Recipes under $3

Rich and Creamy Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese in a Bowl

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese

$1.57 recipe / $0.79 serving

Make your own homemade freezer garlic bread slices, ready to bake on demand. Bake two or ten frozen slices at a time, ready in minutes! Budgetbytes.com

Homemade Freezer Garlic Bread

$3.02 recipe / $0.25 per slice

This tangy, creamy, fresh, and garlicky Lime Crema is the key to taking your tacos, nachos, salads, and more to the next level. Budgetbytes.com

Lime Crema

$1.98 recipe / $0.25 serving

This Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce (or marinade) takes only a few minutes and five simple ingredients that can be kept on hand at all times. Perfect for last minute weeknight dinners! Budgetbytes.com

Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce or Marinade

$0.57 per batch

These Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips are fast, easy, super crunchy, a great way to use up leftover tortillas, and a great alternative to store bought chips. Budgetbytes.com

Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips

$0.39 recipe / $0.20 serving

This homemade taco seasoning is quick, easy, inexpensive, full of flavor, and can be made with just a few basic spice cabinet staples. Budgetbytes.com

Homemade Taco Seasoning

$0.67 batch

This simple homemade chili seasoning is made with a few basic pantry staple spices and can be used for so much more than a pot of traditional chili! Budgetbytes.com

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Peanut Butter Fluff Cups are the easiest and most decadent dessert you’ve ever made. They come together in minutes with no baking required! BudgetBytes.com

Peanut Butter Fluff Cups

$2.83 recipe / $0.72 serving

This tangy, herb-infused Scallion Herb Cream Cheese Spread is perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or even snacking on fresh vegetables. BudgetBytes.com

Scallion Herb Cream Cheese Spread

$1.58 recipe / $0.20 serving

This Tomato Basil No Knead Bread is the perfect partner for your winter soups and stews, and is half the cost of a store bought artisan loaf. BudgetBytes.com

Tomato Basil No Knead Bread

$2.57 per loaf

Spicy, aromatic, and earthy, these Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes will add an adventurous flavor to any dinner! BudgetBytes.com

Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes

$1.96 recipe / $0.49 serving

These Maple Miso Roasted Carrots are sweet, savory, and rich, and make a great side dish to any Asian inspired meal. BudgetBytes.com

Maple Miso Roasted Carrots

$2.58 recipe / $0.64 serving

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 Seeded No-Knead Bread is packed with seeds for extra texture, flavor, and nutrients! BudgetBytes.com

Seeded No-Knead Bread

$0.68 recipe / $0.17 serving

Braised Red Cabbage is an easy, cost efficient, and healthful side for your comforting winter meals. BudgetBytes.com

Braised Red Cabbage

$2.66 recipe / $0.53 serving

Streuseled Sweet Potatoes are an easy, deconstructed version of the classic sweet potato casserole that is manageable enough for weeknight dessert. BudgetBytes.com

Streuseled Sweet Potatoes

$2.99 recipe / $0.75 serving

The earthy flavor and subtle sweetness of molasses makes these Sweet Molasses Dinner Rolls the perfect addition to your fall holiday table. BudgetBytes.com

Sweet Molasses Dinner Rolls

$1.87 recipe / $0.16 each

These Cinnamon Pita Crisps are a tasty little snack that's perfect for fall. Dip them into your favorite sweet treat or eat them on their own. BudgetBytes.com

Cinnamon Pita Crisps

$1.22 recipe / $0.31 serving

This Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse is a super light and fluffy dessert packed with fall spices and just enough sweetness to balance the pumpkiny flavor. BudgetBytes.com

Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

$2.28 recipe / $0.57 serving

This flavorful Taco Rice is packed full of herbs and spices, but is neutral enough to serve as the base for several different recipes, like bowl meals, burritos, and more! BudgetBytes.com

Easy Taco Rice

$2.27 recipe / $0.38 serving

This Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread is the real deal with homemade dough, fresh garlic, real butter, and your favorite cheese. BudgetBytes.com

Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread

$2.47 recipe / $0.49 serving

Use the leftovers in your fridge to make this delicious and filling 5 Minute Savory Microwave Breakfast Mug. Fast and easy! BudgetBytes.com

5 Minute Savory Microwave Breakfast Mug

These fast and easy 5-Minute French Toast Mugs are a great single serving breakfast treat plus a way to use leftovers and reduce food waste. BudgetBytes.com

5-Minute Microwave French Toast Mug

$0.84 each

These incredible light and delicate Buttermilk Pull-Apart Rolls couldn't be easier thanks to a simple no-knead dough. BudgetBytes.com

Buttermilk Pull-Apart Rolls from Bread Toast Crumbs

$0.98 recipe / $0.10 per roll

This incredible roux-less mac and cheese is rich, creamy, and only requires seven ingredients. Perfect for last minute weeknight dinners! BudgetBytes.com

Will It Skillet? Mac and Cheese

$2.59 recipe / $1.30 serving

Blackened Cabbage is a fast and simple side dish that pairs beautifully with any grilled or BBQ meat. Add a creamy chipotle mayo for extra punch. BudgetBytes.com

Blackened Cabbage with Chipotle Mayo

$1.09 recipe / $0.27 serving

These cute little lemon poppy seed two-bite scones are soft and sweet with a deliciously tart lemon glaze. You won't be able to have just one! BudgetBytes.com

Lemon Poppy Seed Two-Bite Scones

$2.71 recipe / $0.15 each

Hummus Breakfast Bowls are a medley of colors, flavors, and textures, and a great way to work vegetables into the most important meal of the day. BudgetBytes.com

Hummus Breakfast Bowls

$1.01 each

Homemade Chocolate Crescent Rolls are the perfect slightly sweet treat to stash in your freezer for days when you need just a little dessert. BudgetBytes.com

Homemade Chocolate Crescent Rolls

$2.15 recipe / $0.36 each

Bright lime juice and earthy cumin pair perfectly with the subtle creamy sweetness of sweet potatoes in these Cumin Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes. BudgetBytes.com

Cumin Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes

$3.01 recipe / $0.75 serving

Cumin rice is an earthy and slightly peppery dish that can be used as the base for many meals. BudgetBytes.com

Cumin Rice

$1.23 recipe / $0.21 serving

The 1917 Applesauce Cake from Anne Byrn's new book American Cake is light, sweet, and full of warm spices. BudgetBytes.com

Anne Byrn’s 1917 Applesauce Cake

$2.21 recipe / $0.25 serving

Sesame Kale is a quick and easy side dish that pairs perfectly with any Asian inspired meal. BudgetBytes.com

Sesame Kale

$1.96 recipe / $0.49 serving

When you need a tropical escape this homemade Pineapple Orange Julius is the perfect sweet and creamy frozen drink to take you away. BudgetBytes.com

Homemade Pineapple Orange Julius

$1.37 each

Tomato Herb Pull Apart Bread combines a rich and tangy tomato sauce, savory Parmesan, and fresh bread dough for an irresistible appetizer loaf. BudgetBytes.com

Tomato Herb Pull Apart Bread

$1.97 recipe / $0.33 serving

Chimichurri spooned onto Grilled Vegetables BudgetBytes.com

Chimichurri: The Good on Anything and Everything Sauce

$2.20 per batch

Lemon Butter Green Beans are the perfect go-to all-purpose side dish with a fresh and vibrant flavor. BudgetBytes.com

Lemon Butter Green Beans (revisited)

$1.71 recipe / $0.43 serving

How to Make Crispy Hash Browns at home - BudgetBytes.com

How to Make Crispy Hash Browns

$1.25 recipe / $0.31 serving

Thai Cucumber Salad is a light and fresh summer salad with bold Thai flavors - BudgetBytes.com

Thai Cucumber Salad

$2.84 recipe / $0.47 serving

Sweet Chili Tofu Bowls - BudgetBytes.com

Sweet Chili Tofu Bowls

$7.15 recipe / $1.79 serving

Chili Roasted Sweet Potatoes - BudgetBytes.com

Chili Roasted Sweet Potatoes

$2.64 recipe / $0.66 serving

Thick Cut Garlic Parmesan Oven Fries - BudgetBytes.com

Thick Cut Garlic Parmesan Oven Fries

$0.87 each

Banana Nut Breakfast Farro - BudgetBytes.com

Banana Nut Breakfast Farro

$1.03 each

5 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce - BudgetBytes.com

5 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce

$2.83 recipe / $0.47 serving

Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli - BudgetBytes.com

Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli

$1.23 recipe / $0.62 serving

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes - BudgetBytes.com

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

$2.04 recipe / $0.34 serving

All-Edge Spiced Brownies - BudgetBytes.com

All-Edge Spiced Brownies

$1.71 recipe / $0.29 each

Stove Top Popcorn Bowl - BudgetBytes.com

How to Make Stove Top Popcorn

$0.09 per serving