With the rising cost of buying groceries and preparing meals, it is becoming increasingly difficult to feed yourself and your loved ones on a budget.
But while most of us are feeling cramped, there are ways to keep your food and energy costs down without sacrificing healthy eating or spending hours in the kitchen.
It just takes a little planning — and the good news is that I’ve done the hard work for you. .
The ingredients listed below total less than 20 pounds for a total of 15 servings. It’s great for the family or to fill the fridge with a week’s worth of batch-cooked meals.
But first, here are my go-to tips for creating a budget meal.
Find out: 17 ways to save money on food
3 tips for dining on a budget
Since launching the Beat the Budget website in 2018, we’ve created about 300 recipes that are inexpensive, costing about £1 per serving.
Here are three tips to save time, cut costs, and enjoy a delicious meal.
1. Reduce energy consumption
Try to limit the use of your oven if possible. Ovens are one of the most expensive ways to cook food and are getting more expensive as the cost of energy rises.
I love to make one-pot, stovetop recipes (see Times Money Mentor recipes below). No need to clean up a bunch of pots and pans later. He uses only one stove, which also saves energy.
If you decide you need an oven and have the space, try maximizing your energy use by baking three trays together.
You can rotate the tray to make sure everything cooks evenly. This eliminates the need to use the oven three times separately. Then simply use the microwave (very energy efficient) to reheat your meal prep.
If you have the money to invest, appliances like air fryers and slow cookers are more energy efficient than ovens. Most oven-baked recipes can be cooked in an air fryer, but for saucy and comforting recipes, opt for the slow cooker.
Find out: How to save money on your utility bills
2. Cook together
Buying in bulk usually saves you money. But of course, you don’t want to buy so much expired food that you waste it.
One way around this is batch cooking. By making more than you need, you can freeze it and spread it all over the moon.
Of course, this requires a little preparation, but it means you can buy more valuable ingredients and make more money.
If you don’t like reheated pasta or noodles, you can prepare certain elements of the dish, such as a bolognese sauce loaded with vegetables. Then, on the day you want to eat it, boil as much pasta as you need.
Batch cooking reduces the time spent cooking, energy usage, and costs. It’s a win win!
3. Bulk freeze ingredients
Finding your favorite frozen foods can save you money in two ways. Bags are often bigger and more valuable, saving you more money and less waste.
I often buy frozen spinach and other ingredients because they quickly become soggy and useless in the refrigerator.
Buying frozen spinach allows you to have spinach whenever you need it.
Experiment with all frozen meats, fish, and vegetables (frozen mixed vegetable bags come in many varieties) to see which ingredients save you the most money.
Here are some more tips for saving money on food. Plus, read Times Money Mentor’s guide to budgeting.
How to make 15 meals for 20 pounds
Food prices have risen to record levels, but it’s still possible to cook meals on a budget.
I rarely spend more than £20 on my weekly grocery store. The ingredients listed below cost less than 20 pounds and serve 15 people.
Here’s my shopping list:
- Frozen spinach 850g (£1.50)
- Peas 1kg (£1.25)
- 200g (£0.60) tomato puree
- 300ml sour cream (£1.20)
- 170g (£1.60) hard cheese
- A handful of fresh basil (£0.55)
- Fusilli 500g (£0.95)
- 300g (£0.90) shallots
- 1 clove of garlic (£0.39)
- 500g chicken mini chicken breast fillets (£3.65)
- 3 mixed peppers (£1.25)
- 10 Large Wraps (2 packs of 8) (£0.85 x 2) = (£1.70)
- Frozen Green Beans 750g (£0.85)
- Fresh coriander (£0.55)
- 2 heads of washed baby gem lettuce (£0.80)
- 50g (£0.50) ginger
- 500g of rice (£0.48)
- Coconut milk 400ml (£1.00)
Total cost: £19.72
Recipe 1: One-pot pasta with creamy tomatoes and spinach
Make number: 5
Cost per meal: £1.21
Total cost: £6.03
| preparation time | cooking time | total time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 20 min | 25 minutes |
material
- 150 Frozen Spinach (£1.50/2)=(£0.75)
- Peas 300g (£1.25/2)=(£0.63)
- 8 tablespoons of tomato puree (£0.60/2)=(£0.30)
- 3 tablespoons sour cream (£1.20/2)=(£0.60)
- 80g (£1.60) finely grated hard/parmesan cheese
- A handful of fresh basil (£0.55)
- Fusilli 500g (£0.95)
- 100g shallots, finely chopped (£0.90/2)=(£0.45)
- 3 cloves of garlic minced (£0.39/2)=(£0.20)
cupboard essentials
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 1.2 liters chicken or vegetable stock
Method
- Add the shallots to a large, deep nonstick skillet and season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Fry for 2 minutes over medium heat.
- Then add tomato puree and garlic. Continue frying for 6 minutes until browned.
- Add the fusilli, half of the fresh basil, and the stock and mix. Close the lid and set the timer for 5 minutes.
- After this, add frozen spinach and peas. Stir to combine and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and turn off the heat. Add sour cream and Parmesan cheese and mix. Season with additional salt, pepper, and optional chili flakes. Top with remaining fresh basil.
Recipe 2: One Pot Chicken and Vegetable Fajitas
Make number: 5
Cost per meal: £1.80
Total cost: £9.02
| preparation time | cooking time | total time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 20 min |
material
- 500g Chicken Mini Chicken Breast Fillet, sliced into bite size pieces (£3.65)
- 3 mixed peppers (£1.25)
- 10 Large Wraps (2 packs of 8) (£0.85×2)=(£1.70/16×10)=(£1.06)
- 100g shallots, sliced (£0.90/2)=(£0.45)
- 4 cloves of garlic minced (£0.39/2)=(£0.20)
- 200g of defrosted frozen green beans (£0.85/2)=(£0.43)
- 1 tablespoon of tomato puree (£0.60/2)=(£0.30)
- A handful of fresh cilantro, torn to serve (£0.55/2)=(£0.28)
- A few drops of sour cream (£1.20/2)=(£0.60)
- 2 heads of washed baby gem lettuce (£0.80)
cupboard essentials
- 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme/coriander
- salt and pepper
Method
- Preheat a frying pan with rapeseed oil over high heat. Add peppers, green beans and shallots to hot skillet. Season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Then set the vegetables aside and add the chicken. Sauté for a few minutes before adding garlic, tomato puree and spices. Reduce heat to medium and continue frying for 5 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve the wrap with a piece of lettuce, a mix of spiced chicken and vegetables, a few drops of sour cream, and a sprinkle of coriander.
Recipe 3: Creamy Coconut Rice with Vegetables
Make number: 5
Cost per meal: £0.94
Total cost: £4.72
| preparation time | cooking time | total time |
|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 20 min |
material
- 100g shallots, sliced (£0.90/2)=(£0.45)
- 4 cloves of garlic minced (£0.39/2)=(£0.20)
- 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger (£0.50)
- 500g (£0.48) well-washed rice
- Coconut milk 400ml (£1.00)
- 300g frozen green beans, defrosted (£0.85/2)=(£0.43)
- 200g frozen peas (£1.25/2)=(£0.63)
- 150g frozen spinach (£1.50/2)=(£0.75)
- Handful of fresh cilantro (£0.55/2)=(£0.28)
cupboard essentials
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 700ml vegetable stock
- optional chili flakes
- salt and pepper
Method
- In a large/deep nonstick skillet, add shallots, garlic, and ginger. Season with salt, pepper and chili flakes. Fry over medium heat for 3 minutes or until fragrant.
- Then add rinsed rice, coconut milk, stock and green beans. Mix and cover. Cook over low to medium heat for 6 minutes.
- Then remove the lid and stir in the peas and frozen spinach. Season with a little salt and pepper to taste and combine. Cover and heat for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and sprinkle the fresh cilantro on top of the fragrant rice. Top with fresh chili flakes if desired.
If you want more low-cost, hassle-free recipe ideas, visit my website.
