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From easy shrimp pastas to show stopping garlic butter grilled prawns, these shrimp recipes are guaranteed to delight. Shrimp is one of the best quick-cooking proteins and is always delicious, healthy and versatile. Shrimp pasta recipes We have a LOT …
Using rotisserie chicken makes this chicken fried rice so easy to make. It’s a great dinner recipe for busy nights and guarantees clean plates all around. Fried rice is the kind of meal I turn to when I need to get dinner ready quickly. I love …
This Instant Pot Rice Pudding is the easiest way to make this creamy, comfort food classic in less than 20 minutes. Aromatic and sweetened to perfection, you’re going to love this easy dessert Love Instant Pot Recipes? Try our Instant Pot Tomato…
This Sweet Corn Risotto is infused with the flavors of summer! It’s comforting, simple, and budget-friendly cooking at its finest.
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Sweet Corn Risotto is a Summertime treat that shouldn’t be missed. Summer corn flavors infuse this entire dish when you use every scrap while cooking! Corn cobs that would normally be discarded bring extra sweetness and earthy flavor to this risotto, making each bite taste like pure farm-to-table bliss. And don’t even get me started on the texture combo. The kernels give the recipe a little crunch and freshness, while the creamy risotto is smooth and decadent – it’s giving budget-friendly… but make it summery!
Oh, how I love a good risotto. This Italian dish is made from starchy, short-grain rice cooked in broth until all those lovely starches are released – giving the recipe its creamy, dreamy texture WITHOUT adding any cream. This sweet corn risotto is similar to my Parmesan risotto but with a summery twist! I shave the corn off the cob and use the bare cobs (yep, we use the whole cob here) to give the broth that sweet corn taste. White wine, butter, arborio rice, and Parmesan cheese round out the flavors, making this recipe a must-try this season.
Here’s what you’ll need to make sweet corn risotto:
This sweet corn risotto recipe is delicious as-is, but it’s also the perfect base for adding other ingredients. Here are a few ideas:
This recipe is super simple to make, but risotto is a hands-on process – ain’t nobody denying that. You have to slowly add in the broth and continuously stir while it is absorbed until it’s time to add more. While it only takes about 20 minutes to do this, it’s not a recipe you can walk away from! To make things easier and save some time, I always prep the corn, onion, and shred the Parmesan in advance. They last well in the fridge, so all I have to do is add them in when it’s time to cook. Planning ahead helps!
I love to serve my creamy corn risotto with roasted asparagus and tomatoes, quick garlic butter shrimp, or balsamic roasted vegetables.
This sweet corn risotto is best eaten fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop, stirring often, with a splash of broth or water to bring back its creamy texture. I don’t recommend freezing risotto purely because the texture doesn’t hold up well after thawing.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Using a sharp knife, cut the corn from 3 cobs into a large bowl. Carefully chop the bare cobs in half and set the corn kernels to one side for now.
Dice ½ a small, sweet onion into small pieces. Gather ½ a cup of Parmesan cheese, 3 Tbsp of salted butter (divided), a ¼ cup of white wine (if using), and 1½ cups of arborio rice.
Add the halved corn cobs into a pot and cover with 5 cups of veggie broth. Bring the broth to a simmer over low heat while you prepare the risotto.
Add 2 Tbsp of salted butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the diced onion to the butter and cook down until glossy. We don’t want the onion to brown or caramelize; we just want it to become fragrant and soft.
Add 1½ cups of arborio rice to the skillet with the butter and onions. Allow the rice to toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour the previously prepared corn kernels into the skillet and cook for another minute.
Add a ¼ cup of white wine to the skillet to release any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (known as deglazing). Stir and allow the wine to cook down for 1-2 minutes.
Slowly ladle 1 cup of hot corn veggie broth into the skillet with the rice, and stir until about 75% of the liquid has been absorbed.
Add 1 ladle of broth at a time, stirring often, until the rice has mostly absorbed all 5 cups. This will take about 20 minutes in total. Your rice should be al dente, meaning it still has a slight bite to it. The risotto should also be creamy and not soupy.
Add 1 Tbsp of salted butter and ½ a cup of shredded Parmesan cheese to your summer corn risotto and stir until well combined.
Serve hot and (optional) garnish with parsley or other fresh herbs.
There’s nothing quite like a creamy bowl of sweet corn risotto to fill your belly on a late summer night!
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These easy and flavorful Porcupine Meatballs are made with ground beef and rice, then simmered in a savory tomato sauce.
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I don’t know how I let Beth talk me into making these porcupine meatballs, but I’m glad she did!😄 They’re incredibly tender, super flavorful, very filling, and so delicious! They were a hit in my house and my husband and kids absolutely loved them! And don’t let the name scare you, these meatballs are simply made with ground beef, rice, seasoning and a savory homemade tomato sauce. Adding in inexpensive rice is also a great way to stretch a pound of beef into more servings. And did I mention this meatball recipe is also perfect for meal prep!
Porcupine meatballs are an American comfort food dish that was popular during the Great Depression. During that time supply was limited and these porcupine meatballs only required a few basic ingredients like ground beef, rice, and tomato soup. Their funny name comes from their unique appearance. As the meatballs cook the rice begins to poke out of the side, resembling the look of a porcupine! Does anyone else remember these tasty little meatballs growing up?
Here’s everything you need to make these easy porcupine meatballs:
You may be wondering if you have to cook the rice first before adding it to the meatballs. The answer is no. Cooking the rice first just adds an extra step to the process, and I didn’t find it necessary. Using uncooked rice allows the rice to cook at the same time as the meatballs and soak up all the seasoning and flavors from the dish.
You can store any leftover cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave for about 2 minutes, or until heated through.
If you want to freeze the meatballs, I suggest freezing them uncooked, then make the tomato sauce fresh when you need a quick weeknight dinner meal. To freeze uncooked meatballs, place the raw meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze on the baking sheet until solid (1-2 hours) before transferring to a gallon-sized freezer bag to store for up to three months. When you’re ready to cook them, thaw the meatballs in the fridge overnight, then simmer them in the sauce as directed.
You can easily serve these porcupine meatballs with a simple side salad or caesar salad. We served them over a bed of rice, but mashed potatoes or pasta would also be good.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
In a small bowl, stir together 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper.
Rinse 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice in cool water and drain well. Add 1 lb. lean ground beef to a large bowl along with the rice, 1/2 finely diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 egg, and the seasoning mixture. Use your hands to mix everything together until evenly combined. Try not to overmix as this can make the meatballs tough.
Divide and shape the meat mixture into 24 meatballs, about two tablespoons each.
Place the shaped meatballs into a large pot or dutch oven. It’s ok if the meatballs are touching each other. I also stacked a few on top of each other.
Now make the sauce. In a medium bowl combine one 15oz. can tomato sauce, one 15oz. can crushed tomatoes, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 cup water. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
Pour the tomato sauce mixture over the meatballs.
Cover the pot with a lid and bring the pot to a low boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and let the meatballs simmer for 35-40 minutes.
Enjoy by themselves or serve over extra rice or mashed potatoes and top with fresh chopped parsley. I’m a believer now Beth, you were right about this one!😄
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These Chorizo Stuffed Bell Peppers are packed with southwest flavor, perfectly portioned for meal prep, and freezer-friendly!
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We’re in love with stuffed bell peppers here at the Budget Bytes kitchen, so I decided to make a new variation just so I could have an excuse to eat stuffed bell peppers again. These Chorizo Stuffed Bell Peppers are full of super flavorful Mexican chorizo, hearty rice, and a rich sauce, then topped with melty mozzarella cheese. They’re SO filling, perfectly portioned for meal prep or freezer cooking, and quite flexible if you want to change up the ingredients to make them even more budget-friendly! Put this one one your to-cook list because I know you’re going to love them!
These stuffed bell peppers are packed with flavorful herbs and spices and a rich tomato-y sauce so that every bite is deee-licious. Here are the ingredients for chorizo stuffed bell peppers:
This recipe is pretty flexible, so if you want to change it up or make it more budget-friendly, here are some other ingredients you can add:
It’s really important to use the correct type of chorizo for this recipe. You’ll need Mexican chorizo, which is a fresh (uncooked & uncured) sausage. You’ll find Mexican chorizo in the fresh meat department, usually near bratwurst and other fresh sausages. Spanish chorizo is a cured, sliceable sausage that you’ll usually find near cheese, pepperoni, or other charcuterie-type foods.
These southwest-inspired peppers are really filling on their own, but if you want to serve something on the side they pair really well with Cumin Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Cowboy Caviar, Sweet Potato Cornbread, or Warm Corn and Avocado Salad.
I love making stuffed bell peppers for meal prep, so this is how I store and reheat them. The cooked bell peppers can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. I like to reheat them quickly in the microwave (about 2 minutes each).
Or, once chilled in the refrigerator, you can transfer them to the freezer. I suggest packaging them individually in a freezer-safe, air-tight container, so you can reheat one at a time as needed. Frozen stuffed bell peppers can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight and then reheated the next day in the microwave, or thawed straight from the freezer in the microwave using the defrost function, then heated through on full power.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Begin by preheating the oven to 350ºF. Cut three bell peppers in half to create a top and bottom piece for each pepper. Scoop out the seeds and ribs. You can either cut out the stem from the top half of the peppers, or eat around them later. Place the halved peppers in a baking dish and par-bake them for 15 minutes in the fully preheated 350ºF oven.
Meanwhile, cook 1 lb. of Mexican chorizo in a large deep skillet over medium heat until browned. The chorizo has plenty of fat, so you likely won’t need to add any additional to the skillet. Dice one yellow onion and mince 2 cloves of garlic. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet with the chorizo, and continue to cook until the onions are softened.
Add one 4oz. can of diced green chiles, 2 Tbsp tomato paste, 2 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp cumin, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, and ¼ tsp salt to the meat and onions. Stir to combine.
Add ½ cup of uncooked long grain white rice and 1 cup of chicken broth to the skillet. Stir well to combine, then place a lid on top, and turn the heat up to medium-high. When the broth reaches a full boil, turn the heat down to low and allow it to continue to simmer over low (without removing the lid or stirring) for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the heat off and let it rest for 5 more minutes.
After simmering for 20 minutes the broth should be absorbed and the rice should be tender. Gently stir the rice and chorizo mixture with a spoon.
Divide the rice and chorizo mixture between the six par-baked bell pepper halves, then top with shredded mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup). Cover the dish and bake in the 350ºF oven for 20 minutes.
Top the chorizo stuffed bell peppers with sliced green onions and serve!
Enjoy the cheesy chorizo-y goodness!!
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Make delicious, ultra-flavorful chicken fried rice that tastes even better than takeout– and costs less too.
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We’re all guilty of ordering Chinese takeout on a desperate night. But with this Chicken Fried Rice recipe, you won’t have to resort to that any longer! Make delicious, ultra-flavorful chicken fried rice that tastes even better than takeout– and costs less too. Easily stretch leftover rice and a single chicken breast into a budget-friendly and satisfying meal the whole family will love!
Chicken fried rice is a Chinese dish made with cooked rice that is stir-fried in a wok with chicken, vegetables, and eggs, and seasoned with a savory sauce. It’s extremely flexible and budget-friendly, which is why we love this dish! The recipe below is an American adaptation, using a skillet instead of a wok and ingredients that are easily sourced in most American grocery stores. If you are vegetarian, you can make this without the chicken, or try our Vegetable Fried Rice recipe!
This recipe is designed to be made easily in a regular pan; however, we highly recommend using a nonstick pan over stainless steel. We found in testing that some of the eggs stuck to the bottom of the stainless steel pan and burned, adding an unpleasant flavor to the whole dish.
Here’s what you’ll need to make chicken fried rice:
If you have any leftover veggies from previous dinners, you can chop them up and toss them in this tasty chicken fried rice. It’s also easy to grab a bag of frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn, and green beans) to save on prep time!
Store leftover chicken fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pot set over medium-low heat with a little bit of water added to rehydrate the rice. You can also sprinkle some water over individual portions and microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Prepare the vegetables beforehand so they’re ready to go when needed. Mince the garlic, grate the ginger, dice the carrot and bell pepper, slice the green onions (separate the green ends from the white ends), and measure the frozen peas.
On a separate, clean cutting board, cut your chicken into ½ inch pieces so you get a little in every bite. Set aside (and wash your hands!)
Lightly whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the eggs and gently scramble until cooked through. Transfer the cooked eggs to a clean bowl or plate off to the side.
Turn the heat up to medium-high. Add the diced carrots, stir, and cook for about two minutes. Next, add the bell pepper and the white firm ends of the green onions. Cook and stir for one minute more. Finally, add the frozen peas and stir and cook until heated through. Transfer the vegetables to a clean bowl or plate.
Add the remaining 1 Tbsp cooking oil to the skillet and swirl to coat the surface. Add the ½ inch pieces of chicken and completely cook through, about 4 minutes. Once the chicken is about ½ of the way cooked through (2-3 minutes), add the 2 cloves of garlic and 1 tsp ginger and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Then, add the cooked and cooled rice to the skillet. Stir and cook the chicken and rice together for about 2 minutes, or until the rice is heated through. Pour the 3 Tbsp soy sauce and 3 Tbsp toasted sesame oil over the rice. Stir the rice and sauce together until evenly combined. Turn the heat off.
Add the eggs and vegetables back to the skillet with the chicken and rice and stir to combine. Allow the residual heat to heat everything through. Top with the remaining green ends of the sliced green onions. Taste and adjust the soy sauce or sesame oil to your liking.
This flavorful chicken fried rice is so much better than takeout!
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Creamy Parmesan risotto is comfort food at its finest! Warm, rich, and cheesy, this dish is a perennial favorite.
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Creamy Parmesan risotto is comfort food at its finest! Warm, rich, and cheesy, this dish is a perennial favorite. It’s loaded with belly-filling Arborio rice and Parmesan cheese to keep you full and satisfied for under $10. What could be better?!
Risotto is a magical dish created by slow-cooking starchy rice in broth. Part of the magic is how the rice leeches its starches into the liquid, creating a creamy and rich sauce. This is achieved by adding the broth slowly over a longer period of time and stirring continuously. Most risotto has cheese, and we love Parmesan, so it felt like a natural choice for this Parmesan risotto recipe!
Here’s what you’ll need to make Parmesan risotto:
This Parmesan risotto is great as is, but you can also make it your own by experimenting with additional ingredients. Try adding:
We love serving risotto with sauteed asparagus and fresh herbs. It’s also fantastic with sauteed or balsamic roasted mushrooms. YUM!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Bring 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth to a simmer in a large saucepan. Keep warm over low heat.
Heat a large deep sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil to the pan. Swirl to coat and add 1 diced yellow onion and 1/4 tsp salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions look glossy and clear. Your onions should not caramelize or brown for this recipe.
Add the Arborio rice to the pan and stir to combine. Toast the onion and rice together for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Deglaze your pan with 1/2 cup of room-temperature white wine and let it cook down until there’s just a little left in the pan, about half or less of what you poured in.
Now, begin adding 1 ladle of hot broth at a time. Stir the risotto constantly until the broth is about 75% absorbed by the arborio rice. Then, add another ladle every time until your entire supply of hot stock has been used up. Remove pot from heat.
Stir in 1 Tbsp butter, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust salt, if needed, and finish with 1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley.
Make this rich and creamy Parmesan risotto for your next cozy night in!
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This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is bright, flavorful, easy to make with just a few ingredients, and will make any meal more delicious!
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If you’ve ever been to Chipotle, you know how good cilantro lime rice is and just how much flavor it can add to a meal. Luckily, it’s super easy and budget-friendly to make at home, too, so you take any meal to the next level just by switching out your plain white rice for this Cilantro Lime Rice recipe. It’s bright, flavorful, savory, and absolutely delicious. This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is so good, in fact, that sometimes I make it a meal simply by adding some black beans and cheese. Done and done!
Cilantro lime rice is simply white rice flavored with lime and cilantro, but we throw in a couple more tricks to make it even more delicious and crave-worthy. It’s often served as a side dish with Latin or Tex-Mex meals, adding tons of flavor and color to the plate. But, since cilantro IS the main flavor in this rice, you definitely need to be a cilantro lover to like this recipe. If cilantro isn’t your thing, try our tomato rice instead!
The best part about cilantro lime rice is that you only need a few ingredients and it doesn’t take much longer than cooking plain rice, making it a total win. Here’s what you’ll need to make cilantro lime rice:
Cilantro lime rice is a great side dish to go with any Latin or Tex-Mex meal, but it’s also great as a base to bowl meals, as a flavorful filling in burritos, or you could even use it as a base for a casserole. Try serving cilantro lime rice with shrimp tacos, cheese enchiladas, burrito bowls, chicken fajitas, or some saucy black beans.
When using fresh cilantro, don’t toss the stems! Cilantro stems are very tender and have just as much flavor as the leaves, so as long as they’re thoroughly washed and finely chopped, they can be used right alongside the leaves in recipes like this. So you don’t have to spend time meticulously pulling the leaves from the stems and you’ll have less waste, too!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Start by rinsing 2 cups of uncooked long grain white rice. Let it drain well, then add it to a medium pot with 3 cups of chicken broth. Place a lid on the pot and bring the broth to a full boil over high heat. Once it reaches a full boil, immediately turn the heat down to low, or just slightly above low, to keep the broth at a gentle simmer.
Let the rice simmer for 15 minutes without stirring or removing the lid, then turn the heat off and allow the pot to rest, without removing the lid, for an additional five minutes. Finally, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
While the rice is cooking, zest and juice one lime. Rinse and finely chop about ½ bunch of fresh cilantro, or about one cup once chopped. Add the chopped cilantro, 3 tablespoons of the juice, and ½ teaspoon of zest to a bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and stir to combine.
Pour the cilantro lime mixture over the cooked rice, then gently fold it to combine. Be careful not to stir vigorously or fold too much as the more the rice is stirred the more it will become sticky. Just fold the ingredients together in a gentle motion.
Serve the cilantro lime rice with your favorite meal and enjoy!
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Scrambled Eggs with Rice is a simple and delicious budget-friendly meal that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
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Rice is a quintessential budget-friendly ingredient, and my slogan has always been “put an egg on it!” So when I saw this recipe for Scrambled Eggs with Rice from the new cookbook The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table by JJ Johnson and Danica Novgorodoff, I knew I had to make it. Not to mention, this recipe features the ingredient I currently can’t get enough of, gochujang! If you love fried rice, you’re going to love this recipe for scrambled eggs with rice. It’s just as easy, hearty, and delicious, plus it’s totally customizable. I’m definitely going to add this one to my budget-recipe rotation!
Chef JJ mentions in his book that the recipe is inspired by breakfast dishes found in both Japanese and Korean cultures. This incredibly simple yet satisfying dish is similar to fried rice, but the ratio between the rice and egg are a bit more even and the rice is stirred into the egg before it’s fully cooked, which gives the dish a slightly creamy texture. Best of all, it’s super fast and easy, so you really can make it on a typical morning (provided you have some cooked rice stashed in the refrigerator). It’s the perfect recipe for using up the leftovers in your fridge!
Are you ready to see how easy this is? You’ll only need these simple ingredients to make scrambled eggs with rice:
Simple recipes like this are awesome because there is so much room for customization. Here are a few ideas for other add-ins that will take your scrambled eggs with rice to the next level:
Thankfully, this recipe only takes minutes to whip up because it’s definitely best when freshly prepared. If you can’t eat it all in one sitting, store the rest in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 2-3 days. Reheat using the microwave, sprinkling just a bit of water over top first (to help rehydrate the rice).
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Crack six large eggs into a bowl and whisk with a fork.
Add 2 Tbsp cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-low. Once hot, add the eggs and lightly scramble. When they’re mostly set, add 2 tsp gochujang and stir to combine.
Add four cups of warm pre-cooked rice and stir to combine.
Season the eggs and rice with 3 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil. Fold to incorporate. Give the mixture a taste and add more gochujang if desired (I like it spicy, so I added more).
Garnish with sliced green onions and serve!
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