Ah, inflation. That word sparks anger, doesn’t it? We know you’re probably tired of hearing it on the news or talking about it in real life, but it’s still a huge factor whenever we shop for groceries and still impacts our daily routines – which is why it feels like we can’t avoid the topic.

And while the prices of our food items continue to soar, there are ways that we can save money and still cook delicious and healthy meals.

So, here are five budget-friendly recipes for you to try:

Recipe #1: Bacon, mozzarella, and baked bean jaffles

This is an elevated take on an Australian childhood classic. This jaffle includes homemade beans, melty buffalo mozzarella, and bacon. This recipe serves 6 people.

To make it, you’d need the following ingredients:

• 8 pieces of bacon, chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 6 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 400 g can of chopped tomatoes
• 400 g can cannellini beans, rinsed, drained
• 1/3 cup (25g) grated parmesan
• 50 g unsalted butter, softened
• 12 slices of white bread
• 2 cups (200g) grated tasty cheese
• 250 g buffalo mozzarella, torn into pieces (optional)

The result should look similar to this. Credit: Shutterstock

Place the bacon and oil in a cold frypan, and cook it over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Next, add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.

Add garlic, thyme and tomato paste, and stir them for 2-3 minutes before adding the chopped tomatoes. Cook for a further 8-10 minutes until the mixture is reduced. Then, add the beans and cook for 2 minutes to warm through. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir while adding parmesan.

Now, preheat your jaffle maker.

Next, butter one side of the bread, turn half of the slices, butter-side down, and place them on a piece of kitchen paper. Top it with bean mixture, tasty cheese and mozzarella and place the remaining bread slices, buttered-side up.

In batches, cook for 8 minutes or until golden. Serve hot.

Recipe #2: Spaghetti with meatballs and cherry tomatoes

This is a simple and easy-to-cook meal that’s perfect for the whole family. This recipe serves 4 people.

Gather the following ingredients:

• One tablespoon of olive oil
• 600 g pork sausages, casings removed, meat rolled into 2 cm balls, chilled for 10 minutes
• 600 g good-quality tomato pasta sauce
• 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 400 g spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons shredded basil
• 1/2 cup (40 g) finely grated parmesan

This simple dish can be enjoyed by the whole family. Credit: Gary Barnes/Pexels

To make it, you need to heat the oil in a frying pan (over medium heat) and cook the meatballs first – turning for 3-4 minutes until browned all over.

Next, add the pasta sauce and cherry tomatoes to the frying pan, then season to taste. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes until slightly reduced.

While waiting, cook the pasta in a saucepan of boiling, salted water according to the packet instructions and then drain the water.

Lastly, toss the pasta with the sauce and season to taste. Serve the spaghetti and meatballs topped with basil and parmesan.

Recipe #3: Thai-style chicken wings with lemongrass and chilli

If you’re craving something slightly spicy, this is the dish for you. This recipe serves 4 people.

To make it, you need:

• 1 kg chicken wings
• 1/2 lemongrass stalk (inner core only), finely grated
• 1/2 garlic clove, finely grated
• 2 cm piece (10g) ginger, finely grated
• 1 tsp. dried chilli flakes
• 100 g golden syrup
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) each soy sauce
• Coriander leaves to serve
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• Chopped peanuts
• Lime cheeks

This meal has a bit of a kick to it. Credit: Shutterstock

Making this meal is super easy too! First, you need to preheat the oven to 220°C. Then, combine lemongrass, garlic, ginger, chilli, golden syrup, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar in a deep baking tray. After mixing the ingredients, add the chicken and toss them well to coat each side.

Next, roast the chicken! Turn the wings every 5 minutes to coat them in the sauce, for 25-30 minutes until sticky and golden.

Afterwards, sprinkle the chicken wings with herbs and chopped peanuts, and serve with lime to squeeze over.

Recipe #4: 15-minute jacket sweet potatoes

If you’ve been eating meat or fish all week and want to try something new, this is the one for you! This recipe serves 4 people.

To make this vegetarian meal, you need:

• 4 x 350g sweet potatoes (skin-on)
• 400 g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
• 2 tablespoons harissa paste – but you can use Tabasco sauce, chilli bean paste, sriracha, or hot sauce as a substitute.
• 150 g marinated feta, drained, crumbled
• 2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1/2 bunch coriander, leaves chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped preserved lemon rind, white pith removed
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

You can make this dish in under 15 minutes. Credit: Shutterstock

This recipe only uses 4 sweet potatoes, but feel free to adjust the ratio of the ingredients if you plan to serve more (or fewer) people.

To make this meal, first, pierce potatoes all over with a fork, place them on a plate and microwave on high. Make sure to turn them halfway, for 8 minutes or until tender.

Meanwhile, preheat your oven grill to high. Combine chickpeas and harissa (or your desired substitute) in a bowl, then place on a baking tray and grill for 4 minutes or until they become crisp.

Next, slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise, and leave them attached on one end to form a ‘pocket’. Place them on a baking tray and top with the chickpeas and feta. Grill for 4 minutes or until golden.

Lastly, combine tomatoes, coriander, lemon rind and oil in a bowl. Season to taste and place them on top of the potatoes with salsa. Wasn’t that easy?

Recipe #5: Zuppa povera (poor man's soup)

This is a simple and affordable recipe that you can serve if you’re craving a hearty meal. This recipe serves 4 people.

You need the following ingredients:

• 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 fennel bulbs, sliced, fronds reserved
• 1L (4 cups) chicken stock
• 8 slices of bread
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan

This is a budget-friendly meal that’s perfect for cold nights. Credit: Shutterstock

To make this recipe, preheat your oven to 180°C to start. Next, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan (over medium heat) and add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Then, add the sliced fennel (do not include the fronds) and fry for 5-10 minutes until the fennel begins to turn golden. Afterwards, you can add the stock, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.

While you wait, brush the bread on both sides with the remaining olive oil, place them on a tray and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden.

Next, top them with grated parmesan and return to the oven to cook for 5 minutes more or until the cheese has melted. Finely chop the reserved fennel fronds and add them to the soup. Stir the pot to make sure everything is combined well before serving it with the parmesan toast.

Key Takeaways

• You don’t have to spend a lot of money to prepare delicious meals.
• These 5 meals cost $15 or less to make
• All of the ingredients can be bought in Woolworths and Coles.

Do you know other budget-friendly recipes? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[ang at home]

I think every meal I make is budget friendly. This one would be one of my husbands favorites. Usually the curry is cooked at the same time as the rice
Curry in a Hurry

1. 1 single chicken breast cubed. approx 300gm
2. 1 cup frozen mixed veg par cooked
3. 1 packet cream of chicken soup mix
4. 1 onion diced
5. some capiscum (if available) diced
6. 1 good teaspoon curry powder
7. 350mls water
8. 2 tablespoons cream (any kind)

Fry chicken, onion, capsicum, with curry powder in a little oil till chicken cooked.
Add the mix veg, mix soup with the water and add to the chicken mix stirring till thickens. Reduce heat to very low checking occasionally. Add a couple of spoons of cream when ready to eat and mix through. Serve with rice

 

[Thecheesequeen]

That’s a long list of ingredients for a simpLe jaffle!

 

[Penny4]

The jaffle recipe is like a meal, instead of a quick toasted sandwich/jaffle. I usually just stick with simple cheese & tomato.

 

[Phyll]

I think every meal I make is budget friendly. This one would be one of my husbands favorites. Usually the curry is cooked at the same time as the rice
Curry in a Hurry

1. 1 single chicken breast cubed. approx 300gm
2. 1 cup frozen mixed veg par cooked
3. 1 packet cream of chicken soup mix
4. 1 onion diced
5. some capiscum (if available) diced
6. 1 good teaspoon curry powder
7. 350mls water
8. 2 tablespoons cream (any kind)

Fry chicken, onion, capsicum, with curry powder in a little oil till chicken cooked.
Add the mix veg, mix soup with the water and add to the chicken mix stirring till thickens. Reduce heat to very low checking occasionally. Add a couple of spoons of cream when ready to eat and mix through. Serve with rice

Going to try this ,thank you for sharing. .

 

[Annna]

Curry in a Hurry tonight, thank you.

 

[Liz Balmont]

I think every meal I make is budget friendly. This one would be one of my husbands favorites. Usually the curry is cooked at the same time as the rice
Curry in a Hurry

1. 1 single chicken breast cubed. approx 300gm
2. 1 cup frozen mixed veg par cooked
3. 1 packet cream of chicken soup mix
4. 1 onion diced
5. some capiscum (if available) diced
6. 1 good teaspoon curry powder
7. 350mls water
8. 2 tablespoons cream (any kind)

Fry chicken, onion, capsicum, with curry powder in a little oil till chicken cooked.
Add the mix veg, mix soup with the water and add to the chicken mix stirring till thickens. Reduce heat to very low checking occasionally. Add a couple of spoons of cream when ready to eat and mix through. Serve with rice

Great recipe thank you