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If you’re looking for cheap meals on a budget in the UK, one of the best ways to save money is understanding what your meals actually cost per portion.
A lot of “budget meal” advice isn’t realistic — so in this post, I’ve broken down real meal costs using typical UK supermarket prices.
I try to shop at cheaper supermarkets to save money, but I don’t always choose the absolute cheapest own-brand options because I still prioritise food quality.
These meals are simple, filling, and based on real-life cooking — not ideal situations.
👉 This is also how I manage my food budget as part of my £1,000 savings challenge UK.
These recipes are based on my own frugal kitchen tests, but if you ever run out of ideas, you can find more inspiration through the official Tesco Real Food Budget Meals hub.
Why cost per portion matters
Looking at cost per portion helps you:
- See what meals actually cost
- Compare options properly
- Plan weekly budgets more accurately
- Avoid overspending on food
👉 Many meals cost far less than expected when spread over multiple portions.
1. Spaghetti Bolognese
Cost: £1.00 – £1.50
Ingredients:
- Pasta
- Minced beef or Quorn mince
- Jar of bolognaise sauce
- Onion
Budget Tip: Make extra and freeze – great value.
2. Jacket Potato with Beans & Cheese
Cost: £1.00 – £1.50
Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Baked beans
- Cheese: Cheddar
- Alternatives for variety: coleslaw, salad tuna, and sweetcorn
Budget Tip: Very filling and super cheap.
3. Vegetable Risotto
Cost: £1.50 – £2.00
Ingredients:
- Rice
- Broccoli (or alternate veg of your choosing)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Mushrooms
- Stock
- For extra flavouring add a little white wine and cream (optional). Small bottles of wine will do several servings.
Budget Tip: Healthy and filling make enough to freeze.
4. Tomato and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Cost: £1.00 – £1.50
Ingredients:
- Pasta
- Jar pasta sauce or homemade cheese sauce
- Broccoli
- Tuna (optional)
- Cheese for sprinkling on top
Budget Tip: Cheap healthy meal
5. Red Pepper and Courgette Homemade Soup
Cost: £1.00 – £1.50
Ingredients:
- Red peppers
- Courgettes
- Onion
- Garlic
- Stock
- Cream (dash of cream if you like it creamy)
Budget Tip: Good hearty ‘5 a day’ meal
6. Sausage and Mash with Onion Gravy
Cost: £1.00 – £1.50
Ingredients:
- Sausages or Quorn sausage
- Potatoes
- Onion
- Gravy
- Carrots
Budget Tip: Classic UK budget meal
7. Curry
Cost: £1.00 – £1.50
Ingredients:
- Rice
- Jar curry sauce
- Vegetables
- Chicken if desired
Budget Tip: Good tasty cheap meal
3 Supermarket Staples That Stretch Any Budget Meal
If you want to bring the cost per portion down even further on these seven meals, the secret lies in your store cupboard. You can easily double the size of your Spaghetti Bolognese or Curry without doubling your supermarket bill by utilizing cheap, filling protein stretchers.
First, a 45p tin of green or brown lentils from the supermarket essentials range can be rinsed and mixed directly into minced beef. It mimics the texture of meat perfectly while adding healthy fiber. Second, tinned tinned chickpeas or kidney beans are incredible additions to your vegetable curry or pasta bake; they absorb all the surrounding flavors and bulk out the meal for pennies. Finally, never underestimate oats. Adding a handful of rolled porridge oats into your sausage mix when making homemade patties or adding them to thicken up your Red Pepper and Courgette soup will make the portions go much further without changing the taste.
Cooking Methods: Saving Energy in the Kitchen
The cost of a meal isn’t just the price of the ingredients; it is also the energy used to cook it. With UK utility bills remaining high, changing how you cook can keep extra cash in your wallet.
When making jacket potatoes, microwave them for 8 minutes first to soften the middle, then pop them in the oven or air fryer for just 10 minutes to get that perfect crispy skin. This cuts your cooking time in half compared to leaving the oven running for an hour. Batch cooking your risotto or bolognese and reheating portions in the microwave also uses a fraction of the electricity of a conventional hob.
What These Cheap UK Meals Show About Budget Cooking
When you break meals down properly:
- Many meals cost £1.00 –£1.50 per portion
- Batch cooking saves a lot of money, plus time (freeze leftovers)
- “Expensive” meals can still be cheap per serving, such as the risotto or roast
👉 This is key for managing a low-income budget.
The NHS Eatwell Guide also provides simple advice on how to eat a balanced diet while keeping your food costs as low as possible in the UK.
Final thoughts
Saving money on food doesn’t mean cutting everything — it’s about making smarter, simple choices.
👉 These cheap meals in the UK show that you can eat well while still staying on budget.
New to Simple Budget UK?
💷If you are looking for the best place to start your money-saving journey, check out our complete Start Here: Simple UK Budgeting Guide. It is packed with free, actionable steps to help you take control of your cash right now!
Further Reading: More Ways to Save in the UK
- How to Spend Only £50 a Week on Food (UK Budget Plan)
- Best Cheap Supermarkets UK (2026 Budget Shopping Guide)
- 10 Easy, Low-Cost Packed Lunch Ideas for Cheap UK Days Out
- My Real Monthly Budget Breakdown (Low Income UK 2026 Example)