Add these simple meal ideas to your arsenal of cheap healthy recipes. We have plenty of them here, which basically proves healthy and budget-friendly recipes aren’t really hard to come by or achieve. Not only are these recipes cheap, they’re simple and easy to follow too! Plus, they can give you ideas on how to substitute less-healthy ingredients with more wholesome ones while keeping the dish flavorful and delicious!
In this article:
Reliable Cheap Healthy Recipes Whatever the Occasion Is
Cheap Healthy Recipe Ideas
1. 21 Simple Healthy Recipes with Only Three Ingredients
One way to make your meals budget-friendly is to use essential ingredients only. This list shows 21 simple and healthy recipes that only require three ingredients. Imagine using three things and then coming up with a decent, healthy meal. Not only are these recipes cheap, they’re also very quick and easy! Plus, you’re keeping the calories to a minimum.
2. 7 Slow Cooker Healthy Recipes for a Warm and Cozy Winter
Slow-cooked meals are budget-friendly, especially if you load them with vegetables. They are also fuss-free since you simply put all the ingredients into one pot and then wait for the dish to be ready. These slow cooker healthy recipes are quite versatile, and they’re a welcoming sight on a dinner table even when it isn’t cold out.
3. 17 Buddha Bowl Recipes You’ll Love
Buddha bowls promote mindful eating, which is basically about getting enough of what you actually need in one meal. They normally contain grains and a lot of vegetables. Considering the simplicity of ingredients and the fact that you can purchase them in bulk, Buddha bowls give great value for money.
4. 15 Unhealthy Recipes Made More Wholesome
Unhealthy meals are not only delicious but sometimes come out cheaper too. Good thing there are ways to make them healthier and still taste good while still being easy on the pocket. Simply substitute the not-so-healthy ingredients with better ones just like these unhealthy recipes made wholesome.
5. Cauliflower Pizza Recipe
Depending on the season or where you live, cauliflower can be really inexpensive. Pizza delivery is generally budget-friendly too, but it’s not as healthy as a cauliflower pizza. It is fairly easy to make and definitely worth a shot if you want a healthier alternative to your go-to meal.
6. 13 Low Carb Vegan Recipes Your Whole Family Will Love
Vegan meals don’t have to be expensive. In the first place, they’re mostly made with vegetables, which are typically affordable. Just try exploring more local food sources like the farmer’s market or co-ops in your area. Sometimes, produce from these sources are cheaper with better quality at that.
7. 7 Delicious Healthy Recipes for Lunch
All these delicious healthy recipes only take 15 minutes to whip up. The ingredients needed are simple, cheap, and accessible in most grocery stores. The recipes featured on the list are filling enough to substitute heavier lunches made with meat.
8. 7 Simple and Healthy Recipes for Women
Some women sometimes complain about staying fit and healthy being so expensive. In some cases, it’s true, but there are simple and healthy recipes that are really budget-friendly. Even when you have to spend a little bit more for healthier products, it might still be more cost-effective than indulging in cheap and greasy food all the time.
9. 17 Healthy Crockpot Recipes Perfect For the Holidays
The holidays often turn out more stressful than regular days. Cooking special meals, especially for a beginner, involves a lot of pressure and money. There’s a way to make the holidays fuss-free though. Just cook a few dishes in your crockpot instead! Prepare the healthier-than-usual ingredients which are cheaper than meat-heavy dishes. Put them in the slow cooker and wait for it to be ready.
10. How to Prepare Healthy Recipes for Kids in Less Than 30 Minutes
These 30-minute healthy recipes for the kids are perfect for parents who are pressed for time but still want to put quality meals on the table. Prepare some of these meals ahead on the weekend and store them properly. By doing this, you’ll always have something ready whenever you need a quick meal for the kids and the whole family.
11. Quick Healthy Recipes for Fall
Even when it’s not yet the fall season, these quick healthy recipes still come handy. Most of the ingredients required are available all-year round and are fairly inexpensive. No need to hold out for your favorite pumpkin-spice fix!
Healthy Recipes on a Budget for Breakfast
12. Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Toast with Chia Seeds
The key to making your breakfast healthy, but inexpensive, is to keep things simple. A healthy peanut butter banana toast with chia seeds is simple and cheap enough, not to mention highly convenient.
13. Healthy Spinach Scrambled Eggs
It’s easy to cook a quick and healthy breakfast when you have eggs on hand. So, make sure your fridge is well-stocked with good-quality eggs. This healthy spinach scrambled eggs recipe is a good example of a cheap breakfast to fuel you on mornings the healthy way.
14. Healthy Granola
This healthy granola recipe yields about 8 cups, which is just enough to keep your pantry stocked with go-to breakfast for the week. Make sure you use natural sweeteners like real maple syrup and pure honey for your granola to keep it healthy.
Cheap and Easy Recipes for Lunch
15. Easy Avocado Egg Salad Recipe
This avocado egg salad makes a healthy and delicious filling for toasts and sandwiches. You can easily whip this up in the morning before heading to work, so the sandwich does not get soggy by noon. Just put the bread and salad in separate containers.
16. Chicken Stir Fry with Rice Noodles
When it’s the weekend and you want to get a little busy in the kitchen, try this chicken stir-fry with rice noodles. A stir-fry is not only budget-friendly but also light and healthy, considering it’s made with chicken breast, vegetables, and rice noodles. It only takes 30 minutes to make, too!
17. Meal-Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls
Preparing meals ahead saves you time and money. You only need to get the meals from the freezer and heat them up whenever you want. Doing this can curb your temptation to always eat out and spend more. If you’re new to meal-prepping, try these chicken burrito bowls for starters.
Quick Meals on a Budget for Dinner
18. Lemon Garlic Baked Tilapia
Tilapia is cheap and bakes beautifully with lemon and garlic as you can see in this baked tilapia recipe. Even so, you can easily use other kinds of white fish if you want. Just explore and see what works best for you.
19. 1 Pan Vegan Ratatouille
This ratatouille is one of the yummiest vegan recipes you can make, not to mention, cheap! The vegetables are beautifully arranged to make the entire dish look pretty appetizing. You get a burst of different flavors from each bite, which is amazing considering all the flavors come from healthy and guilt-free ingredients.
20. Super Simple Potato Curry
Here’s an alternative to your favorite chicken curry. Cooking curry with potato as the star ingredient makes the dish healthier, quicker, and cheaper to make. It only takes 20 minutes to whip up this dish, and it can easily feed four people for dinner.
Cheap Healthy Recipes for Detox Drinks
21. Creamy Avocado Banana Green Smoothie
Smoothies can be your go-to breakfast when you’re rushing in the morning. Cut up some fruit the night before or even on a weekend then freeze them in labeled containers. You can easily pick some fruit out from the freezer and quickly make a healthy smoothie in less than five minutes. To start, try this creamy avocado banana green smoothie.
22. Lemon Cucumber Detox Water Recipe
A glass of lemon cucumber water is not just a simple and refreshing beverage for a hot day, it is quite helpful to the body as well. Lemon and cucumber are both cheap and easily accessible in grocery stores. They are among the common ingredients to help the body get rid of toxins.
23. Hydrating Watermelon Detox Water
Watermelon, mint, and lime are all ingredients to help you detoxify. It keeps you hydrated while rejuvenating your skin at the same time. If you get tired of the lemon cucumber water, you can easily swap it for this equally amazing watermelon detox water.
There are plenty of cheap healthy recipes to choose from out there. We hope this list helps you get started. What’s key to making meals healthier and cheaper is loading them up with vegetables and fruits that are in season and local in your area. Even if you eat huge servings, you’ll get fewer calories and more nutrients!
What do you think of our list of cheap healthy recipes? Let us know in the comments section below!