20 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes for Easy Weeknight Meals

To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 milligrams of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a mentioned few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end. We pulled together 30 of our favorite recipes for when you’re feeling crunched for time and money.

Salmon with Spinach & White Beans

Serve this over simple air fried vegetables, letting them soak up the extra sauce in place of grains. Fighting high prices can make grocery shopping feel like an Olympic sport. Here’s the inside scoop on how to save money on groceries.

The combination of cheese, sauce, and pasta creates a warm and comforting dish that’s hard to resist. Adding chicken to the mix elevates the meal without breaking the bank, making it a practical choice for families seeking a hearty and easy-to-prepare meal. Experience the rich flavors of Louisiana Red Beans & Rice with this effortless one-pot recipe, reimagined to cater to vegan and gluten-free diets. This dish is packed with deep smoky and spicy notes, paired with wholesome brown https://recipes.heart.org/en/ or white rice, kidney beans, and an assortment of veggies.

Steak & New Potato Toss

We also provide time-saving ideas in the preparation and storage. You only need 20 minutes and $12.60 worth of groceries to pull off our chicken and pasta dinner for six. 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. 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.

Healthy Baked Apple Oatmeal

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with this entomatadas recipe, reminiscent of a Mexican take on grilled cheese and tomato soup. This delectable dish is perfect for a speedy and budget-friendly breakfast or lunch option that will satisfy your cravings. This scrumptious Fried Cabbage with Bacon (or bacon bits) serves as a lightning-fast and effortless side dish or main course option. Boasting a low-carb profile, it’s an excellent addition to the keto-friendly repertoire in my collection, making it an ideal accompaniment for any family gathering.

Day 4

What’s more, it’s free from common allergens, oil, and still delivers a satisfying, comforting meal without the need for meat. This simple, flavorful weeknight dinner puts ground turkey, a relatively inexpensive lean protein, front and center. Melissa Clark recommends serving this over rice for a more substantial meal, or lettuce for something lighter — but there’s no reason you can’t do both. Some commenters have gone even one step further, adding sugar snap peas and cucumber. At the end of the day, cheap meals are all about making smart choices, NOT sacrificing flavor or nutrition.

Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon

We love the Tex-Mex spices here; the chili powder and cayenne add a nice kick (but feel free to go lighter on them if you’re sensitive to heat!). A stir fry is our go-to weeknight dinner when we just don’t have the energy to spend a long time in the kitchen—this recipe is no exception. Make it as is, then use it as a jumping-off point to create your perfect chicken stir-fry. And if you’re looking for an easy way to keep track of your entire budget—and all the savings you’ll rack up when you try out these meals—check out the EveryDollar app. With EveryDollar, you’ll plan how you spend and save money each month, so you’ll never have to wonder where all your money is going. It’s super helpful when you’re keeping track of grocery spending.

Sear the seasoned beef to perfection, then sauté some onions and garlic for a touch of fragrance. Toss everything into the slow cooker, and let it simmer until dinnertime. While it cooks, whip up your favourite side dish – mashed potatoes, tagliatelle, or fluffy rice – to complete this satisfying meal. Mastering delicious and healthy cooking doesn’t require a fortune!

Fresh and Flavorful Throw-Together Salads

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. If you’re craving a takeaway treat but don’t want to spend the extra cash, try this slow cooker chicken tikka masala to bring the curry house to you. Freeze your leftovers for a fuss-free dinner option later in the week. The best way to save money for your meals is to make them yourself, from scratch. Plenty of these dishes are casual, fancy, and everywhere in between. So you can prepare a beautiful and tasty plate no matter the occasion.

With a little planning and creativity, you can eat healthy on a budget and enjoy a lifetime of optimal health and vitality. When it comes to affordable healthy eating, one of the biggest misconceptions is that healthy food has to be expensive. There are many affordable alternatives to expensive healthy food options that can be just as nutritious and delicious. For example, instead of buying organic produce, consider buying seasonal and locally sourced produce, which is often cheaper and just as nutritious.

Sausage Sweet Potato Sheet-Pan Dinner

  • Indulge in the delightful fusion of flavors with this entomatadas recipe, which seamlessly combines the coziness of a Mexican-inspired take on grilled cheese and tomato soup.
  • It’s best served in a bun or with rice – a satisfyingly simple summer meal for the family.
  • Thank you for taking the time to write a review—I always love reading your comments.
  • Serve them over a bed of rice with a creamy yogurt sauce, or even sandwich them in a bun along with some slaw.
  • Chicken Fusilli Pasta is made with only 6 affordable ingredients.
  • But carrots, potatoes and kale add a welcome heft in this deeply flavorful vegetarian soup.

Build a habit of sticking to your list, shopping with purpose, and stocking up when sales hit. Before you know it, your pantry will be prepped for greatness without blowing your budget. When grocery prices spiked a couple of years ago, I found myself getting more creative than ever in the kitchen.

Homemade Spaghetti O’s (Allergy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Red curry paste, which gives it a little kick and a lot of depth. This recipe from Zaynab Issa is one of those unicorn dishes that everyone in my family gets excited about. Ground beef — seasoned with turmeric, onion, salt and pepper — gets hard-seared on one side and then combined with walnuts and raisins.

Sheet-Pan Harissa Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

cheap healthy meals

Instead of depriving yourself and feeling famished for several (miserable) hours, why not fuel your body and mind with something nutritious and delicious? In fact, reaching for healthy snacks in between meals can actually prevent overeating! But while they might be good for you, they certainly don’t skimp on flavor! Whether it’s fruity smoothies, crunchy snack mixes, or veggie-packed baked goods, each of these ideas will make your taste buds dance.