Delicious Meals to Make When You're Super Broke

Inexpensive recipe ideas that still taste great and have few ingredients.

We’ve all been here. Rock bottom. Needing to stretch a paycheck so thin you can practically see through it. Feeling like all of your money is spent before before it’s even entered your bank account. And you know what?

I’m certainly not here to judge! In fact, I’ve created this list specifically for your situation. I’m not ashamed to say I make these meals regularly, broke or not. Of course, these are all going to be home-cooked meals because as mentioned here in Forbes, it can be as much as five times more expensive to eat out!

Now, these options aren’t always the most healthy (I’m looking at you, hotdogs). But there usually needs to be some kind of a trade off. Adding them in as a temporary measure or once in a balanced while can make a big difference in your bottom line.

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Two Little Sidenotes for Easy and Cheap Meals

First, let it go without saying, if at all possible for all of these meals: buy store brand products!! They are SO much cheaper than the brands, and are often made in the exact same facility.

You are literally just paying for them to change the label! It’s crazy, but the markup is huge on name brand products because they have the marketing.

So, for anything mentioned here, assume they are generic brand products. Unless of course you find a really good deal on sale, or you are using Ibotta and getting cash back. Those are totally acceptable options.

And second, some of these recipes benefit greatly from the use of a chicken stock. Now, you can buy this for about $2-$3 for 32 oz., but it’s much cheaper to make your own. All it takes is a little planning ahead, which you’re going to have to get really good at anyway if you want to save the most money possible.

Other Ideas for Saving Money:

Inexpensive Meals Tip: Make Your Own Chicken Broth

The trick is to use one of those rotisserie chickens that you can buy already cooked and on discount towards the end of the evening at the grocery store (~$4). Peel off all of the chicken meat, you can use this in other dishes immediately (see below) or freeze to use later. Add enough water to mostly cover the bones in a pot on the stove or slow cooker.

You can include peppercorns and bay leaves if you have them. If you really want to plan ahead, save your extra carrots, onions, garlic, and celery stalks in the freezer to add at this step. Simmer for an hour on the stove or in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours. Strain this liquid and you’ll have an excellent soup base/flavor enhancer that can be frozen and used when needed.

So whether you’re currently struggling to make ends meet or would like to avoid getting into that situation in the future, on to these delicious meals to make when you’re super broke.

An Easy Weeknight Meal – Ground Beef, Cheese, and Rice

Totally unglamorous, but you’re not applying to be on Top Chef here. This is a basic meal that is as easy to prepare as it is cheap. Also the 80/20 cut is less expensive but more delicious (the higher fat content is what makes it the most flavorful).

Use cheddar cheese, throw in a $0.50 can of store-brand black beans, add in some simple spices like salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, and chili powder and you’ve got yourself a filling fiesta themed meal.

Chicken Tortilla Soup the Cheap Way

Continuing on with the fiesta theme, this is a yummy meal that you can dress up or dress down depending on how much room is in your budget.

Break out that previously mentioned chicken stock (you definitely always have it in your freezer now, right?). Heat back to liquid on the stove or in the microwave. Add about 16 oz worth to a slow cooker. Mix in a can of black beans, corn (8 oz frozen or a can), onion, bell pepper, a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, 3 cloves garlic, a tbsp of cumin and chili powder each, and a tsp of salt.

If using uncooked chicken, you’ll need to put the slow cooker on high for about 4-6 hours. If your chicken is already cooked it will just need closer to 3 hours to cook the vegetables. You’ll need to add the chicken in during the last hour.

Top with some cheese and tortilla strips and dig in! You can also top with more premium ingredients like avocado and sour cream if it’s after payday.

Delicious and Frugal Pasta Bake

This is my husband’s go-to meal. Seriously, if he’s in charge of making dinner there’s like a 90% chance it’s going to be this. And I’m not even mad about it because it’s amazing.

Use any kind of pasta shape (they all taste the same – delicious!), either some ground turkey, beef, or chicken, any kind of pasta sauce (re: the cheapest on sale) and mozzarella cheese. Boil the pasta, cook the meat in a pan and throw all of it together in a casserole dish to bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Just like the Italians do it, I’m sure. Feel free to spice this up as always with a topping of breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, oregano, parsley, thyme – whatever the budget allows.

A Simple Chicken and Rice Recipe to Save Money

Wondering about what my husband makes the other 10% of the time when he’s in charge of dinner? Yeah, it’s this. But don’t scoff! It’s another winner on this list because it’s inexpensive and tasty. Literally it’s what’s in the headline, chicken and rice.

There are some spices thrown in like paprika, salt, pepper, and oregano but you can add almost anything and this would still be fine. Bell peppers are a common staple in our house so those often end up in it. The secret however, is butter. It ties everything together and makes for a delicious meal every time.

Breakfast for Dinner as a Less Pricey Option

I love this option. Not only because I love breakfast foods but also because it’s so inexpensive to make a whole meal! The incredible edible egg speaks for itself in terms of nutritional wholesomeness as well as versatility. You can have it fried tons of ways, hardboiled, deviled, or scrambled and it goes with or in almost everything.

Pancakes require just a few cheap staples – flour, baking powder, sugar, those eggs, salt and some liquid that doesn’t even have to be milk. Ham or sausage can be added to this meal but the eggs provide a significant source of protein that it’s pretty complete without them.

Humble Hotdog Mac N’ Cheese

Mac n’ cheese from a box with sliced up hotdogs. You’re welcome.

Save Money on Meals in Winter with Broccoli and Potato Soup

Peel and chop some of your favorite potatoes, use some more of that chicken stock and add frozen broccoli, chopped onion, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook until potatoes are done and throw it all into a blender to puree. Feel free to top with cheddar cheese but it’s still delicious without.

Super Broke Staple: BBQ or Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

You’ll need BBQ sauce and buns for either of these, just switch out the meat. Pulled pork in the slow cooker for classic BBQ or Ground beef for sloppy Joes. Add a bag of frozen tater tots and my husband is in heaven.

Final Thoughts on Super Cheap and Easy Meals

So there you have it, delicious meals to make when you’re super broke. Remember, it’s only a temporary situation and you will get through it. I hope these ideas will help you along the way. Do you have any other go-to meals for when payday is still too far away? I love to hear them so let me know in the comments!

Also, if you’re ready to start a budget so that you can avoid having to stretch your paycheck during mealtimes, check out my post on How to Make A Budget. From there, you’ll see the very first step is to track your bills. Doing that allows you to see what’s costing you the most, what you might could live without, and what is most important.

If you’d like a link to my free bill tracker, enter your email below so you can get started today. This is a Google spreadsheet that I’ve developed over the years and still use today to track my bills. Give it a try and let me know what you think!