When I moved out on my own for the first time, I had a hard time cooking for myself on a budget. I often overspent on groceries and still struggled to figure out what to eat. After discovering budget grocery shopping YouTubers like Frugal Fit Mom, I realized the haphazard way I was grocery shopping was killing my budget.
I walked into the supermarket without a clear meal plan or list of ingredients I wanted to buy. Essentially, I tossed whatever looked good into my cart, which left me with a bunch of food that didn’t go together. I couldn’t cook complete meals even though I was going over budget frequently.
Luckily I was able to turn things around by creating a detailed meal plan every week. I figured out what to cook for breakfast, lunch, and dinner by finding cheap recipes online. Then I made a list of the ingredients I needed before heading to the store and tried my best to stick to it. This strategy helped me avoid impulse buys and finally stick to my food budget successfully.
There are lots of budget recipes floating around on the internet, but the taste can be hit or miss. To help you make affordable meals that are actually delicious, I thought I’d share five of my favorite budget recipe websites below.
Top 5 Budget-Friendly Recipe Websites
Reddit Forums
Believe it or not, Reddit is a great source of healthy budget recipes. On the forum Cheap Meals, I’ve found delicious recipes to add to my rotation such as Lebanese stuffed onions and aloo gobi. Cheap Meals also has lots of recipes that utilize affordable cuts of meat, such as this pork adobo recipe that calls for pork shoulder (although I’ve never made it because I’m a vegetarian).
Another Reddit forum I frequent is Eat Cheap and Healthy, which has helped me put together nutritious meals on a budget. It’s full of tips and advice like this great post from a professional chef on grocery shopping hacks. Thanks to this forum I also learned how to make my own pasta and flour tortillas from scratch, which has saved me a bundle.
Lastly, don’t forget to check out a forum called What Should I Cook, especially if you’re in the middle of a pantry challenge. All you have to do is post a picture or list of what’s in your fridge and pantry and members will give you meal suggestions. This forum is a lifesaver if you have a bunch of veggies or pantry staples that are about to go bad and need ideas on how to use them up to avoid food waste.
Budget Bytes
Budget Bytes is one of my favorite recipe websites on the internet. It has a wide selection of recipes for all kinds of special diets including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. The Budget Bytes website also has sections devoted to meal prep, quick recipes, meals under $10, and one-pot recipes so you don’t have to do a bunch of dishes. Every recipe includes the cost for the whole meal and each serving, which is super helpful if you’re trying to stick to a strict grocery budget.
Joshua Weissman on YouTube
If you’re more of a visual learner and prefer to watch cooking shows rather than read recipe blogs, check out Joshua Weissman’s YouTube channel. His But Cheaper series features tasty recipes like $1 healthy rice bowls, $2 quesadillas, $2 gourmet burgers, and more. He also has a series called But Faster that can help you cook your favorite takeout meals like butter chicken and orange chicken faster than delivery can make it to your door. Once you master these recipes, you’ll never want to order in again!
Pioneer Woman
The Pioneer Woman’s TV show and website are two of my favorite places to find cheap, comforting recipes when I need an affordable treat. Ree will teach you how to make classic southern-style foods at home such as fried pickles, potato salad, fried green tomatoes, chicken spaghetti, and more. Just make sure not to indulge too often because these recipes aren’t the healthiest!
Frugal Fit Mom on YouTube
I saved the best for last—Frugal Fit Mom on YouTube. Christine has a big family and manages to feed everyone for just $400 per month. She makes videos on clearance grocery shopping tips and budget-friendly recipes even kids will enjoy, such as these easy sheet pan dinners. I learned a lot about meal planning and saving money at the grocery store just by watching her entertaining videos. She has a great sense of humor, so her channel is a joy to watch!
What are your favorite places to find budget-friendly recipes? Let me know in the comments section below!
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
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