Change Your Life Chicken is a fabulous recipe for chicken thighs! Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches? I like it mixed with a bit of mayo and chopped tomatoes and served with crackers. I like to wait for a good sale and then stock up!

Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals. A little can go a long way in dishes like a breakfast casserole for example, making it very cost effective, especially if you purchase it on sale.

Hotdogs could also be used in similar ways! Eggs can be a great cheap source of protein. I say can because lately in my area the price of eggs has more than doubled. So, take this one with a grain of salt and be sure to check your local prices for eggs.

Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice with a lot of health benefits and is still a great cheap food. I cook my brown rice with this method and it turns out perfectly every time!

I use them often for oatmeal, baked oatmeal , granola , cookies, muffins, and even in meatloaf! While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains.

Check the different stores around you to see which ones have a markdown cart in their bakery section — many of them do! Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals.

At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money. I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry. Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home. Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff.

Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup. Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right?

And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion! Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive.

Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids.

A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:. Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc. And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them!

Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget. Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed. However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices.

Want to get better at meal planning regularly? Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder. What are some of your favorite cheap foods to buy on a budget?

Any favorite recipes? Please share in the comments! Looking for more ways to save at the grocery store? Check out this post for 15 ways to save money on groceries!

Apples Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home. Bananas Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option.

Frozen Vegetables Frozen green beans, peas, etc. Carrots Carrots are a staple around here. Healthy and cheap, they make the perfect snack! Lettuce Buy it uncut and unwashed if you want to save money! Thankfully they are very economical. Potatoes I generally find that a big bag of Russet potatoes is the cheapest option.

Whatever fresh vegetables are on sale Check the ad for your local store to see what fresh produce is on sale! Whole Chicken Cooking a whole chicken and deboning it is a bit of extra work but it will save you money on your groceries!

Chicken Breasts Chicken breasts are not the cheapest cut of chicken but if you stretch them ie: one chicken breast cut up with tons of veggies for stir fry they can be quite cost effective. Chicken Thighs Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive and are very flavorful.

Roast it, use it in a stir fry, or make broccoli cheddar soup. Frozen green beans are an absolute staple in my home. While canned green beans are also cheap, I prefer the crisp and freshness of the long thin frozen green beans.

Use them as a side dish like garlic green beans , in a soup, a stir fry, or Cowboy casserole. Frozen mixed vegetables are great to have on hand for casseroles, stir fry, fried rice, or a quick and easy side dish. Spinach is an excellent versatile green. You can eat it as a salad, in a soup, blended in a smoothie, sautéd with eggs, or on top of a sandwich.

I often sing the praises of how economical a whole chicken is. Watch my video and read my post on how I get multiple meals from one chicken. It is a great way to stretch your food. Not only do you get the meat, you also get the bones to make broth!

As far as beef goes, ground will be your most budget friendly option. To get the best price, wait for it to go on sale and stock up on the sale price.

Chicken thighs are one of my favorite meats. They don't dry out as easily as breasts and they are more flavorful in my opinion. Try my grilled chicken thighs or sheet pan herb roasted chicken thighs with vegetables. Out of all of the cuts of chicken, drumsticks are probably the cheapest.

They are also very kid friendly. Try my oven baked bbq chicken legs for a great cheap meal. Pork is often less expensive than beef and is very delicious. I often find large pork roasts on sale for a great price which can be stretched for multiple meals.

Also pork chops often go on sale which are great for grilling or for skillet pork chops. Canned tuna is great for tuna salad, but there is so much more you can do with this frugal protein.

Canned salmon for salmon patties was a frugal staple in my childhood home. When we were broke, we ate salmon patties and I think they are delicious! Eggs are an excellent cheap protein source and incredibly versatile. Hard boiled, soft boiled, poached, fried, scrambled for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Make a vegetable frittata or egg casserole. Make a fried egg sandwich, French toast, or egg salad. Even if you buy high end eggs, they are still one of the least expensive protein sources around, second to legumes.

If you enjoy them, lentils should be in every frugal pantry. They are high in fiber and full of nutrition. They are great in soup, sloppy Joes, curries, and my favorite lentils and rice. White beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, black beans are all super cheap and a definite buy if you are on a budget.

I love a big pot of slow cooker pinto beans and cornbread. Total comfort food and ultra cheap. Dry beans are more economical than canned, but they do require some time to prepare. Read: WAYS TO USE LEFTOVER BEANS. For emergencies and when you need something super fast, canned beans should be another cheap pantry staple.

You can make inexpensive crispy black bean tacos or chickpea curry. Both are very delicious and frugal. Read: 30 AWESOME RECIPES WITH BEANS. There's a reason why when people talk about cheap food they call it a rice and beans budget.

Rice is very inexpensive and filling. It is also extremely versatile. Read: 20 DELICIOUS RECIPES USING RICE. Oatmeal is a very inexpensive breakfast option and much cheaper than cereal. I also love making oat muffins for snacks or breakfast.

Pasta is the ultimate cheap food and also great for beginner cooks. It can be as simple as buttered noodles, pasta with peas and bacon , or paired with pasta sauce. Pasta sauce also is a great cheap food to have on hand for a quick and easy meal with pasta. Eat it meatless, with poached eggs, or chickpeas for a very frugal meal.

This is more of a southern food, but grits are very cheap and stretch a long way. It makes for a cheap breakfast item or inexpensive side dish.

Cornmeal is great to have for homemade cornbread, breading foods, or corn cakes. I don't often use cornmeal in my kitchen, but it is very inexpensive and deserves its place on the cheap grocery list.

Corn tortillas are an inexpensive alternative to flour tortillas. Use them in enchiladas , tacos, or slice them and crisp them up for tortilla soup. Canned tomato products come in so handy. Tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato puree are all very versatile and inexpensive.

You can make a pasta sauce, pizza sauce, put it in a soup, or make sloppy Joes. I always have a couple of varieties in my pantry. Skip the bags of popcorn and go for the kernels.

It is a frugal high fiber snack and very kid friendly. Use an air popper or make stovetop popcorn. A jar of peanut butter stretches a long way for sandwiches, snacks or stirred into oatmeal or smoothies.

It's another frugal protein source and kid friendly. Flour is very inexpensive per pound and can be used in so many ways. Make pancakes or waffles, biscuits , tortillas, bread , homemade desserts, use as a thickener for gravy, or bread chicken tenders. Yeast is not a necessity, but if you want to make your own bread products, it is recommended.

Try my pizza dough or whole wheat bread. If you are going to bake, sugar is an inexpensive sweetener to have in your pantry. Even organic sugar is inexpensive compared to other sweetening agents.

Another staple baking supply, baking powder is cheap and great for getting that rise in your homemade baked goods.

Similar to baking powder, baking soda is also a cheap baking staple. Bonus: It also makes a dirt cheap deodorizer for your fridge and a great soap scum buster for tubs and sinks!

REAL FOOD MEAL PLAN FOR THE BROKE. It was definitely a stretch for us, but doable. Week 5: Grocery shopping on a budget. Read my E-book for loads more grocery savings tips!

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Carrots, potatoes and bananas are usually cheap and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Get seasonings from the dollar store. They're usually 1 lbs bag of rice ($). Four pounds of whatever vegetable is in season (zucchini is $lb, so $). That's 14 meals for $, just over Missing

Low-cost grocery finds - 5 Cheap Groceries You Should Always Stock Up On · Rice and Beans · Potatoes · Jarred Items · Herb Purées · Tomato Paste Carrots, potatoes and bananas are usually cheap and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Get seasonings from the dollar store. They're usually 1 lbs bag of rice ($). Four pounds of whatever vegetable is in season (zucchini is $lb, so $). That's 14 meals for $, just over Missing

If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. Get to the checkout line of any grocery store these days and you may be shocked to see the amount at the bottom of your receipt.

One of the best ways to find cheap groceries is to create a budget-friendly, healthy grocery list and stick to it. By prioritizing seasonal items, frozen foods and certain cuts of meat and seafood, shopping strategically can help keep sticker shock to a minimum.

The key to locating cheap groceries is to create a system for shopping, and that begins before you even grab a cart. Start by identifying the closest supermarkets to you hello, high gas prices!

and cross check the cost of your favorite items online before you shop. Think about what you spend the most on and prioritize finding the best price for those items.

The next step is to follow that quintessential shopping advice: Don't go to the grocery store hungry. You're much more likely to make impulse and unhealthy purchases if you do, so shop after a meal or grab a healthy snack before heading to the store.

And remember: The cheapest groceries are not always the most nutritious; consider spending slightly more for foods that are filling and nutrient-dense.

For tips and recommendations for a more economical shopping experience, see below for advice from the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab. Fruit and vegetables are among the groceries with the largest price jumps lately , but you can still find affordable produce by buying seasonally.

Purchasing when produce is abundant helps lower the cost and will all but assure the best taste and highest levels of nutrition. Seasonal Fruits. Seasonal Vegetables. Another way to save money on produce is to opt for fruit and vegetables that have a longer shelf-life.

For example, to help extend your grocery dollars, choose apples over berries or carrots or celery over leafy greens. Generally, some of the cheapest fruit and vegetables year-round tend to be bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and sweet potatoes.

Meat can be the most expensive category for most food budgets, and can account for a large portion of the overall grocery bill. To save money, opt for the ground variety of your favorite protein. Ground beef, chicken or turkey are super versatile, easily frozen and can be used in many different recipes.

Larger cuts of meat will usually cost less per pound, but they may require marinating, braising and slow cooking to bring out the tenderness. If you do prefer to include cheaper cuts of meat, consider including:.

Buying a whole chicken instead of pre-portioned cuts can also save money and the leftovers, including the bones, are great for making chicken soup or bone broth.

Consider cutting costs even further by implementing Meatless Monday or meatless dinners a few nights a week. Swap out meat for healthy plant-based meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, beans and legumes, as your protein source.

The cost of fresh seafood may also vary seasonally. According to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership , fresh Alaskan salmon is less expensive during the summer when the fish are more abundant.

Other popular choices that may be worth buying seasonally include Albacore tuna in season July-October and halibut in season March-November. Other ways to save money on seafood:.

Whether you prefer dairy or non-dairy, you can find competitive prices due to the sheer number of products on the market. While non-dairy milks may be more expensive than dairy, some non-dairy brands offer shelf stable options that can be bought in bulk when they're on sale.

Just note that many dairy and non- dairy milks and yogurts contain added sugars and sometimes saturated fats. Always check the label before purchasing.

Rice is a chameleon in the kitchen. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it tastes delicious in almost any capacity. Is there anything more comforting or delicious than a bowl of warm, buttered pasta? Stock up on your favorite noodle when it's on sale. Dried pasta can last in your pantry for years.

Instant potatoes have come a long way from the grainy glop you may remember from childhood. While nothing beats the real thing, you can find dozens of different flavors at the store, and they will last in your pantry much longer.

Eat these as a side dish or add a tablespoon to sauces or soups to act as a thickener. Aside from the obvious burritos, tacos, quesadillas, oh my! My current favorite use of a tortilla is a peanut butter and jelly roll up. Here is another item that you can use for tons of different applications.

Toss into a salad or eat by the handful. I particularly love raisins and dried apricots. Oats give you a huge dosage of fiber, and you can use them in so many different ways. Make your own oat milk, create a new granola combination, make cookies or protein bites, or use it on its own for a hearty breakfast.

Add them to soups, use as a ground beef substitute, or make your own dal with them. A one pound bag also costs less than two dollars and will last you a long time. The produce section usually comes with a hefty price tag. An individual banana usually costs around a quarter. You can also break off a few bananas from the bunch if you do not want to buy half a dozen at once.

Celery sticks are perfect for sweet and savory snacks. Dip into ranch or smother with peanut butter—the choice is yours. You can also break individual stalks of celery off of a bunch just like you can with bananas. Roast in the oven for a delicious side dish or eat straight from the fridge.

At first glance of the price tag, apples may not seem like the cheapest fruit at the store. However, you can usually get several apples per pound, making the cost per apple much lower. Colorful bell peppers are a perfect veggie to add bulk to any meal. Not only will they add delicious flavor, they will also provide texture to any dish.

Onions are another ingredient that adds flavor to every dish and are usually pretty cheap! When it comes to produce, however, I suggest purchasing items in bulk. Pre-cut fresh fruits and veggies usually come with a much higher price tag, and you can prepare your produce at home for a fraction of the cost.

You may also find that frozen fruits and vegetables are most convenient for your meal prep and last longer, too! This old fashioned potato soup recipe adds gnocchi, shredded chicken, and bacon for a hearty dinner idea ready in under an hour. These easy meal prep recipes will give you weekly meal inspiration to make for healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinners for you or your family.

We all still want to eat well in between meals. Fun and delicious snacks are much easier to make affordable than you may think. Skip the potato chips and reach for popcorn instead. Microwave popcorn is usually less expensive per bag than regular chips.

You can get even thriftier by buying kernels and popping your own corn on the stove. Who said a cheese board had to be fancy? These usually ring up at less than five dollars.

You can find nuts for pretty cheap at the supermarket. Bonus points if you buy them in bulk for extra savings. Be sure to check out your pantry when you want to munch between meals. With a little creativity, you should have plenty of goodies on hand to help tide you over.

Here are a few more helpful hints to keep your budget in check. Having a detailed list is key when it comes to a cheap grocery list. I particularly love this adorable meal planner notepad you can use for every meal.

It also includes a section to write your weekly shopping list. One of the biggest ways that we overspend on groceries? Food waste! Before your next grocery store trip, make sure to do an inventory of everything that you currently have on hand. Just because you have leftovers does not mean that you have to eat the same thing for every single meal.

The leftover pulled pork you have would be great on nachos or on a baked potato. Have fun with it and get creative! Fresh produce can be some of the most expensive things at the store.

Although the frozen section may not look as appealing as the colorful produce section, the nutritional benefits are the same. A win-win situation if you ask me! I love having frozen mixed vegetables on hand to quickly throw into stir frys or soups.

Must like their frozen counterparts, canned foods are packaged at their nutritional peak and many of those nutrients are retained through the canning process. The best part? My local farmers market runs incredible deals on fresh produce just before closing up for the day. Do you love a ribeye steak but hate the price?

While there are certainly more prime cuts, if you are marinating or slow cooking, you may be able to save money by choosing a more traditionally tough or fatty portion.

Many grocery stores will have sections set aside for food that is nearing its expiration date. These items, most often found in the meat and dairy sections, are great options to save a little extra money, especially if you are shopping for ingredients for a meal that same day or the next!

Although receiving extra emails from your local supermarket may be one more item you send to your spam folder, in many cases, joining the loyalty program is free and comes with tons of perks. There are numerous cash back apps that make saving money on your grocery bill a breeze.

Apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards offer coupons and cash back on everyday grocery items when you scan your receipts. Or, use apps like KCL or Flipp to find and organize digital coupons and savings from the retailers that you shop at most often!

For common ingredients, such as rice, beans, or nuts, buying in bulk can not only save you and the planet from unnecessary packaging, but also big money!

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