Sundays are days for rest, TV and good food.
While the easiest thing you can do is order some takeout, it’s definitely not the cheapest way to eat (or the healthiest).
If you want to be smarter with your budget and reduce unnecessary food spending, here are some cheap, easy and healthy recipes you’ll be able to rely on every Sunday evening.
1. Chicken wings
It’s one of the most beloved pieces of meat yet also one of the cheapest — the magnificent spicy chicken wings!
When you’re feeling lazy on a Sunday evening, just take your wings, smother them in flavorful and aromatic marinade and pop them into the oven for 30 minutes.
When they are nice, golden and ready, serve them with a dipping sauce and enjoy.
2. Chicken and mushroom risotto
If you want to enjoy a warming and hearty meal without a pile of dishes left behind, then a chicken and mushroom risotto is the recipe for you. It’s all prepared in one pot with simple ingredients that can shine when combined together.
If you have mushrooms, chicken and rice at home, you can have a wonderful risotto in 45 minutes.
3. Jacket potato with feta
If there ever was a budget meal, then jacket potatoes take the crown. However, you can easily elevate your baked potato with some feta cheese sprinkled with sumac for a unique and interesting taste.
This is not the fastest dinner in the world, however, prep time only takes you about 10 minutes and the rest of the time is spent baking (about an hour or so).
So, while the potatoes are in the oven, you can play board games with your family, catch up on your TV show, or dive into a thrilling murder mystery game to make it an enjoyable Sunday night.
4. Vegetarian curry
For those of us who are trying to change our lifestyles, protect the planet a bit, or simply detox from animal products, this vegetarian curry will be a perfect addition to your Sunday dinner menu.
You can try preparing a fast and easy chickpea coconut curry and serve it with rice. This meal is balanced, tasty and very satisfying to enjoy on a chilly evening.
5. Baked boscaiola
If you’re usually craving a pasta dish on Sundays (and who can blame you when pasta is so tasty and comforting) you must add baked boscaiola to your menu.
This creamy mushroom pasta dish is easy to prepare, and you can be in New York or Sydney and still get a perfect Italian bosciaola if you find a good recipe.
If you’ve never had this dish, you can break the ice by ordering chef-made boscaiola in Sydney full of flavour and nutritious ingredients. And when you see how professionals do it, you can try and recreate the recipe at home the following week.
6. Posh pizza
If you can’t stand regular pepperoni pizza anymore, don’t worry. There are so many amazing versions of this fast and delicious meal, and you definitely don’t have to rely on pepperoni or margarita all the time.
To elevate your Sunday dinner, you can prepare a pesto lamb Caprese pizza in just 20 minutes. Since you already have a pizza base, just assemble the ingredients, place your creation in the oven and in 10-15 minutes you’ll have your elegant and unique pizza.
7. Chicken and potato chowder
If you’re looking for a hearty and warming Sunday dinner recipe that skips all the super expensive ingredients, then chowder definitely deserves a spot on your menu.
With just some potato, leftover chicken and bacon, you can whip up chowder that will be as filling as it is tasty.
And you don’t even have to sacrifice that much time in the kitchen – it’s usually done and served in 40 minutes.
8. Pumpkin mac ‘n’ cheese
If you have a large family to feed every Sunday night, then you probably already know how to prepare mac and cheese. However, this dish has many variations that can elevate the flavour and boost health.
For instance, you can try a version with more veggies and less caloric cheese. In an hour, you can have a dish of 10-12 servings for a tiny price tag. Get our pumpkin mac ‘n’ cheese recipe here.
9. Beef tacos
Tacos are not reserved only for Tuesdays. You can have easy, cheap and fast dinner tacos any night of the week for the entire family in just 20-30 minutes.
While the ground beef is simmering in the pan, chop up some veggies, whip up an easy salsa sauce and wait for the meat to brown so you can start assembling. It’s a family favourite!
10. Classic meatloaf
Classic meatloaf is another meal that only calls for ground meat and the rest of the ingredients can be found in your fridge and pantry (red pepper, onion, celery, eggs and different sauces). The preparation is easy, and the results are worthy of a regular weekly repeat.
Add these 10 recipes to your Sunday menu and see how you and your family like them. They will seduce your tongue, fill your belly, and leave your bank account intact!
