Eat well without breaking the bank
Budget-friendly recipes
Eggs, pasta, rice, lentils and seasonal vegetables: with a few basics, you can cook generous meals for very little. Ideas for the end of the month and for every day.
- 72 recipes
- 43 recipes in 30 min or less
- 63 easy recipes
Budget favorites
The most-cooked budget recipes on CookinBreak.
The ultimate no-waste dish
Asian Vegetable and Egg Fried Rice
Leftover rice from the day before, two eggs, a few vegetables and a splash of soy sauce: fried rice is better with cold rice, and it costs next to nothing.
See the recipeEggs, the budget champions
Omelets, shakshuka, deviled eggs: protein for pennies.
Tips that make the difference
What separates a recipe that works from one that falls flat.
Plan the week
A few meals planned ahead, a shopping list, and you only buy what you'll actually use.
Buy in season
A vegetable in season often costs half as much, and it has more flavor.
Repurpose leftovers
Yesterday's rice into fried rice, vegetables into soup, stale bread into French toast: nothing goes to waste.
Legumes
Dried lentils and chickpeas are cheap by the pound and pack plenty of protein.
Pasta, rice and potatoes
Pantry basics, cooked so you never get tired of them.
A smart pantry
Inexpensive ingredients that keep a long time: with these on hand, there's always a meal within reach.
| Ingredient | Keeps | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs | Until the date on the carton | Omelet, shakshuka, fried rice, quiche |
| Rice, pasta, couscous | Several months in a dry place | Fried rice, pasta aglio e olio, tabbouleh |
| Lentils, dried chickpeas | Several months in a dry place | Lentil soup, hummus, curry |
| Potatoes, onions | Several weeks somewhere cool and dark | Mashed potatoes, gratin, Spanish tortilla |
| Canned tomatoes | Several years (date on the can) | Sauce, shakshuka, soup |
| Frozen vegetables | Several months in the freezer | Stir-fries, soups, fried rice |
Vegetables and legumes
Lentils, chickpeas, beans and seasonal vegetables: filling and inexpensive.
In 15 minutes
Cheap and fast: the weeknight winning combo.
End of the month, nearly empty fridge?
List what you have left for Breaky AI: it suggests a complete meal without buying anything else, plus ideas for using up leftovers.
“I have pasta, two eggs, an onion and some cheese. What can I make?”
All our budget recipes
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Your questions
How can I eat a balanced diet on a tight budget?
Lean on legumes (lentils, chickpeas), eggs, grains and seasonal or frozen vegetables: they're the cheapest foods for eating well. Meat becomes one ingredient among others, not the center of the plate.
What recipes can I make with leftovers?
Fried rice, vegetable soup, French toast, an omelet or a clean-out-the-fridge quiche can take in almost any leftovers. Breaky AI can also suggest a recipe based on what you have left.
Is cooking at home really cheaper?
Yes, most of the time: a homemade pasta dish, soup or omelet costs far less than a ready-made meal, and you choose what goes into it.