Let’s face it, eating out at restaurants and fast food joints is not just bad for your wallet, it’s also bad for your health. Avoiding takeout food doesn’t have to mean that you need to suffer with boring, tasteless meals. There are plenty of tasty recipes out there that are filling, tasty, nutritious, and cost less than $5. If your wallet worked overtime this summer and you’re ready to stick to your budget this fall, here are ten tasty meals you can easily make at home for under $5.
Italian Mac ‘n Cheese
Who doesn’t love mac ‘n cheese? Think outside of the box. Think pasta carbonara meets mac ‘n cheese – so much cheesy delightfulness. All you need are kitchen staples like pasta, bacon, and eggs. Tip: Stock up on cheese when it’s on sale.
Kimchi Fried Rice
Fried rice, Kimchi (Korea’s wonderful staple of pickled veggies), all topped with a fried egg – as you delve into this dish, the egg yolk coats the entire dish making it oh so satisfying.
Corn and Black Bean Chili
Chilli is one of those dishes that’s great for making a batch, freezing it, and keeping it for future meals. Corn, black beans, and your favourite chili spices make this tasty and healthy. It’s the perfect comfort food to spice things up as the weather cools.
Warm Tofu with Spicy Garlic Sauce
For those tofu lovers, try a great spin on this ingredient by adding a tasty, simple spicy garlic sauce – think garlic, chili flakes, soy sauce, Worchester sauce, and a little bit of oil.
Tangy Meatballs
These are also great for also freezing for future meals. Make your basic meatballs and add your favourite Asian sauce. Combine over rice or with your favourite noodle.
Red Curry Lentil Soup
If you’re looking to boost your fibre and protein intake, this meal has got it all and tastes great. Plus, it’s super simple to make – onions, lentils, tomato sauce, and curry spices.
Asian Salmon Slaw
If you’ve got salmon on your mind, here’s a tasty way to incorporate it into your diet. A simple salad, a cabbage slaw topped with grilled or baked salmon doused in Asian-based flavours, like soy sauce and sesame oil. Look for salmon on sale, or buy frozen smoked salmon for a tasty but cost-efficient meal.
Eggplant Lasagna
Love lasagna but hate the calories that come with it? Well, why not try to swap out those lasagna sheets for eggplant? It tastes great and makes you feel slightly less guilty when adding all that cheese.
Garlic, Anchovy, and Kale Pasta
Simple, but delectable. For those who aren’t used to anchovies, they’re a great addition to a dish for adding a natural saltiness. Combine that with some kale and sautéed garlic in olive oil and you’ll be coming back for more.
Eggs and Bacon Salad
What’s better than bacon and eggs? Well, if you’re looking to add a tinge of health to that meal, make yourself a great salad, by adding in some shallots, toasted almonds, spinach, sprinkle it with bacon and add a poached egg on top. Voila!
When you’re looking to save a few bucks and still have great, tasty, homemade meals in your Ottawa apartment, use these simple, delicious ideas to help get you started.
