If your grocery bill feels like it’s growing faster than your kids, you’re not imagining it. Food prices have been one of the biggest drivers of cost-of-living pressure for Australian households over the past few years. The good news? With a little planning, you can still put healthy, filling dinners on the table without blowing the budget.
Inspired by a recent article on cheap, healthy meals under $20 – think simple recipes built around budget-friendly staples you can grab at Coles, Woolies or Aldi.
What does “cheap” look like ?
Focused on dinners that typically come in around $3–$8 per serve here when you:
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Choose supermarket home brands where you can
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Buy meat in larger packs and freeze portions
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Build meals around rice, pasta, potatoes, legumes and seasonal veg
Budget-friendly dinner ideas
Use these ideas as a starting point and adjust for your family’s tastes and what’s on special this week.
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Chicken and capsicum tacos
Soft tortillas, chicken thighs, capsicum, onion and jarred salsa make an easy, hands-off taco night. Swap in black beans or kidney beans to stretch the meat further. -
Rice and bean burrito bowls
Cook up a big pot of brown rice, then top with beans, tomato, spring onion, grated cheese and a dollop of Greek yoghurt. It’s high in fibre, filling and flexible. -
Sheet-pan chicken and veg
Toss chicken thighs, potatoes, carrot and frozen mixed veg with olive oil, salt and herbs, then roast everything on one tray. Minimal prep, minimal washing up. -
Loaded baked sweet potatoes
Roast whole sweet potatoes, then split and load them with beans, cheese, yoghurt and any leftover roast veg. Great way to use up odds and ends in the fridge. -
BBQ chook salad bowls
Grab a supermarket BBQ chicken, shred it over mixed leaves, tomatoes, cucumbers and whatever’s in season, then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic. One chicken can usually stretch to at least two dinners for a family when you bulk it out with veg. -
Veggie-packed frittata
Eggs, leftover roast veg, frozen peas and cheese baked in a pan make an easy “breakfast for dinner” that’s kind on the wallet. Add a simple side salad and toast. -
Mince and lentil pasta sauce
Brown beef or pork mince, then stir through tinned lentils and tomatoes to bulk out the protein without doubling the cost. Serve over pasta and freeze extra portions. -
Chickpea curry with rice
Use tinned chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, curry paste and coconut milk, then add whatever vegetables you have on hand. Serve with rice and naan or flatbread. -
Stir-fry with frozen veg
Frozen stir-fry mixes are often cheaper than fresh and help cut down on waste. Add sliced chicken, tofu or egg and a quick soy–garlic–ginger sauce, then serve with rice or noodles. -
Soup and toast night
A big pot of vegetable and lentil soup with toast or cheese toasties on the side can feed a crowd for very little. Freeze leftovers for a future “no-cook” night.
Why this matters for your money
Food is one of the few areas in your budget where you can usually find quick wins without needing a pay rise or a whole new job. Swapping just two takeaway dinners a week for simple home-cooked meals like these can add up to hundreds – even thousands – of dollars a year freed up for your bigger goals.
That extra breathing room in your cash flow can be the difference between “just getting by” and being able to build an emergency fund, clear bad debt faster, or get yourself in a position to buy or invest sooner.
