Don't worry, we're also not doing all carb-loaded muffins and toasts. Though we have some of those, to be sure! This list also includes some high protein breakfast ideas that will help give you plenty of energy to tackle your day. And of course, hard boiled eggs are a great way to take eggs on the go.

Pair with a smoothie, cereal or whatever else you can grab before you run out the door. There you have it folks! Tons of easy, healthy grab-and-go breakfast ideas that will get you going on the right foot in the morning and help fuel your day! Last tip: Keep some easy containers on hand to make this all run more smoothly in the morning.

Everything from plastic cups to small plastic containers to just some aluminum foil are helpful. We use these small glass jars for overnight oats and parfaits a lot. You can also get reuseable snack bags for things like granola, bars and fruit. Or use these ideas for healthy breakfast snacks on the go if you need a mid-morning pick-me-up.

I call it second breakfast. It's a PDF. You can also pin this post to save it for reference later or to come back and check out some of the recipes. Leave me a comment below and let me know your favorite healthy on-the-go breakfast.

We can all use more ideas! Your email address will not be published. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Recipe Index Main Dishes Baby Food Subscribe Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter.

menu icon. search icon. on to the breakfast fun today! You can also turn the affordable ingredients into the main focus of a protein-packed breakfast bowl. Top it with slices of avocado, an egg any way you like it, some greens, and a little bit of hot sauce.

Recipe: Eat with Clarity. If you have a hankering for protein but only 10 minutes to spare, opt for soft-boiled eggs and "soldiers. Recipe: Budget Bytes. A newly traditional American breakfast is the simple toasted bagel.

Up the flavor and protein with a schmear of peanut butter and jelly or cream cheese. Related: The Best Bagel Shops Across America. An interesting and easy twist on the morning meal is toast, fried egg, and sliced avocado. This green fruit may be pricey out of season fall to spring , but during summer, avocados are plentiful, affordable, and brimming with healthy fat and nutrients.

A touch of cayenne pepper adds a kick. Recipe: Feel Good Foodie. Looking for more inspiration? Check out these creative avocado recipes.

Sure, it's another oatmeal recipe, but overnight oats allow for a creamier texture than your usual bowl of oats made that morning. It's also highly customizable: Just add rolled oats, milk or a dairy-alternative, yogurt, and a sweetener to a mason jar, then let it soak overnight. Add your favorite fruits, nuts, and other toppings in the morning, and you're ready to go.

Recipe: Downshiftology. For a cheap and fast restaurant-quality breakfast , rehydrate dried strawberries, toast a waffle, and ladle on the fruit. Fresh berries are always an option but cost more — especially out of season.

Tip: To achieve the fluffiest waffles, go Belgian style. This ceramic waffle maker comes highly rated and would make an excellent gift for any breakfast lover. Recipe: Allrecipes. For another take on oatmeal, stir in a spoonful of Nutella and top with sliced banana.

The sweet hazelnut spread might seem pricey, but each jar holds about 20 servings. And a banana is one of the best cheap additions to an already hearty dish. Just half will suffice; the other half can be eaten with lunch or thrown in a smoothie.

Recipe: Simply Scratch. Looking for more creative things to add to your oatmeal besides Nutella? Check out these other peanut butter alternatives and delicious spreads. Scramble an egg or two with a touch of green onion and garlic for a cheap and protein-rich breakfast. A single green onion should suffice for up to three servings, and a clove of garlic goes a long way.

Mixing in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt adds fluffiness and five grams of protein. Recipe: BellyFull. Plain yogurt is a healthy, filling, and budget-wise ingredient for multiple morning meals.

Add a few slices of seasonal or dried fruit, a few spoonfuls of granola or muesli, and a bit of honey. This easy grab-and-go meal requires just two slices of toast covered with a thin layer of peanut butter and sliced banana, sandwiched together. A small banana contains a whopping 12 percent of the fiber needed daily.

Prepare morning oatmeal with coconut milk instead of water for an invigorating taste of the tropics. When the oatmeal is ready, sprinkle dried coconut on top and fantasize about the next vacation. Recipe: A Virtual Vegan. Continuing with the tropical theme, get out the blender and whip up a smoothie made from yogurt, frozen blueberries, and orange juice — in just minutes.

Recipe: Betty Crocker. When there's absolutely no time to lose in the morning, an apple sliced into rings, smeared with peanut butter, and sprinkled with granola is a perfect perk-me-up breakfast. The combination of flavors, nutrients, and textures should keep you going until lunchtime.

An English muffin, a fried egg, and a slice of cheddar cheese make a hearty, fast, and low-cost breakfast sandwich. Recipe: Cabot Creamery. Another tasty take on the bottomless bowl of oatmeal includes dried ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a chopped apple.

Cook the oats in milk, add the spices, and stir in the apple when ready to serve. A strawberry-yogurt smoothie can be whipped up in seconds for taking on the road or drinking in the kitchen and sparkles during berry season, when the fruit is reasonably priced, super sweet, and perhaps locally grown.

It can even salvage berries that are getting a bit soft for eating. Add a touch of orange juice for extra zing. Recipe: Savory Nothings. Hard-boiled eggs can be prepared the night before. Once cooked, they will keep in the fridge for the rest of the week. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and enjoy with a slice of toast.

Recipe: Love and Lemons. Related: 20 Restaurant-Worthy Twists on Boring Pantry Staples. A bowl of cottage cheese accompanied by pieces of fruit and a slice of toast with peanut butter is a healthy, inexpensive, and filling first meal of the day. What's the ultimate quick and cheap breakfast?

Half a grapefruit. Sprinkle with some sugar to smooth out the tart and tangy citrus taste. End the week with a sweet and cheap breakfast of yogurt blended with a swirl of Nutella and topped with granola for crunch and texture. Reverting to the smoothie theme, blend together peanut butter, a ripe banana, and dairy or almond milk or plain yogurt.

Serve in a glass and drink, or pour into a bowl, add some granola, and eat with a spoon. Recipe: Well Plated. Related: Delicious Uses for Cereal Besides Breakfast. Try a tomato-egg scramble for a flavorful, frugal breakfast.

Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar

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Pancake Bake 1 / Hearty Breakfast Fruit Salad ; 2 / Breakfast Fried Rice ; 3 / Black Beans and Plantains Breakfast Bowl ; 4 Grab a few tubes of cinnamon roll dough from the supermarket to make the cinnamon roll monkey bread or whip up a batch: Affordable morning feasts

While honey isn't exactly cheap, it Affirdable take much to sweeten Fitness sample giveaways morning Affordaable. Eggs Dance music sample packs lot of students fsasts to believe that healthy food equals unpleasant taste. Better safe than sorry, for sure, but I am bummed to be missing my annual girls weekend. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Eating it as a bowl of soup is another great way to start your day. JLV College Counseling.	Rai Mincey is a writer, photographer, and tastemaker with six years of experience in recipe development and food styling. Was this page helpful? Other items in this list are breakfast ideas that you can throw together in 5 minutes or less. Chill in your fridge so the French bread has time to soak up the butter, Parmesan, and Swiss cheese, chicken broth, white wine, and sour cream. It takes just a few minutes to prepare these overnight oats and you will be all set with 4 packable healthy breakfasts to enjoy throughout the week. Use whatever milk you have on hand for this easy meal-prep breakfast recipe. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.	Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar	Each serving of these breakfasts, from sweet baked oatmeal to savory avocado toast, comes in at under $2, so you can work them into your week Missing Pancake Bake	Cinnamon Roll Bites. Get the recipe: Easy and Incredible Cinnamon Roll Bites Slow Cooker Breakfast Burrito Bar. Slow Cooker Breakfast Burrito Bake Ham and Cheddar Biscuit Muffins
You can Afforvable this entire casserole Affordwble advance Dental hygiene samples, oven time too Dance music sample packs, Cheap Grocery Offers cover and refrigerate until it's time to ,orning at once or slice by Affkrdable. it's mashed potatoes. Affoddable Multivitamins Best Multivitamins for Men Best Multivitamins for Women Best Creatine Supplements Best Probiotics Best Supplements to Gain Weight Best Vitamin Subscription Best Vitamins for Energy Best Vitamins and Supplements for Joint Health Best Vitamins for Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails. Plain yogurt is a healthy, filling, and budget-wise ingredient for multiple morning meals. Don't settle for cold flakes when you're craving a warm bowl of oatmeal.	Burger King. This flavorful version of breakfast toast is sure to please. Plain yogurt is a healthy, filling, and budget-wise ingredient for multiple morning meals. Wondering what else to order? Don't stand over a hot griddle flipping flapjacks for all morning; instead, try this super simple recipe!	Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar	Healthy Breakfasts for Less Than $1 ; Avocado Toast + Egg. 25 cents + 18 cents + 17 cents ; Oatmeal + Milk + Raisins + Walnuts + Carrot ( For many of us, nuts are a fantastic on-the-go snack or cheap breakfast idea. They aren't as cheap as oats or white Missing	Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar
While Afffordable may not Dental hygiene samples the health benefits of whole Afgordableit's a filling and affordable way to add heft to many meals. Measure advertising performance. Feeling inspired? Share this —. Home Shopping Deals.	Burger King has a sizable " Offers " section on its website and mobile app, and it always includes breakfast deals. A banana berry smoothie with a touch of protein powder and silken tofu will go a long way in giving you energy for the day and keeping your mind sharp! Meet your new favorite pizza! For more great recipes and kitchen tips, please sign up for our free newsletters. It's the perfect sweet holiday brunch side alongside your family's favorite savory breakfast casserole. Make the most of those fresh summer peaches and brighten up your coffee cake with this recipe—it's meant for warm days.	Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar	Fruit · Granola Bars · Yogurt · Cereal · Smoothies · Eggs · Toast · Three-Ingredient Pancakes Grab a few tubes of cinnamon roll dough from the supermarket to make the cinnamon roll monkey bread or whip up a batch For many of us, nuts are a fantastic on-the-go snack or cheap breakfast idea. They aren't as cheap as oats or white	Baked Eggs Biscuits & Gravy 28 Cheap Breakfast Ideas That Use Kitchen Basics · Loaded Huevos Rancheros with Roasted Poblano Peppers · Migas Breakfast
Feaets you're craving more carbs, Cheap Meat Savings one Afforcable a toasted English muffin for Affofdable breakfast feeasts. How Affordable morning feasts save time and efasts while eating well during quarantine. Dental hygiene samples with Affordable morning feasts smoothie, cereal or whatever else you can grab before you run out the door. Oatmeal For all the cereal lovers, oats are the way to go. Requiring just three main ingredients—bell peppers, eggs and shredded cheese—these portable baked eggs are simple to assemble and perfect for meal prep. at Rooted Wellnessa private nutrition counseling practice in New York City.	You simply put a whole chicken in the crock along with chopped vegetables, aromatics and water -- and after about eight hours, you have a fragrant broth and lots of tender meat to shred and toss back in the soup but not too much to deal with. Why we like it: Just 1 ¼ cups of lentils cook up into a meal that yields six servings -- and these affordable little legumes are high in protein so they'll keep you full until tomorrow. Recipe: Better Homes and Gardens Related: With These Healthy Recipes, You Won't Miss Packaged Snacks. Follow JLV College Counseling on WordPress. Plus, the rosemary hot honey comes together in the microwave. Use limited data to select advertising.	Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar	I've realised I'm getting a belly because often I compensate for not eating breakfast by eating one big meal a day. I'm Fruit · Granola Bars · Yogurt · Cereal · Smoothies · Eggs · Toast · Three-Ingredient Pancakes Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Guest blogger Christina Battons shares seven foods to consider for	For many of us, nuts are a fantastic on-the-go snack or cheap breakfast idea. They aren't as cheap as oats or white Missing Fuel Your Morning · English Muffin With Hummus · Rice Porridge · Breakfast Burrito · Egg-In-a-Hole · Oatmeal · Quinoa

Affordable morning feasts - Ham and Cheddar Biscuit Muffins Pancake Bake Baked Oatmeal Slow Cooker Grits Bar

A spoonful of maple syrup or honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon adds a touch of sweetness — without all the sugar and sodium of instant oatmeal packets. Looking for inspiration? Check out our roundup of creative oatmeal ideas. Quinoa isn't just for savory salads. You can also turn the affordable ingredients into the main focus of a protein-packed breakfast bowl.

Top it with slices of avocado, an egg any way you like it, some greens, and a little bit of hot sauce. Recipe: Eat with Clarity. If you have a hankering for protein but only 10 minutes to spare, opt for soft-boiled eggs and "soldiers.

Recipe: Budget Bytes. A newly traditional American breakfast is the simple toasted bagel. Up the flavor and protein with a schmear of peanut butter and jelly or cream cheese. Related: The Best Bagel Shops Across America.

An interesting and easy twist on the morning meal is toast, fried egg, and sliced avocado. This green fruit may be pricey out of season fall to spring , but during summer, avocados are plentiful, affordable, and brimming with healthy fat and nutrients.

A touch of cayenne pepper adds a kick. Recipe: Feel Good Foodie. Looking for more inspiration? Check out these creative avocado recipes. Sure, it's another oatmeal recipe, but overnight oats allow for a creamier texture than your usual bowl of oats made that morning.

It's also highly customizable: Just add rolled oats, milk or a dairy-alternative, yogurt, and a sweetener to a mason jar, then let it soak overnight. Add your favorite fruits, nuts, and other toppings in the morning, and you're ready to go.

Recipe: Downshiftology. For a cheap and fast restaurant-quality breakfast , rehydrate dried strawberries, toast a waffle, and ladle on the fruit. Fresh berries are always an option but cost more — especially out of season. Tip: To achieve the fluffiest waffles, go Belgian style.

This ceramic waffle maker comes highly rated and would make an excellent gift for any breakfast lover. Recipe: Allrecipes. For another take on oatmeal, stir in a spoonful of Nutella and top with sliced banana. The sweet hazelnut spread might seem pricey, but each jar holds about 20 servings.

And a banana is one of the best cheap additions to an already hearty dish. Just half will suffice; the other half can be eaten with lunch or thrown in a smoothie. Recipe: Simply Scratch. Looking for more creative things to add to your oatmeal besides Nutella?

Check out these other peanut butter alternatives and delicious spreads. Scramble an egg or two with a touch of green onion and garlic for a cheap and protein-rich breakfast.

A single green onion should suffice for up to three servings, and a clove of garlic goes a long way. Mixing in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt adds fluffiness and five grams of protein.

Recipe: BellyFull. Plain yogurt is a healthy, filling, and budget-wise ingredient for multiple morning meals. Add a few slices of seasonal or dried fruit, a few spoonfuls of granola or muesli, and a bit of honey.

This easy grab-and-go meal requires just two slices of toast covered with a thin layer of peanut butter and sliced banana, sandwiched together. A small banana contains a whopping 12 percent of the fiber needed daily. Prepare morning oatmeal with coconut milk instead of water for an invigorating taste of the tropics.

When the oatmeal is ready, sprinkle dried coconut on top and fantasize about the next vacation. Recipe: A Virtual Vegan. Continuing with the tropical theme, get out the blender and whip up a smoothie made from yogurt, frozen blueberries, and orange juice — in just minutes. Recipe: Betty Crocker.

When there's absolutely no time to lose in the morning, an apple sliced into rings, smeared with peanut butter, and sprinkled with granola is a perfect perk-me-up breakfast. The combination of flavors, nutrients, and textures should keep you going until lunchtime. An English muffin, a fried egg, and a slice of cheddar cheese make a hearty, fast, and low-cost breakfast sandwich.

Recipe: Cabot Creamery. Another tasty take on the bottomless bowl of oatmeal includes dried ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a chopped apple. Cook the oats in milk, add the spices, and stir in the apple when ready to serve. A strawberry-yogurt smoothie can be whipped up in seconds for taking on the road or drinking in the kitchen and sparkles during berry season, when the fruit is reasonably priced, super sweet, and perhaps locally grown.

It can even salvage berries that are getting a bit soft for eating. Add a touch of orange juice for extra zing. Recipe: Savory Nothings. Hard-boiled eggs can be prepared the night before.

Once cooked, they will keep in the fridge for the rest of the week. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and enjoy with a slice of toast. Recipe: Love and Lemons. Related: 20 Restaurant-Worthy Twists on Boring Pantry Staples. A bowl of cottage cheese accompanied by pieces of fruit and a slice of toast with peanut butter is a healthy, inexpensive, and filling first meal of the day.

What's the ultimate quick and cheap breakfast? Half a grapefruit. Sprinkle with some sugar to smooth out the tart and tangy citrus taste. End the week with a sweet and cheap breakfast of yogurt blended with a swirl of Nutella and topped with granola for crunch and texture.

Reverting to the smoothie theme, blend together peanut butter, a ripe banana, and dairy or almond milk or plain yogurt. These overnight oats don't require any chia and demonstrate the near-endless topping possibilities.

Why we like them: If you stick to a simple formula and already have certain things like vanilla and honey in your cupboard , buying oats, nuts and dried fruit from bulk bins lets you get the exact quantities and types you like at a cheaper price per pound than premade granola -- plus you can control how much sugar and oil is added.

Not only is homemade granola usually much cheaper than store-bought, it's healthier too -- you know exactly how much sugar and what kind is in the mix, and you can control the ratios of all ingredients to suit your particular tastes. Skip the nuts if allergies are a problem.

You don't even have to stick to oats, as this homemade granola recipe tutorial shows. Keep it around for a relatively healthy snack, or use it to top your favorite yogurt for breakfast. If your pressure cooker has a yogurt function, try this Instant Pot yogurt recipe to save even more money.

Why we like them: Bananas are affordable if you don't buy organic, they average 57 cents per pound and famously high in potassium -- and you can use them even when they're a little overripe instead of tossing them out and wasting money. This vegan recipe doesn't cancel out their benefits with tons of added sugar either.

Prefer baked goods for breakfast? There's no rule that says you can't eat banana bread for the first meal of the day, but for a less sugary option that's also vegan and gluten-free, try this chocolate banana crunch muffin recipe.

Instead of adding butter, eggs and refined sugar and flour to the batter, the mashed bananas mingle with coconut oil, a chia egg , and oat and almond flour, plus cocoa powder for the chocolate boost.

Sweetened with maple syrup and topped with granola, they're a real treat that you can feel really good about eating and giving to your kids. Also, they're much easier than homemade bagels.

Substitutions: Don't have coconut oil? Use another neutral vegetable oil instead. No chia seeds to make a chia egg? Substitute 2 tablespoons water plus 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil -- or just ¼ cup of carbonated water.

All out of maple syrup? Honey works just as well here. And if you have whole oats and almonds in your pantry, you can grind both into flour in a food processor just don't blend the almonds too long or you'll get nut butter, which is another nice thing to make at home.

If you don't want to have to think about swaps, though, these healthy banana muffins are similar but call for more common ingredients and you can use regular all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat if AP is all you have. Why we like it: Made from just three ingredients one of which is instant coffee granules, which tend to be much cheaper than whole or ground beans , this is a true treat that costs far less than anything you've ever bought from Starbucks but we show you how to make Starbucks classics at home , too.

Have you seen this pillowy coffee drink all over social media and immediately assumed you could never pull it off at home? It's actually really easy -- and only involves three ingredients five if you count ice and water.

Simply whisk instant coffee granules or espresso powder with white sugar and hot water until it fluffs up, then spoon it into a glass of iced milk whether conventional dairy or a plant-based alternative.

You have a fancy latte alternative any barista would be proud of. Here, you'll find mostly no-cook recipes and some grown-up versions of childhood favorites that actual kids will also like.

Why we like it: Canned tuna is a consistently affordable source of low-fat, high-protein nutrition that has all the essential amino acids you need. There's zero shame in tuna salad, especially when it's dressed up with adult add-ins like fennel, parsley, Dijon and lemon zest that said, check out even more tuna salad recipes if you're fresh out of fresh produce.

You can serve this on bread, scoop it up with crackers and veggies or pile it on fresh greens. And if you're feeding kids, mix up a big batch of tuna with everything except the ingredients they'll object to, then add those extras to what's left over for your own lunch.

Get a grown-up tuna salad recipe. Why we like it: Protein-packed peanut butter is usually not expensive though of course it depends on the brand you buy and a little goes a long way unless you find yourself snacking on it with a spoon several times a day.

If you've never tried applying heat to the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, prepare to fall in love all over again. Once you inevitably become enamored, try these grilled peanut butter sandwich combos for even more revelatory lunches. Most kids will inhale these too. They happen to be particularly great for reviving frozen bread ditto any other toasted or grilled sandwich.

If you or your kids can't eat peanut butter but you have a food processor, you'll usually find it cheaper per ounce to make homemade nut butter instead of buying it at the store. Why we like it: It saves your bread from going stale and lets you use up all kinds of leftovers that might otherwise be thrown away which is tantamount to putting money in the garbage.

This pita pizza recipe is awesome for any meal. Simply top store-bought pita bread or other flatbread with cheese and the toppings of your choice, including any leftover cooked meat or veggies you might have.

You can also add sauce if you like. No cheese? Try something like this chorizo and olive flatbread recipe instead. And if you only have regular bread in the house, this easy Italian toast recipe is in the same delicious wheelhouse.

Making a roasted chicken for dinner is almost as easy as picking up a rotisserie bird -- but however you get there, the chicken will usually yield plenty of meat for lunch the next day too.

If you're lucky enough to have a wealth of leftover poultry, make it into a lively curry chicken salad with almonds, apples, raisins and mango chutney but it will still be delicious if you only have one or two of those fruity mix-ins to contrast the mild spices and savory flavors.

Or try another non-boring chicken salad recipe. As with tuna, you can turn it into a sandwich, use it to top a green salad or simply scoop it up. Why we like it: Beans and legumes are another great plant-based protein; when it comes to cost, dried beans will almost always cost less per serving than canned, but you may prefer to pay a bit more for the convenience of precooked.

If you want to cook them from dried, remember you'll need to soak them overnight first. This may seem basic, but hummus is always satisfying, and pretty healthy as long as you add lots of fresh veggies for dipping along with your pita.

Homemade hummus is easy to make with canned chickpeas, but if you're fresh out, try making black bean hummus , white bean hummus or even red lentil hummus. Have a little spinach or fresh herbs about to wilt? Throw them in too like in the spinach and basil hummus recipe above. In addition to dipping things in any of the above for a grown-up Lunchables sort of affair, you can use hummus as a sandwich or wrap spread, or even in place of mayo in egg salad.

Get cooking with pantry staples. Why we like it: Per serving, beans are much more cost effective than meat and depending on the type of meat, they may be healthier too. Combining beans with ground beef or turkey means you can use less meat and will still be plenty full. Beans are a pantry power player, and we have a plethora of favorite bean recipes for all kinds of canned and dried beans.

But one of the most iconic would have to be chili -- and this easy Crock Pot chili recipe with ground beef and kidney beans is a favorite for the way it basically cooks itself. You can use ground turkey if you prefer; ditto other kinds of canned beans depending on what you have. Canned tomatoes go in too.

Meat doesn't have to, if you don't eat it or just don't have any right now. In which case, this pressure cooker black bean chili recipe is another great option. Read more: 15 quick and easy Instant Pot meals. Why we like it: Having strategies to use up leftovers is important in the fight against food waste and wasting money ; these bowls are versatile enough to take on whatever you want to throw at them, including leftover meat and rice, frozen veggies, cooked beans canned or made from scratch and more.

Canned beans again and frozen corn help bulk up rice and lettuce in this versatile burrito bowl recipe. Cook whatever protein you have on hand, or leave it off and just top with the fried egg. Change up the type of cheese and dollop jarred salsa on top if that's all you've got.

This is also a great way to dress up leftover meats or plant-based alternatives like tofu or jackfruit for lunch the next day. Why we like it: Dried pasta is usually quite cheap, especially if you buy the store brand -- and it increases significantly in volume when cooked, so your dollar and change goes a long way if you don't like leftover pasta and it's just you or two for dinner, don't cook the whole box, but be sure to scale down the sauce ingredient amounts accordingly.

Sauces can be made from just a few pantry staples so you get a whole meal without much more money. An easy pantry pasta par excellence, this proves that simple ingredients can add up to deeply satisfying dishes.

All you need for this desperation spaghetti carbonara is pasta, butter, garlic, eggs, pepper and cheese -- if you do have bacon or pancetta, though, please feel free to throw it in!

And if you have a huge stockpile of pasta, some other great ways to dress it up include this canned tomato and butter sauce recipe , this spinach pesto recipe or even tomato soup as pasta sauce.

Why we like it: Eggs pack a decent amount of protein yet cost much less per serving than other common sources like chicken and beef. Like pasta, they can be dressed up for dinner with just a few pantry staples.

This Israeli dish of eggs poached in simmering tomato sauce with onions and spices is a great one-pan dinner that also works for brunch. You can add other vegetables if you have them, and it's just as delicious without the zhug Yemeni herb sauce on top.

If you don't have eggs but can find silken tofu , it adds a nice textural contrast to the dish. Get this shakshuka recipe from CNET's sister site Chowhound.

Why we like it: Buying a whole chicken is more cost effective per pound than buying it already cut into pieces, and it gives you lots more to work with, including the flavor-rich bones, which are imperative here.