Budget recipes
On a budget? Whether you’re after cheap family meals, no frills or simply good value, we’ve got ideas for you. Yes, jacket potatoes and pasta feature, but also ways to stretch those more expensive ingredients that bit further to give you bags of flavour for your buck. Step forward chorizo, smoked fish and bacon. We’ve also included some fakeaways, to help you save money when the takeaway urge bites.
If you’re looking for budget meals that are filling and comforting too, check out all our budget pasta recipes, and also find ways to use up leftover chicken.
Showing 1-16 of 201 recipes
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Spanish omelettes
Traditional Spanish tortilla
Learn how to make a traditional Spanish tortilla with our easy recipe. This iconic potato omelette is one of the most popular dishes in Spain
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Easy
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French toast
Torrijas (Spanish-style french toast)
Torrijas is the Spanish version of French toast. Learn how to make this golden, custardy cinnamon bread with Rosie Mackean's recipe.
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Easy
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Paneer
Karahi paneer
Learn how to make authentic Karahi paneer with this easy recipe. This fragrant dish is the perfect vegetarian option for curry night.
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Easy
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New potatoes
Cheesy cider rarebit new potatoes
Rarebit meets new potatoes in this easy, cheesy side dish recipe. Pour the cider and cheese sauce over cooked new potatoes, grill and enjoy.
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Easy
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Budget pasta
Toasted pasta with smoky tomato sauce
Nutty toasted penne is tossed with a Marmite and paprika-spiked tomato sauce for a serious upgrade on pasta pomodoro.
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Easy
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Irish
Dublin coddle
Dublin coddle is a traditional Irish stew of sausages, potatoes and bacon in a light broth. On a cold night, a coddle is as good as a cuddle.
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Easy
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Crêpes
Cheese and onion crepes
Thin, crispy crepes filled with cheddar, red onion and herbs makes a great midweek dinner for four...especially on Pancake Day.
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Easy
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Slow cook
Slow cooker Italian lentils with sausages and chilli
This hearty Italian sausage and lentil stew recipe from Charlotte Pike only needs a little prep, before you let your slow cooker do the work.
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Easy
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Chicken soups
Cock-a-leekie soup
This soul-warming Scottish soup includes chicken, leeks, prunes for burst of rich fruitiness and rice (or barley, if you prefer).
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Easy
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Stews, casseroles, pot-roasts and slow-roasts
Smoked sausage, mushroom and bean stew
Smoked sausage and earthy mushrooms give a depth of flavour that makes this stew taste like it’s been cooked for hours instead of minutes.
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Easy
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Tomato pastas
Pasta pomodoro
Pasta pomodoro is the original – and best – tomato pasta. This recipe is quick and easy but uses a few tricks to really amp up the flavour.
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Easy
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Italian pastas
Classic pasta puttanesca
One of the most famous classic pasta dishes of all time, pasta puttanesca includes anchovies, garlic, capers, olives and tomatoes.
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Easy
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Potatoes
Frico (Alpine cheese and potato cake)
Frico is a delicious cheese and potato cake from the Italian Alps. The soft, indulgently savoury cake is ike a very, very cheesy hash brown.
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Easy
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Beef stews
Coda alla vaccinara (Roman braised oxtail)
Coda alla vaccinara is an iconic Roman dish made with oxtail. The meat is slow-cooked with celery, while cocoa gives the stew earthy depth.
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Easy
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Italian vegetarian
Risi e bisi (classic Venetian rice and peas)
Ursula Ferrigno shares her recipe for risi e bisi. This classic Venetian dish of rice and the sweetest fresh peas is served in a rich stock.
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Easy
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Budget pasta
Bigoli in salsa (caramelised onion and anchovy pasta)
Bigoli in salsa is a classic Venetian dish: thick pasta strands with a rich sauce of caramelised onions and anchovies. Simple yet luxurious.
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Easy
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