When you’re broke and money runs out before the month does, dinner still has to happen. The good news is that some of the most filling cheap meals you can make cost very little, as long as they’re built on the right staples.
Every meal on this list comes to about $1 a serving or less at current Walmart and ALDI prices. Most use eggs, beans, lentils, pasta or rice, plus a few vegetables, and none of them need special ingredients.
How to Eat Well When Money Is Tight
- Start with what you have. Look through the pantry, fridge and freezer before you shop. A can of beans and a bag of rice are already half a dinner.
- Lean on the cheapest proteins. Eggs, dried lentils, canned beans and peanut butter usually cost less per serving than meat.
- Buy store brands. Great Value at Walmart and ALDI’s own brands are usually the lowest-priced option on the shelf.
- Choose frozen vegetables. They’re picked ripe, they don’t spoil in a few days and they usually cost less than fresh.
- Cook once, eat twice. A pot of soup or a pan of pasta is tomorrow’s lunch, too.
- Don’t be shy about help. Food pantries, food banks and SNAP exist for exactly this kind of month. Our food pantry recipes guide explains where to find them.
The Cheapest Staples to Keep on Hand
Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.
These staples show up again and again in the meals below. “n/a” means ALDI’s website didn’t list that item.
| Staple | Walmart | ALDI |
|---|---|---|
| Long-grain rice (5 pounds at Walmart, 3 pounds at ALDI) | $3.52 | $2.65 |
| Black beans (15-ounce can) | $0.92 | $0.85 |
| Dried lentils (1 pound) | $1.92 | n/a |
| Spaghetti (1 pound) | $1.24 | n/a |
| Old-fashioned oats (42 ounces) | $4.18 | $3.99 |
| Large eggs (1 dozen) | $1.67 | $1.66 |
| Russet potatoes (5 pounds) | $3.84 | $3.69 |
| Yellow onions (3 pounds) | $3.24 | $2.39 |
| Carrots (2 pounds) | $2.26 | $1.99 |
| Frozen mixed vegetables (12 ounces) | $0.98 | $0.98 |
| Crushed tomatoes (28-ounce can) | $1.30 | $1.55 |
| Peanut butter (16 ounces) | $1.52 | $1.49 |
For a longer list, see our 15 pantry staples.
15 Cheap Meals About $1 a Serving
They’re listed from least to most expensive per serving.
1. Classic Egg Salad
Six eggs, a little mayo and some celery make lunch or dinner for four. Serve on toast or crackers.
Time: 22 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $1.59 from Walmart, $1.60 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.40
2. Egg & Veggie Scramble
Eggs scrambled with whatever spinach, tomato or onion you have. Breakfast for dinner is one of the cheapest meals there is.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $1.73 from Walmart, $1.97 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.43 to $0.49
3. Classic Spaghetti with Marinara
A box of pasta and a can of crushed tomatoes feed six. The sauce is just onion, garlic and dried herbs.
Time: 35 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $3.72 from Walmart, $3.86 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.62 to $0.64
4. Veggie Fried Rice
Leftover rice, a few eggs and a bag of frozen vegetables become dinner in 20 minutes.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $2.59 from Walmart, $2.62 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.65
5. One-Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Pasta cooks right in the sauce, so there’s one pot to wash and no cream to buy.
Time: 25 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $2.95 from Walmart, $2.66 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.66 to $0.74
6. Spaghetti with Veggie Tomato Sauce
Grated carrot and zucchini disappear into the sauce, stretching one can of tomatoes into a hearty dinner.
Time: 35 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $3.99 from Walmart, $4.10 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.67 to $0.68
7. Bean & Cheese Quesadillas
One can of beans, tortillas and cheese make four crispy quesadillas.
Time: 15 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $3.22 from Walmart, $2.89 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.72 to $0.80
8. Creamy Garlic Pasta with Spinach
The creamy sauce is butter, flour, milk and Parmesan, with a handful of spinach for color.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $2.92 from Walmart, $2.91 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.73
9. One-Pot Mediterranean Chickpea Stew
Two cans of chickpeas and a can of tomatoes simmer with cumin and paprika into a filling stew.
Time: 40 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $4.42 from Walmart, $4.79 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.74 to $0.80
10. Sweet Potato Egg Hash
Sweet potatoes and eggs make a skillet dinner that works any time of day.
Time: 35 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $3.44 from Walmart, $3.05 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.76 to $0.86
11. One-Pot Vegetable Lentil Soup
Dried lentils are one of the cheapest proteins in the store, and this soup makes six bowls.
Time: 50 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $4.75 from Walmart, $4.79 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.79 to $0.80
12. Easy Veggie Frittata
Eggs, cheese and whatever vegetables need using up, baked into wedges for dinner or lunch.
Time: 30 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $3.84 from Walmart, $3.45 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.86 to $0.96
13. Turkey & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
A pound of ground turkey goes a long way under a layer of mashed sweet potatoes.
Time: 55 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $6.01 from Walmart, $5.40 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.90 to $1.00
14. Tomato Spinach Egg Scramble Bowls
Eggs with tomatoes and spinach over brown rice make a filling bowl for very little.
Time: 15 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $3.92 from Walmart, $3.77 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.94 to $0.98
15. Black Bean Quesadillas
Black beans, corn and salsa in crisp tortillas, with plenty of cheese.
Time: 25 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $4.33 from Walmart, $4.00 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.00 to $1.08
If You’ve Lost Your Job or Income
Losing a paycheck is stressful, and food is often the first place people try to cut. You don’t have to figure it out alone, and asking for help is a normal, practical step. Here are the places to start.
- Apply for SNAP right away. SNAP (food stamps) is based on your current income, so a recent job loss can make you eligible even if you weren’t before. Find your state’s application through USDA’s SNAP state directory.
- Visit a food pantry. Rules vary, but many pantries ask only a few questions, and some let you visit every week or month. Feeding America’s food bank finder lists the food bank for your area, which can point you to pantries nearby.
- Call or text 211. It’s a free, confidential line that connects you with local help for food, rent and utilities.
- Check WIC if you have young kids. WIC helps pregnant women, new moms and children under 5 with healthy foods.
- Ask about school meals. If your income has dropped, your kids may now qualify for free or reduced-price school breakfast and lunch. Contact the school office.
Pantry boxes often come with canned goods, rice, pasta and beans. Our food pantry recipes turn those into real meals, and the recipes on this page work with most of them too.
Ways to Stretch Every Meal Further
- Add a can of beans to pasta sauce, soup or rice to feed more people.
- Serve over rice or potatoes. A starch on the side makes a small pot go further.
- Use every bit. Stale bread becomes croutons or French toast, and wilting vegetables go into soup or fried rice.
- Freeze leftovers in portions so nothing goes to waste and there’s always a backup meal.
For bigger family dinners, see our cheap family meals under $10 and 10 ways to stretch ground beef.
Cheap Meal Questions
What is the cheapest meal to make?
Egg dishes and pasta with tomato sauce are usually the cheapest. On this list, egg salad and an egg and veggie scramble come in around 40 cents a serving.
What should I buy with my last $20 for food?
At current Walmart prices, less than $20 covers a dozen eggs, a 5-pound bag of rice, three cans of black beans, a box of spaghetti, a can of crushed tomatoes, two bags of frozen vegetables, a bag of onions, a jar of peanut butter and six bananas. That’s enough for several days of simple meals for one or two people.
Are beans and rice really a complete meal?
Together they make a filling, protein-rich meal. Add a vegetable, like frozen peas or sautéed onion and peppers, to round it out.
Is cooking at home really cheaper than fast food?
Almost always. Every meal on this list comes to about $1 a serving or less, which is hard to match at a drive-through, and most make leftovers. Our free cooking at home vs. takeout worksheet helps you compare your own numbers.
Where can I get food help after losing my job?
Start by applying for SNAP through your state, then find a local food pantry through Feeding America’s food bank finder. You can also call or text 211 for help with food, rent and utilities in your area.
