Budget Friendly Meal Prep Ideas

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 over a hundred 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)!

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

Popular Meal Prep Recipes

Smoky Chicken and Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potato Meal Prep

$9.43 recipe / $2.36 serving

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 glass containers filled with hummus lunch box ingredients

The Hummus Lunch Box

$8.04 recipe / $2.01 serving

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

$4.06 recipe / $1.02 serving

Ground Turkey Stir Fry

$8.05 recipe / $1.61 serving

Meal Prep Ideas for an Easy Breakfast

Newest Budget Friendly Meal Prep Ideas

Chicken Stroganoff

$8.72 recipe / $2.18 serving

This easy Chicken Stroganoff recipe brings chicken thighs, mushrooms, and egg noodles together into a creamy one-pan dinner. Simple & delicious!

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

$2.63 recipe / $0.66 serving

These easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes turn tender, naturally sweet, and deliciously caramelized in the oven. You only need 3 ingredients and about 40 minutes!

Taco Casserole

$13.62 recipe / $1.70 serving

Three cheesy tortilla layers packed with saucy beef and black beans make this easy Taco Casserole recipe a hearty 45-minute dinner that serves eight!

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

$8.75 recipe / $2.18 serving

This Chicken Broccoli Casserole recipe is a complete 30-minute meal with seasoned chicken, creamy cheddar orzo, broccoli, and a golden cheesy top.

Overhead side view of a lentil burger in a hamburger bun, with salad and the top bun removed.

Lentil Burgers

$2.57 recipe / $0.64 serving

Skip the grill and make these easy Lentil Burgers in the oven. They’re hearty, totally vegan, and hold together with simple pantry ingredients!

Sheet Pan Doner Kebab

$11.05 recipe / $2.76 serving

This Sheet Pan Doner Kebab is an easy oven shortcut for thin, crispy beef served gyro-style in soft pita with tzatziki and fresh vegetables.

Mississippi Chicken

$10.44 recipe / $1.74 serving

This easy Mississippi Chicken is made in the slow cooker with five ingredients for tender, juicy shredded chicken in a tangy, buttery, savory sauce.

Pizza Burgers

$10.27 recipe / $1.71 serving

This easy Pizza Burgers recipe tops toasted English muffins with saucy meat, vegetables, mozzarella, and pepperoni. Ready in about 30 minutes!

Overhead view of sliced teriyaki chicken on a bed on rice on a plate.

Easy Teriyaki Chicken

$7.07 recipe / $1.41 serving

This Easy Teriyaki Chicken is perfect for quick weeknight dinners, and has the most delicious salty, sweet, and savory flavor!

Sweet Potato and Ground Turkey Skillet

$9.07 recipe / $2.27 serving

This easy Sweet Potato and Ground Turkey Skillet cooks turkey, sweet potato, kale, and Parmesan-coated orzo in one pan for a practical weeknight dinner!

Vegetable Fried Rice

$4.22 recipe / $1.06 serving

Vegetable Fried Rice is a fast, easy, delicious, and budget-friendly meal that you can whip up with ingredients on hand at any time!

Overhead view of a BBQ chicken foil packet.

BBQ Chicken Foil Packs

$10.45 recipe / $2.61 serving

These easy BBQ Chicken Foil Packs are a complete grill-or-oven dinner with chicken thighs, potatoes, peppers, onions, and tangy BBQ sauce!