17 Recipes You Didn’t Realize Were This Cheap To Make At Home

Cooking at home does not have to be expensive, and these 17 recipes prove it. With simple ingredients and straightforward methods, each one shows how much you can save compared to eating out. Some meals bring comfort, others may surprise you, and a few will remind you of familiar favorites. As you scroll, you will see just how easy it is to make food that feels satisfying without stretching your budget.

A serving of creamy balsamic chicken skillet next to a serving of green salad. — Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad

An overhead shot of a wooden serving bowl filled with salad next to cornbread on a cutting board. — Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad is ready in about 35 minutes with grilled chicken, crisp vegetables, and a mustard-based dressing. Cooking the chicken yourself instead of buying prepared barbecue keeps the meal affordable. Fresh vegetables and pantry seasonings make it both budget-friendly and filling. It’s a great way to stretch one pound of chicken into a full dinner.
Get the Recipe: Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad

Chicken Shawarma Plate

Close up of chicken shawarma. — Chicken Shawarma Plate. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Chicken Shawarma Plate uses marinated chicken roasted or grilled in about 40 minutes and served with sides like hummus, rice, and pita. Making it yourself avoids the higher price of takeout versions. The spices are simple and often already on hand, which keeps costs low. Homemade shawarma plates can feed more people for the same price as a single restaurant order.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Shawarma Plate

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken is ready in about 30 minutes after a short marinating time. Chicken is one of the most budget-friendly proteins, and the sauce only needs pantry basics like mustard and syrup. Grilling locks in flavor without complicated steps. It’s quick, low-cost, and feels like summertime cooking.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce

A white plate with a serving of shredded meat topped with sauce and garnished with herbs, perfect for movie night snacks. A fork rests on top, and a blurred dish is in the background. — Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce simmers for several hours until tender and ready to shred. Buying a pork shoulder is one of the cheapest ways to feed a crowd, and the sauce uses basic condiments. The slow cooker does most of the work with little attention needed. It’s the kind of budget recipe that leaves leftovers for days.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce

Greek Quinoa Salad

Quinoa salad in a brown bowl, garnished with pita bread. — Greek Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Greek Quinoa Salad comes together in about 25 minutes with cooked quinoa, vegetables, beans, and cheese. The ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find, yet they make a large bowl that works as a meal or side. A homemade vinaigrette keeps it fresh without extra cost. It’s a recipe that stretches pantry basics into something that feels filling and fresh.
Get the Recipe: Greek Quinoa Salad

Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries

Pork chops with blackberry applesauce on a gray plate. — Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries takes about 45 minutes with oven-roasted pork and fruit cooked into sauce. Pork remains an affordable protein, while apples and berries can be bought fresh or frozen. The flavors feel seasonal and special without being costly. It’s a way to bring something different to the table without overspending.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries

One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner

Cooked seasoned pork surrounded by diced vegetables in a black skillet on a wooden table. — One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner is finished in about 30 minutes on the stovetop. Pork, bell peppers, and garlic create a colorful dish with simple ingredients. Cooking it all in one pan makes cleanup fast and stretches the value of the meal. It’s proof that weeknight dinners don’t need to cost much to be hearty.
Get the Recipe: One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Two bowls of butternut squash soup on a wooden table. — Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings takes just over an hour on the stovetop. The main ingredient is squash, which is inexpensive and makes plenty of soup. Adding dumplings stretches the meal further without spending much more. It’s a simple way to make a filling pot of soup from a few low-cost ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Easy Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Dumplings

Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

Cilantro lime chicken on a plate next to avocado and cilantro garnish. — Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice is a one-pan dinner that’s done in under an hour. Chicken simmers with rice and a creamy sauce that gets a boost from fresh lime and herbs. The ingredients are basic and inexpensive, but the end result feels complete. It’s a budget recipe that still comes across as a full, sit-down meal.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables takes about 90 minutes in the oven, using a whole chicken and simple seasonal vegetables. This type of meal is one of the cheapest ways to cook for several people at once. The roasting process brings out flavor without needing expensive extras. It’s a budget-friendly classic that feels timeless on the table.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Roasted cabbage steak topped with tomatoes, bacon, goat cheese, and more. — Roasted Cabbage Steaks. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Cabbage Steaks roast in the oven until the edges are crisp, taking about 30 minutes from start to finish. Thick slices of cabbage are brushed with bacon fat and topped with simple garnishes for extra flavor. It turns a low-cost vegetable into a hearty main dish that feels far more filling than expected. A side of bread or rice makes this stretch even further.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Grilled pork pieces with brown gravy served on a bed of mashed potatoes, presented on a decorative plate with a colorful floral pattern. A meal even the most picky eaters will enjoy, making moms' lives easier at dinnertime. — Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes cooks in about an hour with just a sheet pan and a few seasonings. Pork and potatoes are affordable staples that come together into a full dinner. The herbs add flavor without needing extra sauces or sides. It’s a no-frills dish that delivers both comfort and savings.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

Plate of basil pesto chicken with grilled tomatoes and avocado slices. — 20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado comes together quickly on the grill. Making pesto at home from basil, garlic, and oil is cheaper than buying store-bought sauces. Adding tomatoes and avocado turns it into a fresh dinner that still feels affordable. It’s the kind of meal that shows how fast and cheap homemade cooking can be.
Get the Recipe: 20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy

Gravy being poured over sausages and mashed potatoes. — Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy comes together in under an hour with sausages, mashed potatoes, and a quick stovetop gravy. Using pantry staples like potatoes and broth keeps the cost down while still making the meal feel special. The Guinness adds depth without needing pricey ingredients. It’s a comfort food classic that’s much less expensive when made at home than ordered out.
Get the Recipe: Bangers & Mash with Guinness Gravy

Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Grilled pork chops on a plate with oranges and limes. — Citrus Glazed Pork Chops. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Citrus Glazed Pork Chops sear in a skillet and finish with a quick glaze, making the whole dish ready in about 30 minutes. Pork chops are one of the most affordable proteins and need just a few ingredients to taste great. The glaze adds brightness without adding much cost. It’s the kind of dinner that looks fancy but is easy to afford.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Stuffed shells in a cast iron skillet. — Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta bake in the oven in under an hour. Pasta, cheese, and spinach are all inexpensive but come together to make a hearty dinner. The marinara keeps it simple without driving up the cost. A pan of shells easily feeds a family without stretching the budget.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta

Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet

Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet cooks in one pan in around 40 minutes with chicken, onions, and a sauce made from vinegar and cream. Nothing about the ingredients is costly, but the flavor is full and rich. Since it’s all cooked together, cleanup and extra sides are minimal. It feels like restaurant food but comes from a handful of budget staples.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet