From clever ways to stretch affordable ingredients to meals that taste way more expensive than they actually are, these recipes are about to become your survival kit – because good food shouldn't be a luxury, especially when everyone's already stressed about getting back into the school routine!

We have rounded up these five brilliant recipes to prove that you can create delicious meals that everyone will enjoy without spending a fortune for the rest of the month.

1. 4-ingredient budget pasta

When you need dinner magic with just four things from your cupboard, this genius recipe proves that amazing meals don't require endless shopping lists or fancy ingredients – just pasta, three pantry staples, and the kind of clever thinking that turns simple into spectacular.

4-ingredient budget pasta recipe

2. Batch-cooked curried mince

Cook once, eat multiple times – this fragrant curried mince stretches beautifully and can become everything from curry and rice to filled wraps, pasta sauce, or a jacket potato filling throughout the week.

Batch-cooked curried mince recipe

3. Ultimate cheat’s mac ’n cheese noodles

The 15-minute miracle that transforms humble 2-minute noodles into pure comfort food! Using just noodles, cream and Cheddar cheese, this recipe proves that gourmet flavour doesn't require a gourmet budget.

Ultimate cheat’s mac ’n cheese noodles recipe

4. Everyday egg frittatas

The flexible friend that turns whatever's left in your fridge into a proper meal! Eggs are one of the most affordable proteins around, and this frittata uses up any vegetables, leftover meat or cheese you have on hand for a filling, nutritious dinner.

Everyday egg frittatas recipe

5. Lemon ricotta pancakes

Sometimes the best budget meals are the simplest, creating endless possibilities for breakfast, lunch or even dinner when times are tight.

Lemon ricotta pancakes recipe

ALSO READ: 7 easy-to-make back-to-school lunch box recipes

This content was created with AI assistance. However, it was fact-checked, edited and ideated by actual human beings at TASTE.