Looking for some cheap easy clean meals? In this post I share a list of some quick and easy budget meals great for clean eating. Keep reading to get inspired for your next meal!
What are cheap easy clean meals?
- Cheap, easy, and clean meals are those that use affordable, simple ingredients, require minimal prep time, and don’t make a mess in the kitchen.
- “Clean” in this context generally refers to whole, minimally processed ingredients that don’t include a lot of artificial additives or preservatives.
- These meals focus on balance, often using vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats.
Tips for cheap and clean meals
- Use pantry staples: Beans, rice, pasta, canned tomatoes, and frozen veggies are cheap, healthy, and long-lasting.
- Cook in batches: Make larger quantities of meals like soup or stew to eat over several days, which saves both time and money.
- Simple seasonings: Stick to basics like garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs to keep things affordable and clean without sacrificing flavor.
These meals are quick to prepare, budget-friendly, and don’t require a lot of cleanup. You can customize many of them by adding or swapping in different ingredients based on your taste or what you have on hand.
Dailey Kitchen YouTube
I host a fun cooking channel on YouTube where I share a variety of cheap easy clean meals and cooking tips for home cooks.
Here’s a video where I share how to prepare a week’s worth of meals for just $29 from Trader Joe’s ingredients:
8 cheap easy clean meals
Here are some cheap, easy, and clean meal ideas that require minimal ingredients and cleanup: The following recipes are all vegan and great for the Daily Dozen.
1. One-Pan Veggie Stir-Fry
- Ingredients:
- Mixed veggies (fresh or frozen)
- Soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
- Olive oil or sesame oil
- Garlic and ginger (optional)
- Rice (or quinoa for a healthier option)
- Instructions:
- Cook rice or quinoa according to package instructions.
- Heat oil in a large pan or skillet. Add garlic and ginger (if using) and cook for a minute.
- Add veggies and stir-fry until cooked through (about 5-10 minutes).
- Add soy sauce and stir to combine. Serve over rice or quinoa.
Here’s a video from the Dailey Kitchen YouTube Channel sharing how I make a one pan veggie stir fry:
2. Chickpea Salad
- Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- Cucumber, tomato, and red onion (chopped)
- Olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper
- Fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro (optional)
- Instructions:
- Combine the chickpeas and chopped vegetables in a bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Toss and serve. You can also add feta cheese or olives for extra flavor if you like.
3. Tofu Fried Rice
- Ingredients:
- 1 package firm tofu, drained
- 2 cups cooked rice (leftover rice works great!)
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Frozen peas and carrots (or any other veggies you like)
- Garlic (optional)
- Instructions:
- Scramble the tofu in a pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté garlic (if using) and any veggies you want to add.
- Add the cooked rice to the pan and stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add soy sauce and scrambled tofu back into the pan, and mix everything together.
Here’s a video from the Dailey Kitchen YouTube Channel sharing how I made tofu fried rice:
4. Sweet Potato & Black Bean Bowl
- Ingredients:
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- Olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper
- Avocado (optional)
- Lime (optional)
- Instructions:
- Peel and cube the sweet potato. Toss with olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Roast in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes until tender.
- Warm the black beans in a pot on the stove.
- Once sweet potatoes are cooked, combine them with black beans in a bowl.
- Top with avocado and a squeeze of lime if desired.
5. Lentil Soup
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried lentils (rinse before using)
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups vegetable broth or water
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin, or curry powder (optional)
- Instructions:
- In a large pot, sauté onion, garlic, and carrots in olive oil until soft.
- Add lentils, tomatoes, broth, and seasonings.
- Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, until lentils are tender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
6. Pasta with Garlic and Olive Oil
- Ingredients:
- Whole wheat pasta or regular pasta
- Olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley or basil (optional)
- Nutritional yeast, optional
- Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- In a separate pan, heat olive oil and sauté garlic slices until fragrant.
- Add red pepper flakes if you want some heat.
- Once pasta is cooked, toss it in the garlic oil mixture. Top with herbs and nutritional yeast if desired.
7. Peanut Butter & Banana Toast
- Ingredients:
- Whole grain bread
- Peanut butter (or almond butter)
- 1 banana, sliced
- Instructions:
- Toast the bread and spread peanut butter on top.
- Add banana slices and serve.
8. Brown Rice & Beans
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 can beans (black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder
- Instructions:
- Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
- Add beans (with some of the liquid) and seasonings, then cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Serve over rice for a filling, balanced meal.
These meals are simple to make, require minimal ingredients, and can be tailored to your tastes. Most of these also make great leftovers, so they’re perfect for meal prep!
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