10 Budget Meals for $10 or Less

With inflation out of control, finding cheap meals that taste great is a challenge! But not anymore! Welcome to the world of affordable and nutritious meals. These 10 Super Cheap Meals can be prepared for $10 or less and serve four or more people! That’s just $2.50 a serving!

1. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

vegan loaded sweet potatoes with black beans and corn

These Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are healthy, flavorful, and cheap! A can of black beans ($.78), four medium-sized sweet potatoes ($2.50), and an avocado ($.78). Add some jarred salsa, frozen corn, and anything else you have hiding in your fridge, and you have a filling, nutritious meal. Total: $4.06. Get the recipe: Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.

2. Thai Peanut Noodles

Bowl of Thai Peanut Noodles topped with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Save your money, skip the take-out, and make these Thai Peanut Noodles at home! You’ll need rice noodles ($2.20), tossed in a sauce made with peanut butter and soy sauce. Likely two ingredients you’ve already got on hand. Top with sliced red pepper ($1.50), cilantro ($.50), and scallions ($.50). Total: $4.70. Get the recipe: Thai Peanut Noodles.

3. Greek Chickpea Soup

Eating more beans and legumes is one way to save money on your grocery bill. They are significantly less expensive than meat and dairy and contain protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This Greek Chickpea Soup is made with vegetable broth ($2.50), three cans of chickpeas ($2.40), yellow onion ($.78), carrots ($.98), three celery stalks ($1.84), two lemons ($1.16), and spices. Total: $9.66. Get the recipe: Greek Chickpea Soup.

4. Lentil Goulash

Instead of goulash with beef, try American Goulash with Lentils. It’s healthier and less expensive. You’ll need green lentils ($1.08), yellow onion ($.78), garlic ($.49), green pepper ($.86), a can of tomato sauce ($.88), diced tomatoes ($.88), vegetable stock ($1.25), elbow macaroni ($.98), and a few spices. Total: $8.45. Get the recipe: American Goulash with Lentils.

5. Tofu Chop Suey

vegetable chop suey with vegetables in white bowl with chop sticks

Chop Suey, a popular Chinese restaurant take-out dish, is cheaper at home. Made with tofu instead of chicken, this meal is affordable and flavorful. You can substitute the tofu for grilled chicken, but the cost will likely increase. You’ll need extra-firm tofu ($1.99), garlic($.48), bok choy ($2.00), one carrot ($.25), onion ($.78), mushrooms ($2.00), mung bean sprouts ($2.50). Total: $10. Get the recipe: Chop Suey.

6. Pesto Veggie Pasta

This flavorful Pesto Pasta has lots of veggies and a homemade pesto sauce. Penne Pasta ($.98), one zucchini ($.93), one yellow squash ($.89), one red pepper ($1.38), ½ cup cherry tomatoes ($1.00), fresh basil ($1.98), arugula ($1.10), cashews ($1.25), and olive oil ($.49). Total: $10. Get the recipe: Pesto Pasta.

7. Lentil Tacos

Whole wheat tacos filled with vegan taco meat, and topped with diced avocado, tomato, scallions, and cilantro.

These Lentil Tacos are quick and easy! The lentil filling is spiced with chili powder and cumin to give the lentils a smoky flavor and a texture that resembles ground beef. You’ll need soft or hard corn tortillas ($1.98), brown lentils ($1.14), yellow onion ($.89), garlic ($.49), green bell pepper ($.86), avocado ($.78), cherry tomatoes ($1.14), cilantro ($.48) and scallions ($.48) for garnish. Total: $8.24. Get the recipe: Lentil Tacos.

8. Teriyaki Noodles

Teriyaki noodles with crispy tofu in white bowl.

Whole grain noodles and store-bought teriyaki sauce with crispy tofu make these Teriyaki Noodles irresistible. It’s great for families and makes up a large portion. You’ll need whole wheat spaghetti ($1.43), teriyaki sauce ($1.50), carrot ($.89), garlic ($.49), ginger ($.37), extra-firm tofu ($1.99), and cilantro ($.49). Total: $7.16. Get the recipe: Teriyaki Noodles.

9. Casarecce Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Casarecce pasta in wide bowl served with basil.

Casarecce pasta is a unique type of Italian pasta, but you can also make this dish with bow-tie pasta or penne pasta. It has a creamy tomato sauce that has an authentic flavor. Casarecce pasta ($2.29), yellow onion ($.89), garlic ($.49), tomato paste ($.76), diced tomatoes ($.88), and yogurt ($.64). Total: $5.95. Get the recipe: Casarecce Pasta.

10. Cauliflower Tacos

Who doesn’t love tacos? Whether it’s Tuesday or Friday, any day of the week is worth celebrating when tacos are involved! These Roasted Cauliflower Tacos are to only inexpensive to make, but they are super delicious and nutritious! You’ll need flour tortillas ($1.98), one head of cauliflower ($2.98), an avocado ($.78), large tomato ($.82), yellow onion ($.78), cilantro ($.48), lime ($.38), and jalapeño ($.36). Total: $8.56. Get the recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Tacos.

The grocery prices in this article are based on the prices from Walmart on the date this article was written. These prices are an estimate of the total cost.