Discover our 5 favourite midweek meals that are delicious, nutritious and all under £1* a portion.
Deciding what to have for dinner after a busy day is a niggle we can all relate to. Chuck in the added pressure of needing it to be quick, easy, nutritious, affordable – not to mention tasty – and it’s no wonder we fall back on expensive convenience foods when motivation is low.
But eating well on a budget doesn’t have to be boring – or mean hours in front of the cooker after a long day. From quick fixes to make-ahead slow-cooked dishes you can leave to tick away on a Sunday afternoon, our budget-friendly dinner ideas will make sure you have something good to come home to every night of the week.
We’re sharing our top 5 go-to delicious dinners that are quick to prepare – or can be made ahead – and cost no more than £1* per serving. What a warm welcome home.
£1 per portion
Healthy and nutritious, beans are an absolute powerhouse when it comes to eating well on a budget. Here we have Buddy’s deliciously smoky beans. This recipe is at the top of our £1 budget, but it’s jam-packed with veg and plant-based protein that we had to include it. Well done Buddy!
74p per portion
Your freezer is your friend if you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to eat more veg. Tenderstem broccoli is blitzed with frozen peas and veg to create a silky smooth sauce that really makes this quick and easy pasta dish.
83p per portion
Smoky spices, fiery chilli and zingy fresh coriander transform a tin of beans into these vibrant and filling Mexican-style bean burgers. The patties take minutes to make, but need a bit of chilling to firm up before cooking, so you could always make them the night before.
74p per portion
A classic for a reason, you can’t beat a plate of garlicky, tomatoey spaghetti for a budget-friendly midweek meal. This recipe takes literally minutes to prepare and is easily adaptable too: chuck in olives, anchovies, tuna, peas, spinach, rocket – whatever you fancy!
68p per portion
Lentils can get a bad rep for being a bit bland, but this smoky daal is something pretty special and a real batch-cook beauty. Blackening the aubergine means you get that distinctive smoky flavour, while the chilli and spices bring warmth to this humble, yet sophisticated dish.
Wanna get ahead for the morning? Check out our top 5 breakfast ideas for under £1 per portion
*Prices correct as of October 2022.
