You don't need lots of money to enjoy fancy-tasting food. These 10 easy recipes taste super fancy but won't cost you much. We'll show you how to make gourmet-style dishes with affordable ingredients and simple cooking tricks. You'll feel like you're dining in a fancy restaurant without spending a fortune. Let's get cooking!
AUTHOR: Ian Ferrero
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
A familiar comfort food for most, this cheap meal is super delicious and very easy to prepare. To spice things up, add some seasonings and toppings to the soup or sandwich to make it even better. Try things such as bacon, crackers, or potato chips!
2. Pasta
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
You can buy pasta in bulk for very cheap, and it is still incredibly delicious. Not only is pasta cost-efficient, but it is also very healthy and can fit into most people's diets. You can get creative with pasta, along with all the different options out there!
3.Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
This is one classic food many of us grew up on. Unless you have a peanut allergy, this can be a very quick and easy-to-put-together option. This is another food you can get creative with by trading out peanut butter for almond butter, or other spreads. There are plenty of different flavored jelly options available too, so have some fun with this one, and tantalize those taste buds!
4. Nachos
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Nachos are a straightforward thing to whip up, and you can do as much customizing as you want to them. You can add various beans, cheese, meats, chips, and vegetables to give them as much flavor and pop as you may want. This can also be a very nutritional-friendly food, based on what you may add. For a healthier version, skip the cheese, and double up on protein and veggies!
5. Fried Rice
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
A traditional meal prep food, fried rice can taste delicious if you make it with the right ingredients. It may take time to find what you like, but you can add healthy things like eggs, vegetables, or other meats like bacon or beef. This meal goes great as a base or side to plenty of dishes!
6. Tuna
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Tuna is fantastic when it comes to convenience, taste, and price. You can add many things to tuna, like mayo and other vegetables, to create a fun and flavorful tuna salad! Toast some bread and make it into a sandwich, too! With extremely cost-efficient tuna, you can buy a lot at a time and store it away for a while.
7. Soup
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Soup is a very traditional meal, with so many different options to choose from. You could make soup from scratch, which may cost more; however, you will have more to put away or freeze for later. Alternatively, you can buy it in a can, which is only a one-time use but is a lot cheaper.
8. Breakfast Sandwich
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
A breakfast sandwich is a great way to start your day, with many different ways to go about it. You can choose the type of bread, meat, cheese, egg, and overall toppings you prefer, making it precisely to your liking! Don't forget to finish it off with your favorite condiments or sauces!
9. Potatoes
While a potato by itself may not be a meal, it is definitely enough to fill us up. A potato is a super easy way to get in good nutrition. There are also plenty of ways to prepare this food staple, like microwaving, air frying, or mashing them up! If you're going for a simple baked potato, try adding different toppings that may already be in your fridge, like cheese, sour cream, or onions!
10. Quesadillas
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
With all of the ingredients needed to make a quesadilla, you could do so much with that alone. Quesadillas are great because they are cheap, and you can do whatever you want to. You can add meats, cheeses, or any vegetable you may wish to and dip it in things like salsa or sour cream.
Source: Reddit
While a potato by itself may not be a meal, it is definitely enough to fill us up. A potato is a super easy way to get in good nutrition. There are also plenty of ways to prepare this food staple, like microwaving, air frying, or mashing them up! If you're going for a simple baked potato, try adding different toppings that may already be in your fridge, like cheese, sour cream, or onions!
