Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (2024)

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I hope y’all are enjoying thelong holiday weekend! I thought it would be a good opportunity to round up my Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget. You see, it’s about this time every year that I start getting serious about eating healthy and working out. No, not because bikinis are rapidly approaching (okay, maybe a little), but because the sudden sunshine and warm air begin to energize and awaken me from the inside out. As soon as the sun starts to come out from behind those winter clouds, I spring to action like a little energizer bunny.

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (2)

I went through my archives and pulled these 20 recipes (10 meatand 10 vegetarian) that you might find useful if you suddenly become a health monster every spring, like me. “Healthy” is obviously a very subjective term, so take the list with a grain of salt.

My criteria for healthy means: plenty of vegetables and/or fiber, low or no added sugar, andreasonable fat content (lower animal based fats). And of course, what do all of these recipes have in common? They’re satisfyingand budget friendly. Enjoy! :)

Meat Recipes

1. Chipotle Chicken Chili

Chipotle Chicken Chili or "C3"

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (3)

This chipotle chicken chili has smoky chipotle peppers, shredded chicken, and hearty beans for a meal that will fill you up and satisfy your taste buds.

5 from 20 votes

$9.51 recipe / $1.19 serving Get the Recipe

2. Mini Black Bean Turkey Burgers

Mini Black Bean Turkey Burgers

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (4)

These flavorful mini black bean turkey burgers come together quickly and bake in the oven for a fast, no fuss dinner.

4.87 from 23 votes

$9.81 recipe / $1.96 serving Get the Recipe

3. Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls

Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (5)

These super fresh and Spicy Tuna Guacamole bowls are packed with protein, fiber, and flavor. The perfect no-reheat meal prep lunch for summer!

4.69 from 32 votes

$8.05 recipe / $2.01 serving Get the Recipe

4. Curry Beef with Peas

Curry Beef with Peas

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (6)

5. Slow Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja

Slow Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (7)

Chicken slowly stewed with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices makes this Slow Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja a versatile favorite.

4.59 from 53 votes

$7.89 recipe / $1.32 serving Get the Recipe

6. Greek Turkey Burgers

Greek Turkey Burgers

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (8)

Spinach, lemon, feta, garlic, and dill pack a lot of flavor into these healthy and delicious Greek Turkey Burgers.

4.89 from 51 votes

7. Chicken and Lime Soup

Chicken and Lime Soup

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (9)

This Chicken and Lime Soup is light, fresh, and flavorful with shredded chicken, vegetables, fresh cilantro, and a tangy lime infused broth.

4.91 from 210 votes

$7.76 recipe / $1.29 serving Get the Recipe

8. Sloppy Joes Plus

Sloppy Joes Plus

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (10)

The plus in Sloppy Joes Plus is lentils! Tender lentils make the perfect addition to ground beef and increase the texture, flavor, and nutrients!

4.83 from 34 votes

$10.97 recipe / $1.37 serving Get the Recipe

9. Sweet n’ Spicy Chicken Bowls

Sweet n' Spicy Chicken Bowls

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (11)

These Sweet n' Spicy Chicken Bowls assemble quickly and provide a lot of flavor, color, and texture. Low sugar, high fiber, and loaded with deliciousness!

4.93 from 26 votes

$6.05 recipe / $1.51 serving Get the Recipe

10. Easy Oven Fajitas

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (12)

These easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas are a simple hands-off way to get that smoky-sweet flavor of traditional griddle fajitas.

4.95 from 279 votes

$13.90 recipe / $3.48 serving Get the Recipe

Vegetarian Recipes

11. Curried Chickpeas with Spinach

Curried Chickpeas with Spinach

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (13)

These super fast Curried Chickpeas with spinach are packed with flavor and nutrients, vegan, gluten-free, and filling! Plus they freeze great!

4.73 from 149 votes

$4.68 recipe / $1.17 serving Get the Recipe

12. Roasted Vegetable Baked Ziti

13. Vegan Red Beans and Rice

Vegan Red Beans and Rice

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (14)

These vegan red beans and rice are just as flavorful and filling as the classic pork version, but contain no animal products.

4.85 from 101 votes

$7.40 recipe / $1.23 serving Get the Recipe

14. Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Stew

Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (15)

Warm intoxicating spices make this vegetable filled Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Soup perfect for cold Autumn nights.

4.84 from 117 votes

$7.43 recipe / $0.93 serving Get the Recipe

15. Spanish Chickpeas and Rice

Spanish Chickpeas and Rice

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (16)

This one pot Spanish Chickpeas and rice has big flavor thanks to liberal dose of spices, artichoke hearts, and fresh lemon.

4.82 from 136 votes

$7.39 recipe / $1.84 serving Get the Recipe

16.

Easy Hot and Sour Soup with Vegetables and Tofu

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (17)

This easy hot and sour soup is light on the stomach, but big on flavor! The spicy and tangy broth is full of colorful vegetables and tender cubes of tofu.

4.85 from 44 votes

$6.72 recipe / $1.12 serving Get the Recipe

17. Chunky Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Chunky Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (18)

This Chunky Lentil and Vegetable Soup is packed with hearty flavor, texture, and good-for-you vegetables!

4.92 from 151 votes

$5.24 recipe / $0.52 serving Get the Recipe

18. Weeknight Enchiladas

Weeknight Enchiladas

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (19)

These easy Bean and Cheese Enchiladas are anything but boring. A few extra details take them from a simple to spectacular weeknight dinner.

4.95 from 59 votes

$6.70 recipe / $0.84 serving Get the Recipe

19. Vegan Red Lentil Stew

Vegan Red Lentil Stew

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (20)

This hearty Vegan Red Lentil Stew is packed with vegetables for tons of flavor, and will keep you warm and full in the cold winter weather!

4.89 from 45 votes

$4.28 recipe / $0.71 serving Get the Recipe

20. Mediterranean Farro Salad with Spiced Chickpeas

Mediterranean Farro Salad with Spiced Chickpeas

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (21)

This Mediterranean Farro Salad with Spiced Chickpeas is packed with flavor, texture, and nutrients (and no animal products!).

4.94 from 64 votes

$7.65 recipe / $1.91 serving Get the Recipe

Want to share your favorites? Feel free to share your favorite recipes for eating healthy on a budget (from anywhere around the web!) in the comments below.

Top 20 Recipes for Eating Healthy on a Budget (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest most nutritious meal? ›

12 healthy and affordable foods for your grocery list
  • Brown rice.
  • Cans or packets of chicken or tuna.
  • Dried beans and lentils.
  • Eggs.
  • Frozen chicken breasts.
  • Frozen or canned fruit (in its own juice or light syrup).
  • Frozen vegetables.
  • Low-fat dairy like cottage cheese.
Oct 13, 2022

What are the 3 P's for eating healthy on a budget? ›

Page 1
  • PLAN. ✓ Plan meals and snacks for the week according to an established budget. ✓ Find quick and easy recipes online. ...
  • PURCHASE. ✓ Buy groceries when you are not hungry and when you are not too rushed. ...
  • PREPARE. ✓ Some meal items can be prepared in advance; pre-cook on days when you have.

What is the cheapest meal to live on? ›

Cheapest Foods to Live On:
  • Oatmeal.
  • Eggs.
  • Bread.
  • Rice.
  • Bananas.
  • Beans.
  • Apples.
  • Pasta.

What are the 12 foods you should eat every day? ›

12 Everyday Foods To Support Your Health
  • Berries. Let's kick off our list with a sweet treat — berries. ...
  • Leafy Greens. There's a reason your mom insisted you finish your greens. ...
  • Nuts and Seeds. ...
  • Avocados. ...
  • Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Bell Peppers. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Quinoa.

What are the 3 food rules? ›

Three healthy eating rules from a dietitian
  • Rule #1: Eat more veggies and fruit. On the MyPlate diagram, fruit and veggies take up half the plate for good reason! ...
  • Rule #2: Be mindful of your eating. ...
  • Rule #3: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Nov 14, 2018

What are the 6 essential food groups that you should be eating from on a daily basis? ›

The 6 Major Food Groups
  • Whole grains and starchy vegetables. ...
  • Fruits and non-starchy vegetables. ...
  • Dairy and non-dairy alternatives. ...
  • Fish, poultry, meat, eggs and alternatives. ...
  • Heart-healthy oils. ...
  • Elective or Discretionary Calories.
Jun 6, 2016

What is the rule of 3 meal plan? ›

The Rule of 3's is made up specifically of these guidelines: Eat at least three meals and up to three snacks a day (you might think of this as a breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal plan) Eat at least three food groups per meal (and two per snack) Allow no more than three hours between eating.

What is a poor man's healthy diet? ›

Whole fruits (fresh or frozen, preferably not canned) Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa. Fat-free or low-fat dairy, such as milk, yogurt, cheese and/or fortified soy beverages. Lean proteins like poultry, eggs, seafood, nuts and soy products.

What is the easiest cheapest diet to follow? ›

Try increasing your use of eggs, beans, seeds, frozen fruits and vegetables, cheaper cuts of meat, and whole grains. These all taste great, are cheap (especially in bulk), and are very nutritious. Incorporating more inexpensive yet nutrient-rich foods into your daily routine will help you save money and eat well.

Is it cheaper to cook or eat out? ›

Is It Cheaper to Cook or Eat Out? For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out.

How do you feed a family of 5 for $10? ›

Ten Healthy Family Meals Under $10
  1. Healthy Fried Rice.
  2. Pasta Salad.
  3. Fettuccini Alfredo… or Bowtie, or Shells, or Rotini.
  4. Rosemary White Bean Soup or Turkey White Bean Chili.
  5. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos.
  6. Black-eyed Peas and Pork…with Kale.
  7. Enchilada Casserole.
  8. Down-home Macaroni and Cheese.

How to feed 50 people cheaply? ›

So I'm going to go with a budget of $200 - $4 per person.
  1. Drinks: large containers of chilled water with cut up fruit in them. A few bottles of soda.
  2. Casseroles - I have two favorites. One is croissants (cut up) topped with lots of ham and Swiss, a dozen eggs mixed with sour cream and milk. ...
  3. Meatballs and sauce.
Feb 9, 2024

How to feed 100 people for cheap? ›

Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.

What is the cheapest source of nutrition? ›

Nutritious and Inexpensive Staples
  • Beans, peas, lentils (dried, frozen, canned)
  • Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
  • Ground turkey 90% lean.
  • Chicken thighs with skin (these are cheaper than skinless chicken thighs but the skin can be removed before cooking)
  • Peanut butter.
  • Lowfat cottage cheese.
  • Tofu.
  • Eggs.

What is the single most nutritious food on the planet? ›

Here are the 11 most nutrient-dense foods on the planet:
  • Kale: Leafy green vegetables such as kale are nutrient powerhouses but low in calories. ...
  • Salmon: ...
  • Eggs: ...
  • Liver: ...
  • Potatoes: ...
  • Sardines: ...
  • Shellfish: ...
  • Blueberries:
Jul 28, 2022

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