21 Budget-Friendly Healthy Meals Anyone Can Make
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Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean draining your wallet or living on sad lettuce leaves. You can actually whip up delicious, nutrient-packed meals without spending a fortune — even if you’re cooking for one, a whole family, or just your hangry self at 2 AM.
Here are 21 budget-friendly healthy meals that taste amazing, keep you full, and are ridiculously easy to make. Bonus: most can be meal-prepped so you save even more time (and money). 🙌
1. Chickpea Salad Wraps 🌯
Chickpeas are cheap, packed with protein, and oh-so-versatile. Mash them with a little Greek yogurt, lemon juice, diced cucumber, and herbs. Spread it on a whole wheat tortilla, add some lettuce, and roll it up.
🛒 Try these Whole Wheat Tortillas.
2. Egg Fried Rice (But Healthy) 🍳
Got leftover rice? Toss it in a pan with scrambled eggs, mixed veggies, soy sauce, and sesame oil. It’s the ultimate 10-minute dinner.
🛒 Use this Non-Stick Wok for easy cooking.
3. Lentil Soup 🥣
A bag of dried lentils costs less than your coffee, and it makes a giant pot of cozy, fiber-rich soup. Add carrots, celery, onion, tomatoes, and spices for a hearty, warming meal.
🛒 Grab Organic Red Lentils.
4. Veggie Omelette 🥬
Eggs are budget-friendly protein bombs. Fill your omelette with spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms for a colorful, satisfying meal — any time of day.
🛒 These Silicone Spatulas make flipping easy.
5. Baked Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans 🍠
Bake sweet potatoes, top them with black beans, avocado, and salsa. It’s like a taco — but way healthier.
🛒 Try these Organic Black Beans.
6. One-Pan Chicken & Veggies 🍗
Toss chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, and broccoli with olive oil and spices. Roast until golden. Minimal cleanup, maximum yum.
🛒 These Sheet Pans are perfect.
7. Pasta with Tomato & Spinach 🍅
Whole wheat pasta + sautéed garlic, spinach, and canned tomatoes = cheap Italian magic in under 20 minutes.
🛒 Use Whole Wheat Penne.
8. Quinoa Stir-Fry 🍲
Cook quinoa, toss it with mixed veggies, soy sauce, and scrambled eggs. High-protein and gluten-free.
🛒 Get Organic Quinoa.
9. Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocados 🥑
Mix canned tuna with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and celery. Scoop it into avocado halves. Fancy, cheap, and filling.
🛒 Canned Tuna in Water is the best pick.
10. Shakshuka 🍳
Simmer tomatoes, onions, and peppers with spices, then crack eggs right into the sauce. Serve with crusty bread.
🛒 Paprika Spice Blend for that signature flavor.
11. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto 🌿
Spiralize zucchini and toss with pesto and cherry tomatoes for a light, low-carb dinner.
🛒 Veggie Spiralizer.
12. Greek Yogurt Parfait 🍓
Layer Greek yogurt, frozen berries, and granola for a quick, cheap breakfast or snack.
🛒 Low-Sugar Granola.
13. Stuffed Bell Peppers 🌶
Fill halved bell peppers with rice, beans, corn, and cheese. Bake until tender.
🛒 Glass Baking Dish.
14. Oatmeal with Peanut Butter & Banana 🍌
Oats are dirt-cheap and keep you full for hours. Add sliced bananas and a spoonful of peanut butter for extra flavor.
🛒 Organic Rolled Oats.
15. Veggie Quesadillas 🧀
Fill tortillas with beans, cheese, and sautéed veggies. Toast until crispy. Serve with salsa.
🛒 Cast Iron Skillet.
16. Cauliflower Fried Rice 🥦
Pulse cauliflower in a food processor until rice-like. Stir-fry with veggies, eggs, and soy sauce.
🛒 Frozen Cauliflower Rice.
17. Chili with Kidney Beans 🌶
Simmer kidney beans, tomatoes, onions, and chili powder for a hearty meal that feeds a crowd.
🛒 Organic Kidney Beans.
18. Baked Eggplant Parmesan 🍆
Bread eggplant slices, bake, and layer with marinara and cheese. Serve with pasta or salad.
🛒 Panko Bread Crumbs.
19. Asian Peanut Noodles 🥜
Cook noodles and toss with a sauce of peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, and lime. Add veggies for crunch.
🛒 Natural Peanut Butter.
20. Bulgur Wheat Salad 🥗
Mix cooked bulgur wheat with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, and lemon dressing.
🛒 Organic Bulgur Wheat.
21. Homemade Veggie Pizza 🍕
Top whole wheat pizza bases with marinara, cheese, and loads of veggies. Bake until bubbly.
🛒 Whole Wheat Pizza Crusts.
💡 Final Tip: Stock up on pantry staples like rice, beans, oats, and canned veggies — they’re cheap, last forever, and can be turned into so many healthy meals.
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