Budget Bytes

Budget Friendly Meal Prep

A little bit indulgent, a little bit healthy, this Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodle Meal Prep is a flavorful, filling, and DELICIOUS lunch! BudgetBytes.com

Planning, preparing, and portioning your meals ahead of time is one of the most effective tools for keeping your food budget in check. We have 20+ Budget friendly meal prep ideas to keep your taste buds happy, your belly full, and your budget on track! New to meal prepping? Check out our Meal Prep 101 before you begin. (pictured: Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodle Meal Prep)

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Cold Peanut Noodle Salad divided between meal prep containers, dressing being poured.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

$5.30 recipe / $1.33 serving
A half stirred Lemon Berry Yogurt Breakfast Bowl with a cut lemon and some strawberries near by.

Lemon Berry Yogurt Breakfast Bowls

Four glass bowl veggie snack packs with ranch dressing, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Veggie Snack Packs

$5.89 recipe / $1.47 each
Four glass meal prep containers lined up with roasted vegetable couscous. Two with chicken and two with chickpeas

Roasted Vegetable Couscous Meal Prep

$12.01 recipe / $4.00 serving
Three rectangular glass meal prep containers with Ground Turkey Stir Fry and Brown Rice

Ground Turkey Stir Fry

$7.41 recipe / $1.48 serving
Three Salsa Chicken Meal Prep Containers in a row

Salsa Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

$11.78 recipe / $2.95 serving
Creamy Dijon Dressing being Drizzled onto a Roasted Brussels Sprout Bowl

Roasted Brussels Sprout Bowls

$7.46 recipe / $1.87 serving
Sesame Tempeh Bowls being eaten with chopsticks

Sesame Tempeh Bowls

$6.74 recipe / $1.69 serving
Close up of a bowl of Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms with Herby Kale Mashed Potatoes

Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms with Herby Kale Mashed Potatoes

$7.17 recipe / $1.79 serving
One Loaded Sweet Potato being eaten with a fork.

Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Lime Crema

$5.57 recipe / $1.39 serving
Meal prepped Sweet and Spicy Tempeh Bowls in round glass bowls

Sweet and Spicy Tempeh Bowls

$5.91 recipe / $1.48 serving
Mediterranean Hummus Bowl being eaten

Mediterranean Hummus Bowls

$9.93 recipe / $2.48 serving
This Cheeseburger Meatloaf Meal Prep is an easy American classic meal that you'll look forward to each day. Toss the TV dinners and make your own! Budgetbytes.com

Cheeseburger Meatloaf Meal Prep

Three bowls of Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry

Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry Bowls

$10.20 recipe / $2.55 serving
Line up of Orzo Salad Meal Prep Lunch Boxes

Orzo Salad Meal Prep

Take your meat and potatoes meal prep into the 21st century with this simple, yet elegant Glazed Chicken Meal Prep. Eating well has never been easier. Budgetbytes.com

Glazed Chicken Meal Prep

Light, filling, full of texture and flavor, this no-reheat Curried Tofu Salad Meal Prep is the perfect make-ahead lunch for summer! Budgetbytes.com

Curried Tofu Salad Meal Prep

Layer lettuce on top of Cobb Salad Meal Prep

Cobb Salad Meal Prep

$10.07 recipe / $2.52 serving
Full of fresh summery flavor, without needing a lot of ingredients, this Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa will become your new go-to easy summer meal!

Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa

$10.01 recipe / $2.50 serving
Demystify the who, what, and how of meal prepping with this meal prep 101 beginner's guide. Make your meals easier, convenient, and more efficient with this simple method. BudgetBytes.com

Meal Prep 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Prepping and Portioning Meals

Beef Kofta Meatballs with Roasted Vegetables are the perfect well-rounded easy dinner or meal prep to keep you fed and happy throughout the week. BudgetBytes.com

Beef Kofta Meatballs with Roasted Vegetables

$10.97 recipe / $2.75 serving
Smoky Chicken and Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potato Meal Prep is an easy, delicious, filling, and healthy daily lunch or dinner. BudgetBytes.com

Smoky Chicken and Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potato Meal Prep

$9.43 recipe / $2.36 serving
This Black Bean and Avocado Enchilada Meal Prep is full of bright flavors and plenty of belly filling plant power for a hearty vegan lunch. BudgetBytes.com

Black Bean and Avocado Enchilada Meal Prep

Comfort food and a generous helping of good-for-you vegetables, this Spaghetti and Roasted Vegetable Meal Prep is the best of both worlds! BudgetBytes.com

Spaghetti and Roasted Vegetable Meal Prep

Layer ingredients in container for Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles.

Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles

$3.93 recipe / $0.98 serving
The Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep that you can put together in about 30 minutes with minimal cooking, chopping, and nothing to pack on the side. Lunch can be easy and tasty! BudgetBytes.com

Easiest Burrito Bowl Meal Prep

$9.05 recipe / $2.26 serving
A little bit indulgent, a little bit healthy, this Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodle Meal Prep is a flavorful, filling, and DELICIOUS lunch! BudgetBytes.com

Pork & Peanut Dragon Noodle Meal Prep

15 Single Recipe Meal Prep Ideas that are easy to cook, filling, well rounded, and store well so you can cook once and eat for the week! BudgetBytes.com

15 Single-Recipe Meal Prep Ideas

Stuffed bell peppers make the perfect meal prep item and are paired with Cowboy Caviar and chips for dipping in this Stuffed Bell Pepper Meal Prep. BudgetBytes.com

Stuffed Bell Pepper Meal Prep

This Herb Butter Chicken Meal Prep covers all the bases (meat, carb, vegetable, and FLAVOR) with just two easy recipes. BudgetBytes.com

Herb Butter Chicken Meal Prep

This simple Sweet Potato Taco Meal Prep box is easy, vegetarian, and a full flavored make ahead lunch. BudgetBytes.com

Sweet Potato Taco Meal Prep

This Chicken Adobo Meal Prep combines overnight marinated chicken, rice cooked with warm spices, and simple sautéed kale for a well rounded and filling meal. BudgetBytes.com

Chicken Adobo Meal Prep

This Black Eyed Peas Meal Prep is comfort food defined and will keep you full, warm, and cozy during these cold winter days. BudgetBytes.com

Black Eyed Peas Meal Prep

Pressure Cooker Chicken Meal Prep

This Maple Miso Roasted Carrot Meal prep is easy, healthy, has tons of flavor, and plenty of ways to customize! BudgetBytes.com

Maple Miso Roasted Carrot Meal Prep

This Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta Meal Prep includes Garlic Marinated Chicken and brightly flavored blistered tomatoes for a well rounded and delicious meal! BudgetBytes.com

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta Meal Prep

This Apple Dijon Kale Salad Meal Prep is full of texture and bright flavors, and is sure to keep you full for hours. BudgetBytes.com

Apple Dijon Kale Salad Meal Prep

Preparing individual oat packs with seeds, seasoning, and other add-ins, like these Make Ahead Seeded Oats, makes having a healthy breakfast fast and easy. BudgetBytes.com

Make Ahead Seeded Oats

This simple Spaghetti Meal Prep is hiding a ton of good-for-you vegetables in a classic comforting dish. BudgetBytes.com

Spaghetti Meal Prep

Tuna and White Bean Meal Prep

Tuna & White Bean Salad Meal Prep

This Apple Spice Pork Chop meal prep is packed with tender and juicy pork chops, creamy mashed potatoes, and bright green beans. BudgetBytes.com

Apple Spice Pork Chop Meal Prep

This Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Stew is full of warm spices, paired with homemade rolls and pumped up with an extra handful of spinach for an absolutely killer meal. BudgetBytes.com

Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Stew Meal Prep

This week's Maple Dijon Chicken Thigh Meal Prep is all about oven roasting, fall flavors, and lots of vegetables. BudgetBytes.com

Maple Dijon Chicken Thigh Meal Prep

This Pineapple BBQ Chicken Meal Prep includes sweet and tangy chicken, rich and savory coconut rice, and tender broccoli florets. BudgetBytes.com

Pineapple BBQ Chicken Meal Prep

Creamy Black Bean Taquitos pair with tangy Cilantro Lime Rice for a simple and satisfying meal prep. BudgetBytes.com

Creamy Black Bean Taquito Meal Prep

Pesto Stuffed Shells and homemade garlic bread make a classic and comforting lunch that holds up well in the refrigerator. BudgetBytes.com

Pesto Stuffed Shells Meal Prep

Curry Chicken Salad is paired with crunchy crackers for dipping and a tart apple to cleanse the palate in this simple cold lunch box. BudgetBytes.com

Curry Chicken Salad Meal Prep

It's comfort food in a box! You'll look forward to eating this veggie-packed Garden Vegetable Turkey Loaf Meal Prep for lunch every day. BudgetBytes.com

Garden Vegetable Turkey Loaf Meal Prep

Hi! I’m Beth

Beth M

As a food lover and a number cruncher I've decided that cooking on a budget shouldn't mean canned beans and ramen noodles night after night. Join me for delicious recipes designed for small budgets. More »

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Recipes by Date

Meal Prep

It's comfort food in a box! You'll look forward to eating this veggie-packed Garden Vegetable Turkey Loaf Meal Prep for lunch every day. BudgetBytes.com

Meal Prep

Vegetarian

For the perfect Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos, layer your chips and toppings for the perfect chip-to-topping ratio. BudgetBytes.com

Vegetarian

Pasta Recipes

Easier than a box meal, this creamy tomato & spinach pasta is also more flavorful and delicious. 100% real ingredients.

Pasta Recipes

One Pot Recipes

One Pot Recipes

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