Budget Friendly Meal Prep
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 80+ 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.
Looking for pre-made meal plans? With a Budget Bytes+ membership, you’ll get a brand-new meal plan every week—designed to save you time, money, and stress in the kitchen (plus more)!

Popular Meal Prep Recipes
Newest Budget Friendly Meal Prep
Dry Rubbed Grilled Drumsticks and Thighs
$7.51 recipe / $1.07 servingThis easy Dry Rubbed Grilled Drumsticks and Thighs recipe makes flavorful grilled chicken with minimal effort. Great for cookouts or weeknight dinners!
Alabama White Sauce
$1.74 recipe / $0.15 servingLearn how to make Alabama White Sauce at home with mayo, vinegar, horseradish, and spices. Perfect for grilled chicken, pork, veggies, and more!
Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad
$10.21 recipe / $1.02 servingThis light and fresh Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks, or your weekly meal prep.
Strawberry Cookies
$5.91 recipe / $0.37 eachStrawberry cookies are tender, sweet, and full of fresh strawberry flavor. These cookies are the real deal-- no artificial colors or flavors!
Homemade Lemonade
$6.31 recipe / $0.70 servingThis easy Homemade Lemonade recipe uses fresh lemon juice, homemade simple syrup, and water for a perfectly balanced, sweet-tart batch of lemonade!
Cherry Blondies
$5.82 recipe / $0.64 servingThese easy Cherry Blondies are loaded with white chocolate, almonds, and cherry pie filling for a sweet treat that’s simple to make and hard to resist.
Grilled Chicken
$9.02 recipe / $2.25 servingI brine large chicken breasts, then coat them in a sweet and savory spice rub to create the juiciest grilled chicken you've ever tasted!
Ditalini Pasta Salad
$8.67 recipe / $1.08 servingThis easy Ditalini Pasta Salad is packed with roasted summer veggies, tossed in pesto, and finished with a sprinkle of feta. Delicious & meal prep friendly!
Grilled Vegetables
$7.75 recipe / $0.97 servingWith just a few ingredients and my easy grilling method, these grilled vegetables are the perfect side dish for any summer BBQ!
Breakfast Cookies
$5.32 recipe / $0.35 servingThese easy Breakfast Cookies are soft & chewy, budget-friendly, and the perfect grab-and-go breakfast for those busy mornings.
Baked Chicken Breast
$12.08 recipe / $3.02 servingThese easy Baked Chicken Breasts are marinated in a simple brine before being seasoned to perfection and baked in the oven until golden, tender, and JUICY!
Thanksgiving Bowls
$13.67 recipe / $2.73 servingThese Thanksgiving Bowls are the perfect salads for using up all your holiday leftovers. Fresh, healthy, and great for reducing food waste!