With cost of living pressures really starting to bite, we’ve rounded up some budget dinner ideas to help you save money on the weekly grocery shop.
With clever mince creations, pantry staple savers, fresh takes on family favourites and more, you’re sure to find something delicious for dinner this week. And while these are budget dinner ideas, we haven’t compromised on flavour. Whether you have a family of five to feed, or you’re a student on a tight budget, these recipes will help ensure you cook wisely and eat well.
Shopping tips for budget dinner ideas
Compare prices between supermarkets. Buy staples when they’re priced well, and buy fruit and vegetables that are in-season. Shop at greengrocers and supermarkets that reduce remaining produce prices at the end of the day.
Look for fantastic markdowns on items like bread, meat and dairy goods as they near their use-by dates. Divide meat into 250g portions and freeze it. Or, cook it all at once to make a mega-quantity of one recipe then freeze that in meal-sized servings. Don’t be afraid of cooking in bulk. Thawing a meal when you’re too tired to cook is almost as much of a treat as eating out.
Chilli con carne
Tuna mornay
Mince & rice stuffed capsicums
Chicken & potato tray bake
Easy beef stroganoff
Chicken nibbles with chilli crunch potatoes
Julie Goodwin’s lemon & spinach risotto
Julie Goodwin’s quick orecchiette pasta
Julie Goodwin’s cheesy tuna cauliflower bake
Quesadillas with black beans & corn
Chicken satay skewers
Massaman-style coconut curried sausages
Pork larb with rice noodles
Sour cream and bacon potato cakes
Thai spicy lamb and noodle stir-fry
Spaghettini niçoise
Pork, sopressa and kale pesto pasta
Cheat’s minestrone with meatballs
Fresh pesto pasta
How to make salmon patties
Vegetarian bolognese
Slow cooker honey soy lamb chops
Pasta wintervera
Pasta al forno – Italian sausage pasta bake
Rosemary roasted sausages and tomato tray bake
Buttermilk mac ‘n’ cheese
Sticky apricot chicken with rainbow rice
Baked lamb chops with capsicum and tomato
Hearty bacon, lentil and vegetable soup
Lamb shank and barley soup
Chicken meatloaf
Chickpea mince curry
Savoury vegetable mince
Stir-fried beef and brown rice with carrot and cucumber pickle
