Cooking at home is a great alternative to take-out if you want to save some money but, with rising grocery prices, even that can get costly. However, it’s still the way to go if you’re trying to stick to a budget, you just need to look for recipes that use low-cost but healthy and tasty ingredients. Here are three top-shelf suggestions.

Hearty Beef Stew

Beef stew is the epitome of comfort food, and this one-pot dish is an easy way to use cheaper cuts of meat. Add in a bunch of veggies to bulk it up and make it a balanced meal.

Ingredients
• Stewing beef, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 celery stick, sliced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 5 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons tomato puree
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 beef stock cubes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 320 F.
2. Combine celery, carrots, onion, bay leaves, rosemary, butter, and vegetable oil into a casserole dish. Soften for 10 minutes.
3. Stir in flour, followed by tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, and crumbled beef stock cubes. Gradually add 600ml of hot water.
4. Add beef and bring to a gentle simmer. Then cover and put in the oven for two and a half hours. Cook uncovered for an additional 30 minutes or until sauce has thickened.

Filling Tomato and Pasta Soup

Tomato soup is a classic dish made with simple and affordable ingredients, and adding pasta transforms it into a more substantial meal that’s perfect for a filling dinner.

Ingredients
• Olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 celery stick, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato puree
• 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes
• 1 can (400g) chickpeas
• 150g small pasta
• 700ml vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon basil pesto

Instructions

1. Fry the onion, celery, and carrot in a saucepan over low heat for about 10 minutes, until tender.
2. Add all other ingredients except pesto and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender, about 7 minutes.
4. Season to taste.
5. Stir pesto with oil, then drizzle over individual bowls.

Flavourful Peanut Butter Chicken

For a dish with a twist, branch out with some peanut butter chicken. Use peanut butter to create a rich, savoury sauce that keeps your family coming back for more.

Ingredients
• Avocado oil
• 8 skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 red chillies, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons garam masala
• 400ml coconut milk
• 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes
• 100g smooth peanut butter
• Coriander, roughly chopped

Instructions

1. Brown the chicken in a deep frying pan over medium heat, then set aside.
2. Fry the onion until soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, and chilli and fry for an additional minute. Add garam masala and fry for one more minute.
3. Stir in coconut milk, tomatoes, and peanut butter and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and coriander to the pan.
4. Cook for 30 minutes until sauce thickens.
5. Serve over rice if desired.

Planning family dinner doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right recipes, you can cook family meals that are not only cost-effective but also packed with flavour and nutrition.