41 Best Vegan Air Fryer Recipes
75 Easy Lunch Ideas For Stressed-Out People
Let's face it: We're all busy. We barely have time to get everything done in the day, let alone meal prep healthy lunches for the week. But you know what else we don't have the time (or budget) for? Trekking outside for a $15 lunch salad that isn't even that good. (But seriously, have you seen the prices on produce lately?) Luckily, there's a solution to be found in these 75 easy lunch ideas that require basically zero effort to whip up (but still taste delicious). With everything from chicken salad-stuffed peppers to radish barbecue bowls with honey mustard dressing, this handy list of recipes should keep you satisfied for months to come. Bottom line: Bookmark this page now and you'll never have to worry about what's for lunch again.
65 Easy Dinner Recipes for Beginners (That Even the Most Culinarily Challenged Can Manage)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, make ahead
If you have 25 minutes, you can make four days' worth of lunches. (And it's as easy as slicing a tomato to boot.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
This dish takes just 30 minutes from start to finish and strikes the right balance between fresh, summer flavor and crave-worthy decadence. Be brave and eat it cold—it tastes just as good (if not better) that way.
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LAURA EDWARDS/THE YOGA KITCHEN PLAN
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, vegan, gluten free
You had us at '15-minute lunch,' and again at 'no oven required.' If ever there were a reason to bust out the spiralizer and double a recipe, this is it.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein, make ahead
Story continues
Rotisserie chicken, we salute you. How else could we have a mouthwatering lunch and/or game day menu item ready to devour in just 20 minutes?
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
It's a Tomato Girl Summer, haven't you heard? Get in on the trend (and enjoy a delicious meal) with this flavor-packed salad featuring a juicy vinaigrette, farro for heft and plenty of pan-fried, caramelized cheese. Serve it with a hunk of crusty bread for best results.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, kid-friendly, make ahead, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
The sandwich equivalent of icebox cookies. By that we mean easy, delicious and impossible to eat just one.
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Amy Neunsinger/Magnolia Table
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
When it comes to low-fuss, healthy lunches, it turns out our design crush knows best. Feel free to add cantaloupe, prosciutto or both.
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Jonathan Lovekin/At My Table
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, high protein, special occasion-worthy
It sounds time-consuming, but we promise it's a breeze. There's only ten minutes of prep—just chop everything up, toss it on a tray and cook to juicy perfection.
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe
Two of our favorite meals (crispy, creamy, garlicky salad and cheesy, gooey pizza) combine in one easy-to-make and highly satisfying meal. Just don't skimp on the Parmesan.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Bowties beat sad, wilted salads any day of the week…and this delicious pasta dish even eliminates the soggy sandwich bread problem whilst preserving all the flavor magic of a beloved favorite. Would you believe us if we told you it only takes 40 minutes to make a whopping eight servings?
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, high protein, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Ready in half an hour is just the beginning. These meatballs are tender, rich and juicy; plus, they're baked instead of fried for easy cleanup. Let's just say they check all the boxes.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, dairy free
Psst: This is the easiest way to prepare Brussels sprouts. All you have to do is trim, separate and toss them with the farro before serving.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Aside from being a delicious lunch for you or your kids, these teeny-tiny skewers are so darn fun to eat. Customize them to your heart's content.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, make ahead
The answer to your lunchtime prayers? Spicy, nourishing pork burrito bowls portioned out for the entire week.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Bye, lunch rut. We'll see you never, thanks to these adorable pepper boats filled with healthy chicken salad. How is it no cook, you ask? Chalk it up to store-bought rotisserie chicken.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, make ahead, no cook
They take 30 minutes to make, won't get soggy and last up to two days ahead in the fridge. Plus, there's peanut butter sauce. Need we say more?
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, high protein, kid-friendly
Kick that sad salad to the curb and replace it with this satisfying Asian-inspired meal. The sides are swappable, but the sticky-sweet glaze is mandatory.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
You can't go wrong with these two-bite pockets, which feature all the bold flavors of the Middle Eastern favorite. A quick marinade makes them taste like you spent all day in the kitchen, despite how simple they are to pull off.
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Power Plates
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly
It's basically a giant bowl of guac masquerading as a salad, and we're not complaining at all. In fact, that's the definition of our dream lunch. (Bonus points if you pair it with a margarita.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Low-maintenance is the name of the game. Make this spicy-sweet number the night before and reap the rewards when your stomach growls at lunchtime the next day.
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Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Heath Goldman
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
Tip: Don't skimp on the good stuff. And by good stuff, we mean all that creamy burrata.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly, keto-friendly
One-pan lunches are the way to go. This one, which is teeming with summer tomatoes, tastes super decadent and is surprisingly healthy and low carb.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Dishes? What dishes? We're only making sheet pan lunches from now on, namely this super simple pick that calls for bell peppers, broccoli and carrots.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, Paleo-friendly, high protein, dairy free, low carb
We're ditching the fussy egg roll wrappers, because everyone knows it's what's on the inside (pork! Cabbage! Scallions!) that counts. Try this one and you'll be singing the praises of deconstructed takeout dishes.
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DIANA KUAN/RED HOT KITCHEN
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pan, beginner-friendly
These chewy, sticky rice cakes are about to win the lunch game. Find the flavor-packed XO sauce at your local Asian market.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly
What looks fancy but takes virtually no effort? This ridiculously simple lunch. What can we say, we're suckers for canned tuna.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
This is our new favorite way to eat veggies, hands down. It must have something to do with those briny, charred radishes.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, make ahead, vegan
The secret ingredient? Store-bought marinated tofu. It's a time-saving, easy way to add a ton of umami flavor (not to mention protein) to a dish.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Finger food is the best food. The second best? It's a tie between charcuterie, olives, toasted pita and yogurt sauce.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, make ahead, beginner-friendly, one bowl
The prettiest salad you'll ever make. Just look at all those colorful veggies (and tender smoked tofu).
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
The beauty of shrimp? It's ready to eat after five minutes of cooking and goes with just about everything. Consider it a lunchtime blessing.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, one pan, beginner-friendly
We might even venture to say it tastes better as leftovers. (It reheats like a charm in the microwave, BTW.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein
It's way faster than ordering takeout and every bit as tasty. You can even swap the ground pork for turkey or chicken, if you're so inclined.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Doctor up a box of noodles with store-bought (or homemade!) broth, aromatics and our old standby, rotisserie chicken. It's way better than Top Ramen, trust.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, make ahead
Who says eating healthy has to be boring? This fresh legume-veggie-yogurt combo will fill you up without weighing you down.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Nothing against jarred marinara sauce, but we need a break. And good news, you can totally swap the pine nuts for almonds in a pinch.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Two things we love: hands-off meals and zero dishes. This easy lunch happens to offer both and then some.
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Stir-Fry
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly, one pan
Juicy, sweet and totally irresistible. We should also mention that it comes together in a single skillet, so cleanup is easy-peasy.
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Lauren V. Allen/Chèvre
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
This is a brand new way to use goat cheese (and it's a far cry from that '90s salad with dried cranberries you used to love). Pro tip: Make this one when sugar snap peas are in season for a perfect springtime lunch.
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Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, high protein, vegan
Thanks to Coterie member Monique Volz for keeping us warm with this guy, which is simple, flavorful, healthy and ready in 35 minutes. Canned black beans make it possible.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: make ahead, high protein, crowd-pleaser, one pot
Light enough to eat all year long. Even better, it freezes like a dream, so you can stash some away for busy days ahead.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, high protein, one pot
Mixing and matching is the name of the game. With all these fresh, filling ingredients, you'll avoid the afternoon slump like nobody's business.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan
So much more fun than avocado toast, but just as easy to make. File this one under "ingenious."
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Real talk: This recipe's got us excited about greens. And about that homemade green goddess dressing: It comes together with just a few whirls of your blender.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly
Grilled zucchini is a major upgrade to everyone's favorite seasonal salad. Drizzle on some extra balsamic for us, would you?
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
The healthiest way to get your takeout fix is to ditch the crispy fried wrappers for chewy rice noodles and make it at home to save a buck in the process. Swoon.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, make ahead
Presenting the best way to use up a boatload of produce. Feel free to swap these veggies for whatever looks good at the farmers market (or is available in your fridge).
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Light, tangy and irresistible, these skewers put summer watermelon front and center. Let's eat every meal on a stick from now on, shall we?
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, high protein, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
No grapes or walnuts in sight, just how we like it. The addition of creamy avocado, on the other hand, is *chef's kiss*.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
We like the sound of zero prep even more than we like that cheesy toasted baguette. Fortunately, we (you) don't have to choose.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly, one pan
This ten-minute beauty is bursting with fresh fruit and three different cheeses. Feel free to spice the sandwich up even further with bacon, caramelized onions or jam.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, dairy free, beginner-friendly
Sure, you can pass on the carbs by substituting cauliflower rice for regular rice. But whatever you do, don't skip the runny egg.
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100 Days of Real Food
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, <30 minutes, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
The homemade dressing is a breeze to make and the walnuts add a pleasant crunch and earthy flavor you never knew your snoozy caesar was missing all along. If you're looking to spruce up a classic with minimal effort involved, this one fits the bill.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Store-bought gnocchi (i.E., Italian potato dumplings) are pillowy morsels that add both substance and a touch of decadence to this creamy chicken soup. Yup, we'll *definitely* be warming up with this hug in a bowl all winter long.
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Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly, vegetarian, one pan
When all else fails, you can't go wrong with this childhood favorite. (Especially when it's grilled in butter.)
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pan, high protein, <10 ingredients
Calling all carnivores: This delightful dish requires no special ingredients and very little clean up. Oh, and did we mention it contains only 230 calories a serving?
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, special occasion-worthy
In a perfect world, we'd be at the beach noshing on fresh seafood 24/7. Until then, these 20-minute beauties will have to do. (Pro tip: Pack the tortillas separately, so they don't get soggy.)
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Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: vegetarian, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Never worked with tofu before? The secret to a crispy crust is pressing as much liquid out of it as possible before breading and frying it.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Why should summer have dibs on pasta salad? We love this hearty, savory take that's great for warming up with when the weather's cold.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, make ahead
Come June, the last thing we want to do is stand over a hot stove. Luckily, you can opt for this cold soup instead for a flavor bomb that comes together in the blender and won't make you break a sweat.
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Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: low carb, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
The stars here are the quick-pickled cucumbers and scallions, which are spiked with fresh herbs. Still, the savory chicken and cremini mushroom combo is a close second.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
This fresh, bright and oh-so satisfying Italian classic couldn't be easier to make. (Hint: You only need eight ingredients, and that's including salt and pepper.)
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Stir-Fry
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pan, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Nothing puts the 3-o'clock slump in its place like oodles of noodles doused in garlicky stir fry sauce. Plus, you can always add a protein of your choice if you're looking for an extra filling lunch.
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Dana Carpender/The Keto for One Cookbook
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: keto-friendly, low carb, high protein, <10 ingredients, make ahead
Color your coworkers jealous. It's a great way to use up all that leftover steak from your last barbecue.
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Esteban Castillo/Chicano Eats
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Warm up some white rice or bust out the dinner rolls so you can sop up every drop of this zingy citrus garlic sauce. (And obviously make sure not a single tender shrimp is left behind.)
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Photo/Styling: Taryn Pire
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, <10 ingredients
This protein-packed dinner only takes 15 minutes from start to finish. Not only does the chicken wing-inspired recipe call for diced celery and carrots, but the dressing is also a simple mix of Buffalo sauce and ranch.
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Colin Price/Dinner Then Dessert
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, high protein
Because Italian sausage is so flavorful on its own, this the 25-minute pasta doesn't need much more than a flourish of grated Parm to become table-ready.
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Eva Kolenko/Bread Toast Crumbs
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, make ahead
You have our full permission to substitute pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for homemade, since the best parts are really the tarragon mayonnaise and the quick-pickled red onions.
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Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian
The strawberries are marinated in rice vinegar and honey, which not only brings out their sweet juices, but also creates a pseudo-dressing for the salad. All that's missing is a drizzle of olive oil.
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Romas Foord/Sea Salt and Honey
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, high protein, <10 ingredients
No offense, but this five-minute tuna salad blows your usual way out of the water. The recipe calls for tangy Greek yogurt in place of mayo, and it's brightened up with a splash of zingy apple cider vinegar and briny capers.
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YUM CREATIVE/I HEART CHEESE
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
This blissful combination of buttery white bread, gooey mozzarella cheese, salty pancetta and fresh herbs is only 25 minutes away. Needless to say, it's also sinfully delicious.
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Eggs are the easiest route to a protein-packed meal on the fly. This omelet is not only extra satiating (thanks, bacon), but it's also packed with flavor and a silky texture.
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Katherine Gillen
Believe it or not, this homemade soup only requires 15 minutes of prep—your oven basically takes care of the rest. The end result? A mouthwatering blend of warm spice and peak season flavor.
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Carmen Emmi
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, <10 ingredients
We'll eat this no-cook brunch staple any time of day, TBH. Finish it with capers, fresh dill and minced red onion for maximum flavor.
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Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
A five-minute meal that's fancy enough to serve at a dinner party? Don't mind if we do. Substitute prosciutto, apple, burrata and almonds with whatever you have on hand (just be sure to finish the flatbread with a drizzle of honey).
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54 Fast Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Savvy Melbourne Mum Cooks Hearty Dinners For Her Family-of-six For Just $1.60 Per Serve - This Is Exactly How She Does It
A mum has revealed how she makes dinners for her family-of-six for just $1.60 per serve.
Brooke Schrempf-Dixon, 31, struggled to stay within her budget because of the cost of living crisis and was stunned by the amount of money she constantly spent on groceries.
She was shelling out close to $400 every week, so the Melbourne mum decided it was time to attempt a '$10 meal challenge' and cook dinner every night of the week for less than $10.
Ever since, the grocery bills have dropped down to $150 and Brooke is still able to cook several elaborate meals on a budget including bacon fettuccine, chicken curry with rice, beef and potato bake, and cheesy tomato gnocchi.
'My family was going through a tough time after we dropped down to a single income when I gave birth to twins,' Brooke told FEMAIL.
'But our new budget has only caused me to get more creative with how I'm spending money.'
Brooke Schrempf-Dixon, 31, struggled to stay within budget because of the cost of living crisis and was stunned by the amount of money she constantly spent on groceries
Brooke's meal-prep strategy consists of constantly shopping the markdowns and planning meals around ingredients on special.
'I start by 'shopping at home' - I write out a list of everything I have in my freezer, fridge, and pantry and build my weekly meals around this.'
She also revealed that most of her meal ideas were inspired by her own mum.
'We grew up struggling week-to-week in housing commission, and I watched her make something out of nothing a lot while I was younger,' Brooke recalled.
'There was always an empty cupboard, but somehow my mum managed to throw together amazing food - so cooking on a budget just comes naturally to me now.'
Brooke was shelling out close to $400 every week on groceries, but having a large family - the Melbourne mum decided it was time to attempt a '$10 meal challenge' and cook dinner every night of the week for less than $10
The mum-of-four has children between seven months and seven-years-old, so most of the meals are kid-friendly and pack in a lot of vegetables and nutrients.
'I was really overspending before, I had no plans and constantly bought what we didn't need,' she shared.
'I was going in blind and bought a some sauce every time I needed pasta, and we ended up with ten jars at a time.
'But now, I meal plan every week and I'm really conscious of what I'm making. I look up a lot of recipes online and cut out what I don't need,' Brooke said.
Brooke's meal-prep strategy consists of constantly shopping the markdowns and planning meals around ingredients on special
The mum's family is constantly asking her for more curries and pasta dishes - with one of their absolute favourites being Brooke's bacon fettuccine.
She recently cooked the $9.83 meal and it had her family licking their bowls and going back for seconds.
The mum shared a video of her Coles visit to buy ingredients for the meal.
The mum ended up purchasing bacon ($1.93), garlic butter ($3.50), two mushrooms ($1.08), an onion ($0.32), baby spinach ($2), and fettuccine ($1).
Brooke also used flour and milk from her pantry to thicken the pasta sauce.
She began by chopping up the spinach, bacon, onion, and mushroom, and also boiled 500g of pasta on the side.
Brooke placed a dollop of garlic butter into her pan and added in the onion and bacon.
The mum-of-four has children between seven months and seven-years-old, so most of the meals are kid-friendly and pack in a lot of vegetables and nutrients
'You will need some staples from your pantry - I added some mixed herbs, milk, flour, salt, and pepper,' she said.
'You don't need to add in the milk and flour, but it will give the pasta a creamier base.'
The mum revealed that you could also use water and chicken stock to thicken the sauce.
Brooke then added in the spinach and followed with the pasta and some pasta water.
'You really don't need to buy cream and cheese, I just wait for the sauce to thicken,' she said.
'It was really simple, and this is one of those dishes where you can throw anything you want in there and it was actually really delicious.'
'The pasta fed four of us with heaps of leftovers as well,' she added.
The mum's family is constantly asking her for more curries and pasta dishes - with one of their absolute favourites being Brooke's bacon fettuccine
Many thanked Brooke for her simple budget ideas.
'This looks so delicious - and for only $10!' a woman said. 'I'm going to try the recipe this week.'
'Thank you for your easy meal ideas, it's hard to come up with them myself,' a second wrote.
'I love curry but always thought it was be expensive for my whole family, but I'm going to use your recipe next week,' a mum said.
Cheap Vacation Ideas
Summer is in full swing. And there's no better time to plan a (cheap) vacation.
Whether you have a week off of work or just a weekend free, there are plenty of cheap vacation ideas so that you're not spending a ton of money on vacation this summer. Here are a few ideas to help you save on vacation:
1.) Go to the beach
Spending a day at the beach is so relaxing, and we're fortunate in Florida to have many beaches to choose from. Just pick the East Coast or the West Coast and head to the beach! Don't forget to pack a cooler before you leave home so you're not tempted to eat out.
I recently saw a cute idea called the "snacklebox." Basically, you take a small tackle box with dividers and fill it with yummy treats your whole family will enjoy. Just toss your snacklebox in your cooler before you head to the beach and you won't miss eating out one bit.
2.) Go camping
There is no cheaper vacation than camping. Whether it's in a tent or a camper, there are plenty of ways to save money. Camping allows you to get away from it all and get into nature. Don't forget to meal plan before you leave home so that you have some easy camping meals ready to go.
This frugal teacher camps all the time, and our favorite camping meals are hot dogs, ham and cheese sliders, and foil packets filled with sausage, chopped-up potatoes and veggies. Remember to bring plenty of snacks and drinks so you're not tempted to eat out.
3.) Travel during the week, not the weekend
Booking your vacation as a Monday-Friday trip can really help you save money. Everything from hotel rooms to gas prices can be cheaper during the week. Try to plan your vacation well in advance to save even more money by taking advantage of cheaper weekday rates.
4.) Use Groupon
Download the Groupon app if you don't have it already. You simply put in the city you'll be vacationing in and search for local deals to save money.
This frugal teacher recently went to a water park and bought tickets in advance on Groupon for $26.
If I would've waited and bought the tickets at the water park on the day of, the tickets would've cost me $43. That's a savings of $17 per person!
5.) Do your research
Use an internet search to find free or cheap things to do in the city you'll be in for vacation. The more you plan and research, the more chances you have to save money. Simply searching "free or cheap things to do in ..." will give you a jump start on planning your vacation without breaking the bank.
This frugal teacher has found everything from free museum days to free chocolate factory tours simply by doing a little bit of research beforehand.
Well, there you have it. I hope these cheap vacation ideas will help you and your family save money this summer. If a vacation just isn't in the cards right now, try adding a line item to your budget to start saving for a family vacation.
Even putting aside $10 a week will allow you to get away for a few days. Remember to leave the credit cards at home and only bring cash and your debit card with you on vacation. That way, you won't come home to a bunch of credit card bills from splurging on a poorly planned vacation.
Email me at frugalteacherlife@gmail.Com to tell me about your summer plans. I love hearing from my frugal readers!
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