Budget Recipes
Delicious meals that cost under £2 per serving — no compromise on flavour.
160 recipes · Updated
Featured Recipes
Miso Soup with Tofu and Wakame (Authentic Japanese Recipe)
Japan's most fundamental daily soup — a clean, savoury dashi broth gently stirred with miso paste, soft tofu cubes, and rehydrated wakame seaweed. Deeply nourishing, ready in 10 minutes, and endlessly comforting.
Viral Cucumber Salad (TikTok)
The smashed cucumber salad that took TikTok by storm: cucumbers are smashed to create craggy, sauce-trapping pieces, then dressed with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and chilli oil for a cool, crunchy, bold side dish ready in under 15 minutes.
Gazpacho (Cold Spanish Tomato Soup — No Cook Recipe)
Spain's iconic cold tomato soup: a smooth, intensely flavoured blend of ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar. No cooking required — just blending, chilling, and serving. The perfect summer soup.
All 160 recipes in this collection
- Miso Soup with Tofu and Wakame (Authentic Japanese Recipe)
- Viral Cucumber Salad (TikTok)
- Gazpacho (Cold Spanish Tomato Soup — No Cook Recipe)
- Nourishing Detox Soup
- Mango Sorbet (3-Ingredient No-Churn Vegan Dessert)
- Chocolate Tahini Cookies (Unique Dairy-Free Dessert)
- Classic Bruschetta
- Banana Oat Muffins (Healthy One-Bowl Recipe)
- Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies (Bakery-Style Recipe)
- Butternut Squash Soup (Creamy and Velvety — 4 Ingredients)
- Banana Oat Pancakes (Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipe)
- Fresh Tabbouleh Salad
- Classic Avocado Toast
- Miso Glazed Eggplant (Nasu Dengaku)
- Classic Scrambled Eggs — Soft, Creamy and Perfect Every Time
- Baked Eggs in Tomato Sauce (One Pan Breakfast Recipe)
- Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (Easy Homemade Recipe)
- Turkish Menemen (Scrambled Eggs with Peppers)
- Mushroom Masala Recipe (Rich Indian Mushroom Curry)
- Classic Minestrone Soup (Hearty Italian Vegetable Soup)
- Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Spiced Tomato Sauce)
- Homemade Granola with Honey and Almonds (Easy Batch Recipe)
- French Crêpes (Classic Thin Pancakes with Lemon and Sugar)
- Crispy Baked Tofu
- Crispy Breakfast Potatoes (Diner-Style at Home)
- Lemon Yogurt Cake (Light and Moist Everyday Cake)
- Lentil and Spinach Soup (Warming Middle Eastern Recipe)
- Cottage Cheese Scrambled Eggs
- Creamy Rice Pudding (Classic Comfort Dessert)
- Baked Eggs with Feta
- Easy Aloo Gobi (Indian Potato and Cauliflower Curry)
- Potato and Leek Soup (Creamy, Budget-Friendly Winter Soup)
- Creamy Mushroom Toast
- Lemon Yogurt Chicken Skewers (Juicy and Tender)
- Avocado Toast with Poached Egg (Healthy Breakfast Idea)
- Lemon Drizzle Cake (Easy Loaf Cake Recipe)
- Dense Bean Salad
- Olive Oil Orange Cake (Moist Mediterranean Cake)
- Tuna Avocado Salad (Healthy No-Mayo Recipe)
- Classic Italian Panna Cotta (Silky Vanilla Dessert)
- Fluffy Yogurt Pancakes
- Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Keto Creamy Asparagus Soup
- Savory Oatmeal with Mushrooms and Egg
- Overnight Oats — Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipe
- Chicken Noodle Soup (Classic Comfort Food Recipe)
- Budget Lentil Dal (Cheap, Filling and Ready in 30 Minutes)
- Coconut Lentil Curry (Vegan, One-Pot, Weeknight Friendly)
- French Toast with Maple Syrup (Classic Breakfast Recipe)
- Easy Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables (30-Minute Dinner)
- Chicken Caesar Salad (Classic Restaurant Recipe Made at Home)
- Chocolate Brownies (Fudgy, Gooey Homemade Recipe)
- Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce (Spanish Street Food)
- Simple Egg Fried Rice (Better Than Takeaway — 15-Minute Recipe)
- Black Bean Tacos with Lime Crema (Vegan Budget Meal)
- Mediterranean Chicken with Tomatoes and Olives
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad (Light and Fresh)
- Chicken Stroganoff (Creamy Comfort Food Made Lighter)
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (Quick Weeknight Recipe)
- One Pot Pasta e Fagioli (Italian Bean and Pasta Soup)
- One-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Breakfast Egg Sliders (Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast)
- Warm Lentil Salad with Vegetables (Protein-Packed Meal)
- No-Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake (Easy Dessert)
- Sticky Soy Honey Chicken (Sweet and Savory Dinner)
- Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps (Quick Low-Carb Meal)
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wraps (Vegetarian Game-Day Food)
- Chana Masala
- Fasolada (White Bean Soup)
- Smoked Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese and Capers
- Lemon Herb Orzo Salad (Perfect for Meal Prep)
- American-Style Fluffy Pancakes (Easy Breakfast Recipe)
- Apple Crumble with Vanilla Custard (Easy British Pudding)
- Cheesy Quesadillas (Quick Budget Dinner — 10 Minutes)
- Garlic Butter Rice with Fried Egg
- Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables
- Chicken Pot Pie Skillet (Comfort Food Without the Crust)
- Roasted Chickpea and Avocado Salad (Easy Plant-Based Meal)
- Garlic Mushroom Udon Noodles (Better Than Takeout)
- Moroccan Chicken with Spices (One-Pot Dinner)
- Crispy Chicken Cutlets (Pan-Fried or Oven-Baked)
- Chili Oil Noodles (Spicy 10-Minute Meal)
- Spiced Lentil Tacos (Easy Vegetarian Tacos)
- Mushroom Shawarma Wraps (Plant-Based Street Food)
- Thai Green Chicken Curry (Easy 30-Minute Recipe)
- Cottage Cheese Pasta
- Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes (Healthy Comfort Food)
- Ground Beef and Rice Skillet (Budget-Friendly Dinner)
- Nourishing Kale and Quinoa Bowl
- Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Pasta Salad
- Kimchi & Cheddar Breakfast Quesadilla
- Filipino Chicken Adobo (Authentic and Easy Recipe)
- Pasta al Pomodoro (Simple Italian Tomato Pasta — 20 Minutes)
- Lemon Tahini Farro Bowl (Mediterranean Grain Bowl)
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs (Baked, Not Fried)
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Light and Creamy Dinner)
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken (One Pan Italian Recipe)
- Lemon Butter Pasta (Simple 15-Minute Recipe)
- Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice Recipe)
- Beef Kofta with Yogurt Sauce (Middle Eastern Style)
- Stuffed Bell Peppers with Beef and Rice
- Sesame Noodles (Easy Asian-Inspired Recipe)
- Crispy Fish Tacos with Slaw
- Cheesesteak Sliders (Easy Party Sandwiches)
- Creamy Garlic Chicken (One-Pan Skillet Recipe)
- Smash Burger Tacos (Viral TikTok Recipe Made Easy)
- Chicken Caesar Wraps (Easy Lunch or Dinner)
- Classic Beef Chili (Rich and Hearty Recipe)
- Spanish Rice with Chorizo (One Pan Dinner Under £5)
- Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta
- Korean Beef Rice Bowls (Easy Weeknight Dinner)
- Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
- Tomato Butter Pasta (Indian-Inspired Comfort Food)
- One Pan Chicken and Rice with Lemon and Herbs
- Banoffee Pie (Classic British Banana and Toffee Dessert)
- Sticky Toffee Pudding (Classic British Dessert Recipe)
- Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Garlic and Olive Oil Pasta — 4 Ingredients)
- Baked Feta Pasta
- Creamy Gochujang Pasta (Spicy Korean-Inspired Pasta)
- Japanese Curry Rice (Easy Comfort Food at Home)
- Broccoli Cheddar Pasta (Creamy Family Favorite)
- Creamy Mushroom Gnocchi Skillet
- Greek Chicken Rice Bowls with Tzatziki
- Breakfast Burrito with Scrambled Eggs and Salsa
- BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches (Slow Cooker or Oven)
- Sausage and Tomato Pasta (One-Pot Weeknight Dinner)
- Crispy Chicken Wraps with Garlic Sauce
- Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
- Mochi Ice Cream (Japanese Rice Cake Dessert — 3 Flavours)
- Classic Naan Bread
- Tamagoyaki (Sweet Japanese Omelette)
- Classic Ratatouille
- Classic Samosas
- Steamed Scallion Buns (Hua Juan)
- Baklava (Crispy Middle Eastern Pastry with Honey and Nuts)
- Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pastéis de Nata Recipe)
- Zucchini Fritters (Kolokithokeftedes)
- Turkish Simit Recipe (Sesame Bread Rings at Home)
- Mushroom and Gruyère Omelette (Quick French-Style Breakfast)
- Pavlova with Fresh Berries (Classic Meringue Dessert Recipe)
- Spanish Tortilla (Potato Omelette Classic Recipe)
- Handmade Potato Gnocchi (Beginner-Friendly Guide)
- Muhammara with Warm Pita
- Chicken Tikka Masala (Easy British-Indian Takeaway Recipe)
- Classic Chocolate Lava Cake (Easy Restaurant-Style Dessert)
- Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe (Light and Decadent)
- Juicy Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Sauce
- Classic Crème Brûlée
- Mujadara (Lentils & Rice with Crispy Onions)
- Loukoumades (Greek Honey Donuts)
- Authentic Dal Makhani (Creamy Indian Black Lentils)
- Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken (Classic Sunday Dinner Recipe)
- New York Cheesecake (Baked Cheesecake with Buttery Biscuit Base)
- Classic French Onion Soup (with Melted Gruyère Croutons)
- Falafel Pita with Tahini Sauce
- Egyptian Koshari (Lentils, Rice, and Pasta Bowl)
- Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas (Oven Method)
- Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta (Spicy One-Pan Dinner)
- Baked Mac and Cheese (Ultra Creamy Oven-Baked Recipe)
- Full English Breakfast (Classic Cooked Breakfast Recipe)
Budget Meals That Don't Taste Like Budget Meals
Every recipe here costs under £2 per serving based on standard UK supermarket prices. Ingredients are everyday staples — tinned legumes, eggs, pasta, rice, seasonal vegetables, cheaper cuts of meat — used well. Cost estimates are shown per serving on each recipe card and are calculated conservatively. These aren't compromise meals. Lentil dal, pasta e fagioli, egg fried rice, and shakshuka are genuinely good food that happen to be cheap. The collection is also the most practical for the leftover generator — most budget ingredients are pantry staples you're likely to have at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are the costs calculated?
Based on standard UK supermarket prices per serving. Costs will vary by region.
Are these healthy as well as cheap?
Many are — legume-based dishes especially tend to be both budget and nutritious.
Are there quick budget meals under 30 minutes?
Yes — filter by Quick to see the fastest budget options.
Can I use the leftover generator to find budget meals from what I have?
Yes — visit /ai-recipe-generator to generate a recipe from ingredients you already own.
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