Here at Stay At Home Mum, we try to be frugal as much as we can.
Now, when we’re being thrifty, we don’t mean cooking up unsavoury meals. We mean cooking delicious, healthy and satisfying foods at a lower cost.
Just because you’re trying to save on cash does not mean you have to sacrifice taste and quality!
We absolutely guarantee that these recipes are healthy, delicious and perfect for when you’re trying to save money! Most of these recipes are also quick to make (30 minutes, more or less!) which makes it all the more perfect for families.
1. Salmon Patties
Salmon patties are really easy to make and are a fast meal for a busy night. You can just use pink salmon (no point in buying red salmon which is just expensive) – and mix with mashed potato and herbs to form patties.
2. Tuna Mornay
Remember eating Tuna Mornay as a kid? – It was certainly on high rotation at my house. The great thing about Tuna Mornay is that it can be bulked up with pasta or rice, although traditionally it is served with spaghetti noodles!
3. Faster Pasta
This meal, which I call ‘Faster Pasta’ is not only fast (you can make it in under 12 minutes) but is also incredibly frugal. I can feed this to my family of four for only a few dollars!
4. Frugal Sausage Casserole
Frugal Sausage Casserole is an easy “all in” recipe that provides a wonderful and complete dinner for the entire family! I love to use the honey flavoured sausages in cooking, they just give a wonderful almost caramelised flavour, but beef or Pork sausage is just fine if you want to cut costs.
5. Vegetarian Lentil Meatloaf
Vegetarian Lentil Meatloaf makes a great beef substitute for the vegetarian! Fibre and protein-rich, low in fat super easy and really yummy!
6. Baconini Slice
Sometimes, it can be quite hard to get the kids to eat vegetables such as zucchini, which is why this recipe for zucchini slice is fabulous!
7. Impossible Pie
This recipe is super easy to follow, and you’ll love how great the pie tastes!
8. Slowcooker Coconut Curry Sausages
We have Slowcooker Coconut Curry with Pork Sausages at least weekly in the colder weather. It is so delicious and hearty and frugal!
Check out the recipe here!
9. Mince Wellington
Mince Wellington is a great inexpensive dish that the kids will adore!
10. Vegetable and Ham Noodle Cups
Vegetable and Ham Noodle Cups are a fantastic way to get the kids to eat their vegetables. Everyone loves noodles and this makes easy to eat-on-the-run snacks or add a salad and you have a meal.
11. Tomato and Sausage Risotto
This dish is soooo easy to make, super frugal and it’s suitable to freeze, too! Great for any time of year, but works a treat in the colder months.
12. Hot Dog Casserole
It’s BBQ season, so when you have leftover BBQ sausages this will get the kids excited and you as it done and in the oven in minutes!
13. Cream of Pumpkin Soup
There’s nothing like a hearty Cream of Pumpkin Soup to warm you up on a cold night! I love it with crusty hot bread! It makes for a great meal in itself and it freezes really well!
14. Bacon and Potato Soup
Aside from having two of our favourite things (bacon and potatoes!), bacon and potato soup freezes really well.
15. Sour Cream Quiche
This recipe for Sour Cream Quiche only contains three base ingredients! I love it with broccoli, too and it makes for a wonderful vegetarian dish.
16. Broccoli and Garlic Quesadillas
We always try to eat healthy every day and really ” – it is a struggle! So we try to come up with healthy AND delicious ways to enjoy our meals. This recipe for Broccoli and Garlic Quesadillas is one of our faves!
17. Chicken and Apple Croquettes
Chicken and Apple Croquettes are a great recipe for the kids to make and eat especially over the school holidays! Unlike store-bought sausages that are too salty and too fatty, this recipe is not only delicious but also full of nourishing ingredients like chicken, apple, and cheese!
18. Schmancy Macaroni Cheese
Macaroni Cheese can be a bit boring but rest assured this one is schmancy, super delish & easy to whip up in no time!
19. Gourmet Pizza
This Gourmet pizza dough recipe is really easy to make at home and you can freeze it uncooked so that you always have it on hand!
20. Cabbage Pancakes
Cabbage Pancakes are so tasty the kids won’t even know that they are good for them. Everyone wins!
21. Spring Onion Pancakes
Spring Onion Pancakes are really simple to make. It’s perfect for yummy snacks and dinner on hump days! This one is also ideal for those who are watching their sugar intake.
22. Homemade Sausage Rolls
Homemade Sausage Rolls are perfect for so many occasions! From picnics to beach days and birthday parties. Truly” – maybe we should say they are perfect for ALL occasions!
23. Tuna Melts
Tuna Melts are a cheap and easy meal to make for when money is tight! You’ll love eating it with soups, during lunch or dinner!
24. Chicken Noodle Omelette
If you want to mix up your breakfast options every once in a while, this Chicken Noodle Omelette makes a great change to your traditional morning omelette.
25. Creamed Corn and Ham Toasted Wraps
Keep the kids happy by filling their lunch boxes with these tasty and simple creamed corn and ham toasted wraps.
Next Page: MORE Easy Family Meals to Make Under $5!
26. Mexican Tuna
We are always looking for a quick and easy lunch that is healthy too, Mexican Tuna ticks all the boxes.
27. Bean and Veggie Quesadilla
Bean and Veggie Quesadillas can be a little bit fiddly, but makes a nice lunch or dinner and is a great way to get extra veggies into your diet!
28. Cheap and Cheerful Slowcooked Lentil Dahl
Cheap and cheerful dinners don’t get much yummier than this Slow-cooked Lentil Dahl.
29. Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
When you’re looking for something positively delicious to throw together for dinner you can’t go past these Baked, Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Rice and Chickpeas.
30. Roasted Vegetable Pizza
The only problem you might have with making a Roasted Vegetable Pizza is convincing dad that you need his beer: not for drinking but for baking!
31. Over Stuffed Zucchini
Here is a simple vegetarian side dish that is full of flavour and goodness!
32. Spinach Tomato and Ricotta Frittata
Spinach Tomato and Ricotta Frittata is a bit of a mouthful to say, but tastes so good!!
33. Honey Baked Chicken Pieces
Honey Baked Chicken Pieces is an easy and delicious dish for the whole family! If you aren’t keen on chicken on the bone, you can substitute chicken pieces for breast but reduce the cooking time to prevent it from over-cooking.
34. Simple Curried Sausages
A simple, delicious recipe for Simple Curried Sausages that only takes a few to whip up.
35. Baked Chicken Noodle Casserole
This Baked Chicken Noodle Casserole is hearty, delicious and perfect for a dinner with the fam. It’s got a few veggies, a hit of protein, and just enough carbs to make even fussy children happy.
36. Basil Pesto Chicken Pasta
Easy yet so delicious!
37. Chicken Rice Casserole
Layers of rice, chicken and vegetables in a soupy sauce with a crunchy topping great for the whole family.
38. Chicken and Mashed Potato Bake
Chicken and Mashed Potato Bake is the best comfort food!
39. Mustard Chicken Casserole
Mustard Chicken Casserole combines a great number of flavours to come up with a beautiful dish that the whole family can enjoy.
40. Golden Bake
This Golden Bake recipe is very frugal, very simple, very delicious! It’s very similar to a Shepherd’s Pie.
41. Sausage Stroganoff
Sausage Stroganoff works well with beef or pork sausages and is a great ‘kid-friendly’ version of the regular beef stroganoff!
42. Toad in the Hole
Toad in the Hole is a very traditional English dish it’s hearty, delicious and the kids love it! This is a great way to use up cooked sausages leftover from a barbecue!
43. Sausages in Pastry
I grew up eating sausages in pastry, and I make it for my family now, too. Sometimes I add a bit of cheese or sliced potato or sweet potato for something different they always taste great and such a frugal choice!
44. Spaghetti Bolognaise
Bulk Spaghetti Bolognaise is a great way to save time and money in the kitchen as it is a family favourite.
45. Stuffed Sausages
Here is another way to do the good old sausages. Stuffed Sausages is a fun meal the kiddies and adults will love them!
46. Easy Glazed Meatloaf
Easy Glazed Meatloaf is a brilliant frugal recipe that will leave the family full and satisfied!
47. Savoury Mince
Savoury Mince is always a good stand by meal. Can be used as a main dish or for a filling for pastries, on toast, Shepherd’s pie the list is endless!
48. Creamy Cranberry Chicken Pasta
This Creamy Cranberry Chicken Pasta is a twist on the traditional Creamy Pasta dishes we all know and love. The cranberry sauce gives your taste buds something to zing about, yummy!
49. Fried Rice
Do you love Special Fried Rice from the Chinese shop? Well surprise, surprise it is dead easy to make at home and you will be amazed at how yummy it is!
50. Sour Cream and Chive Pasta
Sour cream and chives pasta, is a simple, quick and easy dinner to whip up. When time is running out and the kids are grumpy and hungry, they always love pasta! Best of all it costs under $10 to feed a family of four!
I get what you’re saying, and yeah, those cases where people meet as adults can explain why the attraction happens.…