7 Delicious Meals You Can Make for Under $5 (Yes, Really)

Struggling with grocery bills? These 7 budget meals under $5 are delicious, filling, and perfect for tight times. Full recipes with cheap ingredients you probably already have at home.

Let’s be real — the grocery store has been painful lately. Prices keep creeping up, your fridge looks empty by Wednesday, and fast food is more tempting than ever.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need a big budget or fancy ingredients to make meals that are cozy, satisfying, and actually taste good.

I’ve been living on a tight food budget for a while now — and after a whole lot of trial and error (and eating peanut butter on crackers more times than I care to admit), I found a handful of go-to meals that always come through. Every recipe here costs less than $5 total to make, and most use ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Let’s get into it 👇

🍝 1. Cheesy Pasta Bake (Feeds 4 for $4.25)

This is my personal comfort food hero. It’s warm, creamy, and bubbling with cheese — everything you want from baked pasta, without the $18 takeout bill.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 8 oz elbow macaroni or penne ($0.70)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.25)
• 1 cup marinara sauce ($0.90)
• ½ cup milk ($0.30)
• 1 egg ($0.20)
• Garlic powder, salt, and pepper ($0.15)

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Boil pasta until just al dente. Drain.
2. In a bowl, whisk together milk, egg, and spices.
3. Stir in cooked pasta, cheese, and sauce.
4. Pour into a greased baking dish. Top with more cheese if you’ve got it.
5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes until golden and crispy on top.

💵 Total Cost: ~$4.25
🍽 Serves: 4

🌟 Tip: Add frozen spinach or chopped mushrooms for a veggie boost if you’ve got some in the freezer.

🥣 2. Hearty Lentil Soup (Feeds 4 for $3.60)

This is one of those recipes that feels healthy and filling at the same time. Plus, lentils are protein-packed and cook quickly — a pantry win.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried lentils ($0.80)
• 1 carrot, diced ($0.25)
• 1 onion, chopped ($0.30)
• 1 clove garlic, minced ($0.10)
• 1 tsp cumin or Italian seasoning ($0.10)
• 4 cups water or broth ($0.20 if homemade)
• Salt and pepper to taste

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Sauté onion, carrot, and garlic in a bit of oil.
2. Add lentils, spices, and water or broth.
3. Simmer for 25–30 minutes until lentils are tender.
4. Season and serve with toast or crackers.

💵 Total Cost: ~$3.60
🍽 Serves: 4

🌟 Tip: This gets even better the next day. Make a double batch and freeze half.

🌮 3. Budget Chicken Tacos (Feeds 2–3 for $4.75)

Taco night on a budget? Yes, please. These are simple, satisfying, and super customizable.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 1 chicken thigh or breast (~$1.25)
• ½ onion ($0.15)
• Taco seasoning or a pinch of cumin + chili powder ($0.10)
• ½ can black beans ($0.50)
• 4 small tortillas ($1.00)
• Shredded lettuce or cabbage ($0.75)
• Sour cream or yogurt (optional) ($1.00)

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Sauté chicken with spices and onion until cooked through.
2. Heat tortillas and layer with chicken, beans, lettuce, and a dollop of cream.
3. Done!

💵 Total Cost: ~$4.75
🍽 Serves: 2–3 tacos per person

🌟 Tip: Add salsa, hot sauce, or chopped tomatoes if you’ve got extras hanging around.

🥔 4. Loaded Baked Potatoes (Feeds 3 for $3.90)

One of my favorite lazy meals. Potatoes are cheap, filling, and basically a blank canvas for whatever’s in the fridge.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 3 large russet potatoes ($1.20)
• ½ cup shredded cheese ($0.70)
• ¼ cup sour cream or plain yogurt ($0.50)
• ½ can beans or frozen veggies ($1.00)
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder ($0.10)

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Scrub and bake potatoes at 400°F (204°C) for about 45 minutes.
2. Cut open and fluff insides with a fork.
3. Load with beans, veggies, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

💵 Total Cost: ~$3.90
🍽 Serves: 3

🌟 Tip: You can microwave the potatoes if you’re short on time — about 8 minutes per potato.

🥚 5. Breakfast-for-Dinner Scramble (Feeds 2–3 for $3.15)

Cheap, fast, and endlessly customizable. Eggs are budget gold.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 4 eggs ($0.80)
• 1 small potato or frozen hash browns ($0.60)
• ½ onion ($0.15)
• A sprinkle of cheese ($0.50)
• Salt, pepper, and optional hot sauce ($0.10)

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Sauté onion and potato until golden.
2. Scramble in eggs.
3. Sprinkle with cheese, season, and serve hot.

💵 Total Cost: ~$3.15
🍽 Serves: 2–3

🌟 Tip: Toss in leftover veggies or a slice of crumbled bacon if you’ve got it.

🥪 6. Tuna Melt Sandwiches (Feeds 2 for $4.60)

The glow-up version of a plain tuna sandwich. Melty, toasty, and shockingly satisfying.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 1 can tuna in water ($1.10)
• 2 tbsp mayo or Greek yogurt ($0.25)
• 4 slices bread ($0.80)
• 2 slices cheese ($1.20)
• Butter or margarine for toasting ($0.25)
• Salt, pepper, lemon juice (optional) ($0.10)

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Mix tuna, mayo, and seasoning.
2. Spread on bread, top with cheese.
3. Butter the outside and grill like a grilled cheese until golden.

💵 Total Cost: ~$4.60
🍽 Serves: 2

🌟 Tip: Add sliced tomato or pickles for an extra punch.

🍛 7. Rice & Beans with Salsa (Feeds 4 for $3.40)

A total pantry meal — but still flavorful, filling, and full of protein.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice ($0.60)
• 1 can beans (black, kidney, or pinto) ($1.00)
• ½ cup salsa ($1.00)
• ½ tsp cumin or taco seasoning ($0.10)
• Salt & pepper ($0.10)
• Optional: cheese, hot sauce, lime ($0.60)

🧑‍🍳 Directions:

1. Cook rice.
2. Warm beans with spices and salsa.
3. Serve beans over rice, top with extras if you’ve got them.

💵 Total Cost: ~$3.40
🍽 Serves: 4

🌟 Tip: This makes a great burrito filler if you have tortillas on hand.

You don’t need a gourmet kitchen, a Whole Foods budget, or a ton of time to eat better. These recipes are proof that with a few simple ingredients and a little creativity, you can cook meals that make you feel good — and full — without spending a fortune.

And hey, if you’re just starting your budget-cooking journey, don’t stress about doing it perfectly. Start with one recipe. Swap what you don’t have. Make it yours.