money, and I challenge you to try meal planning for 4 weeks to see how much it saves you.
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 sign up and download my meal plans and shopping lists for free. Having several copies on hand will help inspire you to get started and keep up the meal plans for several weeks.
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Before you know it, meal planning will become a natural part of your routine.
Check Your Calendar
Before you even think about food, check your schedule.
There’s no point writing a meal plan for a week that you’re away or if you aren’t going to be back for dinnertime.
Use a bright color of ink to list calendar items on your meal plan so you can decide what the family are eating on these days. It could be leftovers or cheese on toast, doesn’t matter, as long as everyone knows.
Check Your Freezer, Fridge, and Cupboards
Before you start planning, check what you have already. Do you have any kitchen staples that you could use to bulk out any meals or use on days you’re late home?
Is there anything in your freezer you could eat to bring this weeks shopping list down?
Same goes for vegetables and side dishes. Spending a few minutes checking the freezer, fridge and cupboards can save you money later on.
If you are unsure how to save money on your food shop then have a look at our post here:
19 Cheap Food Shopping Hacks That Could Save You Hundreds
What’s on Sale?
Have a quick look through your local supermarket’s brochure or website. Most of them shout about their deals all over social media too.
Is there anything that the family would eat featured? There’s no point buying something if no one eats it, just to feed the bin though.
Write Down Meals to Make Your Shopping List
After a few days of writing down what you’ve been eating, you’ve probably got a bit on your list already. Now it’s time to fill in your meal plan and make your shopping list from that.
What are some of your family’s favorite meals? Do you need anything for the kid’s lunchboxes? What about breakfast or weekend snacks?
Don’t forget to plan a few simple or quick meals for the days you’re going to be in late or when the kids have a club.
Keeping it simple will help you stick to your plan.
As you fill in your dinners for the week, start writing your shopping list. Using a weekly meal plan sheet helps to break down your list into easy to read chunks.
You can even break it down further into sections like produce, meats, refrigerated, frozen, etc.
Having your grocery list broken down into categories will save you time in the store. (I don’t personally do this, as I write my shopping list as I go throughout the week, depending on what we’ve used. So at the supermarket, I just scan down the list to check what I’ve written.)
If you buy online then make sure that you use cashback sites.
We use OhMyDosh* that gives you money back every time you spend through them. Use my link here to get £1 added your account straight away*.
Read more about how OhMyDosh works here.
If you are looking for other cash back sites then use our full list here.
Don’t Forget Your Cleaning Supplies
Once your meals are planned, take a few minutes to think of other items you will need for the week.
Check your cleaning cupboard, bathroom and under the kitchen sink. Do you need any washing detergent, dish soap or multi-purpose cleaners? If you have pets, do they need food or treats? What about paper towels or toilet paper? Toothpaste or shampoo?
You won’t have to buy these every week, and spreading them across the month will stop it hitting you hard at the checkout.
Remember to Take Your List With You
Here’s where you start feeling super prepared!
Cut your meal plan and shopping list in half.
Place your meal plan somewhere everyone can see, like the fridge or a cork board.
When it’s time to cook dinner, you simply check your meal plan and start cooking!
No more having to think about dinner time under pressure!
For dinner ideas keep reading below or have a look at our other budget meal plans here:
Feeding a Family on a Budget: This Weekly Shop is Just £18
27 Leftover Lamb Recipes That Are Family Friendly
101 Aldi Recipes That Will Give You Dinner Ideas For Tonight
Haggle On and Offline
Face to face is easy, especially if you visit a local market or small store.
Online is even easier though. Get as far as the checkout screen and log out. Check your emails and reply to the supermarket, explaining why you didn’t buy. It could be anything, like the items are to expensive or the delivery slot isn’t convenient.
Then haggle. Nine times out of ten they will offer you a discount to make you complete your order.
Save Your Favorite Meals
At the end of the week, instead of throwing away your old meal plans, keep them.
On weeks you are struggling for inspiration, you can drag them back out and choose your favorites.
I try and add some new meals each week, but stick to a couple of classics that I know everyone will eat without question.
Before you know it you’ll have a load of meals to choose from, that are easy to prepare and cost you less at the supermarket.
Money saving recipes UK
Here are all our meals that are all under £1 per serving for four. They are easy to make and you can always make more for leftovers for when you are in a rush.
We are guessing that you have the normal kitchen staples in like rice, pasts, chopped tomatoes, puree etc They can cost very little and if on hand mean that you can always put a quick meal together or bulk one out if you suddenly have company.
Have a look at our store cupboard recipes here for more budget meals ideas.
If you struggle to make home cooked meals or need a bit of help then have a look at Spicentice. They send you spices with the full list of food you will need plus a step by step guide on how to cook that recipe.
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Use these £1 meals to plan for a month of cheap healthy eating meals. These are healthy family dinner ideas that everyone will love.
If you are looking for vegan or vegetarian cheap meals then have a look at:
The Best Cheap Vegan Meals For The Whole Family – This is our full list of £1 a head vegan meals for the whole family.
31 Cheap Vegetarian Meals That Are Under £1 a Head – These are our best £1 a head meals that are yummy and perfect when you are in a rush.
Cheap easy healthy meals on a budget
If you are looking for cheap family meals that can help you save money then our 101 money saving meals below will help.
They are all made with frozen or tin vegetables and can be used with frozen meat as well. Always check that any meat is cooked through before you eat it.
Prices are based on Asda and are correct at time of publishing.
Budget Friendly breakfast recipes
These are all healthy recipes that are great for the whole family. Many of these you can eat on the run as well.
1.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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Cheap lunch recipes
All of these lunch ideas can be either eaten on the go or made before you need them. They all come in at under £1 a head for four people.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Eggless 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.
17. 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.
18. 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
Smartprice unsmoked middle bacon £1.04
Smartprice Pasta 31p,
Onion 8p,
Garlic 24p,
Total: £3.41 that’s 85p for four people.
Soup recipes
These are all really easy soup recipes that you can make it advance and even from your slow cooker.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Parsnip soup
We love this easy parsnip 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.
23. 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.
24. Tomato & lentil soup
We love this soup as you can make it spicy if you prefer and 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.
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.
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.
Money saving dinner recipes
Just because you are on a budget, doesn’t mean that you can’t eat really well. All our money saving recipes below come in at under £1 a head and use frozen meat and tinned vegetables.
Budget pasta dinner recipes
25. Carbonora
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.
350g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Spaghetti 14p
250g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA 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.
26. 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.
27. 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 chilli 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
Smartprice Passata (500g) 35p
Asda Vegetable stock (12x10g) 50p
Total: £2.17 that’s 54p for four people.
28. 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.
Read how to make our spaghetti bolognese recipe here.
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 handfull Parmesan for sprinkling 20p,
Total: £3.01, that’s 75p a head.
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. 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.
31. 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.
Smartprice pasta shapes (500g) 30p,
Smartprice thick sausages (12 per pack – 681g) 88p,
Chosen by You English Mature Cheddar (200g) £1.27,
Smartprice mozzarella (125g) 44p,
Total: £2.89 that’s 72p for four people.
32. 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.
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 JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Pasta Shapes 15p,
1 tbsp mixed herbs 5p,
2 JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA frozen Chicken Breast Fillets £1.26,
2 garlic 10p,
175g tomatoes 25p,
100g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA 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. 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.
35. Vegan Lasagna
This lasagna will get the whole family asking for more. It does take a while to make the white sauce as it needs to thicken. Once both sauces are ready then layer it up with the sliced tomatoes on top. We cook it until the white sauce has set so about 20 minutes for us.
For the lasagna:
4 lasagna sheets 13p
140g firm tofu £1
5g olive oil 2p
100g frozen onion 15p
3 garlic cloves 5p
2g dried oregano 2p
100g mushrooms 25p
225g frozen spinach 37p
White sauce:
5g olive oil 2p
100g all-purpose flour 25p
50g almond milk 10p
5g. nutritional yeast 10p
5g garlic powder 5p
55g 3 tomatoes 25p
Total: £2.76 that’s 69p 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.
39. Chipotle Pasta
This is a great vegan pasta recipe for the whole family. It makes a creamy vegan pasta sauce that has zero lumps as you blend it all together then heat it in the pan.
100g Almonds £1.40
50g Almond milk 10p
50g Chipotle pepper 30p
10g Garlic 5p
75g Water 5p
55g Tomato 25p
5g Lemon juice 2p
210g spaghetti 25p
Total: £2.42 that’s 60p for 4 people.
Slow cooker dinner recipes
These are cheap Slow cooker recipes that are great for the whole family. You can add all the ingredients at once and cook slowly. Always check the meat before you eat it. You can use tin or frozen vegetables.
40. Lamb Kebabs in Pitta
This is a great fakeaway recipe for a Saturday night. You can change this up and add any meat or even have this vegetarian.
Lamb & mutton mince (500g) £1.59,
Paxo natural breadcrumbs 65p,
Natural Greek-style yogurt (200g) 65p,
Garlic 25p,
Cucumber portion 38p,
White Pitta (6) 25p,
Total: £3.77 that’s 94p for four people.
41. Slow Cooker Lamb Curry
You can put all this in together and leave to cook for 6-9 hours on low heat. Make sure the lamb is fully defrosted before you start cooking.
100g frozen onion 28p
3 tbsp Madras curry paste 45p
400g can chopped tomatoes 28p
2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder 5p
25g red lentils 20p
210g can chickpeas (don’t drain) 23p
1 tbsp grated ginger 5p
1 tsp cumin seeds 5p
1 cinnamon stick 5p
75g curly kale 50p
240g frozen diced lamb £1.90
Total: £3.64 that’s 91p for four people.
42. Slow Cooker Lamb Tagine
Put all the chopped ingredients in the slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours on low heat. Defrost the lamb first.
240g frozen lamb chunks £1.90
1 tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onion 25p
400g tin carrots 28p
2 tsp ras-el-hanout 5p
1 tsp ground cumin 5p
1 tbsp tomato purée 10p
1 lamb stock cube 5p
1 sweet potato 15p
30g dried cherries 35p
½ tsp honey 5p
Total: £3.28 that’s 82p for four people.
43. Slow Cooker Moroccan Lamb Stew
The slow cooker needs to be on low so that the lamb stays tender. Cook for 6-9 hours on low heat. You add the honey about 30 minutes toward the end of cooking. You can have this with rice or potatoes.
2 tbsp olive oil 5p
200g frozen lamb chunks £1.20
100g frozen onion 25p
5 garlic cloves 10p
1 tbsp ginger 5p
1 tbsp ground cumin 5p
1 tbsp ground coriander 5p
1 tsp ground cinnamon 5p
1 tbsp tomato purée 8p
600ml lamb stock 10p
1 tbsp honey 10p
Total: £2.08 that’s 52p for four people.
44. Slow Cooker Peach Chicken
This slow cooker recipe is great for those rush evenings. All of this can be prepped in the morning or the night before. Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker pot (apart from the rice) and cook on low for 8 – 10 hours. When you are ready to serve, cook the rice as per the packet instructions.
2 chicken breasts £1.20,
400g tin peaches 34p,
200g frozen peppers 40p,
1 red onion 28p,
2 tbsp brown sugar 5p,
4 tbsp soy sauce 7p,
1 tbsp ground ginger 5p,
250g rice 30p.
Total: £2.69 that’s 67p per person.
45. Slow Cooked Ribs
Despite their restaurant prices, spare ribs are actually one of the cheapest meat you can buy. This uses barbecue sauce and cooks them slow for tenderness.
1kg Pork ribs £2,
350g Barbecue Sauce £1,
2 stock cubes 4p,
2 bay leaves 2p,
1 tsp coriander seeds 2p,
1 tsp mustard seed 2p,
1 tsp peppercorn 2p,
Total: £3.12 that’s 78p a head.
46. Irish Stew
We don’t eat a lot of meat due to its cost, but when we do, we look for the middle neck of the lamb. This budget stew does need to be cooked on low to make sure its soft to eat but is tender after a day of cooking. This dish can be bulked out with potatoes, and the cooking liquor is optional.
1 tbsp oil 5p,
100g bacon 56p,
400g lamb £1.50,
Frozen onion 22p,
400g tin carrots 18p,
400g tin potatoes 46p,
2 stock cubes 12p,
Leek 52p,
Total: £3.61 that’s 90p a head.
47. Slow Cooker 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,
1 stock cube 6p,
25g butter 3p,
Total: £1.32 that’s 33p a head.
48. Slow-Cooker Chicken Casserole
This is a really easy slow cooker casserole that you can put all in together. It takes about 6 – 9 hours to cook on a low heat.
1 tbsp butter 28p
½ tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onion 25p
1 ½ tbsp flour 5p
250g chicken breasts £1.20
3 garlic cloves 10p
400g tin baby new potatoes 28p
2 sticks celery 50p
400g tin carrots 28p 2
50g tin mushrooms 15p
500ml chicken stock cubes 5p
Total: £3.19 that’s 79p for four people.
49. Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur
This French chicken recipe is a great fakeaway meal for the whole family. It does need to cook for 8 hours in low so the chicken is tender. You can serve it with jacket potatoes or rice.
2 tbsp olive oil 5p
3 chicken breasts £1.20
100g frozen onion 28p
2 garlic cloves 5p
200g tin mushrooms 25p
200ml white wine £1.50
1 tbsp tomato purée 5p
200g chopped tomatoes 25p
400ml hot chicken stock 5p
Total: £3.63 that’s 90p for four people.
50. Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
Pulled chicken is a great dinner for the whole family. It’s really simple to cook in the slow cooker and is really tender. You can have it with rice or in a bread bun. It all needs to cook for 6-8 hours to make the chicken really tender.
2 tbsp vegetable oil 5p
3 chicken breasts £1.20
2 red onions 50p
2 garlic cloves, 5p
2 tsp paprika 2p
2 tbsp chipotle paste 10p
250ml passata 25p
100g barbecue sauce 30p
1 tbsp light brown soft sugar 8p
Total: £2.55 that’s 63p for four people.
51. Chicken & Chorizo Jambalaya
This is a spicy sausage recipe that makes a great one-pot slow cooker meal for the whole family. Add the rice about 25 minutes towards the end of the cooking time so it sucks up the liquid. The meat will need about 6-8 hours on low heat. Make sure the chicken is chopped into chucks.
1 tbsp olive oil 5p
2 chicken breasts £1.28
100g frozen onion 28p
100g frozen peppers 22p
2 garlic cloves 5p
75g chorizo £1
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning 5p
250g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Long Grain Rice 25p
400g can plum tomato 25p
350ml chicken stock 5p
Total: £3.43 that’s 85p for 4 people.
52. Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
This sausage casserole recipe is great if you are looking for a filling meal for the whole family. We have it with pasta but you could easily have it with potatoes. We add everything in together and cook slowly for 6-8 hours. You may need to take the lid off if you find the sauce is a bit loose.
100g frozen onions 22p,
1 celery stick, 10p,
400g tin carrots 35p,
12 chipolatas £2.90
1 sweet potato 22p
400g tin tomatoes 28p
1 tbsp tomato purée 18p
1 beef stock cube 5p
Total: £3.98 that’s 99p for four people.
Cheap chicken money saving recipes
We love chicken! It’s a great meat that is cheap and can be frozen, so you can use it whenever you need it. If you are using the slow cooker, you can put the chicken straight into it.
53. Peanut Chicken
This Peanut Chicken is really easy to make. It takes 10 minutes to make and can be put into the slow cooker and takes about 4 hours. Start by cutting the chicken into chucks and add it to the slow cooker. Then add the rest of the ingredients and set our slow cooker to medium. When you are ready to serve, cook the rice in a pan for about 20 minutes or until the rice is soft.
3 JUST ESSENTIALS by Asda chicken breasts £1.90,
100g frozen onions 19p,
2 garlic cloves 5p,
200g frozen mixed peppers 40p,
200g frozen carrots 10p,
120g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Crunchy Peanut Butter 31p,
1 tbsp cornflour 5p,
2 tbsp lemon juice 2p,
2 tbsp soy sauce 5p,
1 tbsp curry powder 2p ,
1 tbsp chilli flakes 2p ,
400ml tin tomatoes 28p,
300g wholemeal rice 48p,
Total: £3.87 that’s 96p per person.
54. Sweet and Sour Chicken
This easy to make sweet and sour chicken recipe is perfect if you have friends coming over. Make a huge batch with brown rice and add as many vegetables as you like!
Here’s how we make our sweet and sour chicken recipe here.
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts £1.16,
1 x 425g can pineapple chunks in natural juice 50p,
2 tbsp cornflour 2p,
½ tsp dried chilli flakes 2p,
2 tbsp dark soy sauce 5p,
2 tbsp tomato puree 2p,
1 medium onion 8p,
300g frozen peppers 43p,
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 5p,
Total: £2.33 that’s 58p for four people.
55. One-pot Chicken Pepper Bake
With little washing up involved, this one-pot chicken pepper bake is one of my personal favourites. It’s great for Sunday lunch or if the extended family comes round.
1kg Chicken Thighs £2.75,
Green Pepper 50p,
Tin of Baby potatoes (550g) 32p,
Total: £3.99 that’s 99p for four people.
56. Chicken Fajitas
Making your own fajitas is a great family treat! Make sure you marinate the chicken and peppers before you cook as it does make them taste amazing!
Here’s how we cook our yummy fajitas.
This takes about 40 minutes to cook. If you like it spicy then add some chillis too.
4 chicken breasts £1.40,
2 peppers 30p,
100g frozen onion 16p,
1 Lime 6p,
3 garlic cloves 9p,
1 tbsp salt 2p,
1 tsp sugar 5p,
8 pack Tortillas £1.
Total: £3.08 that’s 77p for four people.
57. Peri-Peri Chicken
This does take a bit of prep but is perfect for a weekend fakeaway. It takes about 30 minutes to cook and goes with wedges, rice and salad. You can also have this with tortillas and salad if you prefer.
4 frozen chicken breasts £1.40,
3 garlic cloves 9p,
Small piece of ginger 2p,
Rind of lemon 3p,
5 tbsp lemon juice 9p,
2 tbsp cooking oil 3p,
1 tsp salt 2p,
4 potatoes 40p,
180g Rice 24p,
Total: £2.32 that’s 58p for four people.
58. Southern Fried Chicken
These are one of my family’s favourite meals. This friendly meal is great with homemade chips and corn of cob. Get the kids to help you make them too.
This is how we make our Southern Fried Chicken.
4 frozen chicken breasts £1.40,
150g breadcrumbs 65p,
2 eggs 20p,
4 tbsp plain flour 15p,
4 tbsp milk 10p,
2 tbsp low cal spray 10p,
4 potatoes 40p,
4 corn of cob 52p,
Total: £3.52 that’s 88p for four people.
59. Tomato-Baked Chicken
This is great if you have toddlers in the house too. It’s healthy and will keep you all full up.
Smartprice Chicken wings (1kg) £1.65,
Tomato & garlic pasta sauce (560g) 92p,
Smartprice British small potatoes (1kg) 50p,
Baby button mushrooms (150g) 86p,
Total: £3.95 that’s 98p for four people.
60. Chicken Kebabs
You can make these homemade chicken kebabs with chicken breast or chicken thighs. We prefer chicken breasts as you can cut them into chunks easily. If you are planning to use the pitta then you may want to finely chop the vegetables smaller. You can also make the marinade as spicy as you like. My children do not like spice but you can add chillis or flakes to the sauce for that extra kick.
Make our amazing chicken kebabs here.
Chicken kebabs ingredients:
300g frozen chicken breasts £1.08
100g red peppers 25p
100g green peppers 25p
425g tin pineapple 90p
Marinade:
5g turmeric 5p
5g mild curry powder 10p
5g smoked paprika 5p
5g tomato purée 7p
150g natural yogurt 20p
5g garlic clove 10p
Total: £3.05 that’s 76p per person. (4 people)
61. Chicken Pilaf
This is a really easy dinner that can be made when you are in a rush. It takes about 20 minutes to cook, and that’s all down to the rice, so there is very little prep. Start by frying off the onions, garlic and chilli. Add the frozen vegetables then add the chicken. Put the rice and the 1 litre of stock into the pan as well and bring to the boil. If you have a lid, put it on and let it boil for 20 minutes or so. The rice should take up all the liquid.
1 tbsp oil 5p,
100g frozen onion 30p,
150g frozen vegetables 12p,
1 garlic 5p,
1 red chilli 5p,
250g rice 15p,
250g frozen chicken 63p,
Chicken stock 5p.
Total: £1.40 thats 28p for four people.
62. Firecracker Chicken
This firecracker recipe is based on four people. It takes only takes about 10 minutes to actually cook the sauce but the rice could take up to 20 minutes.
Read how to make our amazing Firecracker Chicken recipe here.
3 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts (defrosted) £2.10
2 onions 20p
3 garlic cloves 15p
5g ground ginger 5p
1 red pepper 45p
1tbsp lemon juice 10p
1 bunch of spring onions 37p
2 tbsp tomato puree 5p
4 tbsp soy sauce 6p
2 tbsp hoisin sauce 6p
1 tbsp plain flour 10p
1 tbsp low cal cooking spray 5p
150g wholemeal rice 25p
Total: £3.99 (prices correct at time of publishing)
63. Baked Chilli Chicken
This baked chilli chicken recipe is a great Friday night dinner for the whole family. You can add as many different vegetables as you like. It only takes about 10 minutes to cook as you have very little to chop and fry.
25g flour 10p,
1 garlic clove 5p,
1 tsp chilli flakes 5p,
2 chicken breasts £1.20,
5 tbsp oil 5p,
stir fry vegetables 50p,
spring onions 85p,
10g rice wine vinegar 7p,
1 tsp ground ginger 5p,
2 tsp tomato puree 5p,
1 tbsp honey 7p.
Total: £2.99 that’s 74p a person for four people.
64. Chicken Doner Kebabs
We make our own chicken doner kebab marinade which we smother all over our kebab meat. Our kebab marinade recipe is: 50g low-fat natural yogurt curry powder chilli powder dried coriander finely chopped chillis Optional spices are: smoked paprika garlic powder onion powder It is really easy to make chicken kebabs healthy.
Read how to make our Chicken Doner Kebabs here.
You do not need oil to keep the chicken, you can grill it instead with the rest of the vegetables or even roast them with a pinch of salt. This chicken doner kebab recipe is really easy to make. We use frozen chicken breasts but you can use chicken thighs if you prefer.
50g low-fat natural yogurt 7p
5g curry powder 10p
5g chilli powder 10p
10g lime or lemon juice 5p
10g dried chopped coriander 10p
10g red chilli 10p
300g chicken breasts £1.08
100g green salad 55p
4 pitta breads 25p
Total: £2.40 that’s 60p for four people.
65. Chicken Chow Mein
We love Chicken Chow Mein but it costs so much to order so making our own saves so much money. This is a really easy recipe to make and only takes as long as the chicken takes to cook.
2 chicken breasts £1.20,
1 tsp Chinese 5 spice 5p,
2 tbsp oil 5p,
1 tsp chilli sauce 5p,
2 sets of egg noodles £1,
200g frozen peppers 40p,
4 spring onions 50p,
1 tbsp soy sauce 5p.
Total: £3.30 that’s 82p for 4 people.
Money saving beef recipes
Beef is a great meat to eat if you are trying to bulk out your meals. It is really filling and can be frozen until you need to use it.
66. Homemade Burgers
These are gourmet burgers that can be spiced up or down depending on what your family like spice wise. We also cook our homemade chips and add cheese slices.
Here’s how we make our Homemade Burgers.
You can make them in the morning if you don’t have time in the evening.
500g beef minced meat £1.99,
125g frozen onion 8p,
2 garlic cloves 6p,
1 egg 10p,
Pinch of salt 3p,
6 burger buns 56p,
Lettuce leave 25p,
Cheese slices 35p,
4 potatoes 40p,
Total: £3.82 that’s 95p for four people.
67. Cottage Pie
This is a classic cottage pie recipe! Just chuck it all in and grill at the end.
Tin of New Potatoes (550g) 32p,
Beef mince (500g) £2,
Onion 22p,
Carrots x2 9p,
Mushrooms 68p,
Everyday Value soft cheese (200g) 49p,
Total: £3.89 that’s 97p for four people.
68. Chilli Con Carne
This chilli con carne recipe is easy to do and can be frozen for another night.
Read how we cooked our Chilli Con Carne recipe here.
500g beef minced meat £1.99,
200g frozen onion 32p,
3 garlic gloves 7p,
300ml tinned tomatoes 28p,
400g tinned kidney beans 30p,
3 tbsp tomato puree 15p,
Half a lime 12p,
220ml stock 3p,
4 tbsp low cal spray 20p,
1 tsp salt 2p,
Half tsp sugar 5p,
180g Rice 24p,
Total: £3.77 that’s 94p for four people.
69. Chinese beef stir fry
We love this beef stir fry! It makes a great Friday night dinner that will have you throwing the takeaway menu away. We serve us with rice but noodles would work great as well. Start by mixing together the cornflour and five spice. Chop the beef into strips and fry. It will only need about 5 minutes or so depending on how you like your beef cooked.
When cooked, remove from the heat and leave to cool. Once cool, add the beef strips to the cornflour mix and coat. Using the same pan, fry the beef in small batches, remembering to put it on a paper towel so it doesn’t stay greasy. Add the garlic, ground ginger and your vegetables to the pan and cook. We like ours soft but if you like them crunchy then they will only need about 3 minutes. Mix the wine vinegar, chilli sauce, ketchup and soy sauce together in a bowl. Using the same pan, cook the sauce for a few minutes on a shimmer. Add the beef and the vegetables to the sauce. You may need to add a little water if the sauce is to thick.
3 tbsp cornflour 5p,
2 tsp dried spice 5p,
170g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Beef Steak £2,
2 tbsp oil 5p,
1 garlic cloves 3p,
1 tbsp dried ginger 5p,
red pepper 50p,
1 carrot 30p,
50g mange tout 50p.
Sauce:
4 tbsp rice vinegar 5p,
2 tbsp chilli sauce 5p,
2 tbsp ketchup 5p,
2 tbsp soy sauce 5p.
Total: £3.73 thats 93p for four people.
70. Mince Tacos
Beef mince tacos make a great weekend fakeaway meal that is perfect for the whole family and really cheap to make. Minced beef tacos are really easy to make and can be as spicy or not as you like. We like using frozen mince or Quorn mince as you get to pick out as much as you want and freeze that rest.
You can use frozen vegetables if you prefer as they are re-cut so can make the process a bit quicker. This taco recipe includes the light salsa that is really fruity so great for kids. Put everything in the middle of the table and let everyone help themselves and build their own perfect mine taco.
100g mince 75p
175g baby corn 95p
190g frozen red onions 42p
100g red pepper 45p
110g kiwi fruit 60p
115g tomatoes 50p
5g garlic clove 2p
85g red cabbage 20p.
Total: £4 that’s £1 a head for four people.
71. Lasagne
This is a really easy lasagne recipe that you can make before hand and then cook when you get home.
20g tomato purée 15p
400g tin chopped tomatoes 28p
200ml beef stock 5p
4 lasagne sheets 10p
150g cheese, grated £1.50
500g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Beef Mince £1.79
For the white sauce:
50g butter 17p
50g plain flour 5p
500ml semi-skimmed milk 40p
Total: £4.49 that’s £1.12p for four people.
72. Beef & vegetable casserole
This is a lovely winter recipe that can be cooked all at once in the slow cooker. We cook ours on low for 8 hours.
2 celery sticks 10p
100g frozen onion 25p
400g tin carrots 25p
5 bay leaves 5p
1 tbsp vegetable oil 5p
1 tbsp butter 8p
2 tbsp plain flour 5p
2 tbsp tomato purée 10p
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 10p
2 beef stock cubes 5p
200g beef steak £2
Total: £3.08 that’s 77p for four people
Cheap pork recipe
Pork is a great meat to eat if you are on a budget. You can make so many meals with it!
73. Easy Sausage and Potato Casserole
This Sausage and potato casserole is so easy to make and really cheap to buy. A lot of these ingredients, including the sausages and puree, can go toward other meals too.
Onion 22p,
Tin of New Potatoes 32p,
Frozen Sliced Peppers (600g) £1,
Frozen Value pork sausages (20 pack) 99p,
Chopped Tomatoes 29p,
Puree (80g) 75p,
Total: £3.57 that’s 89p for four people.
74. Risotto with Ham & Peas
Using just one pot, this risotto is an easy mid-week meal when you really can’t be bothered to cook. Just chuck it all in and let it cook!
Onion 7p,
Ham 50p.
Total: 57p that’s 13p for four people.
75. Creamy Tomato Courgetti
Low in calories but really high in taste, this Creamy Tomato Courgetti meal is a great way to hide vegetables. I use my spiralizer for everything!! The original recipe calls for a sauce, but I make my own using mascarpone cheese, which takes about 2 minutes.
Onion 7p,
three big tablespoons of mascarpone cheese, 44p,
Ham, 25p
2 x Courgette, 60p.
Total: £1.36 that’s 34p each for 4 people.
76. Ham Stir Fry
Simple and quick, just chuck what ever you have in. I use rice noodles, as you can chuck them in with a sauce and just fry it all together, but any will do.
3x Tomatoes, 34p,
200g Frozen Peppers, 40p,
Onion, 7p,
Ham, 25p.
Total: £1.06 that’s 26p for four people.
77. Sausage Chilli
Using sausages instead of mince is a great way to have a great meal on a budget. you have this with potatoes or rice, and it makes a great mid-week quick meal for the whole family. It only takes about 5 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook.
8 JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Pork Sausages 96p,
200g frozen peppers 40p,
250g ASDA Scratch Cook Mediterranean Vegetables 62p,
1 garlic clove 5p,
1 tbsp dried coriander 5p,
1tsp chilli powder 2p,
1tsp ground cumin 2p,
400g tin tomatoes 32p,
2 tbsp sugar 10p,
5 tbsp plain yogurt 10p,
1tbsp dried chives 5p.
Total: £2.69 that’s 67p for four people.
78. Honey Pork Sausage traybake
This easy sausage recipe is great for when you have friends around. Slice the sausages up and serve with mash instead of sweet potato chips if you prefer. This takes very little time to prep as most of the vegetables are frozen and pre-cut. Set the oven to 200 degrees. Put all the vegetables onto a baking tray. Add the sausages. Put 4 tbsp of honey over the tray and mix it all in. Season if required then add it to the oven for 30 minutes or until the sausages are cooked through.
85g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Clear Honey 18p,
8 JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA 8 Pork Sausages 96p,
230g ASDA Sweet Potato Chunks 45p,
1 onion 30p,
200g frozen peppers 40p,
450g frozen Root Veg Mix 45p.
Total: £2.74 that’s 68p for four people.
79. Pork Loin Traybake
Looking for an easy meal with very little prep? This pork loin trayback is great for when you have guests around. It’s easy to bulk up and really cheap to make. You can have it with roast potatoes or baby potatoes from a tin. Start by heating the oven at 180 degrees. Put the pork chops and any vegetables you are using on on a baking tray. Sprinkle with seasoning and cook for 30 minutes or until the pork is cooked.
550g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA New Potatoes 36p,
4 pork loins £2.99,
300g tomatoes 50p,
garlic cloves 5p,
1 tbsp fried oregano 5p,
1 tbsp dried paprika 5p.
Total: £4 that’s £1 a person for four people.
80. Sausage Rolls
We love how easy these sausage rolls are. They are great for kids who don’t like sandwiches and need something filling into their lunchbox.
500g ready-made puff pastry £1.25,
8 sausages £1.50.
Total: £2.75 that’s 68p for 4 people.
Start by getting the ready-made puff pastry out so it comes up to room temp. Put the oven on 200 degrees or 180 degrees fan. Roll out the puff pastry then cut it into 8 equal lines. Wrap the pastry around the sausages then add them to a baking tray. Glaze with milk or egg for a crisp top. Cook for 20 minutes until the sausages are cooked.
81. Onion and sausage stew
This is a great winter recipe that will keep you fill up all night. You can add all the ingredients in at once. You will need to cook this slow for about 6-8 hours and make sure that the meat is cooked before you eat it. We have ours with rice or mashed potato.
100g frozen onion 25p,
1 tbsp demerara sugar 5p,
400g tin carrots 28p,
100g swede 10p,
1 garlic clove 5p,
1 tbsp tomato puree 5p,
450ml chicken stock 28p,
400g tin tomatoes 25p,
sausages £1.50.
Total: £2.81 that’s 70p for four people.
Cheap and easy curry recipes
Curry is our favourite meal. You can use any meat you like or no meat at all and you can stick any vegetables you like into the curry. Use your slow cooker to make the meat extra soft.
82. Chicken Tikka Masala
This serves four and is a medium heat. This really does just take 10 minutes to make but does take up to 40 minutes to cook so make sure you have some time as it’s worth it. We make our homemade naan bread with this too.
Read how to make our chicken tikka masala here.
4 frozen chicken breasts £1.40,
150g frozen onion 16p,
2 garlic cloves 6p,
1 small piece of ginger 15p,
200ml tinned tomatoes 28p,
100ml single cream 60p,
1 tsp lemon juice 5p,
4 tbsp low cal spray 20p,
1 tsp salt 3p,
180g Rice 24p,
Total: £3.17 that’s 79p for 4 people.
83. Mango and Tomato Curry
Who needs a takeaway when you can cook this mango and tomato curry for less at home. This is so simple and is a hit with the whole family.
Red onion 17p,
Green chillies (50g) 65p,
Loose tomatoes 60p,
Small mango £1.15,
Organic 2% Fat natural yogurt (150g) 49p,
Basics long-grain rice (350g) 40p,
Total: £3.46 that’s 86p for four people.
84. Chinese Chicken Curry
This family-friendly meal is a great fakeaway recipe for a Friday night. It’s not very spicy and you can use frozen vegetables if you are short of time.
Here’s how we cooked our Chinese Chicken curry.
2 frozen chicken breasts 65p,
125g frozen onions 16p,
Small piece of ginger 15p,
2 garlic cloves 6p,
400ml stock 3p,
2 tbsp low cal spray 10p,
3 tbsp plain flour 10p,
1 tsp sugar 5p,
180g Rice 24p,
Total: £1.54 that’s 38p for 4 people.
85. Chicken Jalfrezi
This curry serves 4 people and is of medium spice. It takes 30 minutes to cook but you can make it in the morning and then throw it all in one pan when you get home. Make our Chicken Jalfrezi with egg fried rice and our homemade naan.
4 frozen chicken breasts £1.40,
150g frozen onions 16p,
1 red pepper 15p,
1 tomato 16p,
3 garlic cloves 9p,
Small piece of ginger 2p,
2 tbsp tomato puree 6p,
2 tbsp cooking oil 3p,
2 tbsp cooking oil 3p,
Total: £2.09 that’s 52p for four people.
86. Chickpea Curry
This is a really easy chickpea curry that is perfect for the whole family. It costs under £1 a head for 4 people and you can use all your cupboard staples with it including tins of chickpeas, tomatoes, and loads of ground spices. Cook time for this simple chickpea curry is about 20 minutes depending on how you like your chickpeas.
We like ours really soft so tend to wait until the liquid has reduced quite a lot. If you like your curry spicy then you could add some curry powder or red pepper. To help make this creamy you could add yogurt as well as coconut milk.
You could also add a dash of lime juice. If you are using the slow cooker then we would suggest you make the paste as below and then add everything to the slow cooker. Put it on high heat for 6 – 8 hours as the liquid does need to reduce.
For the paste:
2 tbsp oil 5p
100g frozen onion 25p
5g dried chilli 5p
9 garlic cloves 25p
5g ground ginger 5p
5g ground coriander 5p
7g ground cumin 5p
5g garam masala 5p
10g tomato purée 11p
For the curry:
2 x 400g tin chickpeas £1.10
400g tin canned tomatoes 42p
100g tin coconut milk (optional) 18p
100g spinach (optional) 20p
250g rice 40p
Total: £3.21 that’s 80p for 4 people.
Start by making the paste. Add the oil then fry off over medium heat with the onion and chilli flakes until the onion is clear. This is when you want to put the rice on as per the packet instructions. Whizz up the garlic cloves, ginger, coriander, cumin, garam masala, tomato purée, and salt. Once it’s turned into a smooth paste, add it to the pan.
Stirring occasionally will help the paste not stick to the pan or wok. Drain the chickpeas and add them and the chopped tomatoes to the pan. Turn the heat down and simmer for 5 minutes. This will help all the liquid to reduce down. If you like your curry creamy, then add the coconut milk and keep reducing it down for another 5-10 minutes. When the curry is ready, add the spinach.
87. Chicken Balti
This serves four people and isn’t as spicy as it sounds. If you prefer it light then don’t add any chillis or paprika. This takes about 20 minutes to cook and does perfect with our egg fried rice recipe too.
4 frozen chicken breasts £1.40,
150g frozen onions 16p,
200ml tinned tomatoes 28p,
3 garlic cloves 9p,
Small piece of ginger 2p,
1 tbsp tomato puree 3p,
2 tbsp cooking oil 3p,
1 tsp salt 2p,
1 red chilli 5p,
Pinch of dried paprika 3p,
Total: £2.11 that’s 52p for four people.
88. Katsu Curry
If you are looking for a fakeaway recipe that is also Slimming World friendly and easy to cook then this Katsu chicken curry is for you. This chicken Katsu curry comes in at under £1 a head for four people. It can seem a little spicy so if your family needs it toned down then add a little Greek yogurt to the side of the dish.
Read how to make our Katsu curry here.
3 frozen chicken breasts £1.20
1 onion 28p
2 carrots 10p
3 garlic cloves 5p
1 egg 10p
900ml chicken stock 5p
2tbsp soy sauce 5p
1tsp honey 7p
3tbsp plain flour 5p
100g breadcrumbs 15p
200g wholemeal rice 37p
Total: £2.19 that’s 54p for four people.
89. Roasted aubergine & tomato curry
This vegetarian curry is really easy to make. You can grill or roast the aubergines which help make them sweet.
600g aubergines 70p
3 tbsp olive oil 5p
100g frozen onions 22p
2 garlic cloves 4p
1 tsp garam masala 5p
1 tsp turmeric 2p
1 tsp ground coriander 2p
400ml can chopped tomatoes 42p
400ml can coconut milk 75p
Total: £2.27 that’s 56p a person.
90. Chicken Korma
This is a mild and creamy korma curry that is perfect for kids who hate spice. Read how to make our Chicken Korma recipe here. Put the slow cooker on and sear the chicken. Stir in the spices and cook for a few minutes. Then add the chicken stock. Leave to cook for 6 hours. Add the cream then serve.
Read how to make our Chicken Korma here.
2 garlic cloves 5p,
Ground ginger 2p,
100g onions 25p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
2 tbsp tomato purée 5p,
1 tsp ground cumin 2p,
1 tsp paprika 2p,
1 tsp turmeric 2p,
1 tsp ground coriander 2p,
½ tsp chilli powder 2p,
2 tsp sugar 5p,
300ml chicken stock 35p,
150ml double cream 62p,
Total: £2.69 that’s 67p a person.
91. Chicken vindaloo
This is quite a spicy chicken curry recipe and does need a bit of prep work. Cut the chicken into cubes. Use the ingredients above and add the chicken to a bowl. Let it marinate overnight. In the morning, fry off the chicken cubes. Then add the rest of the ingredients with a can of water. Put on a slow heat for 6 hours and come home to a hearty meal.
1 tbsp lemon juice 5p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
2 tbsp white wine vinegar 6p,
2-3 garlic cloves 5p,
2 tsp finely grated ginger 5p,
1 tsp garam masala 5p,
1 tsp ground cumin 2p,
1 tsp ground coriander 2p,
½ tsp cayenne pepper 2p,
½ tsp black mustard seeds 2p,
For the sauce:
Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until it becomes a smooth paste.
½ tsp flaked cinnamon stick 2p,
½ tsp chilli flakes 2p,
½ tsp cayenne pepper 5p,
50g onion 25p,
½ tsp salt 2p.
Total: £1.90 that’s 47p for 4 people.
92. Chicken and Banana Curry
This chicken banana curry is a mild curry that is great for those nights when you really want a takeaway. It’s really easy to cook. You pretty much throw in all the ingredients and leave it to simmer. This curry recipe does take about 30 minutes to cook but it is well worth the wait! This chicken and banana curry below is made for four people but you can scale it up with more chicken and add some frozen vegetables.
Read how to make this Chicken and Banana Curry recipe here.
2 teaspoons vegetable oil 5p
400g chicken breasts £2
100g frozen onion 20p
50g apple 50p
10g cloves of garlic 5p
2 tablespoons korma curry paste 7p
400ml chicken stock 5p
25g raisins 15p
25g chopped ready-to-eat apricots 20p
300g easy-cook long-grain brown rice 40p
1 tablespoon cornflour 5p
100g banana 14p
60g fat-free natural yogurt 10p
1 tablespoon dried coriander 4p
Total: £4 that’s £1 a head per four people.
93. Slow Cooker No-Spice Chicken curry
This is a great slow-cooking curry recipe that is great for leftovers too.
1 large onion,
3 tbsp mild curry paste,
400g can chopped tomatoes,
2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder,
1 dried ginger,
1 yellow pepper,
2 chicken breasts.
Cut the chicken breasts into cubes. Sear then in the slow cooker. Once cooked, add the spices and cook for a few minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes to the slow cooker and cook on slow for 6 hours then serve.
94. Slow cooker Chicken Madras
This is a really easy curry to make and perfect for those nights when you can’t really be bothered to cook. It can all be chucked into the slow cooker and left until you are ready to eat. It normally takes about 6-8 hours and you may need to take the lid off the slow cooker during the last hour to stop the sauce going watery. Cut the chicken into chunks and sear in the slow cooker.
Add the spices. the chilli powder is optional. Add the chopped tomatoes and a can of water. Cook on low for six hours. Once done, you can serve with rice, mango chutney, or poppadoms.
100g frozen onion 20p,
2 garlic cloves 5p,
Dried ginger 2p,
½ red chilli 2p,
½ tsp turmeric 2p,
1 tsp ground cumin 2p,
1 tsp ground coriander 2p,
1-2 tsp hot chilli powder 2p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
400g can chopped tomatoes 28p.
Total: £1.85 that’s 23p for 4 people.
95. Easy chicken curry
This is a great creamy chicken recipe that is easy for beginners and can be spiced up if needed. Chop the chicken breasts into cubes. Sear in the slow cooker. Add the spices. Then add the chopped tomatoes and can of water. Leave to cook for 6 hours on low heat. Once cooked, add the yogurt for a creamy texture.
100g onion 25p,
2 garlic cloves 5p,
Dried ginger 2p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
3 tbsp medium spice paste 15p,
400g can chopped tomatoes 28p,
100g Greek yogurt, and a can of water. 19p.
Total: £2.14 that’s 53p for 4 people.
96. Sali murghi
This is packed with spices and is a great sweet curry. Blitz the spices and sear the chicken in the slow cooker. Add the tinned tomatoes and vinegar. Add some water if you think it’s needed. Leave to cook for 6 hours then add the apricots at the end.
3 chicken breasts £1.20,
1 tsp Ground cinnamon 2p,
1 tsp ground cumin 5p,
200g onions 25p,
3 garlic cloves 15p,
1 tsp ground ginger 2p,
1 tsp ground coriander 2p,
1 tsp ground garam masala 5p,
½ tsp ground turmeric 2p,
400g tinned tomatoes 28p,
2 tbsp white wine vinegar 10p,
150g dried apricots 31p.
Total: £2.47 that’s 61p for 4 people.
97. Easy butter chicken
This takes a bit of prep the night before but is great for a fakeaway recipe for a weekend. Add the spices to the slow cooker and sear. Add the chicken including the puree and chicken stock. Cook on low for 6 hours and serve with the natural yogurt.
Soak the chicken in lemon juice, 2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp ground paprika, 1tsp hot chilli powder, 200g fat-free natural yogurt.
For the curry:
100g frozen onion 23p,
3 garlic cloves 5p,
1 green chilli 7p,
1 tsp garam masala 5p,
3 tbsp tomato purée 7p,
300ml chicken stock 5p,
3 chicken breasts £1.20.
Total: £1.72 that’s 43p for 4 people.
Money saving quick meal ideas
These are the best quick meals that are great for the whole family.
98. Homemade Pizza
This is an easy quick Friday night dinner. You can make the dough in the morning or straight away as it doesn’t need to sit. We use plain flour, dried yeast and some water to make the dough.
Taw Valley Mature Cheddar (approx 100g) 85p,
Onion 10p,
Chopped tomatoes (400g) 31p,
2 x mozzarella (125g) 44p each,
Loose closed cup mushrooms 20p,
Total: £2.34 that’s 58p for four people.
99. Quorn Spaghetti Bolognese
This easy Quorn bolognese recipe comes in at under £1 a head and is great if you are vegetarian or if you are trying to cut down on how much meat you buy.
Read how to cook our Quorn spaghetti Bolognese here.
1 onion chopped 22p
1 tbsp tomato puree 9.5p
2 tins chopped tomato 58p
1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p
1 celery stick chopped 10p
Quorn Mince Frozen £1.79
1 carrot chopped 7p
2 cloves garlic chopped 4p
1 tsp oregano 2p
2 large mushrooms chopped 75p
1 vegetable stock cubes 6p
1 hand full Parmesan for sprinkling 20p
Total: £3.87 that’s 96p a person.
100. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
This is a great recipe if you need to feed a lot of people quickly. Make this in the morning and just chuck it in the oven when you need it.
Read how to make our vegan shepherd’s pie here.
400g tin chickpeas 33p,
400g tin lentils 55p,
2 large potatoes 20p,
3 sweet potatoes 47p,
125g frozen onion 8p,
4 sun-dried tomatoes 20p,
2 carrots 14p,
5 mushrooms 40p,
2 celery sticks 60p,
2 garlic cloves 5p,
300ml vegan stock 3p,
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 6p,
2 tbsp tomato puree 10p,
2 tbsp low cal spray 10p
Total: £3.31 that’s 82p for four people.
101. 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.
So, are you up for the challenge? Try these 9 easy steps for 4 weeks and let me know how much you have saved.
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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Mainsha P
Thursday 17th of May 2018
Thanks for sharing this great post