White Beans Braised with Spinach
$1.01 per serving

White Beans Braised with Spinach

A classic Tuscan recipe, cannellini (white) beans are combined with a splash of wine, garlic, olive ...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Easy Homemade Bread
24¢ per serving

Easy Homemade Bread

Homemade, fresh bread is simply the best. Not only is it economical, made from just 3 ingredients, b...

Twice-Baked Potatoes
31¢ per serving

Twice-Baked Potatoes

Perfect for the holidays, these elegant potatoes are so easy to make yet the presentation is somethi...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Mesquite Smoked Brisket (Done in your oven, no smoker or grill required!)
$2.07 per serving

Mesquite Smoked Brisket (Done in your oven, no smoker or grill required!)

Get ready for delicious, mouth-watering brisket without having to dust off your smoker or grill or s...

Japanese Soba Noodles with Fresh Vegetables
$1.51 per serving

Japanese Soba Noodles with Fresh Vegetables

Japanese soba (buckwheat) noodles are readily available in most grocery stores and are especially go...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Coconut Curried Lentils
$1.23 per serving

Coconut Curried Lentils

Creamy, hearty lentils that taste sweet and flavorful? Yes, thanks to this blend of Indian spices an...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Garlic and Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
$2.70 per serving

Garlic and Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Fragrant with lemon and garlic, this comfort supper is truly economical. A whole chicken is surprisi...

4.8 (6 reviews)
Classic Marinara Sauce
62¢ per serving

Classic Marinara Sauce

Most agree that marinara has roots in Naples and that cooks prepared this simple sauce for mariners ...

Strawberry Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette
$1.72 per serving

Strawberry Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Liven up your salad with this delightful and easy variation. Fresh strawberries add sweetness to dar...

Almond-Vanilla Granola
$1.43 per serving

Almond-Vanilla Granola

Granola usually costs a mini-fortune. We can't figure out why since it's made of pretty basic ingred...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Creamy Mac and Cheese
$2.10 per serving

Creamy Mac and Cheese

We've spent years perfecting this recipe— it's so creamy and decadent that we only serve it to frien...

Gazpacho
73¢ per serving

Gazpacho

Cool, refreshing, and bright with tomatoes, this soup originated in southern Spain, where summers ge...

Luscious Lemon Cake with Turmeric
34¢ per serving

Luscious Lemon Cake with Turmeric

This lemony confection is an ideal summer treat. Fresh lemon zest and turmeric give a bright yellow ...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Easy Chocolate Cake
28¢ per serving

Easy Chocolate Cake

Otherwise known as "Wacky Cake," this World War II-era confection was innovated from basic pantry st...

3.3 (4 reviews)
Flatbread Napoletana
$1.58 per serving

Flatbread Napoletana

Flatbread pizza is good, fast, and cheap! Our kitchen hackers discovered that an uncooked (raw) flou...

Veggie Fried Rice
95¢ per serving

Veggie Fried Rice

Foodie fried rice is a healthful and flavorful dish that can be as exotic or as basic as you like. Y...

5.0 (3 reviews)
White Lasagne with Spinach and Bechamel Sauce
$2.38 per serving

White Lasagne with Spinach and Bechamel Sauce

A pleasure to prepare, this unusual white lasagne has wonderful, complex flavor and a delightfully c...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Savory Red Pepper Bread Pudding
99¢ per serving

Savory Red Pepper Bread Pudding

Eggs, bright red peppers, tangy feta cheese, and bread are baked together in the rich tradition of E...

Mushrooms Stuffed with Chile & Onion
$1.67 per serving

Mushrooms Stuffed with Chile & Onion

Start with fresh mushroom caps (white or baby portabellas work nicely) and let nothing go to waste b...

5.0 (1 reviews)
No Image Available
30¢ per serving

Quick Chicken Broth

Homemade chicken broth is a delicious way to use the bones from a roasting chicken. It greatly enhan...

No Image Available
12¢ per serving

Perfect Pie Crust

Pie crust is an essential basic. We often just buy a prepared pie crust when we want one, but once i...

Chocolate Truffles
$1.02 per serving

Chocolate Truffles

These are the creamiest, most decadent treat — pure chocolate truffles. They are remarkably simple t...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Chocolate-Orange Spiced Banana Bread
41¢ per serving

Chocolate-Orange Spiced Banana Bread

We can't get enough of this decadent banana bread. It's a luxurious-tasting dessert (or breakfast, i...

4.7 (3 reviews)
Chili with Cinnamon and Cacao
$2.46 per serving

Chili with Cinnamon and Cacao

The classic Mexican pairing of chili pepper, tomato, and unsweetened chocolate gives a richness of f...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Sweet Potato Chili
$1.25 per serving

Sweet Potato Chili

On a cold day, a warm bowl of delicious chili makes for a perfect dinner. This versatile, plant-base...

Pesto for Pasta
$1.08 per serving

Pesto for Pasta

Fragrant and piquant, this traditional blend of nuts, fresh basil, a bit of garlic, cheese and oil i...

Zucchini and Carrot "Pasta" with Marinara
$1.98 per serving

Zucchini and Carrot "Pasta" with Marinara

Here's a satisfying way to meet your quota of veggies. Marinara is the most versatile of all tomato ...

Mulled Wine
$3.60 per serving

Mulled Wine

Winter is here, the holidays are near. We are in the mood for a cozy libation to enjoy at home aroun...

Pasta e Ceci Stew
$1.00 per serving

Pasta e Ceci Stew

It's getting to be soup season! Pasta e ceci, Italian pasta and chickpea stew, is a go-to for a quic...

Escarole Rice Soup
$1.84 per serving

Escarole Rice Soup

The sum here is definitely greater than the parts: a rosy broth, aromatic with garlic and a hint of ...

Turkey Noodle Soup
76¢ per serving

Turkey Noodle Soup

What to do with leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Don't throw away those bones... use them to make soup!...

Turkey Carver Sandwich
$1.16 per serving

Turkey Carver Sandwich

Wishing that Thanksgiving could last longer? The Turkey Carver sandwich is a great way to give fres...

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins
30¢ per serving

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

Muffins are a great breakfast treat. This version pairs fresh orange with chocolate chips and a touc...

Butternut Squash Soup
89¢ per serving

Butternut Squash Soup

This is our family's favorite butternut squash soup recipe, and we've tried many. Carrot and ginger ...

Creamy Polenta with Mushrooms
$2.41 per serving

Creamy Polenta with Mushrooms

This is quintessential, rustic Italian comfort food. Polenta differs slightly from what we know as c...

4.5 (2 reviews)
Cuban Picadillo
$1.96 per serving

Cuban Picadillo

Picadillo is Cuban home cooking at its best. While it appears in many variations across Latin Americ...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Chickpea, Tomato, Mint, and Feta Salad with Garlic-Parmesan Crostini
$2.80 per serving

Chickpea, Tomato, Mint, and Feta Salad with Garlic-Parmesan Crostini

This light but filling salad is loaded with protein and vitamins. Chickpeas are high in protein and ...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Chicken-Apple Sausage with Roasted Vegetables
$2.21 per serving

Chicken-Apple Sausage with Roasted Vegetables

This is what to cook when you have assorted vegetables on hand and not a lot of time to stand at the...

Easy Black Bean Posole
$1.04 per serving

Easy Black Bean Posole

Too good to be true? Only until you try this rustic, healthful vegetarian stew filled with authentic...

Coconut Chia Pudding
$1.56 per serving

Coconut Chia Pudding

Chia is the latest health craze, and with good reason—it's a superfood. Chia seeds are one of the be...

5.0 (4 reviews)
Farmhouse Sausage and Vegetable Soup
$1.94 per serving

Farmhouse Sausage and Vegetable Soup

Everyone is hungry, we forgot to shop, and of course the fridge is almost bare. This awesome acciden...

5.0 (5 reviews)
Chicken, Herb, and Sweet Corn Pie
$1.42 per serving

Chicken, Herb, and Sweet Corn Pie

Does it get any more comforting than this? Tender shredded chicken and corn baked in a creamy, herbe...

5.0 (2 reviews)
French Onion Soup
$2.57 per serving

French Onion Soup

French onion soup is a classic, originating as a super-inexpensive but warming supper in 18th-centur...

4.5 (2 reviews)
Chicken with Plum Tomato and Prosciutto
$3.04 per serving

Chicken with Plum Tomato and Prosciutto

So many of our beloved dishes come to us by way of adaptation from the original. This was especially...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Gemelli with Rustic Tuscan Sauce
$2.83 per serving

Gemelli with Rustic Tuscan Sauce

The Tuscan approach to food is probably the closest of all to our idealized vision of perfect countr...

5.0 (2 reviews)
Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Scramble
$1.41 per serving

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Scramble

Egg scrambles are an easy and versatile breakfast staple that we make at least once a week with vari...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Ginger Curried Lentils
$1.11 per serving

Ginger Curried Lentils

Here it is: our most inexpensive dinner ever, and the recipe that started the $5 Foodie experiment. ...

5.0 (2 reviews)
Butternut Squash and Kale Risotto
$3.57 per serving

Butternut Squash and Kale Risotto

This classic Italian rice is made with some of our favorite winter vegetables: butternut squash and ...

5.0 (2 reviews)
Green Chile and Lime Chicken Stew
$2.39 per serving

Green Chile and Lime Chicken Stew

This green chile chicken stew is one of our quickest dinners to prepare. We love making this on week...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Lemon-Spinach Orzo
$1.63 per serving

Lemon-Spinach Orzo

This light, flavorful dish is full of lemon-scented pasta, garlic, and hearty greens. It's so simple...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Broccoli with Beef and Ginger
$1.73 per serving

Broccoli with Beef and Ginger

Quick, flavorful, healthful, and inexpensive—that's a good stir-fry! In our recipe, a zesty ginger s...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Mediterranean Quinoa-Lentil Salad with Fresh Herbs
$2.57 per serving

Mediterranean Quinoa-Lentil Salad with Fresh Herbs

For a fresh take on a Mediterranean salad, we combined lentils, quinoa, fresh herbs, raisins, and cu...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Brie Panini with Fresh Pear and Red Fruit Jam
$1.70 per serving

Brie Panini with Fresh Pear and Red Fruit Jam

A luscious combination of creamy cheese and slightly crisp pear slices grilled in a pan makes for a ...

4.5 (6 reviews)
Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes
$1.55 per serving

Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes

We love pancakes for a lazy weekend breakfast. This version is extra flavorful—and healthful—with wh...

Blackberry-Lemon Muffins
34¢ per serving

Blackberry-Lemon Muffins

These homemade treats are not only easy to make, they are delicious, much healthier and, of course, ...

4.8 (4 reviews)
Oatmeal with Apple and Apricots
96¢ per serving

Oatmeal with Apple and Apricots

Forget prepackaged oatmeal, which can be pricey and ordinary. Buy rolled oats in bulk for just penni...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Olive and Herb Tuna Wrap
$1.59 per serving

Olive and Herb Tuna Wrap

Tuna is an excellent source of protein (here 15 grams per serving!), B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty a...

3.5 (2 reviews)
Orange and Honey Glazed Carrots
59¢ per serving

Orange and Honey Glazed Carrots

Carrots with green stems, when available, make an especially eye-catching presentation for this side...

Orange-Banana French Toast
$1.17 per serving

Orange-Banana French Toast

This ridiculously inexpensive breakfast is inspired by the New Orleans classic, bananas foster. Fren...

5.0 (2 reviews)
Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Rapini
$1.51 per serving

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Rapini

Orecchiette is paired with sweet Italian sausage and hearty greens in a white wine garlic sauce in t...

Best Summertime Pasta with Fresh Tomato, Basil, and Garlic
$1.73 per serving

Best Summertime Pasta with Fresh Tomato, Basil, and Garlic

This wins the vote among the Foodie Chefs for all-time best late summer eating, and it's truly fun t...

Black Bean, Corn, and Zucchini Fritters with Creamy Dipping Sauce
$1.52 per serving

Black Bean, Corn, and Zucchini Fritters with Creamy Dipping Sauce

These savory pancakes are a great way to enjoy many different vegetables and create a satisfying and...

4.5 (2 reviews)
Bacon-Scallion Quesadillas
$1.15 per serving

Bacon-Scallion Quesadillas

This simple, zesty dish relies on tortillas to make the budget work. It’s filling and quick to prepa...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Asparagus with Bowtie Pasta
$1.77 per serving

Asparagus with Bowtie Pasta

The day that all the beautiful dark green asparagus hits the market, it is spring. On Sunday, a day ...

4.0 (2 reviews)
Lime-Coconut Green Curry with Chicken
$2.23 per serving

Lime-Coconut Green Curry with Chicken

Green curry with lime is one of those dishes—when made this way—that leaves guests swooning and dema...

3.0 (2 reviews)
Pan-Fried Noodles with Tofu and Soy-Chili Sauce
$2.08 per serving

Pan-Fried Noodles with Tofu and Soy-Chili Sauce

This stir-fried pan noodle dish is a favorite with foodies of all ages—even our 2-year-old can't get...

5.0 (2 reviews)
Panko Fried Chicken Sandwiches
$2.82 per serving

Panko Fried Chicken Sandwiches

The fried-chicken sandwich is an indulgent classic. Here crunchy panko breadcrumbs give texture to a...

Penne with Smoked Gouda, Bell Pepper, and Spinach
$1.90 per serving

Penne with Smoked Gouda, Bell Pepper, and Spinach

Here's a quick and tasty pasta—with our Italian roots, we never get enough pasta! The foodie twist i...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Pink Shrimp Sauce with Linguine
$1.90 per serving

Pink Shrimp Sauce with Linguine

A pink sauce delicately laced with shrimp, wine, and cream melds with linguine for a romantic and lu...

Potatoes Gratin with Glazed Carrots
$2.59 per serving

Potatoes Gratin with Glazed Carrots

The potato is an excellent, inexpensive staple. For centuries it's been known that potatoes contain ...

4.5 (2 reviews)
Puerto Rican Chicken and Cabbage Stew
$2.26 per serving

Puerto Rican Chicken and Cabbage Stew

In college, a classmate of mine shared her family's recipe for this delicious, filling and inexpensi...

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts
72¢ per serving

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts

Roasted Brussels sprouts are delish, easy to prepare, and good for you. The toasted walnuts compleme...

Rum Chocolate Ricotta
$1.62 per serving

Rum Chocolate Ricotta

Chocolate, honey, and rum whipped together with ricotta cheese make for a denser, more intense desse...

4.0 (2 reviews)
Salad Greens with Raspberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette
$1.11 per serving

Salad Greens with Raspberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette

A treat to accompany dinner on Valentines Day, or any day, fresh salad greens are enhanced by the ma...

Shepherd's Pie
$3.82 per serving

Shepherd's Pie

This is a lighter take on the classic dish, which originated in Britain as a cheap but hearty meal m...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
$1.93 per serving

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

The fastest, cheapest, most elegant main dish ever. How and where this fabulous creation originated ...

5.0 (5 reviews)
Spinach and Mushroom Crepes
$2.11 per serving

Spinach and Mushroom Crepes

The crepe is a surprisingly economical treat, despite its glamorous French associations and astronom...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Squash Stuffed with Spicy Beef
$2.51 per serving

Squash Stuffed with Spicy Beef

This is a wonderful warming dinner, perfect to make during winter when squash is in season (and on s...

Summer Salad with Lemon Farro
$5.00 per serving

Summer Salad with Lemon Farro

Contrasting color, texture, and sweet, sour, and salty flavors make a salad exciting. In this favori...

Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Corn Tacos with Creamy Salsa Verde
$1.56 per serving

Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Corn Tacos with Creamy Salsa Verde

Tacos are always a welcome economical dinner, and can be made countless ways. We love this flavorful...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Tart Fresh Cranberry Relish
50¢ per serving

Tart Fresh Cranberry Relish

These beautiful seasonal berries need no cooking in this upgrade (in our opinion!) of sugary, cooked...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Tea Sandwiches
$1.32 per serving

Tea Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches somehow transform basic ingredients into a special, tasty, bite-size treat. Whether y...

5.0 (2 reviews)
Tuscan White Bean Soup
69¢ per serving

Tuscan White Bean Soup

With the first cool weather come thoughts of soup—warming, nutritious, tasty! In Tuscany, cannellini...

Simple Spicy Paella
$3.41 per serving

Simple Spicy Paella

At last, a paella recipe that fits in a frugal foodie budget! Paella is the national dish of Spain, ...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Simple Veggie Quiche
$1.05 per serving

Simple Veggie Quiche

Quiche is a perfect, versatile dish that is easier to make than you might think, and is incredibly e...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Velvety Corn Chowder
61¢ per serving

Velvety Corn Chowder

This creamy, rich-tasting chowder is actually good for you. It's low in fat, and made with little sa...

Brunswick Stew
$1.24 per serving

Brunswick Stew

Corn, tomatoes, and lima beans simmered with chicken make for comfort food at its best. This colorfu...

5.0 (3 reviews)
Apple Berry Crisp
93¢ per serving

Apple Berry Crisp

Tart apples and colorful berries, cinnamon-scented and topped with hearty and healthful oats—it's th...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Andalusian Lentil Soup
$1.03 per serving

Andalusian Lentil Soup

This lentil soup is the best we've ever tasted—really! It has its origins in the North African spice...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Almond Cake
$1.19 per serving

Almond Cake

Inspired by artist Claude Monet’s favorite confection, this cake is subtle in taste, redolent of alm...

4.5 (2 reviews)
Zucchini and Goat Cheese Omelette with Fingerling Potatoes
$2.82 per serving

Zucchini and Goat Cheese Omelette with Fingerling Potatoes

The omelette is a French classic, and it makes it onto our list for its super low cost and versatili...

Sausage, Peppers and Onions
$2.20 per serving

Sausage, Peppers and Onions

Fun to cook over an open fire in a cast iron pan, this summery classic takes little labor, whether y...

BBQ-Baked Beans
68¢ per serving

BBQ-Baked Beans

Fun to cook over an open fire in a cast iron pan, this summery classic takes little labor, whether y...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Latin-Style Black Beans and Rice
52¢ per serving

Latin-Style Black Beans and Rice

There's nothing quite like a big pot of delicious Latin-style beans. Beans are among the least expen...

Fourth of July Cake
$1.00 per serving

Fourth of July Cake

It wouldn't be the Fourth of July without this cake. So carefree, and you can share the fun by letti...

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas
$1.73 per serving

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas

Enchiladas are simple, delicious and, of course, wildly inexpensive. What we like about this version...

Green Chile Chicken and Vegetable Enchiladas
$2.08 per serving

Green Chile Chicken and Vegetable Enchiladas

These are the tastiest, easiest enchiladas. Smothered in a tangy green chile sauce, tender chicken a...

Creamy Homemade Hummus
$1.08 per serving

Creamy Homemade Hummus

Hummus is incredibly easy to make at home. This recipe calls for mainly pantry ingredients, and is a...

5.0 (1 reviews)
Asparagus and Eggs with Creamy Lemon Sauce
$1.46 per serving

Asparagus and Eggs with Creamy Lemon Sauce

A springtime treat, bright-green asparagus spears are topped with pan-poached eggs. The creamy mayo-...