$2.90/serving
$11.59 total
Arroz con Pollo
Chicken thighs braised directly in seasoned rice and tomatoes until everything cooks together in one pot. A Latin staple that earns its place on any budget list.
Somewhere between the $9 red peppers and the $22 ground beef, grocery shopping became a hostile act. Overdraft Kitchen is the response. Meals that feed four for under $15, priced against what you're actually paying in Ottawa in 2026. No fancy ingredients, no wellness branding, no pretending this is fun. Just food that works when the math doesn't.
Under $15
feeds four people
400+ cal
per serving
GF option
on every recipe
75 recipes
and counting
Recipes 75
$3.33/serving
$13.33 total
Baked Beans and Sausage
White beans and sliced kielbasa simmered in a thick sweet-savory tomato sauce on the stovetop.
$2.52/serving
$10.08 total
Bean and Cheese Tostadas
Crunchy baked corn tortillas topped with seasoned refried beans, cheddar, and shredded lettuce. A Mexican-inspired staple that regularly tops budget meal lists on Reddit.
$3.59/serving
$14.36 total
Beef and Barley Soup
Ground beef, pearl barley, and vegetables simmered in beef broth until the barley thickens the whole pot.
$3.53/serving
$14.10 total
Beef and Bean Rice Skillet
A filling one-pan rice and beef skillet with two kinds of beans. Reheats well and gets better the next day.
$3.66/serving
$14.63 total
Beef and Vegetable Soup
Ground beef, potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, and rice simmered in beef broth — one pot, no prep skill required.
$2.98/serving
$11.90 total
Beefy Macaroni
Ground beef, elbow macaroni, and canned tomatoes cooked together in one pot — a from-scratch version of boxed hamburger helper.
$2.76/serving
$11.03 total
Black Bean and Cheese Quesadillas
Flour tortillas filled with seasoned black beans and melted cheddar. Quick, filling, and flexible.
$2.52/serving
$10.07 total
Black Bean Tacos
Spiced black beans in corn tortillas with a quick tomato topping and shredded cabbage. Four tacos per serving.
$3.29/serving
$13.14 total
Budget Butter Chicken
Chicken thighs in a spiced tomato and coconut milk sauce over rice. Uses coconut milk instead of cream to cut cost without losing richness.
$2.13/serving
$8.50 total
Cabbage and Kielbasa Skillet
Smoked sausage pan-fried with cabbage and potatoes. Simple, fast, and very cheap per serving.
$2.58/serving
$10.31 total
Cheap Chickpea Curry
A thick, spiced curry with chickpeas and canned tomatoes in coconut milk. Serve over rice.
$2.82/serving
$11.26 total
Cheesy Broccoli Rice
Rice and broccoli cooked stovetop in chicken broth, then stirred with cheddar until melted.
$3.12/serving
$12.49 total
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken thighs simmered with vegetables in a simple broth, topped with drop dumplings cooked directly in the pot.
$2.32/serving
$9.28 total
Chicken and Rice Soup
A simple broth-based soup with chicken thighs, rice, and vegetables. Works when you are sick, tired, or broke.
$2.81/serving
$11.25 total
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken thighs simmered with carrot, celery, and onion in broth, with pasta cooked directly in the pot.
$3.12/serving
$12.48 total
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Shredded chicken thighs with black beans, corn, and tomatoes in a spiced broth. A Tex-Mex staple that appears on virtually every budget meal-prep list.
$2.78/serving
$11.12 total
Chickpea and Spinach Stew
A Spanish-style stew with chickpeas, frozen spinach, and smoked tomato broth over rice. Very filling, very cheap.
$1.25/serving
$4.99 total
Chili Oil Fried Eggs and Rice
Fried eggs finished in chili oil with soy sauce and sesame, served over rice. Went viral on TikTok for a reason — it takes ten minutes and costs almost nothing.
$1.37/serving
$5.47 total
Congee
Rice cooked slowly in broth until it breaks down into a thick, savoury porridge. One of the cheapest filling meals in existence, and popular on budget Reddit for exactly that reason.
$2.18/serving
$8.73 total
Corn Chowder
Thick, creamy corn and potato soup with bacon. Uses canned and frozen corn to keep costs down and make it a year-round option.
$1.81/serving
$7.22 total
Creamy Tomato Pasta
Pasta in a quick tomato sauce finished with cream cheese for richness. Cheap, fast, and the most-saved recipe on Budget Bytes for years.
$2.19/serving
$8.76 total
Curried Potato and Chickpeas
Diced potatoes and chickpeas simmered in a spiced tomato and coconut milk sauce — a cheap, filling vegan curry.
$2.34/serving
$9.36 total
Dal Makhani
Whole black lentils and kidney beans slow-cooked in a buttery, spiced tomato sauce. Different from yellow dal — richer, darker, and better suited to cold weather.
$1.28/serving
$5.13 total
Egg Fried Rice
Leftover or fresh rice stir-fried with eggs, frozen vegetables, and soy sauce. Ready in 20 minutes.
$2.68/serving
$10.72 total
Filipino Chicken Adobo
Chicken thighs braised in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic until the sauce reduces to a dark glaze. Consistently cited as the top answer in every 'what should I make for cheap' thread.
$1.42/serving
$5.67 total
French Toast Bake
Bread cubes soaked in a cinnamon egg custard and baked until puffed — breakfast for dinner at well under $5 total.
$2.83/serving
$11.30 total
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
A simplified avgolemono-style soup — chicken and rice in broth finished with beaten eggs and lemon juice for a silky, tangy texture.
$3.50/serving
$13.98 total
Ground Beef Chili
A thick, straightforward beef and kidney bean chili. Keeps for days and gets better the next morning.
$3.62/serving
$14.48 total
Ground Turkey and Vegetable Stew
A hearty stew with ground turkey, potatoes, white beans, and canned tomatoes. High protein and fills well.
$2.35/serving
$9.39 total
Hoppin' John
Black-eyed peas cooked with smoked sausage, onion, and celery over rice. A Southern American staple that has been feeding people cheaply for a very long time.
$2.79/serving
$11.14 total
Japanese Curry Rice
Chicken, potatoes, and carrots in a thick, mildly sweet curry sauce made from S&B Golden Curry roux, served over rice. One of the most-saved 'comfort food for cheap' recipes on TikTok and r/JapaneseFood.
$2.96/serving
$11.85 total
Kielbasa, Sauerkraut, and Potato
Sliced sausage and potatoes braised with sauerkraut and broth in a single pot — Eastern European weeknight food.
$3.22/serving
$12.86 total
Korean-Style Ground Beef Bowl
Ground beef with soy, sesame, garlic, and ginger over rice. One of the most-saved recipes on TikTok and r/MealPrepSunday for years running.
$1.79/serving
$7.14 total
Lentil Bolognese
Green lentils slow-cooked with vegetables and tomato into a thick meat-sauce texture, served over pasta. A reliable vegan weeknight staple on every budget food forum.
$2.90/serving
$11.60 total
Lentil Tomato Soup
A thick, spiced red lentil soup with tomato and vegetables. Cheap, high in protein and fiber, and freezes well.
$2.80/serving
$11.18 total
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Thick, creamy potato soup with bacon and cheddar. One of the top-rated recipes on Pinterest and Budget Bytes for years, and one of the better uses of a $4 bag of potatoes.
$2.39/serving
$9.54 total
Minestrone
A thick Italian vegetable soup with kidney beans, pasta, and canned tomatoes — uses whatever cheap vegetables are on hand.
$1.36/serving
$5.45 total
Mujaddara
Brown lentils and rice cooked together, topped with deeply caramelized onions — a Middle Eastern staple that costs almost nothing to make.
$3.11/serving
$12.44 total
Mushroom and Barley Soup
Cremini mushrooms, pearl barley, and root vegetables simmered in broth until the barley makes it thick and savory.
$2.42/serving
$9.66 total
Mushroom Stroganoff
Cremini mushrooms cooked in a creamy sour cream and broth sauce over egg noodles. The standard vegetarian weeknight option on every meal planning forum.
$1.58/serving
$6.31 total
Omurice
Ketchup fried rice wrapped in a thin egg omelette. A Japanese comfort food that went viral on TikTok and costs under $1.60 per serving.
$2.58/serving
$10.30 total
One-Pan Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
Chicken thighs and potatoes roasted together on one pan with garlic and herbs. Minimal prep, almost no cleanup, and consistently one of the most-recommended beginner recipes online.
$3.12/serving
$12.49 total
One-Pot Sausage Pasta
Sliced kielbasa and pasta cooked together in a tomato-broth sauce, all in one pot with nothing drained.
$0.82/serving
$3.28 total
Pasta Aglio e Olio
Spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, chili, and parmesan. Six ingredients, twenty minutes, one of the most repeated recipes on r/EatCheapAndHealthy.
$1.90/serving
$7.61 total
Pasta alla Vodka
Rigatoni in a creamy tomato sauce with garlic, butter, and a splash of vodka. The recipe that went viral on TikTok in 2020 and never really left.
$2.55/serving
$10.18 total
Pasta and Bean Soup
A thick Italian-style soup with two kinds of beans, pasta, and tomatoes. Very filling and cheap.
$1.95/serving
$7.79 total
Pasta e Ceci
An Italian chickpea and pasta soup that lands somewhere between a stew and a broth. Cheap, filling, and made entirely from pantry staples.
$0.85/serving
$3.39 total
Peanut Butter Noodles
Pasta tossed in a peanut butter and soy sauce dressing with garlic and ginger. Extremely cheap and quick.
$0.73/serving
$2.90 total
Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Rolled oats cooked in milk with peanut butter and brown sugar. The cheapest filling breakfast on this site.
$1.59/serving
$6.35 total
Pork Fried Rice
Ground pork, egg, and frozen vegetables fried with day-old rice in soy sauce and sesame oil.
$1.39/serving
$5.55 total
Potato and Egg Hash
Diced potatoes pan-fried with onion, peppers, and eggs. Works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
$2.62/serving
$10.47 total
Pulled Chicken Rice Bowls
Chicken thighs simmered in a smoky tomato sauce until shreddable, served over rice.
$2.07/serving
$8.29 total
Red Beans and Rice
Slow-simmered red kidney beans with smoked sausage, celery, and onion over white rice. A classic cheap meal.
$2.08/serving
$8.30 total
Red Lentil Coconut Soup
Red lentils cooked with coconut milk, tomatoes, and curry spices into a thick, warming soup. A different direction from the yellow dal already on this site.
$1.88/serving
$7.53 total
Rice and Peas
Jamaican-style kidney beans cooked with rice in coconut milk and thyme. Rich, filling, and naturally vegan.
$1.76/serving
$7.04 total
Sardine Pasta
Pasta with canned sardines, tomatoes, garlic, and chili. Faster than it sounds, cheaper than it tastes.
$3.27/serving
$13.06 total
Sausage and Lentil Soup
Sliced kielbasa, green lentils, and vegetables simmered in broth until thick and filling.
$2.11/serving
$8.42 total
Sausage and Potato Soup
A thick, smoky soup with kielbasa, potatoes, and vegetables. The kind of thing that fixes a bad day.
$3.02/serving
$12.08 total
Shakshuka
Eggs poached directly in a spiced tomato and chickpea sauce. One pan, minimal cleanup, ready in 30 minutes.
$2.82/serving
$11.28 total
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Ground beef simmered with crushed tomatoes, onion, and garlic over spaghetti — no heat, no frills.
$2.68/serving
$10.71 total
Spiced Chickpea and Tomato Stew
Chickpeas and cabbage simmered in a cumin-spiced tomato broth with a squeeze of lemon at the end.
$1.33/serving
$5.32 total
Spicy Pork Noodles
Ground pork and spaghetti tossed in a garlicky soy and sesame sauce with chili flakes and green onion.
$1.53/serving
$6.10 total
Split Pea Soup
A thick, filling green split pea soup with carrots and celery. High in protein and fiber, very low cost.
$1.09/serving
$4.34 total
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Real cheese sauce made from scratch over macaroni. Cheaper than the box stuff and considerably better.
$2.55/serving
$10.20 total
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Soup
Diced sweet potatoes and black beans simmered in a spiced tomato broth until thick.
$3.58/serving
$14.30 total
Taco Soup
Ground beef, beans, corn, and canned tomatoes simmered with taco spices. One of the most-saved recipes on Pinterest and Reddit for years, and it's obvious why.
$2.02/serving
$8.09 total
Teriyaki Chicken Rice
Chicken thighs glazed in a soy, brown sugar, and garlic sauce, served over rice.
$1.48/serving
$5.90 total
Tofu and Vegetable Stir-Fry
Crispy pan-fried tofu with frozen vegetables and a peanut-soy sauce over rice. Fully vegan and under $6.
$2.50/serving
$9.99 total
Tomato Orzo Soup
A simple tomato broth soup with small pasta and cabbage, seasoned with Italian herbs.
$1.99/serving
$7.97 total
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Pasta, canned tuna, frozen peas, and cream of mushroom soup baked with a breadcrumb topping. Classic comfort food.
$2.02/serving
$8.07 total
Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup
Cannellini beans and kale in a garlicky tomato broth with small pasta. A regular recommendation on r/EatCheapAndHealthy and Budget Bytes.
$3.43/serving
$13.72 total
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
All the ingredients of a cabbage roll — ground beef, rice, cabbage, tomatoes — cooked together in one pot without the rolling. Popular on Reddit as a lazy version of a classic.
$1.39/serving
$5.57 total
Veggie Lo Mein
Spaghetti stir-fried with cabbage, carrot, and egg in a soy-sesame sauce — a budget version of takeout lo mein.
$1.51/serving
$6.05 total
Yellow Lentil Dal
A spiced yellow lentil dish with tomato and onion, served over rice. One of the cheapest filling meals you can make.
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