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    Home » Recipes » 150 Dirt Cheap Recipes for When You Are Really Broke

    150 Dirt Cheap Recipes for When You Are Really Broke

    Published: Jan 14, 2020 · Modified: May 23, 2023 by Stephy 14 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    38.9K shares

    Eat well on a budget with these dirt cheap recipes. There are frugal meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

    dirt cheap recipes

    Whether you’re a student on a tight budget, a busy parent looking to reduce household costs, or simply someone passionate about saving money without sacrificing the joy of good food, these budget-friendly recipes will leave your stomach and wallet full.

    From refreshing breakfast options to energizing lunchtime staples and hearty dinners, these cheap and easy meals are guaranteed to provide balanced nutrition while keeping your grocery expenses to a minimum.

    Breakfast Dirt Cheap Recipes

    cheap breakfast recipes
    1. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmeal from Seduction in the Kitchen
    2. Baked Eggs in Tomato Cups from Diethood
    3. Fried Egg Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Great Grub Delicious Treats
    4. Roasted Apples from Cooking in Stilettos
    5. Cheesy Egg Baked Toast from Crazy Adventures in Parenting
    6. Freezer Breakfast Burritos from Budget Bytes
    7. Omelette from RecipeTin Eats
    8. Easy Homemade Biscuits from Sugar Spun Run
    9. Easy French Toast from Simply Recipes
    10. Simple Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits from Simply Sissom
    11. Easy Three Ingredient Healthy Muffins from Savvy Saving Couple
    12. Scrambled Egg Muffins from Allrecipes
    13. Breakfast Quesadillas from Tastes Better From Scratch
    14. Egg in a Hole from Allrecipes
    15. Ham and Egg Cups from Our Table of Seven
    16. Mexican Egg Scramble from The Cozy Cook
    17. Basic Crepes from Allrecipes
    18. Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole from Family Fresh Meals
    19. Breakfast Casserole from Kevin and Amanda
    20. Breakfast Grits from Allrecipes
    21. Tomato Cheese Toast from Eat Good 4 Life
    22. Breakfast Cookies from A Big Man’s World
    23. Flourless 3 Ingredient Pancakes from Chocolate Covered Katie
    24. Fried Cornmeal Mush from Allrecipes
    25. Classic Waffles from I Wash You Dry
    26. Homemade Cereal Bars from Healthy Food for Living
    27. Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal from Delish
    28. Apple Toast from Allrecipes
    29. Scrambled Egg and Cheese Bagel from My Recipes
    30. Scrambled Egg Muffins from Allrecipes
    31. Sausage and Egg Breakfast Pizza from Betty Crocker
    32. Frittias from Budget Bytes
    33. Hash Browns from All Recipes
    34. Easy Homemade Yogurt from Wellness Mama

      Lunch Dirt Cheap Recipes

    35. PB & J Banana Sandwiches from Delish
    36. Fried Egg Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Great Grub Delicious Treats
    37. Fried Bologna Sandwiches from Food.com
    38. Three-Ingredient Tomato Sandwich from Cup of Jo
    39. Caramelized Banana and Peanut Butter Quesadillas from Budget Bytes
    40. Apple and Peanut Butter Wrap from Ready Set Eat
    41. Peanut Butter Banana + Honey Roll Ups from Nutrition Experts
    42. Egg & Tomato Sandwich from Food.com
    43. Classic BLT Sandwich from Through Her Looking Glass
    44. Chicken Salad Spread from Allrecipes
    45. Bagel, Cucumber, Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Sandwich from Food.com
    46. Leftover Stuffing Muffins from Budget Bytes
    47. Classic Tuna Salad from Dinner, Then Dessert
    48. Stuffed Pepper Tuna Melts from Kirbie’s Cravings
    49. Black Bean Burger from Allrecipes
    50. 3 Ingredient Black Bean Soup from Honey and Birch
    51. Egg Salad Sandwiches from Allrecipes
    52. Tuna Melts from Allrecipes
    53. 3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes from Eating on a Dime
    54. 3 Ingredient Tomato Soup from Inspired Taste
    55. Easy Taco Lettuce Wrap from The Girl Who Ate Everything

      Dinner Dirt Cheap Recipes

      Mexican Dinner Ideas

    56. Bean Burritos from Taste of Home
    57. Poor Man’s Burrito Bowl from Budget Bytes
    58. 10 Minute Oven Baked Tostados from Yellow Bliss Road
    59. Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas from Dashing Dish
    60. 5 Ingredient Beef Enchiladas from Southern Bite
    61. Creamy Black Bean Taquitos from Budget Bytes
    62. Chicken Quesadillas from The Spruce Eats
    63. Salsa Chicken from Gimme Some Oven
    64. One Pan Crack Bean Burritos from Heather Likes Food
    65. Mexican Rice and Beans from Simple Green Moms
    66. Paprika Chicken from Allrecipes

      Italian & Asian Dinner Ideas

    67. Spaghetti and Meat Sauce from Ready Set Eat
    68. French Bread Pizza from Budget Bytes
    69. 5-Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Pasta from Two Peas and Their Pod
    70. Butter Noodles from Foodie Crush
    71. 3 Ingredient Ravioli Bake from Instrupix
    72. Stuffed Bell Peppers from Creme De La Crumb
    73. English Muffin Pizzas from Allrecipes
    74. 3 Ingredient Creamy Tomato Angel Hair Pasta from The Comfort of Cooking
    75. Texas Toast Pizza from Crafty Morning
    76. 3-Ingredient Italian Chicken from Pillsbury
    77. Parmesan Garlic Spaghetti from Damn Delicious
    78. Garlic Chicken from Allrecipes
    79. Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches from Home Cooking Memories
    80. Pasta with 5 Ingredient Butter Tomato Sauce from Budget Bytes
    81. Italian Mac and Cheese from Popsugar
    82. Crispy Baked Tofu from Cookie and Kate
    83. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles from The Salty Marshmallow
    84. Easy Fried Rice from The Country Cook

      American Dinner Ideas

    85. Chili Cheese Hot Dog Bake from My Incredible Recipes
    86. Broccoli and Cheese Potatoes from Budget Bytes
    87. Hamburger Casserole from Tried and Tasty
    88. Beans ‘N Franks from Allrecipes
    89. Two Ingredient Crispy Oven Baked BBQ Chicken from Bowl of Delicious
    90. Cheesy Chili Spaghetti from The Hungry Hedgehog
    91. Ground Beef and Potato Casserole from A Taste of Madness
    92. Grandma’s Salmon Patties from The Farmwife Cooks
    93. Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet from Budget Bytes
    94. Ham and White Beans from Plain Chicken
    95. Chicken and Stuffing Casserole from Prudent Penny Pincher
    96. Tuna Casserole from Allrecipes
    97. Chili Dog Biscuit Casserole from The Salty Marshmallow
    98. Hamburger and Potato Casserole from South Your Mouth
    99. Butter Chicken from Allrecipes
    100. Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheesy Rice Casserole from Allrecipes
    101. Mac and Cheese from Sweetest Kitchen
    102. Black Beans and Rice from Allrecipes
    103. 5 Ingredient Chili from Gimme Some Oven
    104. Easy Chicken Parmesan from Crazy for Crust
    105. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings from Allrecipes
    106. Tater Tot Bake from Allrecipes
    107. Easy Shepherd’s Pie from Prudent Penny Pincher

      Side Dish Dirt Cheap Recipes

    108. Oven Fries from Taste of Home
    109. Skillet Green Beans from Healthy Seasonal Recipes
    110. Pan Roasted Corn from Ready Set Eat
    111. Simple Sheet Pan Roasted Carrots from The Chunky Chef
    112. Classic Potato Pancakes from COOKTORIA
    113. Homemade Cornbread from Budget Bytes
    114. Roasted Cabbage Slices from Wellness Mama
    115. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries from Cookie and Kate
    116. Buttery Cooked Carrots from Allrecipes
    117. Homemade French Bread from The Frugal Girls
    118. Corn on the Cob from Spicy Southern Kitchen
    119. Southern Fried Apples from Divas Can Cook
    120. Crispy Roasted Potatoes from Gimme Some Oven
    121. Seasoned Rice from Budget Bytes

      Snack Dirt Cheap Recipes

    122. Perfect Stovetop Popcorn from Simply Recipes
    123. Pan Fried Cinnamon Bananas from Dizzy Busy and Hungry
    124. Baked Cinnamon Banana Chips from Popsugar
    125. 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Oat Squares from Listotic
    126. Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips from Budget Bytes
    127. 2-Ingredient Banana and Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bites from The Baker Mama
    128. Healthy Three-Ingredient Rice Krispie Treats from The Big Man’s World
    129. Homemade Potato Chips from As Easy As Apple Pie
    130. Simple Strawberry Smoothie from A Spicy Perspective
    131. Homemade Applesauce from The Forked Spoon
    132. Apple Nachos with Peanut Butter and Chocolate from Trial and Eater
    133. Homemade Hummus from Allrecipes
    134. Homemade 3 Ingredient Guacamole from Pillsbury
    135. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars from Budget Bytes

      Dessert Dirt Cheap Recipes

    136. 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies from Yummy Supper
    137. Grandma’s Bread Pudding from Live Well Bake Often
    138. Easy Apple Crisp from Land O Lakes
    139. Banana Bread from Simply Recipes
    140. Vanilla Pudding from Allrecipes
    141. Easy Sugar Cookies from Spend with Pennies
    142. Classic Peanut Butter Cookies from Allrecipes
    143. 3 Ingredient Desserts from Prudent Penny Pincher
    144. Peach Cobbler from Life in the Lofthouse
    145. Oatmeal Muffins from Allrecipes
    146. 3 Ingredient Butter Cookies from Cup of Jo
    147. Brownies from Good Cheap Eats
    148. Creamy Rice Pudding from Allrecipes
    149. Peanut Butter Fudge from Food.com

    Do you have a dirt cheap recipe that you would like to share? Please let me know in the comments!


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    38.9K shares

    Comments

    1. Anna Spooner says

      May 20, 2023 at 5:02 pm

      A lot of these links don’t work anymore — I think it’s time to update this list.

      Reply
    2. Amanda Geering says

      March 13, 2023 at 2:13 pm

      Your creative posts are so inspiring, I really love how down to earth you are with your writing and cooking style!

      Reply
    3. Capt Alan Deutschmann says

      November 15, 2022 at 2:05 pm

      Capt Stephy
      Like your 150 Recipes

      I was thinking this morning.
      The food banks that give away boxes of food should put your CD in every box!!!

      A old proverb: Teach him to fish and ……………………….

      Another tip from Uncle Alan

      Reply
    4. Heather Boyce says

      August 07, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      Any recipe with parmesan cheese is not inexpensive.

      Reply
      • prudentpennypincher.com says

        August 07, 2022 at 6:47 pm

        Hi Heather,

        You can get parmesan cheese shredded or grated for under $2 at Walmart or even ALDI. Of course, this varies by state, but I’m in the US south, and it’s as cheap as any other cheese here.

        Hope that helps,
        Stephy

        Reply
    5. Teresa Martin says

      November 04, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      One of my favorite side dishes is what I call Tex-Mex mac and cheese. Use jarred chili con queso (I like Tostitos) instead of regular cheese sauce. Guaranteed to knock your socks off. I also make a cheap mac and cheese dish using either hamburger or tuna. Boil the noodles from the cheap kind of boxed mac and cheese. Add meat, cream of mushroom soup and cheese packet. Then add milk a little at a time til you get the right consistency. Heat to boiling and serve. I don’t like hot tuna, but I love this.

      Reply
    6. Tytania says

      February 15, 2019 at 12:36 pm

      Thanks for these ideas, friend! I’m really broke this month… When I can’t make ends meet, some of my favourite budget recipes are tabbouleh salad, corn chowder, butternut squash risotto or chicken wings paella.

      This is my recipes blog:

      http://micocinitadejuguete.blogspot.com

      Reply
    7. Samantha Jackson says

      December 08, 2018 at 12:08 am

      I’m surprised there weren’t too many casserole dishes on this list. Every time I’m poor I literally just bake a leftover casserole. It uses up the majority of my leftovers so I’m saving my money:)

      Reply
    8. Kelley says

      September 07, 2018 at 1:42 pm

      BBQ chicken cornbread bake. You can use either leftover chicken if you have enough or just boil some & then save broth to make chicken soup for another meal. Shred cooked chicken combine with bbq sauce put in med size baking dish. Make cornbread mix. Sometimes I add mild cheddar cheese or small can of corn. Pour over bbq chicken bake till cornbread is fully cooked serve with a side salad. A 9 by 13 pan can feed up to 4/6 depending how big an eater they are.

      Reply
    9. Vanessa says

      July 03, 2018 at 2:22 pm

      This is a good list! I like that there are dessert ideas too!

      Reply
    10. Sue Stoppard says

      June 17, 2017 at 9:13 am

      An English staple egg and chips and peas….a fried egg any way you like serve with some french fries on the side and some drained heated canned green peas. I usually top with ketchup.

      Reply
      • prudentpennypincher.com says

        June 17, 2017 at 9:41 am

        Oh yum! That sounds like a cheap and easy recipe. I will have to try that sometime! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂

        Reply
      • bhurg says

        September 24, 2019 at 7:33 pm

        Ewww! Ketchup on eggs? No!

        Reply
        • Joe Mama says

          October 15, 2021 at 5:44 am

          Listen, who cares if you like it? Keep your childish comments to yourself

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    Hi, I'm Stephy! I am the owner of Prudent Penny Pincher. I have been an author, content developer, and professional blogger for seven years. Prudent Penny Pincher explores ways to save money in daily life with a particular focus on DIY projects, crafts, and budget-friendly recipes while sharing helpful frugal tips along the way.

    More About Me →

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