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Cheap Eats For Rent Week

When your budget is extra tight, these inexpensive meals are here to ensure your menu (and social life) doesn't have to suffer. Before you hop in, though, remember to check out my favorite posts on stretching your food budget like a boss:

How to Make a Food Budget That Works

  • Red graphic with a white and yellow egg with text overlay that reads "don't buy, DIY!!! 12 easy breakfast ideas so you can save $$$ and ditch the packaging for good."
    Don't Buy It, DIY It! 12 Budget-Friendly Breakfast Hacks So You Can Save $$$ and Ditch the Packaging for Good
  • colorful square graphic with text overlay that reads: dorm survival 101: meals and musings for incoming freshmen.
    Dorm Survival 101: Struggle Meals & Musings For Incoming Freshmen
  • square hero image with text that reads "how to combat grocery inflation: actionable tips to save $$$" with cartoon images of a piggy bank and grocery bag.
    How to Combat Inflation at the Grocery Store
  • square hero image of a woman putting a bunch of folded 100 dollar bills in her front pocket. Photo credit Sasun Bughdaryan.
    Surprising Secrets Revealed: 13+ Unconventional Ways & Places to Slash Your Grocery Bill

Holidays on a Budget

  • white bowl filled with greek yogurt mashed potatoes topped with chives.
    Healthy Mashed Potatoes With Greek Yogurt
  • overhead shot of people eating a huge holiday meal.
    Top 12 Tips For Hosting The Holidays On A Budget (Without Feeling Stressed)
  • Woman's hands holding a neutrally wrapped present. Photo by Superkitina.
    Made with Love: Thrifty & Thoughtful Homemade Gifts for Every Season
  • square hero shot of a red dutch oven filled with vegetable scraps, a chicken carcass, and water to make low-sodium vegetable or bone broth.
    How to Make Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth or Bone Broth for FREE
  • eggs in a carton with sad faces drawn on.
    21+ Egg Substitutes & Egg Replacements For Cooking, Baking, Breakfast, & More!
  • finished potato fennel gratin in a fluted pie dish with red silicone oven mitts on the side.
    Potato and Caramelized Fennel Gratin with Parmesan Cheese
  • square hero potato bar idea - sliced roasted potato bowls with chili and guacamole.
    Loaded Potato Bar Ideas: What To Serve With Baked Potatoes & Mashed Potatoes
  • completed maple harissa sweet potato tian with dukkah topping in a white casserole dish.
    Harissa Maple Sweet Potato Tian

Budget-Friendly Ways To Stretch Your Meat

  • square hero image of a bowl of red black bean chili with ground chicken.
    Easy, Spicy Black Bean Chicken Chili (No Cream Cheese!)
  • square hero of chorizo sausage and fried potato tacos.
    Spicy Potato Soft Tacos with Chorizo
  • instant pot split pea and ham soup in a white pasta bowl on a grey dinner plate with a smoked gouda and ham sandwich on sourdough, a gold spoon, a tan waffle knit napkin and a sparkling water on a grey slate table.
    Instant Pot Split Pea and Ham Soup
  • ham and swiss strata slice on a white plate with a green salad, gold fork, cup of coffee and breakfast casserole dish in the background.
    Make-Ahead Ham and Swiss Strata
  • square hero image of curried chicken divan made with campbell soup; a silver forkful has a broccoli floret, chicken cube, and crouton with curry sauce.
    Campbell's Broccoli & Curried Chicken Divan Casserole
  • square overhead hero of healthy Mediterranean white bean tuna dip in a bowl on top of a plate with saltines and crostini for serving.
    Healthy Tuna Dip With White Beans (No Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, or Mayo!)
  • overhead shot of two bowls of cheap and easy steak chili surrounded by fresh cilantro.
    Cheap and Easy Steak Chili
  • closeup shot of a bacon jam brussel sprout bite on a parchment-lined sheet tray.
    Charred Brussels Sprouts With Bourbon Bacon Jam

Takeout at Home

  • kung pao brussels sprouts in white pasta bowl on brown wood table with a black etched linen and embellished chopsticks.
    Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
  • overhead shot of a bowl of sesame garlic ramen noodles.
    Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles
  • square hero shot of Korean-inspired kimchi, gochujang, and BBQ pork fried rice.
    BBQ Pork Fried Rice With Kimchi & Gochujang
  • closeup shot of a bowl of copycat panera bread Mexican street corn chowder topped with fresh cilantro, roasted corn kernels, and hot sauce.
    Copycat Panera Mexican Street Corn Chowder Recipe
  • breakfast fried rice with chinese sausage plated in a white pasta bowl with a bottle of sriracha in the back ground and an orange, black and white patterned napkin and a hand taking a bite with a spork.
    Breakfast Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage
  • overhead shot of plated broccoli beef in a white pasta bowl with a black and white napkin, chopsticks.
    Easy Broccoli Beef
  • square overhead shot of a bowl of homemade chicken hibachi at home.
    Easy Hibachi At Home
  • close up of completed carls jr copycat santa fe chicken sandwich.
    Copycat Carl's Jr. Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich

Cheap Vegetarian Mains

  • square hero shot of wild mushroom tartine sliced in half on a grey plate with a fork and knife.
    Easy Mushroom Tartine With Spreadable Goat Cheese
  • square hero image of a pasta bowl filled with lemony zucchini linguine and garnished with mint and feta.
    Zucchini Linguine with Lemon, Feta, & Mint
  • close up of pan fried potato and cheese pierogi topped with sour cream and green onions.
    Caramelized Onion, Potato And Cheese Pierogi
  • overhead shot of a terracotta bowl filled with spicy mediterranean baked feta with tomatoes and chickpeas and a grey bowl filled with mini naan to the side.
    Mediterranean Baked Feta with Tomatoes, Onions and Chickpeas
  • square hero image of wedges of Trader Joe's style Taiwanese scallion pancakes cut into wedges.
    DIY Trader Joe’s Scallion Pancakes (Taiwanese-Style) 
  • poutine with mushroom gravy in a white pasta bowl with a gravy boat and a sage plant.
    Poutine with Sheet Pan Potato Wedges
  • flat lay shot of plated sheet pan cauliflower tikka masala.
    Easy Sheet Pan Cauliflower Tikka Masala
  • aloo gobi over cumin scented rice with wedges of toasted naan in a white pasta bowl.
    Sheet Pan Aloo Gobi
  • 3 eggplants on a table as hero image for spicy ginger soy eggplant stirfry. photo credit don ricardo.
    Spicy Ginger Soy Eggplant
  • overhead shot of vegetarian calabacitas pot pie slice in a blue plate.
    Vegetarian Calabacitas Pot Pie

Budget-Friendly Soup Recipes

  • square hero image of a black bowl of cauliflower potato leek soup topped with frizzled leeks, a thin stream of cream, and crushed chips on a white table.
    Cauliflower Potato Leek Soup
  • square hero image of roasted red pepper soup with gouda frico on a white table.
    Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Gouda Cheese Crisps
  • square hero image of broccoli bacon cheddar soup in a white bowl being grabbed by two hands that are wrapped to the knuckles in a grey sweater.
    Easy Bacon Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Panera Copycat!)
  • square hero shot of a bowl of sweet potato and corn vegetarian tom kha Thai soup.
    Vegetarian Tom Kha Soup With Corn & Sweet Potatoes

Inexpensive Meaty Mains

  • piece of chicken paillard speared on a fork with breadcrumbs showering down. Photo credit mae mu.
    Chicken Paillards a.k.a. Chicken Fingers for Adults
  • slices of roasted pork tenderloin with ginger raisin pan sauce over a bed of rice in a white bowl.
    Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Ginger Raisin Pan Sauce
  • flat lay shot of avocado tuna salad with a grey napkin and a bunch of cilantro in water.
    Spicy Avocado Tuna Salad
  • mediterranean chicken tostada with zhoug green rice.
    Mediterranean-Inspired Zhoug Chicken Tostadas
  • assembled turmeric rice and zhoug chicken bowls with a chopped salad and drizzle of tzatziki.
    Zhoug Chicken (or Steak) With Turmeric Rice & Mediterranean Chopped Salad
  • square hero image of a serving platter of 4 breasts of chicken limone garnished with sliced lemons and parsley.
    Easy Chicken al Limone (Italian Lemon Chicken)

Pantry Allstars

  • square image of salmon sweet potato cake served atop a toasted bun with lettuce and an action shot of flavored mayo being drizzled on top of the patty.
    Easy Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes (Quick Pantry Recipe)
  • square hero image of two hands grabbing a Dutch oven filled with pizza-flavored cheesy white bean tomato bake made with dried beans.
    Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake With Dried Butter Beans
  • close up shot of a portion of pasta with white clam sauce garnished with parmesan cheese and freshly cracked pepper in a white pasta bowl.
    Pantry Pasta: Linguini and Clams
  • square hero image of braised white beans and greens on toast on a white round plate with a silver fork, a small black bowl filled with parmesan cheese, and a skillet with the greens and beans mixture in the top of the frame.
    Brothy Italian White Beans & Greens Over Toast

Budget-Friendly Breakfast Recipes

  • Square hero image of a stack of banana oatmeal protein pancakes being drizzled with maple syrup.
    Oatmeal Banana Protein Pancakes with Cottage Cheese (Gluten-Free!)
  • square hero image of a white bowl of yogurt topped with homemade vanilla almond granola.
    Big-Batch Almond Vanilla Granola (Bulk Recipe)
  • square hero image of 5 flavors of Copycat Egglife Egg White Wraps fanned out on a wooden cutting board.
    Egglife Copycat Egg White Wraps Recipe (All 5 Flavors!)
  • square hero image of lemon blueberry cheesecake overnight oats in a small footed glass on a wood tray.
    High-Protein Berry Cheesecake Overnight Oats 
  • square hero image of a stack of healthy pumpkin protein pancakes made with oats and cottage cheese being drizzled with maple syrup.
    Easy Pumpkin Protein Pancakes (No Protein Powder!)
  • square flat lay shot of a bowl of cinnamon apple steel cut oats topped with a handful of pecans and a drizzle of cream on a white table with a few fall leaves.
    Baked Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats (One Pot Recipe!)
  • overhead shot of zucchini oats topped with cream and grain free granola.
    Zucchini Bread Oatmeal
  • closeup shot of costco and starbucks copycat keto egg bites with spinach, feta, and sun dried tomatoes.
    Instant Pot Costco Copycat Egg Bites (Three Flavors!)
  • Moist Banana & Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping
  • bowl of carrot cake oatmeal with a gold spoon.
    Carrot Cake Oatmeal
  • flat lay hero shot of pumpkin pie baked oatmeal in a pan.
    Easy Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal
  • square hero image of easy strawberry toast recipe assembled on a white plate with a bowl of fresh berries and a sprig of fresh mint in the top corners of the frame.
    Strawberry Toast With Mascarpone & Balsamic Reduction

Cheap Vegetarian Sides

  • overhead image of a cast iron skillet filled with fancy ratatouille.
    Ratatouille Style Ratatouille
  • closeup square image of roasted moroccan carrot salad.
    Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa & Preserved Lemon
  • closeup square hero image of spicy pineapple and watermelon salad.
    Spicy Pineapple Watermelon Salad With Jalapeños
  • Watermelon Salad With Feta and Herbs

Budget-Friendly Bakes

  • square hero image of a hand holding a banana pumpkin protein muffin.
    Protein-Packed Pumpkin Banana Muffins (No Protein Powder!)
  • square hero image of a banana blueberry oatmeal muffin with cinnamon oat streusel topping.
    Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins (Vegan & GF Options!) 
  • overhead shot of 5 muffins with a cup filled with walnuts.
    Healthy Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
  • overhead closeup shot of oat flour chocolate chip cookies on a crumpled parchment paper with a bowl of rolled oats.
    Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-Free!)
  • peanut butter chocolate chip cookie cake decorated with peanut butter chocolate buttercream and various reese's candies.
    Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Cake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting
  • square hero shot of eggless raspberry white chocolate loaf pound cake on a cutting board with a silver knife.
    Raspberry & White Chocolate Loaf Cake (No Eggs!)
  • dozen healthy whole wheat blueberry summer squash muffins on a cooling rack.
    Healthy Whole Wheat, Blueberry & Summer Squash Muffins
  • 9 slices of nut butter banana baked oatmeal on a white cutting board on a red and black buffalo plaid table.
    Make-Ahead Banana Nut Butter Baked Oatmeal

Quick & Easy Budget-Friendly Desserts

  • square hero image of a stack of 3 chocolate peanut butter rice krispies treats with a hand grabbing the top one from the stack.
    Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
  • square hero image of a fruity pebbles cereal bar showing trails of stretchy marshmallow.
    Fruity Pebbles Cereal Bars (a.k.a. Rainbow Rice Krispies Treats)
  • square hero shot of 4 scoops of chocolate chocolate chip ice cream in a waffle cone bowl with some parts melting into creamy yumminess.
    Easy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (No Cook, No Eggs!)
  • square closeup on the side view of cinnamon apple monkey bread drizzled with spiced salted caramel maple sauce before being pulled apart.
    Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread With Spiced Maple Caramel
  • square overhead hero of cream cheese apple dip.
    Cream Cheese Fruit Dip (Without Marshmallow Cream)
  • square hero image of 3 scoops of mint cookies and cream ice cream in a waffle cone bowl with a spring of mint and a whole oreo.
    Mint Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
  • square hero shot of a whipped cream and banana topped black bottom banana pudding cup with a taller banana pudding jar in the backdrop.
    Banana Pudding Cups with Chocolate Coffee Ganache
  • closeup shot of a scoop of vanilla and strawberry swirl ice cream.
    Easy Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream (No Egg Recipe!)
  • square hero image of a slice of no-bake strawberry cream cheese icebox cake on a white plate with a silver fork taking a bite out.
    Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake
  • square hero image of a mug of chocolate marshmallow ice cream served to look like hot chocolate.
    Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream (Egg-Free) 
  • square overhead hero image of a halloween s'mores board.
    Halloween S'mores Board
  • square hero image of healthy breakfast banana parfait with cool whip ice cream and fruity pebble sprinkles.
    Breakfast Banana Split Parfaits with Cool Whip Ice Cream
  • SQUARE closeup shot of 3 scoops of blue bell style oatmeal creme pie ice cream in. white bowl with some melting over the edge.
    Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream (No Eggs!)

Boxed Mix Baking Hacks

  • square closeup shot of a dessert plate with a serving of cake mix caramel apple cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of maple caramel sauce.
    Easy Caramel Apple Cobbler (Made With Cake Mix!) 
  • square hero of a single serving of fresh peach cobbler dump cake with cake mix and blueberries.
    Easy Peach Cobbler With Cake Mix & Blueberries
  • stack of 3 cakey chocolate cherry brownies on a white plate with fresh cherries.
    Easy Cherry Chocolate Brownie Recipe (With Cake Mix!)
  • two slices of jalapeno cheddar jiffy cornbread stacked atop one another on a white plat with fresh slices of jalapeno as garnish.
    Easy Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread With Jiffy Mix 
  • square hero image of a strawberry blueberry bisquick shortcake on a white table with a green houseplant blurred out in the right of the frame.
    Blueberry Strawberry Shortcakes With Biscuit Mix
  • closeup shot of boxed cake mix hack banana apricot upside down cake.
    Cake Mix Hack: Apricot Banana Upside Down Cake
  • overhead shot of a dozen banana bread baked donuts with maple and walnut.
    Baked Maple Walnut Banana Bread Donuts
  • square hero image of gluten-free pumpkin pecan waffles on a plate.
    Healthy Pumpkin Pecan Waffles

Homemade Bread & Sourdough Recipes

  • closeup square hero image of a piece of black pepper focaccia.
    Easy Black Pepper Focaccia
  • square hero image of a halfway sliced loaf of homemade sourdough bread made with sourdough discard in a bread maker.
    Soft Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread (Bread Machine Recipe)
  • hands in a cozy gray sweater grabbing the pumpkin machine bread from a cutting board.
    Dump-and-Go Bread Machine Pumpkin Spice Yeast Bread
  • closeup shot of a sourdough ciabatta bun sliced in half to make a burger.
    Sourdough Ciabatta Buns (Or Dinner Rolls!)
  • square hero image of a homemade margherita pizza made with 00 flour pizza dough on a piece of crumpled parchment paper.
    00 Flour Pizza Dough With Sourdough Starter (No Yeast)

Sandwiches, Wraps, & Stuff On Toast

  • square hero shot of an assembled avocado tartine topped with a sunnyside up egg and microgreens on a white plate with a silver fork.
    Easy Avocado Tartine
  • closeup square hero of easy grille chicken pita wraps that are wrapped in parchment and tied with twine.
    Easy Grilled Chicken Pita Wraps
  • closeup square overhead shot of peach toast on a white plate with a wooden honey dipper and a puddle of honey.
    Marché-Style Peach Toast With Honey & Ricotta Cheese
  • square hero image of a hawaiian roll chicken slider on a small white appetizer plate.
    Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders With Grilled Pineapple

Cheap DIY Upgrades & Extras

  • spicy-sweet bourbon bacon onion jam made with maple syrup in a pint-sized clear mason jar.
    Bacon Onion Jam With Bourbon & Maple Syrup
  • square closeup on a can of homemade apple preserves with cinnamon.
    Cinnamon Apple Preserves for Canning
  • square hero image of homemade Lazzaroni amaretto cherries in a glass jar with 2 fresh cherries in front of it.
    How to Make Amaretto Cherries (Lazzaroni Copycat)
  • square hero image of a glass jar of creamy lime garlic cilantro sauce on a white plate with lime slices and a sprig of fresh cilantro.
    Creamy Cilantro Garlic Sauce With Jalapeños & Limes
  • no peel apple butter in a small mason jar on a red and white checked cloth with whole apples and cinnamon sticks in the background.
    No-Peel Spiced Apple Butter (Instant Pot or Crock Pot)
  • Easy Mushroom Gravy for Any Occasion in a white gravy boat.
    Easy Mushroom Gravy for Any Occasion
  • square hero image of a homemade pumpkin spice latte next to a stoppered jar of homemade starbucks pumpkin sauce.
    Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Sauce (Sugar-Free Option!)
  • pouring fruit infused water into a clear glass with a lime garnish. photo credit mae mu.
    No-Waste Fruit Infused Water
  • square hero shot of a red dutch oven filled with vegetable scraps, a chicken carcass, and water to make low-sodium vegetable or bone broth.
    How to Make Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth or Bone Broth for FREE
  • turquoise bowl of dehydrated apple chips.
    Homemade Apple Chips (Instructions for Dehydrator and Oven)
  • overhead close up shot of halved turmeric pickled egg on avocado toast.
    Soft Boiled Turmeric Pickled Eggs
  • square hero shot of a spicy mexican mocha topped with whipped cream, cocoa powder, and spices with a few dried chiles on the table and a tablet of Mexican chocolate in the background.
    Spicy Mexican Mocha

Even More Budget-Friendly Recipe Inspiration

  • Jalapeño Popper Wontons With Bacon & Cream Cheese
  • Swiss Cheese Ham Delights (Hawaiian Roll Sliders)
  • Easy Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae With Red Wine Hot Fudge
  • How To Reduce Food Waste At Home
  • No-Spend January Challenge: Grocery Edition
  • Chocolate Banana Breakfast Quesadillas

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Hey y'all! My name is Ashley, and I'm the Grocery Addict. I'm here to share my best time saving tips, money saving tricks and store bought grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. All of my recipes are designed for real, busy people - like you! - who want to eat healthy, homemade food on a tight budget. I can't wait to see you in the kitchen!

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Budget-Friendly DIYs

  • square hero image of a glass jar of creamy lime garlic cilantro sauce on a white plate with lime slices and a sprig of fresh cilantro.
    Creamy Cilantro Garlic Sauce With Jalapeños & Limes

  • square hero image of homemade Lazzaroni amaretto cherries in a glass jar with 2 fresh cherries in front of it.
    How to Make Amaretto Cherries (Lazzaroni Copycat)

  • closeup shot of a scoop of vanilla and strawberry swirl ice cream.
    Easy Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream (No Egg Recipe!)

  • square hero image of 5 flavors of Copycat Egglife Egg White Wraps fanned out on a wooden cutting board.
    Egglife Copycat Egg White Wraps Recipe (All 5 Flavors!)

  • square hero image of a homemade margherita pizza made with 00 flour pizza dough on a piece of crumpled parchment paper.
    00 Flour Pizza Dough With Sourdough Starter (No Yeast)

  • square hero image of a halfway sliced loaf of homemade sourdough bread made with sourdough discard in a bread maker.
    Soft Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread (Bread Machine Recipe)

  • close up showing rough style of semi naked frosting on wedding cake.
    Easy, Inexpensive DIY Wedding Cake

  • closeup shot of costco and starbucks copycat keto egg bites with spinach, feta, and sun dried tomatoes.
    Instant Pot Costco Copycat Egg Bites (Three Flavors!)

Recent Posts

  • square hero image of baked wonton jalapeño poppers on a wooden tray with red pepper flakes as a garnish and a bowl of jalapeño ranch dressing in the corner.
    Jalapeño Popper Wontons With Bacon & Cream Cheese

  • closeup shot of a cheesy ham delight on a spatula with the remaining sliders in their baking dish blurred out below.
    Swiss Cheese Ham Delights (Hawaiian Roll Sliders)

  • closeup shot of a homemade brownie hot fudge sundae made with cherry chocolate cake mix brownies and red wine hot fudge.
    Easy Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae With Red Wine Hot Fudge

  • yellow square with foods shaped into letters that read "fight food waste."
    How To Reduce Food Waste At Home

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