pound1 dinners

Turn a tin of kidney beans into a gently spicy and budget-friendly veggie burger that you can whip up in 20 minutes. 


Beanie burgers 

potato

red onion, finely chopped

salt

½ tsp dried chilli flakes

tsp cumin

bread

3–4 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil

buns,

tomatoes,

iceberg lettuce

sauces of your choice, mustard

Beans pulao is a vegan one-pot rice dish that's cheap, healthy and oh-so-simple to make.

Beans pulao 

tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil

cumin seeds

onion, thinly sliced

tins mixed beans

½–1 tsp dried chilli flakes

300 grams/10½oz long-grain rice

900 milliliters/1½pints boiling water

herbs

This quick ham picnic pasta is equally delicious warm or cold. Try it in lunchboxes or for casual dinners, as well as picnics of course.

Ham picnic pasta

250 grams/9 ounces dried pasta shape

mayonnaise

tbsp runny honey

tsp English mustard

tsp dried chilli flakes (or 2 tsp Cayenne pepper)

100 grams/3½oz cooked gammon or ham

pepper

spring onions, thinly sliced

A quick one-pan hash using cooked ham, eggs and tinned potatoes. Any cooked potatoes can be substituted for the tinned ones, if you have any leftover boiled potatoes they are ideal.

Ham hash

x 540 grams tins whole new potatoes

vegetable oil

onion,

eggs (preferably free range)

black pepper

This recipe uses a gammon joint that has been cooked ready for use in multiple meals (see the recipe tips for the other recipes and how to cook the gammon). Batch cooking in this way saves money while still ensuring there's plenty of variety in your meals.

For this recipe you will need a food processor or blender.

Pea and ham soup

butter oil

litre/1¾ pint stock from cooking the gammon (alternatively use vegetable or chicken stock)

peas

mint (about 5 sprigs)

100 grams/3½oz cooked gammon

salt and black pepper

An easy ham and vegetable bake that you can make ahead for busy weeknights (see the recipe tips for more details). 

Ham and vegetable bake

900 grams/2lb frozen cauliflower

butter

tbsp plain flour

400 milliliters/14fl oz milk (any variety)

cheddar,

mustard (optional)

grams/10½oz

A family-friendly pasta recipe that makes the most of tinned foods. If your kids love Hawaiian pizza then this ham and pineapple pasta is a great twist to try for a quick mid-week dinner.

Hawaiian spaghetti

spaghetti (or pasta shape of your choice)

garlic

200 grams/7 ounces tinned ham,

pineapple

full-fat cream cheese

This simple version of aloo matar (potato and pea curry) can be made in under an hour and uses store cupboard and cheap ingredients.

Potato and pea curry 

tbsp sunflower oil oil

garlic cloves, finely chopped

tin chopped tomatoes

tsp dried chilli flakes

potatoes

300 grams/10½oz frozen peas

A real store cupboard favourite, these curried chickpeas are easy to throw together. Serve them with plain rice on their own or with another curry to feed the family. This recipe doubles easily and can be frozen (minus the yoghurt) or kept in the fridge for another meal.

Cheap and cheerful chana masala

red onion, thinly sliced

garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2–3 tsp curry powder, depending on taste

dried chilli flakes

tin chickpeas,

100 grams/3½oz plain yoghurt

Dr Rupy packs tonnes of veggies into his jambalaya and it's well under £1 per portion! Hearty, nutritious and full of flavour, this store cupboard saviour will become a midweek staple.

Each serving provides 351 kcal, 10g protein, 54g carbohydrate (of which 10g sugars), 9g fat (of which 1g saturates), 8g fibre and 1.7g salt. 

Smoky vegetable jambalaya

120 grams/4½oz dried kidney beans,

olive oil,

onion, finely chopped

garlic cloves, crushed

tsp smoked paprika

oregano

thyme

fennel seeds

grams/5½oz brown basmati rice

bay leaf

vegetable stock cubes,

milliliters/26fl water

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces mixed frozen vegetables

Dr Rupy shows you how to turn a few vegetables, spices and rice into a delicious meal.

Dr Rupy's smoky vegetable jambalaya

This budget vegetarian burrito uses tinned beans and frozen sweetcorn. You can even use a microwave to cook the whole recipe.

Each serving provides 733kcal, 24.5g protein, 128g carbohydrate (of which 11g sugars), 12g fat (of which 6g saturates), 13g fibre and 2.5g salt.

Bean and rice burrito

200 grams/7 ounces tomatoes, diced

tbsp white wine vinegar

lime, zest only (juice used below)

salt and pepper

tin Mexican-style bean mix or mixed beans

sweetcorn,

tortilla wraps

150 grams/5½oz long-grain rice, cooked according to the packet instructions

lime, juice only

plain yoghurt

Try this smoky chipotle bean stew for a satisfying veggie dinner. Dr Rupy's recipe is great served with tortilla chips and his quick pickles, and only costs around 50p per portion to make. 

Each serving provides 404 kcal, 18g protein, 51g carbohydrate (of which 12g sugars), 13g fat (of which 5.5g saturates), 4g fibre and 1.1g salt. 

Chipotle pinto bean stew

250 grams/9 ounces dried pinto beans

onions, finely chopped

celery sticks, finely chopped

cinnamon

tbsp chipotle paste (approx. 20 grams/¾oz)

grams/1 tomato purée

vegetable stock cube

200 grams/7 ounces frozen sweetcorn (or tinned sweetcorn, drained)

grams/1¾oz pickled jalapeño chillies, drained (optional)

150 milliliters/5fl oz soured cream

paprika

wholemeal flour tortilla wraps,

Try this smoky chipotle bean stew for a satisfying veggie dinner.

Packed with goodness, tasty vegetables and layered slices of potato, this hotpot is easy on the wallet too. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

Vegetarian Lancashire hotpot

olive oil

carrots,

½ swede (about 350 grams/12 ounces), peeled and chopped

flour

milliliters/1⅓ pint–1 litre/1¾ pints vegetable stock,

pearl barley

thyme, leaves only

900 grams/2lb potatoes,

Pearl barley risottos are much cheaper than traditional risottos and have a pleasing nutty flavour that works wonderfully with the butternut squash and sage in this recipe. 
This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

Pearl barley, butternut squash and sage risotto

grams/2½oz butter

vegetable stock (made from a stock cube)

barley,

leaves

A cheap, vegetable Thai curry. The root veg have a sweet taste that benefits from a little spice. Make sure you're using vegetarian curry paste if cooking for veggies or vegans. 

You can freeze the curry in portion-sized amounts, then defrost for a quick meal. (But don't freeze the rice - always cook it fresh.)

Root vegetable Thai curry

grams/1¾oz Thai curry paste (green

grams/1lb 10 ounces mixed root vegetables

160 milliliters/5½fl oz coconut cream

milliliters/1¼ pint vegetable stock, stock cube

rice

Sausage and mash is a classic comfort food dish and this veggie version is an easy supper for all the family. You can serve the sausages without the gravy for younger members of the group if you like, or turn it into a vegan meal by swapping the milk and butter for plant-based alternatives.

This recipe is part of a <a href=" https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_vegetarian_family_meal_plan_for_four"> Budget vegetarian meal plan for four</a>. In March 2023 this recipe was costed at an average of £2.96 when checking prices at five UK supermarkets. This recipe is designed to be made in conjunction with a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_recipes">low-cost store-cupboard</a>.

Veggie sausage and mash with onion gravy 

peeled,

100 milliliters/3½fl oz milk

6–8 frozen vegetarian sausages (see recipe tip)

plain flour

300 milliliters/½ pint vegetable stock,

ketchup

soy sauce (preferably dark)

½ tsp dried mixed herbs

A super-quick way to make a Tex-Mex style supper in under 20 minutes! These cheesy chilli-beany pockets are quick to assemble and bake quickly in the oven rather than one at a time in a pan on the hob. Any leftovers can be eaten cold the next day or reheated in the microwave.

This recipe is part of a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_family_meal_plan_for_four"> Budget meal plan for four</a>. In March 2023 this recipe was costed at an average of £3.84 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. This recipe is designed to be made in conjunction with a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_recipes">low-cost store-cupboard</a>.

Beany quesadillas

tin beans

tin red kidney beans

150 grams/5½oz frozen sweetcorn

flour tortillas

grams/3½oz cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (optional)

lime,

An alternative Sunday roast, this flavoursome pie is much easier to prepare than it looks and makes the perfect centrepiece for a meat-free meal. For a delicious vegan version, swap the milk for a plant-based alternative and make sure your puff pastry is vegan.

This recipe is part of a <a href=" https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_vegetarian_family_meal_plan_for_four"> Budget vegetarian meal plan for four</a>. In September 2023 this recipe was costed at an average of £3.88 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. This recipe is designed to be made in conjunction with a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_recipes">low-cost store-cupboard</a>.

Creamy mushroom pie and vegetables

250 milliliters/9fl oz hot vegetable stock, made with 1 vegetable stock cube

pack ready-rolled puff pastry

350 grams/12 ounces medium carrots, peeled and halved lengthways

350 grams/12 ounces medium parsnips, peeled and halved lengthways

250 grams/9 ounces frozen peas

Orzo makes a quick alternative to risotto, no stirring for half an hour! The starch from the pasta makes a creamy sauce without the cream. Orzo is also great to use in a vegetable soup.

One-pan mushroom and leek orzo

tbsp olive oil,

250–300 grams/9–10½oz mushrooms, sliced

leeks,

orzo pasta

vegetable or chicken stock cube

This budget minestrone is the classic Italian soup made with cannellini beans and broken up spaghetti. Feel free to stir in extra vegetables, depending on what you have in the fridge. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.

Each serving provides 300 kcal, 18.3g protein, 37.1g carbohydrate (of which 14g sugars), 5.2g fat (of which 1g saturates), 16.5g fibre and 1.85g salt.

Minestrone soup

onion, chopped

celery sticks, chopped

tomato purée

1.2 litres/2 pints vegetable or chicken stock,

tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

100 grams/3½ dried spaghetti, broken into short lengths

cabbage,

Cabbage soup is cheap and easy to make. The Hairy Bikers' Portuguese-inspired version uses hearty chopped chorizo and comforting potatoes. This is a meal in itself with plenty of crusty bread.

Top 21 pound1 dinners recipes from across the web

The most viewed pound1 dinners recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Beanie burgers

Beans pulao

Ham picnic pasta

Ham hash

Pea and ham soup

Ham and vegetable bake

Hawaiian spaghetti

Potato and pea curry

Cheap and cheerful chana masala

Smoky vegetable jambalaya

Bean and rice burrito

Chipotle pinto bean stew

Vegetarian Lancashire hotpot

Pearl barley, butternut squash and ...

Root vegetable Thai curry

Veggie sausage and mash with onion ...

Beany quesadillas

Creamy mushroom pie and vegetables

One-pan mushroom and leek orzo

Minestrone soup

Portuguese-style cabbage soup

Top 21 pound1 dinners recipes from across the web

The most viewed pound1 dinners recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Beanie burgers

Beans pulao

Ham picnic pasta

Ham hash

Pea and ham soup

Ham and vegetable bake

Hawaiian spaghetti

Potato and pea curry

Cheap and cheerful chana masala

Smoky vegetable jambalaya

Bean and rice burrito

Chipotle pinto bean stew

Vegetarian Lancashire hotpot

Pearl barley, butternut squash and ...

Root vegetable Thai curry

Veggie sausage and mash with onion ...

Beany quesadillas

Creamy mushroom pie and vegetables

One-pan mushroom and leek orzo

Minestrone soup

Portuguese-style cabbage soup

The most viewed pound1 dinners recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine