Instead of calling for bacon or ham, our vegetarian variation of this rice and black-eyed peas dish features several spices and heaps of veggies, including bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and frozen corn. The spice—and the price—are right for this Indian-inspired cheap, healthy meal.
Serve the turmeric- and ginger-infused grilled chicken on a bed of basmati rice included in the price estimate to round out the meal. Save leftover sliced meat to tuck inside warm pita bread or a tortilla for a lunch wrap the next day.
Meatloaf secures a top spot on the list of easy, cheap, healthy meals when you use lean ground beef and boost the filling factor with inexpensive spuds. And don't you love how sheet-pan dinners like this one require so little cleanup time?
Cooking everything on one foil-lined pan speeds it up. You'd be hard-pressed to find a delivery pizza as affordable as this homemade healthy dinner recipe. Start with store-bought dough to make the Mediterranean meal a practical choice, even on a weeknight. Look for the dough in the refrigerated section of your supermarket or ask your local pizza shop if you can purchase an extra pound of their secret recipe!
Noodle dishes are known to be easy on the wallet. Not so much. Fortunately, a small handful of heart-healthy nuts can go a long way to add a rich flavor to cheap, healthy meals like this one.
Whole wheat noodles help too. Low in fat 6 grams per portion yet high in protein a strong 28 grams , this five-ingredient slow cooker pork recipe checks all the boxes. Only 10 minutes of prep required. Indeed—it's one of the lowest-cost options in this collection of cheap, healthy meals.
Here's a cheap, healthy vegetarian meal you'll want to make again and again. With 24 grams of protein and a nice portion of hunger-taming broth and noodles, this soup will fill you up for hours.
Meat-like portobello mushrooms , tofu , and a poached egg join fresh veggies in this cozy, crowd-pleasing Asian noodle soup. Breaded with whole wheat panko and baked instead of fried, this eggplant Parmesan is calories less than some classic recipes.
Keep your nutrition streak going by grabbing a couple of zucchini at the store to spiralize , toss with the rest of the marinara , and serve under the baked eggplant. Voilà—a budget dinner recipe for four that tastes up to par with its restaurant competition. A few decades ago, "stretch the meat" was the mantra for cutting costs at dinnertime.
It's still a great strategy for making cheap, healthy meals even more affordable. Here wide egg noodles , mushrooms, and a bit of cheese extend 8 ounces of ground beef to provide five hearty servings. One bite will be all the proof you need that you can absolutely make satisfying suppers without making meat the main event.
Instead of refried beans, this flavorful Mexican entrée —ready in 30 minutes—features a creamy cauliflower puree. If you're hungry and have leftover chicken or shrimp , toss them in too.
the serving size can be cut in half for an easy, healthy dinner recipe for two on a budget. To maximize your cheap, healthy dinner recipes, never let any ingredients go to waste. Instead, use any leftover pesto in these quick and easy pesto recipes. Turn budget-friendly shaved cooked ham into a delicacy by serving it on mashed sweet potatoes and topping it with cranberry sauce.
This healthy dinner recipe on a budget offers a taste of Thanksgiving any time of year. Not into ham or craving more holiday spirit?
Try this with sliced smoked turkey instead. Your favorite Tuscan-inspired restaurant may not be the first place you'd head to get inspiration for healthy meals on the cheap. But much of this Italian region's cuisine is humble and healthy. Tuscan cooks are fond of using cannellini beans.
Here the beans partner with other great Mediterranean diet -friendly ingredients for a true-to-Italy dish that won't break the bank or your nutrition goals. When coming up with cheap, healthy meals, consider cooking with whitefish. The affordable and lean protein is mild enough to please even picky eaters.
Enjoy it on these crowd-pleasing tostadas perfectly seasoned with chili powder, garlic, and lime. On the hunt for affordable, healthy meals that work for dinner or brunch?
Get cracking—eggs, that is. Here protein-rich, budget-friendly eggs pair with other pantry staples for a cheap and easy recipe under calories per serving.
Save even more money when you substitute dried herbs you have on hand for the fresh herbs. Start planning your next chili night now. This low-cost slow cooker chili recipe can be prepped in 25 minutes.
Stir everything together in the slow cooker early in the day and come home to a healthy dinner loaded with veggies and 14 grams of protein. Sticking to healthy meals on a budget often means driving past your favorite eatery and straight home. But with nutritious restaurant remakes like this, you can don't have to miss out on take-out flavor while saving money, sodium, and calories.
Not only does this well-balanced pasta recipe clock in at under calories per serving, but it also takes only 20 minutes to prepare. Comforting chili flavors, pasta, and cheese make this meal a family favorite. Oh yes, and it all comes together in one pan. Grilling vegetables brings out their natural sweetness; in this recipe, they're spiced and seasoned to give the fajitas extra flavor.
Bonus: If you grill no matter the season , this dish belongs in your regular rotation of budget-friendly healthy dinner recipes because you can find these veggies any time of year. Burger night just earned itself a healthy vegetarian upgrade. Here we blend fiber- and protein-rich chickpeas with warm spices, sear them to crisp perfection, then serve with crunchy, good-for-you veggies.
Whole wheat noodles, no-salt-added canned tomatoes, and shrimp make this delicious meal surprisingly low-cal and nutritious. Use frozen shrimp instead of fresh to cut the cost of the seafood. Just don't skip the pinch of crushed red pepper flakes—they give this healthy meal on a budget just enough kick.
How many cheap, healthy meals can you make without chopping anything? This is one of the rare few. It's a no-knife-needed, "dump and done" slow cooker recipe for when you have no more than 10 minutes of hands-on prep time to spare.
This slow cooker dump dinner might be the easiest of all: It requires no chopping or measuring. How easy is that? Six ingredients, 10 minutes of prep time, and great flavor combine to make this a cheap, healthy dinner idea for any night of the week.
Since they're often loaded with affordable rice, canned veggies, and ground meat, stuffed peppers are one of the best dinner ideas to keep your wallet stuffed too. Thanks to Cuban elements like briny olives, earthy almonds, and sweet raisins, this recipe is wildly flavorful.
We know that combo might sound different from what you'd usually pair with beef and brown rice, but we bet you and your dinner companions will be blown away. Easy, cheap, healthy meals don't get fresher or more flavorful than this.
When it comes to price per serving, EveryPlate is tied with another meal kit on our list, Dinnerly, as the cheapest option around. To get that lowest price, you would need to select the maximum number of meals per week: six meals, with four servings each.
If you're planning out couples meals -- or live alone -- you might be interested in the minimum weekly box size. With more than 20 recipes to pick each week, EveryPlate serves up a decent variety with its dishes.
You might find a deeper variety with other, more expensive meal kits, but EveryPlate's offerings aim for a sort of mass appeal. From comfort food items with a twist like the Cheesy Tortilla Smash Burgers to zesty options like the Southwest Pork Flautas pictured above , there's enough here to satisfy even the picky eater.
Why we recommend EveryPlate: This meal kit checks all the boxes for a budget-friendly delivery service: affordable plans, nutritious recipes available at low serving prices, and big-time savings for first-time customers. Behold, the close runner up in our books for cheapest meal kit service: Dinnerly.
Either way, you're still enjoying decent savings by signing up for dinners through Dinnerly instead of hunting down your own ingredients at the store or ordering takeout.
Dinnerly features more than meal options each week that are dairy free, vegetarian, kid friendly and more. Where EveryPlate lacks ever so slightly in meal variety, Dinnerly shines with more than 40 weekly recipes at your disposal. Alongside plenty of reliable if a bit predictable dishes like the Smoky Pan-Roasted Steak or Crispy Cheddar Chicken plate, you can find less common meals: there's the spicy and dairy-free Pork Vindaloo, for example, or Pesto Primavera made with gluten-free ravioli.
Why we chose Dinnerly: Low prices combined with a decent variety of nutritious recipes each week ensured Dinnerly would have a spot on our list. Now Blue Apron isn't just known for gourmet meals that are fun to cook -- but also huge savings. Savings also include free shipping on that first order, as well as additional savings across your next four deliveries.
Blue Apron offers an impressive selection of meals to choose from, with more than 70 recipes to browse each week. This includes low-calorie or less , diabetes-friendly thanks to a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association , WW-approved formerly Weight Watchers , and vegetarian choices.
You can also find recipes that fit into the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. Blue Apron also comes with some noteworthy add-ons and features. Another perk that may sit outside your food budget is Blue Apron's unique wine pairing service.
We looked at these and other perks during an extensive Blue Apron review. Thankfully, you can still save big by sticking to the no-frills weekly plan. And hey, if you want to splurge on some of Blue Apron's premium services once in a while, who are we to stop you? You deserve it!
Blue Apron also makes it easy to pause services or skip a week. This kind of flexibility is key when it comes to long-term savings on your food budget. Why we highlighted Blue Apron: Blue Apron is a popular meal kit known for fun and unique recipes with affordable prices that really sealed the deal for this delivery service in our books.
If you want prepackaged meals that cut out prep entirely, Fresh N Lean would make for the perfect addition to your weekly routine. This meal delivery service hooks subscribers up with ready-made meals that are fresh, never frozen, and made from quality ingredients. With over menu items to choose from each week, Fresh N Lean wins points for variety.
This includes a number of low carb, vegan, and gluten-free meals to consider on a weekly basis. While not USDA-certified, this company does aim to ship organic ingredients whenever possible.
In the event that an ingredient doesn't meet the brand's quality standards, it may be replaced with conventional ingredients. Why we chose Fresh N Lean: Fresh N Lean is a great meal delivery service to turn to for budget-friendly, fully prepared meals -- especially if you order enough meals to earn free shipping each week.
Do you like healthy fruit smoothies for breakfast? What about harvest grain bowls or soups for lunch? If you started salivating at the mention of even one of those options, then Daily Harvest is the meal delivery service for you.
With a menu packed full of whole fruits and vegetables, Daily Harvest is great for finding the perfect meal for breakfast or lunch. There are more than 20 unique, flavorful, and nutritionally-packed smoothies to choose from including the dragon fruit and lychee smoothie, pineapple and Matcha, and our personal favorite : the strawberry and peach smoothie.
Don't worry, there are plenty of dinner options to consider here as well. Daily Harvest's menu includes hearty soups, forager bowls, flatbreads, and pasta recipes -- so there's truly something for everyone here.
Deliveries are put together one item at a time, so you have the freedom to build your own meal plan each week. Pick anywhere from nine to 24 items each week. Why we highlighted Daily Harvest: Despite smoothie prices that are higher than you expect, Daily Harvest is still a top contender for healthy meals and treats on a budget, especially if you're interested in the variety of breakfast and lunch options here.
Admit it: It's a bit of a flex to have a delicious, homemade meal ready and waiting multiple nights throughout the week. It takes time and a bit of planning to pull this off, especially if you're cooking for a busy family.
And that's not even factoring in high prices that come with eating out. If you live in New York City, for example, your food budget would likely benefit from a change to meal kit delivery. But wait -- we already know your next question: "With so many meal kits out there, how do I pick the best one?
Choosing the right meal kit for you comes down to a few things. In addition to hunting down the lowest prices per serving, you should always keep an eye out for added discounts.
First-time customers can typically find some level of savings right from the plan selection page. Instead of signing up for the first appealing price you see, shop around a bit to make sure there aren't other better deals waiting for you elsewhere.
Take into account factors such as portion sizes, number of meals per week, and any additional fees for shipping or customization. That note about shipping fees is worth mentioning again. It's not always easy to see how much a meal kit service charges for shipping until you get into the plan selection process.
In order to make the best selections possible, it's important to pull out all the stops when reviewing meal kit delivery services. We considered a number of factors when choosing the best meal kits for affordability and the biggest ones were:. Tom Horton is a resident health expert for CBS Essentials, with deep experience in topics ranging from chronic conditions to health-care devices to diet options.
He lives in upstate New York, and draws his power from local bookstores, long hikes on a sunny day, and his cat Sammy. Major appliances, laptops, tablets, smartwatches -- you'll likely find a good deal at Best Buy this weekend.
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It's super simple -- and once you try a meal kit delivery service, you may never go back. If you've been thinking about giving your three- to year old their own tablet, Amazon's kid-friendly options are on sale.
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Cheese related recalls spurred by listeria outbreak expands to foods sold by Amazon, Costco, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe's and Walmart. An official said he knew immediately that the hiker "had found something special.
The native U. reptile belongs to the largest freshwater turtle species in the world and has jaws that "can snap through bone. The gang was protected by a network of motorcycle taxis and minors who acted as lookouts, officials said.
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Elle King admitted to being "hammered" during a birthday tribute for Dolly Parton at the Grand Ole Opry. But Parton said to "forgive that and forget it. In an era dominated by digital dating, a growing number of singles are turning their backs on apps in favor of the time-honored tradition of matchmaking—a practice deeply rooted in various cultures for centuries.
More people on dating apps are being targeted by scammers using bots and artificial intelligence, according to experts. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress that Chinese hackers have positioned themselves to wreak havoc on U. CBS News cybersecurity expert Chris Krebs joins to assess the threat.
The Biden campaign says it's "incorporating a sophisticated security protocol" around use of TikTok. Some Gen Z workers are posting video of themselves being laid off in search of "likes," feedback and revenge.
Google has rolled out the full version of its next-generation AI chatbot, Gemini. It gives users the ability to have conversations with the tech giant's most powerful AI model to date.
Gizmodo reporter Maxwell Zeff joined CBS News to discuss the product. Humans are to blame, the report says. Satellite imagery from recent months shows Antarctica's A23a gradually heading north toward open water after breaking free from the ocean floor last November.
Iceberg researcher Dr. Andrew Meijers joins CBS News to discuss. Michael Mann sued after two conservative writers liked his work to acts of infamous child molester Jerry Sandusky. The warmest January on record was confirmed right after the world experienced its hottest year ever observed.
New gun safety measures are taking effect Tuesday in Michigan with changes to universal background checks, storage requirements and "red flag" laws.
Jordyn Hermani, a politics and culture reporter for MLive, joined CBS News to discuss the new laws. The year-old church leader is facing five charges, including for having rock and liquid forms of meth and driving without valid insurance, according to an arrest report. Portland police said that Haynes, 70, was in police custody at a local hospital as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Janette Becraft.
The third commercial station flight chartered by Houston-based Axiom Space ends with picture-perfect Atlantic Ocean splashdown. The spacecraft's instruments will study how Earth's oceans, atmosphere and land masses interact and how that interaction impacts climate change.
After multiple weather delays, the Ax-3 crew was cleared for undocking and return to Earth on Friday to close out an extended mission. About Here's where you can see it in April NASA estimates the biggest asteroid headed our way is between feet and 1, feet across.
When Tiffiney Crawford was found dead inside her van, authorities believed she might have taken her own life. But could she shoot herself twice in the head with her non-dominant hand?
We look back at the life and career of the longtime host of "Sunday Morning," and "one of the most enduring and most endearing" people in broadcasting. A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
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For happy wallets and heavy plates 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli Duration
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