25 Healthy Recipes on a Budget (Frugal Clean Eating)

Whether you are budgeting for the Holidays, an upcoming big event, or you just budget everyday, making healthy recipes on a budget is completely possible! And we have 25 clean eating recipes on this list to prove it! Everything from soups and casseroles to meaty mains and desserts, we’ve got you covered!

25 BEST Recipes for Healthy, Clean Eating on A Budget

During the holiday season, our weekly menu always has a few extra budget-friendly recipes and leftover recipes on it just to give us a little wiggle room.

Between preparing large meals for family gatherings and Christmas presents, all the extra spending can put extra strain on wallets. So, budget friendly recipes can make a big difference. Thankfully, some of my favorite meals are also frugal meals.

What these budget friendly meals have in common

• Cheap Meals: Cheap in this case doesn’t mean we are using cheap ingredients. You can create cheap, budget conscious meals using high-quality ingredients when you follow rules like buying in-season produce, buying when items go on sale, and making things like bone broth from scratch.
• Clean Eating: All of the meals on this list are clean meals that only use clean whole foods as ingredients. No processed or artificial ingredients here.
• Highly Nutritious: Whether from the collagen in the homemade bone broth or the many vitamins and minerals you get from eating fresh vegetables and high quality protein, every meal on this list is going to truly nourish your body.

Budget Soups and Stews

Soup helps to stretch the family grocery budget while filling us with fresh, whole-food ingredients you carefully choose yourself. I often double or triple soup recipes because they taste better the next day and freeze well. So, right after dinner, stash your leftovers in the fridge or freezer to save for future delicious meals or better yet, use them for meal prepped lunches throughout the week!

1. Creamy Chicken + Mushroom Soup

As the weather cools down, snuggle up with a bowl of nourishing Creamy Chicken + Mushroom Soup, packed with whole food ingredients, cozy vibes, and perfect for Clean Eating. This dish is a nutritional powerhouse, featuring protein-rich chicken, immune-boosting mushrooms, and a flavorful bone broth that makes it a budget-friendly, one-pot meal prep dream, perfect for using up leftovers and saving time. It’s healthy comfort food that is satisfying and versatile, checking all the boxes for a delicious, family-focused meal.

2. Lemony Tuscan Artichoke Soup

Lemon and artichoke enthusiasts will find pure bliss in this bright, zesty, and beautiful Lemony Tuscan Artichoke Soup. It is an outstanding nutritional powerhouse that is light and fresh enough for year-round enjoyment. This simple, one-pan meal uses highly affordable ingredients, making it easy to stretch your family grocery budget while filling everyone with wholesome ingredients. It’s also incredibly versatile, being easily adaptable for plant-based diets or adding extra protein like chicken or salmon.

3. Chickpea Soup with Turkey Meatballs

Despite the less expensive ingredients, this Chickpea Soup with Turkey Meatballs is loaded with bright flavors and crave-worthy homemade meatballs, making it every bit as delicious as it is good for you. This hearty, nutritious meal leverages pantry staples like fiber-packed chickpeas and ground turkey to keep costs down, while additions of fresh lemon juice and zest elevate the dish. It is a smart, flexible option for busy families, offering great versatility in broths and milk choices, and freezes exceptionally well for future meals or meal prep.

4. Clean Eating Creamy Bean Soup

For those prioritizing the family budget and clean eating, this Creamy Bean Soup is a simple, highly satisfying, and extremely comforting meal that utilizes the nutritional qualities of inexpensive beans. The recipe is intentionally designed to be delicious and budget-friendly, stretching the dinner budget while filling everyone up with fresh, whole-food ingredients. By utilizing pantry staples and minimal flavorful additions like sun-dried tomatoes and fresh rosemary, this hearty soup can be created in a hurry, tastes even better the next day, and freezes beautifully, making it an efficient option for busy households.

5. Buffalo-Style Chicken Chili

Buffalo lovers will rejoice over this inexpensive meal that is sure to make everyone happy! It’s incredibly flavorful, satisfying, and just so darn GOOD (and spicy!). By using ground chicken (especially when found on sale!) and pantry staples like beans and tomato puree, this chili helps stretch the money in your wallet while delivering bold, satisfying flavors. Top this Buffalo-Style Chicken Chili with crisp celery and creamy blue cheese for a true “buffalo wings” taste!

6. Greek Chicken Soup

Ready for soup season? This comforting Greek Chicken Soup is filled with important vitamins, cozy vibes, and a slightly creamy, bright-tasting flavor you’ll love. It’s a healthy, economical choice for any family, especially for busy nights with stragglers coming home at various times. The secret to its rich texture is Avgolemono, a traditional sauce of chicken broth, egg yolks, and lemon juice, which adds creaminess, nutrients, and protein without using any dairy.

7. Southwest-Style Chicken and Corn Chowder

Warm up those bellies with the coziest and tastiest Southwest-Style Chicken & Corn Chowder tonight! This chowder works well for a big family since everyone can pile on their own toppings to create something they enjoy. It is incredibly filling and the ingredients are typically quite budget-friendly, aligning with the goal of creating affordable meals without compromising health or flavor. Made with chicken thighs (use whatever is on sale!), sweet potatoes, corn, and a homemade taco seasoning blend, this chowder tastes even better the next day!

8. Chicken Vegetable Packed Soup

Packed with protein and veggies, this Chicken and Vegetable Packed Soup is really SO simple and easy, perfect for busier and colder days. It’s also easily customizable, so feel free to alter the recipe to fit your tastes, making it excellent for cleaning out the fridge and using up any veggies you may have on hand. The high protein and veggie combo is a nutrient-dense and easy way to stay healthy during cold and flu season. This cozy, filling soup will definitely help stretch the family dinner budget.

Casseroles

Hot bubbly casseroles are not only filling and cozy, but they can be much kinder to the wallet! Like soups, these budget friendly casseroles taste just as good the next day when eating the leftovers, so be sure to make extra and utilize these recipes for meal prepping!

9. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole

If you love spaghetti squash and lasagna, then you’re going to love this incredible Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole that marries the flavor of both! This nourishing, low-carb vessel tastes just as good as the classic dish while offering extra fiber, nutrients, and protein from ground meat and cottage cheese. It’s an insanely satisfying and comforting hot meal perfect for the colder months. Don’t be intimidated by the prep, it’s actually simple and makes for a super delicious and healthy alternative to traditional pasta.

10. Loaded Veggie + Chicken Casserole

Here is a great way to use any leftover veggies or cooked chicken you have sitting in the fridge! This Loaded Veggie + Chicken Casserole is incredibly flavorful, super satisfying, and super easy to make. This hot, bubbly dish is designed to help stretch the the meal budget while filling everyone’s bellies with fresh, whole-food ingredients. You can use any random veggies you have on hand, and it will turn out great! It always tastes better the next day and freezes very well, making it a perfect, delicious option for meal prep.

11. Hot N’ Hearty Melty Cabbage Casserole

Casseroles are the cold-weather love language at our house, filling the home with delicious aromas and a cozy vibe. So, if you’re a cabbage lover, you’ve got to try this Hot N’ Hearty Melty Cabbage Casserole ASAP! Cabbage is an incredibly underrated and economical vegetable, making this a very affordable dish. It is ultra-satisfying and hearty that doesn’t leave you feeling “heavy,” and instead leaves you feeling good after eating thanks to the simple whole-food ingredients.

12. Crockpot Egg Casserole

Similar to cabbage for affordability, eggs are another great economical option for big families, making this Crockpot Egg Casserole an easy brunch idea for entertaining a crowd or a simple “breakfast for dinner” solution for the family. This recipe is incredibly versatile because the vegetables, cheese, and milk options are all interchangeable, so feel free to use different peppers, onions, or mushrooms based on what you have on hand or what’s on sale. It’s a high-quality protein source that can be easily prepared in a slow cooker so you can get ahead of meals for the week!

13. Breakfast Egg + Cauliflower Protein Packed Casserole

This Breakfast Egg + Cauliflower Protein Packed Casserole recipe offers a flavorful and satisfying way to incorporate a full serving of vegetables into your morning meal. The dish utilizes economical ingredients like cauliflower rice and eggs and is perfect for meal prepping during busy weekdays since it remains fresh in the refrigerator for up to four days.

More Budget Friendly Recipes

Here are seven more budget friendly meal ideas using affordable ingredients and creative options for cheaper breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. I separated these out because they are not casseroles, they are just good ole recipes.

14. Instant Pot Cabbage with Sausage or Pepperoni

Cabbage is such an underrated budget superstar, and this Instant Pot cabbage dish proves it in the most delicious way. Using just a handful of simple, high‑quality ingredients, plus sausage or a fun pepperoni twist, this quick, throw‑together meal turns into something shockingly tasty that the whole family devours. The Instant Pot makes it perfect for those chaotic evenings when planning ahead just didn’t happen, yet you still want something nourishing, affordable, and comforting. With cabbage being incredibly nutrient‑dense, low‑calorie, and one of the most economical veggies you can buy, this recipe checks every box for healthy, budget‑friendly eating without overthinking things—just good ingredients, good flavor, and zero stress.

15. French Onion Meatloaf

This French Onion Meatloaf takes classic comfort food and gives it a rich, irresistible upgrade with caramelized onions, lean ground beef, thyme, and a golden, bubbly Gruyère topping that makes every bite feel extra special. It’s hearty, cozy, and full of that sweet‑savory French onion flavor that comes from slow‑cooked onions and good cheese (truly a “why make regular meatloaf when you can make this?” kind of dish). Even better, it’s budget friendly since ground beef is easy to stock up on when it’s on sale, and choosing grass‑fed beef adds extra nutrients like omega‑3s and antioxidants. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or just want something comforting for a night in, this 12‑serving meatloaf is a total showstopper that proves simple ingredients can create something unforgettable.

16. Greek Inspired Lemon Chicken

This Greek Inspired Lemon Chicken is all about big, bright flavor with no fuss. Just a handful of fresh, high‑quality ingredients that come together to create the most vibrant, spring‑ready meal. The combination of garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, and tender chicken thighs makes the whole dish pop. It’s a one‑pan recipe with easy cleanup, and it pairs beautifully with simple sides like chopped Greek salads, creamy cucumber salads, or anything with feta.

17. Sheet-Pan “Fried” Rice

Sheet‑Pan “Fried” Rice comes together as a fast, flexible meal that makes the most of budget‑friendly brown rice and whatever veggies or leftover proteins you have on hand. In under 20 minutes, you get a savory, satisfying dish that’s perfect for busy nights, meal prep, or simply clearing out the fridge. Brown rice adds fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, plus it’s naturally gluten‑free and great for blood sugar balance, making this simple recipe both nourishing and incredibly convenient. Double it for easy lunches throughout the week and enjoy a flavor‑packed meal that truly fills everyone up.

18. Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

These Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are an easy, budget‑friendly plant‑based meal that’s absolutely bursting with flavor and powered by the incredible nutrition of sweet potatoes. With just a few fresh, simple ingredients, you get a super satisfying dish that highlights sweet potatoes as the ultimate feel‑good complex carbohydrate—packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and energy‑boosting goodness. If you’ve been wanting to work sweet potatoes into your meals more often, this recipe is the perfect (and delicious!) nudge to do it, proving just how versatile and nourishing this “superfood” can be.

19. Broccoli + Sausage Frittata 

A great go‑to for busy days, this Broccoli + Sausage Frittata delivers big flavor with minimal effort, whether you’re serving it for breakfast or a quick, no‑fuss evening meal. Fresh veggies, eggs, and good‑quality sausage come together with creamy feta for a satisfying, protein‑packed dish that feels both wholesome and comforting. With just a few simple ingredients, choosing the freshest options really makes the flavors shine, and you can easily tailor it by using your preferred milk or cleaner sausage varieties. It’s an easy, flavorful way to enjoy a veggie‑forward meal without spending much money or time in the kitchen.

20. Strawberry Baked Pancakes

Strawberry Baked Pancakes bring a fun, fresh twist to breakfast (or dinner), turning simple affordable pantry staples and juicy strawberries into a fluffy, feel‑good dish everyone will be excited for. They taste like a cross between a pancake and a strawberry shortcake, especially if you add a little whipped coconut cream on top. Plus, they’re wonderfully easy to make, which is great since you’ll get plenty of requests for them in the future. With homemade oat flour, your choice of milk, and just the right amount of natural sweetness, this whole‑food recipe feels wholesome, bright, and totally doable on any morning.

Easy Budget Friendly Desserts

Eating health and on a budget doesn’t mean you have to forgo tasty treats. In fact, there are several dessert recipes that I love that only use a few ingredients that are very affordable! I bet even your kids will love these affordable sweet desserts!

21. Apple Pie Overnight Oats

Apple Pie Overnight Oats don’t have to be just for breakfast! Instead, they can bring all the cozy, nostalgic flavors of warm apple pie into a simple, make‑ahead dessert that feels like a little jar of comfort waiting for you after your meal. Soaking the oats overnight makes them wonderfully creamy and much easier to digest, since the starches soften and the phytic acid naturally reduces as they rest. It’s the kind of prep‑ahead recipe that helps your week run smoother while giving you something wholesome and satisfying to look forward to, no morning rush required.

22. Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats bring all the cozy fall vibes into a creamy, make‑ahead jar that’s nourishing enough for breakfast but absolutely delicious enough to enjoy as dessert. Pumpkin adds natural fullness, tons of fiber, and a big boost of vitamin A thanks to its beta‑carotene, while the overnight soak makes the oats easier to digest and gentler on your system. You can dress them up with nuts, raisins, or any favorite add‑ins, and just be sure to use pure pumpkin purée—not pumpkin pie filling—for the best flavor and cleanest ingredients. It’s a simple, wholesome treat that feels comforting any time of day.

23. 2 Ingredient Mango Sorbet

Mango Sorbet doesn’t get any simpler or more refreshing than this two‑ingredient wonder made from frozen mango and fresh lime juice. It blends up in minutes into a silky, dreamy treat that feels tropical and indulgent while still being naturally wholesome, thanks to mango’s vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. Using frozen fruit keeps things convenient, affordable, and nutrient‑rich, and the fresh lime juice adds the perfect bright pop of flavor. It’s a fun recipe for the kids to help with and a great way to enjoy a sweet, vibrant treat without any added sugar.

24. Snickers Candy Bar Banana Pops

Peanut butter and chocolate fans are in for a treat with these Snickers‑style Banana Pops; an easy, no‑bake creation that turns simple ingredients into a fun, wholesome frozen snack. Bananas bring natural sweetness along with potassium and gut‑friendly fiber, while a dip in good‑quality dark chocolate and a drizzle of peanut butter gives that classic candy‑bar vibe without all the additives. They’re quick to prep, kid‑friendly, and perfect for hot days, and once you show the kids how to make them, they can take over from there. With clean‑ingredient nut butter and high‑cacao chocolate, these pops become a feel‑good summer staple you’ll want to keep stocked in the freezer.

25. 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

These Three‑Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies are the kind of treat you can whip up anytime, thanks to their ultra‑simple ingredient list and the fact that most of us always have ripe bananas and oats hanging around. They bake into soft, ooey‑gooey little cookies that work beautifully as an after‑school snack or even a quick grab‑and‑go breakfast. This recipe is wonderfully budget‑friendly and endlessly flexible. Just add dark chocolate with higher cacao chips for more benefits, or chop up a quality chocolate bar if that’s what you have. With just minutes of effort, you get a wholesome, naturally sweet cookie that feels comforting and convenient all at once.

Wrapping Up Your Healthy Budget Friendly Meal Inspiration

As you can see, eating healthy doesn’t have to be incredibly expensive. In fact, there are dozens of affordable recipes that taste fantastic while providing plenty of fiber and nutrients. 

Be sure to tag me in your creations! I want to see how your meals turn out! Happy cooking, CRUSHers.