Over the course of the past week, I explored budget-friendly cooking and how simple recipes can stretch both time and money. What have I learned? Saving money in the kitchen doesn’t mean you’re doomed to eat plain noodles and sadness all the time. Nope! It’s all about using affordable ingredients in creative ways.

Now that it’s officially soup season, there’s one kitchen tool that’s basically your new best friend: the immersion blender. The best part about these bad boys is that they can make any vegetable invisible in a soup. There are so many fun soup recipes that are made with an immersion blender, so let’s talk soups…cozy, cheap, and super tasty.

Soups!

Tomato soup

You only need a few ingredients to make a tomato soup that will satisfy
You’ll need: tomatoes, onions, garlic, red peppers — or toss in jalapeños if you like living on the spicy side.

1. Put about 5 tomatoes in hot water for 5 minutes. (This helps the skin peel off easier)
2. Peel off the tomato skins.
3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper, pile on your veggies, and roast until soft (about 30 minutes).
4. Toss everything into a pot with beef or chicken broth, salt, and pepper.
5. Blend with your trusty immersion blender (or normal blender) until smooth.

💡 Pro tip: Add carrots, zucchini, or spinach for bonus nutrients or to clear the fridge.
⏰ Total time: ~40 minutes. One of the best fall comfort foods.

Potato Soup

This one’s a great “I have nothing to eat” recipe that still feels fancy and fills the tummy.
You’ll Need: Potatoes, butter (or margarine — no judgment), milk, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, and a sprinkle of dried parsley.

1. Peel and cube 6 potatoes, then boil them until soft.
2. Drain, add ½ cup butter, and mash slightly.
3. Pour in 3 cups of milk and all your seasonings.
4. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer until it thickens up.

Top it like a baked potato with sour cream, green onions, and fake bacon bits (because why not).
⏰ Total time: 30–50 minutes depending on your peeler skills.

French Onion Soup

This one’s simple but fancy.
You’ll need: 4 onions, 4 garlic cloves (or 1–2 tsp garlic powder), oil, ½ cup red wine, and 6 cups beef broth.

1. Thinly slice the onions, then sauté with garlic in oil until caramelized (yes, this takes a while — put on a show you like and the time whizzes by).
2. Add the wine to deglaze the pan like you’re on master chef.
3. Pour in broth, let it simmer, and boom — your kitchen now smells like a five-star restaurant.

Top with toasted bread and provolone cheese if you’re feeling that vibe.
⏰ Total time: About an hour. Worth every minute.

Deglaze: a cooking technique for removing and dissolving browned food residue from a pan to flavor sauces, soups, and gravies.

Casserole Dishes

Shepherds pie

The ultimate cozy dish and the reason I always have frozen peas, carrots, and corn.
You’ll need: 1 lb ground beef, frozen peas/carrots/corn, beef broth, flour, tomato paste, and mashed potatoes (instant or real — both delicious in my book).

1. Brown your ground beef with seasonings (salt, pepper, cayenne, cumin, garlic & onion powder).
2. Stir in 1 tbsp flour, ¾ cup broth, and 1/4 can of tomato paste to make a gravy-like base.
3. Layer beef, frozen veggies, and mashed potatoes in a casserole dish (grease it first!).
4. Bake at 350°F for ~30 minutes.

Optional: top with cheese and toast if you’re fancy.

PLEASE NOTE: Yes, I know that shepherd’s pie is traditionally not with beef and that this is actually cottage pie, but I like the name shepherd’s pie; it’s got a fun ring to it.

⏰ Total time: 50-ish minutes, depending on the mashed potatoes you use (and if you forget to preheat the oven like I tend to do).

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is a “throw it all in a dish and hope for the best” recipe — except it always turns out great. It’s cheap, filling, and basically impossible to mess up. You’ll Need: 1 cup of uncooked rice, 2 cups of chicken broth (or bouillon, of course), 1 can of cream of mushroom (or cream of chicken) soup, shredded cheese (cheddar works best), 2 chicken breasts (or leftover cooked chicken — rotisserie is perfect!), along with salt, pepper, and garlic powder

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray and add the rice, soup, and chicken broth straight into the dish, then give it a good stir.
3. Place the chicken breasts on top, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
5. Remove the foil, top with cheese, and bake until the cheese is melty and bubbly.

💡 Pro tip: Add frozen veggies (like peas or broccoli) for extra nutrition or color.
⏰ Total time: About an hour, but effort-wise, almost none.

Salads

Taco Salad

Quick, fun, and full of flavor. You’ll need: ground beef, lettuce, red onion, tomato, corn, cheese, and your favorite toppings (avocado, beans, etc.).

1. Season and brown your beef with cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic & onion powder, salt, and pepper.
2. While cooking, prep your veggies, cutting them to the size of your liking
3. Toss it all together and drizzle with salsa or sour cream.

💡 Pro tip: This can be made in a bag of tortilla chips to make a Taco in a bag. ⏰ Total time: 20 minutes max. Great deliciousness-to-effort ratio.

Pasta Salad

The holy grail of picky-eater-friendly recipes.
You’ll need: any small pasta (macaroni, conchiglie, cavatappi — your call), diced ham, cheddar, and pickles.
For the dressing: mayo, Dijon, lemon juice, and olive oil — no measuring, just vibes.

1. Boil water to cook your noodles.
2. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them and put them in a bowl in the fridge to cool.
3. Cut the cheddar cheese, ham, and pickles into cubes while the noodles cool.
4. Once cool, mix in the cut-up cheese, meat, and pickles
5. For the sauce, I never measure, which seems to be a common thing for me. I use the same mayo, Dijon, lemon juice, and olive oil combo, and it turns out great each time.

⏰ Total Time: 30 minutes, but I like to let it sit overnight so all the flavors can mix.

Al Dente: The texture of cooked pasta when it’s tender but firm and chewy when you bite into it.

Some of my Faves

Tuna Rice

There is certainly lot of protein packed into this dish. It is my favorite recipe to make if I’m not in the mood to cook much! You’ll need: 1 cup of white rice, 1 can of tuna, sriracha, mayo, salt and pepper to taste, a pack of salted seaweed

1. Put a cup of white rice and 2 cups of water in a pot (always rinse the rice beforehand), bringing it to a boil.
2. Once the water is boiling, reduce the temperature to about 3 with a lid on the pot, allowing the rice to cook at a lower heat.
3. Continue stirring the rice until it is cooked through, then remove it from the heat and add 1 can of tuna. I mix in sriracha and mayonnaise for flavor, and serve with a pack of seaweed.

Inspired by the viral “sushi bake,” but way less effort.
⏰ Total time: 15 minutes, max.

Chicken Parm

You’ll need: 2 large chicken breasts, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1-2 eggs (whisked), ¾ cup bread crumbs, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, 3/4 cup marinara sauce, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, Salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, Garlic powder

1. Use a knife to slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise, making 4 thin cutlets. Lightly season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
2. In one shallow bowl, add the flour. In another, whisk the egg until smooth. In a third, mix the bread crumbs, parmesan, a bit more garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Dip each piece of chicken in flour (shake off the excess), then in egg (let the extra drip off), and finally in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure it’s fully coated on both sides.
4. Heat a generous glob of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken when it’s hot and cook until golden brown on the first side (5-6ish mins).
5. Flip the chicken, and cook the other side.
6. Top each cutlet with about 3 tablespoons of marinara and ¼ cup of mozzarella. Pop it into the oven and let it cook for 5–7 minutes, until the cheese melts and the chicken is cooked through.
7. Sprinkle with chopped parsley (if you’re feeling fancy) and serve hot with spaghetti, on toast with extra marinara, or even on a bed of rice.

💡 Pro tip: Add spicy arrabbiata sauce, hot sauce, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little heat.
⏰ Total time: About 30 minutes

Sliders

To be honest, I just recently started making sliders, but they have easily become a new staple in my house. These things are truly just cute mini sandwiches, and they are so easy to make.
Grab a pack of dinner rolls and go crazy:

• Ham & cheese with garlic butter
• Mini burgers
• Pizza sliders (pepperoni + cheese + pizza sauce)
• Thanksgiving sliders (mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy), pictured to the left.

Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes with butter on top of the buns. Bonus: kids love these just as much as adults do, plus you can make a lot with minimal effort.

⏰ Total time: 25 mins

Chili

A big pot of love that will feed the family.
You’ll need: onion, garlic, ground beef, beans, diced tomatoes, tomato purée, green chiles, and seasonings galore.

1. Heat one tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat, adding in onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is translucent.
2. Add ground beef; cook and stir until browned.
3. Once the beef is done, transfer it into a large pot or slow cooker with 2 (16-ounce) cans of kidney beans, rinsed and drained, 1 (28-ounce) can of diced tomatoes, 1 (15-ounce) can of tomato purée, 1 cup of water, and 1 (4-ounce) can of chopped green chile peppers.
4. Add in your seasonings, two tablespoons of each. Cumin, salt, chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder do the trick for me.
5. If you leave the chili on low for 5 hours, it will thicken up beautifully. This recipe is actually one that my mom and I found on All Recipes in 2022, so shout out to All Recipes!

💡 Pro tip: The longer you let the chili cook, the thicker it will get. ⏰ Total time: 6 hours, BUT you can live your life while it cooks and not have to monitor it all day

Cooking on a budget isn’t about restriction; it’s about creativity. You don’t need super fancy ingredients or crazy hours in the kitchen to make something delicious. Sometimes, all you need is a few tomatoes, a blender, and a little determination. Happy cooking!