98 Cheap and Easy Foods to Make for Under 5 Bucks!

Food, Groceries, & Recipes • Author: Anna Newell Jones

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2012 and has been updated December 2019

The key to saving money with meals is to look for healthy foods that are versatile and nutritious. Think: peanut butter, oatmeal, canned beans, garbanzo beans, lentils, eggs, almonds, apples, bananas, grapes, fresh or frozen spinach, carrots, kale, canned tomatoes, chicken breasts, broccoli, onions, garlic, brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, nuts, tofu, and milk (almond, soy, rice or cow’s). With these staple items you’ll be able to make so many different, inexpensive meals!

Below you’ll find A TON of cheap and easy foods (and meal ideas) that are all under $5! Whatta’ need? Whatta’ need? Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or snack ideas? I’ve got you covered!

98 Cheap and Easy Meal Ideas to Make for Under $5…

CHEAP AND EASY BREAKFAST FOODS FOR UNDER $5

Quick Tip: Making Breakfast for Dinner is always a great money-saver!

1. Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal

2. Bowl of Cereal

3. Breakfast Burrito

4. Chocolate-Chip or Blueberry Pancakes – Add a few handfuls of chocolate chips or blueberries to your pancake batter

5. Cranberry and Raisin Oatmeal – Toss in sweetened cranberries and raisins to your old-fashioned store-brand oats

6. Crepes!– If you choose sweet or savory you can’t go wrong. These crepes are unbelievably easy to make and, trust me, no special pan is needed.

7. Egg Bake – Blend a dozen eggs with a splash of milk, a handful of cheese and diced peppers (or tomatoes). Pour the mixture into a 13” x 9” pan and bake at 350 degrees until cooked through which will be approximately 30 minutes.

8. French Toast

9. Fried Eggs and Buttered Toast

10. Fancy Frittata – 1 potato, 5 eggs, chop any available veggies from your fridge (squash, carrots, squash, kale, green peppers, spinach, etc.), add 1 diced onion, and a little cheese. Slice the potato into really thin slices and layer them along the bottom of a pie plate that has been rubbed on the bottom and sides with olive oil. Next, layer the veggies on top of the potato slices. Beat the eggs really well and pour on top and sprinkle with cheese (optional). Bake for approximately 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

11. Frozen Banana Smoothie – I used to make these frozen banana smoothies all the time as a kid. It is also a great way to extend the life of your bananas if they are about to go bad. Peel the skin off the banana, wrap in cellophane, freeze, put in blender with 1 1/2 cups of milk (almond, soy, rice, cow’s- they all work the same), add a teaspoon of vanilla and blend until smooth. Add more milk to change the consistency based on your preferences.

12. Fun Fruit Salad – Slice strawberries, apples, blueberries (and any other on-sale fruits), and stir together for an easy and fresh meal. Quick tip: avoid bananas since they go brown quickly and they also get slimy.

13. Oatmeal Muffins– Super versatile. Can’t go wrong with these bad boys.

14. Pancakes

15. Peanut butter and Jelly Oatmeal

16. Scrambled Tofu with Buttered Toast – Drain extra firm tofu, break apart with the end of a spatula, add 2 teaspoons of turmeric, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir frequently until browned.

17. Smoothies– And more great smoothie recipes.

18. Spinach and Feta Cheese Omelette – Mix 3 eggs well with a splash of milk and a handful of well-washed spinach, pour into a lightly buttered pan, cook well, and fold in a 2 tablespoons of feta cheese.

CHEAP AND EASY SNACKS FOR UNDER $5

19. Apple Slices with Peanut Butter

20. Handful o’ Nuts – Almonds, walnuts, pecans

21. Hummus and Vegetables – Store-brand hummus or homemade with sliced carrots, celery, broccoli, and or pita bread.

22. Nachos – Layer store-brand corn tortilla chips onto a microwave plate, sprinkle with cheddar cheese, heat in microwave until cheese is melted.

23. Stove-Popped Popcorn

24. Yogurt with Toasted Oatmeal

CHEAP AND EASY LUNCHES AND DINNERS FOR UNDER $5. These are perfect Weeknight Dinner Ideas!

25. Almost Lasagna

26. Beet, Goat Cheese, Arugula and Walnut Salad

27. Black Bean and Cheese Tacos

28. Black Bean Burger

29. BLT Sandwich

30. Chicken (or Tofu) Lettuce Wraps

31. Chickpea-Squash Crockpot Curry

32 .Couscous Salad with Grapes and Feta

33. Easy Balsamic Chicken

34. Easy-Peasy Baked Potatoes – Use the tines of a fork to create the zig-zag pattern down the center of the potato then squeeze the ends towards the center so the center busts out. Microwave for 8 minutes. Let cool and top with sour cream, cheese, broccoli, or whatever your heart desires.

35.Five-Can Soup – 1 can tomatoes, 1 can of chili (vegetarian works too!) with beans, 1 can whole kernel corn, 1 can vegetable beef soup (or vegetarian), 1 can of tomato soup. Combine all into one pot and heat until warm. Serve with corn chips or cornbread. (Really serious about your soup? Then you need this cookbook: Soup of the Day: 365 Recipes for Every Day of the Year. Now, that’s a lot of soup!)

36. French Onion Soup

37. Goulash – 2 cups of cooked elbow noodles, 2 cans of tomato soup,1 pound or less of hamburger (or faux-meat crumbles), and a squirt of ketchup. Cook noodles, brown hamburger, drain noodles, mix everything together and simmer in pan for 5-10 min.

38. Good ol’ Rice and Beans – Black beans cooked with garlic, cumin and a bit of salt spooned over rice. If you have cheese, salsa, cilantro or lime handy add for tastiness.

39. Grilled-Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup

40. Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich – Make your peanut butter and jelly sandwich like usual then butter the bread and grill in pan until the peanut butter gets gooey and delicious.

41. Grilled Salmon with Lemon and Asparagus Spears

42. Grilled Tofu Steak

43. Leftovers

44. Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions

45. Meatloaf

46. Mega MONSTER salad

47. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich – Classic.

48. Pear, Walnut, and Goat Cheese Salad

49. Pesto, Pear, and Swiss Sandwich on Wheat Toast – Toast your bread, spread a layer of pesto on each side, then pile sliced pear and swiss in the center.

50. Pinto Beans and Cornbread

51. Poor Man’s (or Woman’s ;) Soup – 1 large baking potato (or a few small red ones) cut into bite-size pieces, 1 or 2 cans of mushroom soup, add 1 or 2 cans of water, 1 can of carrots, 1 can of peas, 1 can of corn, 1 can of green beans, salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Cook on high for 3 hours in crock pot or until potatoes are done.

52. Potatoes! Mashed Potatoes, Potato Pancakes, and Shepard’s Pie

53. Pretty Perfect Pasta – Whatever whole-wheat pasta in on sale, diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, feta cheese and salt.

54. Quesadillas

55. Ramen with Veggies – Toss the salty packet of doom straight into the trash.

56. Refried Bean Tostadas

57. Rice, Black Beans, and Avocado – Simple. A scoop of beans, a scoop, or rice, sliced avocado and serve with a pan-warmed tortilla on the side.

58. Rigatoni with Roasted Sausage and Broccoli

59. Sliced-Bread Pizza – Put a couple of pieces of sliced bread onto an un-greased baking sheet, layer with marinara sauce, cheese and any vegetables from your fridge. If you have a broiler broil until the cheese melts (a few minutes at 350 degrees). Baking is fine too if you don’t have a broiler. It will cook quickly so keep a good eye on it.

60. Sloppy Joe’s

61. Spaghetti

62. Spicy-Peanut Noodles– Add hot sauce to taste.

63. Stuffed Shells

64. Tuna Salad in Pita or Wrap – 2 cans tuna in water, drained, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, mixed with a bit of garlic. If you like a little crunch, chop celery and include.

65. Vegan Red Lentil Stew

66. Vegetarian Lime and Cilantro Chili– Add lime and cilantro to taste.

67. Vegetarian Fried Rice – Cook rice, oil pan, add chopped or frozen veggies (whatever is on sale), mix with rice, and add soy sauce to taste.

68. Whole-Wheat Noodles with Butter and Melted Cheese – Instant Mug o’ Mac ‘n’ Cheese (microwave): 1/3 cup pasta (whole grain), 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese. (Found via Pinterest)

CHEAP AND EASY SIDE-DISHES FOR UNDER $5

69. Corn-on-the-Cob

70. Deviled Eggs

71. Double-Mushroom Bruschetta

72. Guacamole

73. Homemade Bread

74. Matzo Ball Soup– Great for when you’re sick or need to be warmed up!

75. Miso Soup – Use whatever vegetables you have in your fridge: carrots, peppers, onions, zucchini, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tofu, squash, even pumpkin!

76. Parmesan Garlic Knots – Get in ma’ belly

77. Pumpkin Molasses Bread

78. Sweet Potato Fries

79. Tomato, Black Olive, Onion, and Feta Cheese Salad – Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette

80. Ultra-Crispy Roast Potatoes

CHEAP AND EASY DESSERTS FOR UNDER $5

81. Baked Fruit

82. Choco-Coconut Granola

83. Chocolate Caramel Crunchers

84. Chocolate “Crack” Bark

85. Chocolate Fudge with Pretzels

86. Graham Creams

87. Ice-Cream Sundaes

88. Mango Lassi

89. No-Bake Cookies

90. Orange Julius– I made this all the time as a kid. It’s the perfect thing to make if you’re in the mood for something sweet, cold, and packed full of sugar.

91. Peanut Butter Bars

92. Peanut Butter + Marshmallow Cookies (Gluten-free)

93. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

94. Puppy Chow / Muddy Buddies

95. Rice Krispie Treats

96. Six-Minute Caramels

97. Stove-top Hot Chocolate AKA Old-Fashioned Hot Chocolate

98. Sugar Cookies

Hopefully this list will be a list you can refer to when you are stuck for something easy, and healthy (desserts don’t count;) to make!

What are your cheap and easy go-to recipes?

image (without text) by giovana milanezi