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| Inspiration | 12 best budget-friendly recipes

12 best budget-friendly recipes

Did you know food is often the highest living expense after paying rent or a mortgage? Every families’ food bill varies, but one thing is the same from house to house: Kiwis are a hard-working bunch, and we want to know our hard-earned dollars are being put towards good quality kai for our whanau.

When it comes to eating on a budget we know people sometimes associate that with boring meal choices such as cooking an extra-large batch of something on Sunday and eating the same thing, slightly varied all week. Surely it could be more appealing than that? Well you know what? It is. Here's a look at some of our favourite budget-friendly recipes.

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Spiced lamb flatbreads

Protein packed, these flatbreads are a quick and nutritious dinner that's fast to get on the table. You can make the flatbread from scratch or buy them premade for ease.

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Easy Mexi Mince

Versatile, quick and delicious, mince is a Kiwi favourite. Easy to whip up for a variety of different meals, this is a recipe to always keep on hand that the whole family will love.

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Family Lamb Stir-fry

With all the goodness of iron, carbohydrates, and minerals perfect for muscle recovery, this dish is perfect to serve up post-exercise. Quick, easy, delicious. Suitable for toddlers.

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Corned beef reuben

What could be better than tender meat, melted cheese and tangy pickles in between good quality bread?

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Turkish lamb pasta

This relies on pantry spices and a tub of Greek yoghurt with garlic for the big flavour. Use whatever pasta you have on hand - penne works well as does twists.

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Cottage Pie

This cottage pie recipe is made with Kiwi families in mind. Quick and easy to prepare, and delicious - it’s guaranteed to please! It's a great option for Kiwi families who looking to lower their food bills.



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Extra Easy Lasagne

This rich and comforting lasagne recipe makes enough for six people and only uses six ingredients! It's great for batch cooking weekend as it freezes well. To make this even more affordable, think about doing a 50/50 blended mince and veg mixture with ingredients like lentils.

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Mince Fried Rice

This beef fried rice is a one-pot meal that is both affordable and delicious. This recipe is super versatile, so if you don’t have some of the vegetables use what you have leftover in the fridge offering great bang for your buck!



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Beef, lentil and taco soup

A good soup can be a filling and hearty meal. Stretch out the beef with canned lentils and beans while adding in extra protein to your dinner.

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Easy Lamb Curry

This six-ingredient lamb rump curry is cost effective while being big on flavour and also really easy to make. We love it spooned over basmati rice and served with yoghurt, sliced red onion, and naan.

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Beef chow mein

Take some mince and make this colourful and vibrant stir fry that kids will love. Load in as many types of vegetables as you can - fresh or frozen are both great.

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Philly cheesesteaks

These are a great way to feed a crowd - use whichever steak is on special. We've made them with rump or even schnitzel to great success. Just don't overcook it and you're good to go.

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Posted by Beef + Lamb New Zealand