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Easy Quick Recipes For When You're In a Time Crunch
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items Recipes don't always need to be expensive. Sometimes when you don't have time to make healthy meals a quick and nutritious option is a great choice.
Sections
4
Low Cost Breakfast
Grab-and-Go "Work & School Lunches"
Hearty "One-Pot" Dinners
Cheap Snacks & Sweet Treats
Low Cost Breakfast
Skip the $7 latte. These recipes use pantry staples like oats and eggs to create filling, high-energy meals for under $1 per serving. Quick, simple, and budget-friendly.
How-to: Mix 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup milk (any kind), 1 tbsp peanut butter, and half a mashed banana in a jar. Shake it up and let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Top with the other half of the banana before eating.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
How-to: Whisk 2 eggs with a pinch of salt and a handful of shredded cabbage or onions. Fry the egg mixture like a thin omelet. While the top is still slightly wet, press a flour tortilla onto it. Flip together, cook for 30 seconds, then roll it up li...
Home-made Ugandan Rolex Recipe
How-to: Fill a large mug 1/3 of the way with marinara or pasta sauce. Crack one egg on top (pierce the yolk once with a toothpick to prevent "explosions"). Microwave for 60–90 seconds until the white is set. Dip toast right into the mug!
Microwave Shakshuka in a Mug
Grab-and-Go "Work & School Lunches"
Stop overpaying for soggy takeout. These "no-heat" or "prep-ahead" lunches focus on bulk-buy proteins like chickpeas and beans to keep your midday meal fresh and affordable.
How-to: Put 1/2 cup dry couscous in a bowl with 1/2 cup frozen peas. Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over them and cover the bowl with a plate for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, add a splash of olive oil and salt, and you're done. Add any other ingredients...
Smashed Chickpea Salad Wraps
How-to: Boil the ramen noodles for 2 minutes (discard the flavor packet). Drain them. In a pan, sauté any frozen veggies with a splash of soy sauce and a teaspoon of sugar. Toss the noodles in the pan for 1 minute to crisp them up.
Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
How-to: Layer cooked white rice, canned black beans (rinsed), and canned corn in a bowl. Add a big spoonful of jarred salsa and a squeeze of lime. If you have an extra dollar, a dollop of Greek yogurt or a boiled egg works as a cheap sour cream sub.
Black Bean & Corn Burrito Bowls
How-to: Put 1/2 cup dry couscous in a bowl with 1/2 cup frozen peas. Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over them and cover the bowl with a plate for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, add a splash of olive oil and salt, and you're done.
10-minute couscous salad recipe
Hearty "One-Pot" Dinners
Big flavor, small price tag, and even smaller cleanup. These "stretchable" meals are designed to feed a family (or provide tomorrow's leftovers) using simple, one-pan techniques.
How-to: Chop whatever veggies are in your crisper (carrots, onions, potatoes) and slice up 2 sausages. Toss everything on a baking sheet with oil and salt. Roast at 200°C (400°F) for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Cool down and enjoy.
Pan Sausage and "Fridge-Clear" Veggies
How-to: Boil pasta and drain. Mix in a can of tuna and a jar of alfredo or white sauce. Put it in a baking dish, crunch up a handful of potato chips or crackers on top, and bake for 10 minutes until the top is golden.
Tuna Pasta Bake with a Crunch
How-to: Rinse 1 cup of red lentils. Boil in 3 cups of water with a teaspoon of turmeric and garlic powder. Once the lentils turn into a thick "mush" (about 15 mins), stir in a little butter or oil and salt. It’s the ultimate cheap comfort food.
Quick & Easy Red Lentil Dahl
How-to: Place a flour tortilla in a dry pan over medium heat. Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce and a sprinkle of cheese. Cover the pan with a lid for 2 minutes until the cheese melts and the bottom of the tortilla is cracker-crisp.
Easy Tortilla Pizza Recipe
How-to: Cube one sweet potato and boil in water or broth until soft. Stir in 2 tbsp peanut butter and a dash of curry powder (or hot sauce). Simmer until the sauce thickens into a creamy gravy. Serve over rice of your choice.
Creamy Peanut & Sweet Potato Curry
Cheap Snacks & Sweet Treats
Proof that you don't need a bakery budget to satisfy a sugar craving. These 3-ingredient treats use seasonal fruit and basic staples to keep your snack game strong for pennies.
How-to: Peel and freeze 2 overripe bananas. Once frozen, toss them in a blender or food processor with a splash of milk. Blend until it reaches the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. Eat immediately! If you a little bit extra you can always add coc...
3-Ingredient Banana "Nice Cream"
How-to: Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips in the microwave. Spread the melted chocolate onto a piece of wax paper or a plate. Swirl in 2 tbsp of peanut butter with a knife. Freeze for 20 minutes, then crack into pieces. If you want it a bit fancier you ca...
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark (Low Sugar)
How-to: Slice an apple into thin wedges. Sauté in a pan with a tiny bit of butter or water and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon. Cook for 5 minutes until soft. It tastes exactly like the inside of an apple pie.
Easy Cinnamon Apples (5 minutes)