10 Easy 5-Ingredient Meals You Can Make on a Budget

Delicious doesn’t have to be complicated—or expensive.

If you’re on the hunt for easy 5-ingredient meals that are budget-friendly and actually taste good, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family, meal prepping for the week, or just trying to avoid another overpriced takeout order, this list is packed with simple, affordable meal ideas that keep your grocery bill low and your dinner table happy.

We’ll walk you through 10 no-fuss recipes using five ingredients or fewer (not counting pantry staples like salt, pepper, and oil). These meals are built around real food, with tips to save even more using Rakuten, BeFrugal, and seasonal shopping hacks.

Why Easy 5-Ingredient Meals Are a Game-Changer

When you’re short on time, ingredients, or both, easy 5-ingredient meals simplify everything. Fewer ingredients mean less prep, less cleanup, and fewer last-minute trips to the store. Plus, sticking to five key items forces you to get creative—often leading to better flavor with less fuss.

These meals are also:

Great for beginners learning how to cook from scratch
Perfect for meal planning on a tight budget
Easy to double or batch cook for leftovers
Flexible—swap in what you have on hand

Before You Cook: Smart Grocery Tips to Stretch Your Budget

Before you dive into these easy 5-ingredient meals, take a minute to set yourself up for serious savings at the grocery store. With a few strategic habits, you can keep your pantry stocked, your fridge full, and your wallet happy—without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.

Here are some tried-and-true ways to get the most value out of every dollar:

🛒 Buy in Bulk (But Be Smart About It)

Staples like rice, beans, pasta, oats, and flour are significantly cheaper when bought in bulk. If you use them regularly (and if you’re making budget meals, you probably do), buying larger quantities can cut your cost per meal in half or more. Look for store brands or warehouse deals, and store dry goods in airtight containers to keep them fresh.

Tip: Don’t buy in bulk if you’re not actually using the items. Only stock up on ingredients you use frequently to avoid food waste and expired goods.

💸 Use BeFrugal to Earn Cashback on Groceries

Whether you’re ordering online or scanning your receipts after a grocery run, BeFrugal can help you earn real cashback on your everyday purchases. It’s one of the easiest ways to save without changing what you buy. Many grocery stores, including Walmart and Instacart, are listed, and it takes less than two minutes to sign up.

🎉 Bonus: New users get a $10 sign-up bonus when they create an account through this link:
👉 Sign up for BeFrugal

🛍️ Stack Online Savings with Rakuten

Planning to buy pantry items, baking tools, or even a new slow cooker? Don’t check out without Rakuten. This free cashback platform gives you a percentage back every time you shop online at stores like Amazon, Walmart, or Target. It’s especially useful when buying kitchenware or bulk items for your easy 5-ingredient meals.

🎁 New to Rakuten? You’ll get a $30 bonus after your first qualifying purchase:
👉 Start saving with Rakuten

🥕 Shop Seasonal Produce (and Know What to Buy When)

Seasonal fruits and vegetables aren’t just fresher—they’re cheaper, too. When a food is in season, it’s more abundant and less expensive to harvest and ship. That means lower prices for you and better taste in your meals. Not sure what’s in season? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

🌱 Check out our helpful guide: Seasonal Produce Guide: What to Buy Each Month

Crochet Hanging Fruit and Vegetable Baskets

🛍️ Bring Reusable Bags (and Maybe Earn Cash Back)

Some grocery stores now offer small incentives or discounts for bringing your own bags—usually 5–10 cents per bag. While it might not sound like much, it adds up quickly if you shop weekly. Plus, it’s better for the planet and makes your haul easier to organize.

Want to upgrade your bag game? We reviewed the most durable, spacious, and washable options in this post:
👉 Best Reusable Grocery Bags for Eco-Friendly Shopping

10 Easy 5-Ingredient Meals

A little prep before your grocery run can make your easy 5-ingredient meals even more affordable. Use cashback tools, shop smart, and always plan around what’s in season and on sale. Budget cooking doesn’t mean cutting corners—it means making smart choices that pay off again and again.

1. Garlic Butter Pasta

Ingredients:

Spaghetti or linguine
Garlic
Butter
Parmesan cheese
Fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions:

Cook pasta until al dente.
Sauté minced garlic in melted butter until fragrant.
Toss drained pasta in the garlic butter.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.

Pro Tip: Use garlic powder and dried parsley if you’re out of fresh ingredients.

2. BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients:

Shredded cooked chicken
Tortillas
Shredded cheese
BBQ sauce
Onion (optional)

Instructions:

Mix chicken with BBQ sauce.
Layer chicken and cheese between two tortillas.
Grill or pan-fry until crispy.

Time-saving tip: Use leftover rotisserie chicken and freeze extras in portions.

3. Tuna Melt English Muffins

Ingredients:

Canned tuna
Mayo
Cheddar cheese
English muffins
Pickles

Instructions:

Mix tuna and mayo.
Top muffin halves with tuna, cheese, and a pickle slice.
Broil until cheese melts.

Try this: Swap muffins for sliced bread or bagels depending on what you’ve got.

4. Sausage and Sweet Potato Skillet

Ingredients:

Sausage links or ground sausage
Sweet potatoes
Bell pepper
Onion
Olive oil

Instructions:

Cube sweet potatoes and sauté in oil until tender.
Add sausage and cook through.
Stir in chopped peppers and onion.

Budget bonus: Use frozen veggies if fresh are out of season.

5. Chickpea Curry with Rice

Ingredients:

Canned chickpeas
Coconut milk
Curry powder
Onion
Rice

Instructions:

Sauté onion, then add chickpeas and curry powder.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer 10 minutes.
Serve over cooked rice.

Switch it up: Add spinach, frozen peas, or a squeeze of lime if you have extras.

6. Egg Fried Rice

Ingredients:

Cooked rice (day-old is best)
Eggs
Soy sauce
Frozen peas
Green onion (optional)

Instructions:

Scramble eggs and set aside.
Stir-fry rice, then add peas and soy sauce.
Mix in eggs and top with green onion.

Common mistake to avoid: Don’t use freshly made rice—it clumps. Use cold rice for the best texture.

7. Zucchini Fritters

Ingredients:

Zucchini
Eggs
Flour
Garlic
Cheese (feta or shredded)

Instructions:

Grate zucchini and squeeze out liquid.
Mix with egg, flour, garlic, and cheese.
Fry spoonfuls in a skillet until golden.

Save more: Grow your own zucchini! How to Grow Summer Veggies

8. Black Bean Tacos

Ingredients:

Canned black beans
Taco seasoning
Tortillas
Salsa
Shredded cheese

Instructions:

Heat beans with taco seasoning.
Scoop into tortillas and top with salsa and cheese.

Taco night hack: Batch-cook beans and freeze in portions for future meals.

9. Baked Potato Bar

Ingredients:

Russet potatoes
Butter
Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Green onions or leftover veggies

Instructions:

Bake potatoes at 400°F for 45–60 minutes.
Set out toppings for a build-your-own potato bar.

Fun for kids: Let everyone top their own potato with what they like!

10. Mini Breakfast Sandwiches

Ingredients:

English muffins or slider buns
Eggs
Cheese
Ham or bacon
Butter

Instructions:

Scramble or fry eggs.
Layer egg, cheese, and meat on a toasted muffin.
Wrap in foil and freeze for grab-and-go mornings.

Meal prep tip: Make a batch of 6 and freeze for the week!

Smart Ways to Save Even More on Ingredients

Use Rakuten when ordering pantry staples or kitchen gear online—like slow cookers or cast iron skillets (see our favorites). New users get a $30 sign-up bonus.
BeFrugal works great for cash-back on grocery delivery services, Walmart, and even Instacart. Get your $10 sign-up bonus here: Join BeFrugal
Shop local farmer’s markets at the end of the day for markdowns.
Freeze anything you won’t use within 5 days to avoid food waste.

Get More Budget-Friendly Recipes Free!

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Final Thoughts: Cheap Doesn’t Mean Boring

Easy 5-ingredient meals are proof that cooking on a budget can still be delicious, nourishing, and stress-free. By focusing on real ingredients and strategic shopping, you’ll spend less without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.

Bottom line: The fewer the ingredients, the fewer the excuses. You’ve got this!