15 Frugal Meals to Prove that Cheap Doesn’t Mean Tasteless

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January is quite a long month, isn’t it? Payday seems to take forever to come, the pockets are rather tight, and the cold weather is making us crave comfort food. These frugals meals tick all the boxes when it comes to tasty, affordable and comforting food for all budgets. They are simple but full of goodness, and are incredibly satisfying. And they please even a picky eater. Quick, and easy to put together with cheap ingredients, these dishes will make meal time a much more enjoyable experience, and they are stress free too!

One-Pan Chicken and Gravy

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Close-up of cooked chicken breasts in a pan with a light brown sauce. The chicken is garnished with fresh parsley, and the sauce appears creamy and seasoned, coating the chicken pieces.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

This One Pan Chicken and Gravy is a delicious meal that can be cooked entirely on the stove top. It’s quick and easy to make with a few affordable ingredients, and it’s the perfect comfort food on a cold day. Serve it with the side of your choice for a wonderful family meal.

GET THE RECIPE: One-Pan Chicken and Gravy

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Meatballs in a tomato sauce, garnished with chopped parsley.
Image credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes.

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, a delicious family meal that can be batched cooked and frozen, so it can be enjoyed any time you need a comforting meal. It’s very affordable and easy to make, and a great hit with kids of all ages.

GET THE RECIPE: Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Sausage and Mash with Onion Gravy

2 sausages smothered in grave over a bed of mash.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Sausage and Mash with Onion Gravy, a cheap family dinner that is a great example that frugal food can be so tasty and comforting too. It’s easy to make, a crowd pleaser, and perfect on a chilly day.

GET THE RECIPE: Sausage and Mash with Onion Gravy

Thick Beef Stew

A bowl containing beef chunks, potato pieces, and carrot slices. A spoon and a bread roll rest on an orange cloth nearby.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This Thick Beef Stew with vegetables is a comforting family-friendly meal that is very easy to make with easily-available and affordable ingredients. Great all year round, particularly in the cold season when we need hearty meals to warm us up.

GET THE RECIPE: Thick Beef Stew

Chicken and Mushroom Stew

Close-up of a savory dish featuring chicken drumsticks in a rich, chunky tomato sauce. The dish is garnished with fresh cilantro and includes slices of mushrooms and chopped vegetables, creating a colorful and appetizing presentation.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

One-Pan Chicken and Mushroom Stew, a delicious dinner recipe that is bursting with the most amazing flavours. Easy to make with simple ingredients, this is the kind of dinner that absolutely everyone in the family will enjoy.

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken and Mushroom Stew

Baked Sardines

Eight grilled sardines are lined up in a dish, seasoned with herbs and spices. The fish appear golden brown with scattered green parsley leaves on top, set against a light-colored background with visible cooking juices.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Sardines are incredibly nutritious and delicious, and can be purchaed frozen at a very addordable price. My Baked Sardines need very little prep, and are on the table in under 30 minutes. Quick, easy, a family-friendly recipe with a Mediterranean touch.

To learn more: Baked Sardines

Bolognese Sauce

A spoonful of chunky, tomato-based meat sauce garnished with fresh herbs, held above a pot of the same sauce.
Image credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes.

This is the one sauce that I always batch cook and freeze, as it’s a massive hit with all my kids. The Bolognese Sauce has no wine added and it’s packed with vegetables. You can have with any kind of pasta, rice, couscous, jacket potatoes or gnocchi.

GET THE RECIPE: Bolognese Sauce

Coconut Chickpea Curry

A portion of chickpea curry on a bed of rice.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Coconut Chickpea Curry a delicious meat-free dish that is full of exotic flavours. Mild, but lightly spiced, this curry is so easy to make, and super quick too. Vegetarian and vegan friendly, perfect for Veganuary, but also all year round when you need a frugal dish to cater for all lifestyles.

GET THE RECIPE: Coconut Chickpea Curry

Sausage and Bean Casserole

A portion of sausage and bean casserole.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Sausage and Bean Casserole, a hearty dish that gathers the whole family around the table. It’s comfort food that everybody enjoys, and can be tweaked to everyone’s liking.

GET THE RECIPE: Sausage and Bean Casserole

Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings

The image shows braised chicken thighs in a tomato-based sauce, garnished with fresh parsley, and accompanied by dumplings on a white plate.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings, a quick dish that is just perfect for a midweek dinner. It’s delicious and comforting, and easy to put together with simple ingredients.

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken Paprikash with Dumplings

Chicken and Potato Stew

A pot with chicken stew.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Chicken and Potato Stew, a healthy and light dish that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It has a delicate flavour of fresh parsley and dill, and it’s ready in well under 30 minutes from scratch. If you are looking for a nutritious and filling frugal meal, this stew is exactly what you need.

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken and Potato Stew

Stewed Cabbage

A blue and white bowl containing cooked cabbage, vegetables, and fresh dill is placed on a green and white textured cloth.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Stewed Cabbage, a quick and easy dish that is light and absolutely delicious. Ready in 30 minutes, it can be served with any sausages or leftover roast, or any other protein of your choice.

GET THE RECIPE: Stewed Cabbage

Slow Cooker Beef Tips in Gravy

Beef tips with gravy and mash,
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Slow Cooker Beef Tips in Gravy, a beautifully tender, flavourful and rich meal to make dinner the best time of the day.It’s the best ever comfort food for the whole family, and it’s really cheap too.

GET THE RECIPE: Slow Cooker Beef Tips in Gravy

Chicken and Pea Stew

A portion of chicken and pea stew on a plate.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Chicken and Pea Stew, a hearty but light dish that is full of colour and goodness. It’s quick and easy to make, it’s healthy, and it can be cooked with fresh or frozen peas from scratch.

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken and Pea Stew

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

A close-up of a baked spaghetti dish with marinara sauce, ground meat, and diced tomatoes. The pasta is topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with grated Parmesan, served in a rectangular baking dish.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Baked Spaghetti Casserole, a comforting dish that screams perfection. It can be tweaked to one’s liking to make meal time a memorable one.

GET THE RECIPE: Baked Spaghetti Casserole

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