budget-friendly

While this pasta is packed with spicy sausage and lemon zest, the real star of the show is the noodles.

Cook once, eat twice with this heady, flavor-forward steak that handily turns into French Onion–Style Beef Vegetable Soup the next day.

Gluten-free pizza gets a budget-friendly makeover with this seafood rendition featuring canned sardines!

Sweet corn, tomato and olive bruschetta is a simple and flavorful Italian appetizer. Top fresh white fish with it for a light and easy dish.

Artichokes take a bit of prep work, but their smooth texture and delicate flavor make them well worth the effort. Need more convincing? These edible relatives of the thistle are rich in antioxidants. To reap maximum benefit, be sure to eat the tender parts of the leaves as well as the heart.

These hearty meatless burgers have serious buffalo wing flavor and a tangy blue cheese sauce drizzled over top. The patties freeze well, so make a double batch and store some for impromptu meals later.

Savory soy sauce, sweet honey and fiery ginger give this stir-fry personality, but the chunks of juicy mango are really what take this dish up a notch. Serve with brown rice or quinoa to round out the meal.

Roasting garlic is an easy way to add intense flavor to your meals. Here, we blend it with tender, sweet turnip and a touch of Parmesan to make a surprisingly creamy sauce – without any cream.

Three cheeses — smoked cheddar, sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheese — commingle in this make-ahead mac and cheese. Sprinkle with green onions if you have some on hand.

Breakfast in 10 minutes without going down to the cafeteria? All you need is a toaster oven and a few basic ingredients.

Get ready for the biggest revelation in dorm-room cooking: kettle eggs! Yes, you can actually make hard-boiled eggs in an electric kettle. (Fun fact: Our senior graphic designer, Alaina Greenberg, makes them almost daily in our office!) If you don’t have a kettle, you can also buy packaged pre-boiled eggs for this recipe.

Making a batch of these almond butter, oat and flax bars at the start of the week ensures you always have a nutritious snack on hand or a breakfast you can grab on your way out the door.

Ricotta cheese is blended with an all-natural purchased pesto for a punch of flavor with minimal effort. Layers of fresh zucchini, tomato and mushroom add a Mediterranean flair.

This paprika grilled chicken is marinated with the warm smoky flavor of paprika and the sharp tang of lemon juice. Grill it ahead of time and use it in multiple meals throughout the week.

Lentils and fire-roasted tomatoes combine to make a hearty, plentiful plant-based protein dish.

This rustic-style stew contains hearty cannellini beans and turkey sausage for a filling meal.

This hummus uses avocado in place of tahini for an extra-velvety spin on everyone’s favorite dip. For best results, use Hass avocados, which are the creamiest variety.

This vegan lasagna may taste decadent, but it’s actually a lightened-up version of traditional cream-heavy varieties. Relying on heart-healthy beans and nuts and loaded with mineral-rich greens, this one-pan wonder is exceptionally satisfying.

Super-stuffed tacos are the perfect vehicle for leftover grilled chicken and vegetables. A quick radish salsa adds a nice crunch to the filling.

Cutting chicken breasts into thin cutlets helps them cook quickly on the grill – if you can find pre-sliced cutlets, use them instead and save yourself the prep work. A quick blender sauce with fresh basil and lime is smothered over top for a zesty, spicy kick.

Leftover roasted cauliflower turns into a simple, creamy side dish that's perfect for this company-worthy crusted fish.

Why splurge on infused oils when you can so easily (and inexpensively) make your own? Here, we quickly heat sage and garlic in oil to add herbaceous notes to the cauliflower and greens.

Pineapple lovers, this one’s for you. The juicy fruit lends a sweet-tart flavor to this veggie-packed stir-fry. We love it served over brown rice.

The balance of sweet and sour flavors, a keystone of Asian cooking, is the inspiration behind this bowl.

Traditionally, the baguette is broiled on top for French Onion Soup, but toasting it separately speeds this recipe up, and you don’t need to use ovenproof bowls.

Chickpeas and walnuts add protein to this spinach salad to fuel you through busy afternoons. Roast the beets in advance for quicker assembly.

Roasted Brussels sprouts and chicken get tossed with a zippy garlic-yogurt dressing for a hearty meal that you can eat throughout the week.

Smoothies are the ultimate take-to-go breakfast, but it’s easy to fall into a smoothie rut. Our secret? Switch up the flavor by adding matcha, a finely ground green tea that adds sweet, earthy flavor and a power punch of antioxidants.

These portable parfaits have two fruity layers: a cherry and a banana layer, all topped with chopped plums and crunchy almonds for a filling breakfast. Get creative with chopped fruit and nuts of your choice for sprinkling between layers and on top.

A sprinkling of Za’atar, an aromatic Middle Eastern blend of herbs and spices, gives these baked pita chips addictive flavor without the need for a ton of oil or salt.

Make a batch of these protein-packed burritos on Sunday and store them in your fridge or freezer for heat-and-eat breakfasts or lunches throughout the week.

In our twist on a traditional potato salad, a fresh and fragrant pesto brings the chicken, potatoes and green beans together. We’ve suggested poached chicken here, but you can use any leftover chicken you have on hand.

Full-fat coconut milk is key to achieving the luscious creamy texture that’s often lacking in dairy-free puddings. For a pop of color, sprinkle with curls of lemon zest, mint or berries just before serving.

The term “breakfast cookie” might sound like a devilishly delicious oxymoron, but we’re not kidding around with these good-for-you jumbo cookies. They’re made with protein-rich almond flour and pecans and naturally sweetened with maple syrup for an easy, grab-and-go breakfast.

Bitter arugula’s got bite, but late-summer peaches and a citrusy maple dressing hit the sweet notes to give this seasonal salad the perfect balance of flavors. If taking this salad to go, store the dressing in a separate container and toss with the salad when you’re ready to eat.

This rich, beautifully balanced recipe keeps it as simple as can be, using only one pot and an immersion blender to make it all come together on the stove top.

Sour cream adds richness and fluffy texture to these decadent cupcakes topped with a fudgy, date-sweetened espresso buttercream – you’d never know they were 100% whole wheat!

When you cook hulled barley – also called whole-grain barley – in a pressure cooker, you don’t have to soak it beforehand, which cuts down on prep time. It also makes the barley tender and creamy without all the stirring you usually have to do to make risotto on the stove top.

Want to do some easy batch cooking with your Instant Pot? Omit the sweet potatoes and broccoli and double the zesty chicken and barbecue sauce ingredients – the leftovers freeze beautifully.

A staff favorite, our team devoured these cheesy mushrooms with tangy parsley chimichurri. Our advice? Make a double batch!

Coconut milk adds richness to this aromatic curry, chock-full of anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric and ginger. To switch things up, you can swap out the brown rice for an ancient grain such as quinoa or millet.

A quick homemade mint-cumin paste is rubbed over this whole-roasted fish. Orange slices and red onions baked along with the fish do double duty and are used to make a lovely green salad to accompany it. If you have microgreens on hand, they make a great garnish here.

These spiced, baked fingers, with their sidekick of fiber-full skin-on mashed potatoes, will satisfy your fish stick cravings without giving you diners' remorse.

Sherry adds a rich nutty note to this mushroom sauce, which we’ve 
made extra-creamy by stirring in tangy cream cheese.

Apple cider and Dijon mustard give this chicken dish the ultimate sweet-and-savory 
flavor, while a colorful mix of kale, carrots and parsnips makes it extra-hearty and 
nutritious. To save money, buy skin-on chicken thighs and simply remove the skin yourself.

Runny egg yolks, crispy bacon and garlicky croutons come together to 
make this cleaned-up take on a traditional French bistro salad.

We’re always on the lookout for fresh new ways to enjoy kale, and this twist on 
pesto might just be our favorite yet! Here, we’ve layered it into a veggie-packed 
lasagna as a fun, nutrient-rich alternative to tomato sauce.

Smoked paprika is a time-strapped cook’s best friend – it instantly lends a smoky flavor and rich aroma to everything it touches. Here, it makes this saucy dish taste like it’s been simmering for hours. Bone-in chicken thighs are often 
sold with the skin still attached, but it’s easy to remove yourself: Simply grasp the edge of the skin with paper towel 
and pull it away in one go. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, such as oregano or basil, just before serving.

Rapini, which also goes by the name broccoli rabe, is a calcium-rich green with an assertive, 
bitter taste that mellows nicely when cooked. You can make the dough the night before; once 
it’s kneaded, simply place in a large greased zip-top bag and let it rise in the fridge overnight. 
Bring the dough to room temperature before using to make it easier to roll out.

Flank steak is a relatively inexpensive lean cut that boasts a fantastic beefy flavor. It can be tougher than other steaks, which is why we pound it out thin before stuffing with the savory mushroom filling.

A short ingredient list and quick cook time make this pasta a no-fuss weeknight rock star. For even brighter flavor, add a splash of white wine to the skillet before you add the cream cheese.

Zucchini is packed with moisture, so be sure to squeeze the flesh dry to remove the excess water. It takes only a minute and will ensure you get perfectly crispy fritters. Don’t worry about peeling the zucchini before you grate it – the peel is loaded with fiber and antioxidants and adds a nice texture to the fritters. Serve with a dollop of tangy sour cream with chives for an ultra-satisfying weeknight meal.

This veg-heavy version of the classic stove-top casserole – featuring both winter and summer squashes – is served over whole-wheat buns to sop up every delicious drop.

Brimming with colorful, fresh-picked summer vegetables, this casserole makes a great meatless entrée or, in smaller portions, a hearty side dish.

While it’s not traditional to cook jambalaya in a skillet – it’s typically made in a pot – spreading it out helps it cook more quickly. It also means the top can get sprinkled with panko and finished under the broiler, adding a crunch that complements the hearty mixture.

With a thick, stew-like base and a biscuity topping, this casserole is chicken pot pie meets 
chicken and dumplings – plus a whole lot of fresh veggies.

This enchilada-inspired casserole has a mild heat that's balanced by cooling yogurt. If you already have cooked chicken on hand, you can skip the first step - if doing so, you'll only need 2 cups broth.

This just might be the coolest muffin you’ve ever tried – it’s cornbread on the top and frittata on the bottom, filled with veggies like corn, zucchini and scallions for an all-in-one breakfast.

Coconut milk and fresh basil lend Thai-inspired taste to this all-American classic.

Juicy peach breaks down into a luscious sweet sauce for chicken thighs in this rustic dish. To easily peel the peach, score an X in the bottom of the fruit and blanch it in a saucepan of boiling water until the skin begins to loosen, about 30 seconds. Transfer the peach to a bowl of ice water to chill; use a paring knife to peel away skin.

Cooking lean fish in parchment packets is a great way to keep the moisture (and flavor) in, so you can say goodbye to dry, overcooked fillets. Sole fillets are thin, flat and firm, which means they roll up easily into all-in-one bundles.

Fresh plum might seem like an unusual addition to an Asian-inspired noodle salad, but it’s a fresher alternative to the classic plum sauce commonly found in stir-fries and noodle bowls. Don’t worry if some of the peas fall out of the pods as you slice them – just toss them into the salad, too.

Millet has a mild, corn-like flavor and fluffy texture that’s perfect for hearty grain bowls. The quick-cooking ancient grain is rich in iron, B-complex vitamins and calcium. If you can’t find it, just double the quinoa. Tuscan kale is much more tender and sweet than common curly kale, which makes it a great candidate for enjoying raw.

Jump at the chance to cook with spring onions this season – they're part of the same family as green onions and are distinguished by their bulbs, which have a sweet, mellow flavor. For a make-ahead meal, pour into a buttered casserole dish, let cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, sprinkle with panko, mist the top with cooking spray and bake in 375˚F oven until hot and bubbly.

Scoop up the creamy hummus, crispy chickpeas and tangy salad with pita wedges, or serve it all tucked into a halved pita pocket for dinner on the go. If you have the ingredients on hand, make a quick sauce with Greek yogurt, lemon juice and chopped fresh mint and drizzle over the spiced chickpeas.

You’ll save time (and need fewer ingredients) by using one spicy dressing as both a marinade for the fish and a dressing for the slaw. There’s plenty of room for play with this recipe – turn up the heat by adding more sriracha or jalapeño peppers, or toss in handfuls of chopped cilantro and mint for extra freshness. Instead of a grill pan, you can cook the fish on your barbecue or broil on a foil-lined baking sheet.