Deliciously Cheap Recipes for Inflationary Times (2024)

Food price hikes have been hitting us hard…one measly bag of groceries can cost upwards of a hundred bucks. It’s time to take a hard look at our meal plan and cook smarter! Here are some of my best delicious but cheap recipes to get you started.

I walked out of Whole Foods yesterday with one grocery bag, and $89 less in my checking account. It’s getting crazy out there and something has to give. It’s hard to predict what’s going to skyrocket in price next ~ did you know that heavier foods like potatoes and celery are getting more expensive because they cost more to transport! Who knew?

I mean, when candy, kids cereal, and jello go up in price I’m not really that concerned…but when they come after my Grey Poupon, it’s war!

my favorite cheap recipes to fight inflation…

Mac and Cheese

There’s always macaroni in the pantry, and with this recipe you can mix and match the cheese ~ use up what you’ve got and you may find a new winning combo as well as a super budget friendly meal.

If you need to economize with cheaper, less flavorful cheeses, try spicing up your mac and cheese with a bit of mustard, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, diced jalapeño, Worcestershire sauce, or sriracha! Smoked cheese is often cheap and has tons of flavor payoff, as well.

Brothy Beans with Garlic Toast

Beans are a time honored inflation fighter, and a key part of the famous Blue Zone Diet that focuses on living past 100, so you can’t lose! If you’re concerned about the old ‘complete protein’ myth, don’t be, it’s been debunked. Beans are a fabulous source of protein all by themselves.

Quick Chili Oil Noodles

Asian style noodles are my latest dinner obsession and I’ll happily slurp them down with nothing but a few spoonfuls of chili oil and a runny egg. Asian inspired bowls like my Dan Dan Noodles and Weeknight Egg Roll Bowls are great ways to stretch meat protein.

Sheet Pan Tuna Melts

Tuna is cheap, low in calories, and full of healthy omega-3s. A stack of cans in your pantry will outlast any inflation cycle, too. If prices are still soaring this summer we’ll live on my fave Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Tuna.

The Best Stuffed Pepper Soup

This soup is so vibrant and delicious you’ll forget it’s so cheap to make. Soup is one of my favorite ways to reduce food waste. I make it a habit to make a pot of soup once a week to use up fresh produce in my fridge. As long as I’ve got stock or broth in the pantry and maybe a can of beans or tomatoes, I’m set.

Quiche Lorraine

Eggs for dinner is music to my ears. Not only are they easy, but they taste great and they’re cheap! In fact, unless you want to eat peanut butter for dinner, eggs are just about the cheapest form of protein out there. Quiches and frittatas are elegant, delicious, and the leftovers keep on giving.

Kale and Pancetta Pasta with Lemon and Garlic

Pasta is your friend when you’re trying to eke out one more dinner before heading back to the grocery store. As long as you have olive oil and garlic, you can make something amazing with what you have lying around, guaranteed. Just ask the Italians, they’ve been doing it for generations.