50 Cheap, Healthy Meals You’ll Want to Make All the Time

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50 Cheap, Healthy Meals You’ll Want to Make All the Time2/50 Modern Tuna Casserole 20 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Modern Tuna Casserole Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Tuna casserole was my favorite as a kid, and I found myself craving it as an adult. I reconfigured the recipe to include more vegetables, and the result is perfection. —Rebecca Blanton, St. Helena, California Nutrition Facts: 1-3/4 cups: 372 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 767mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber),

23g protein

23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable. Want more? Get your guide to healthy eating on a budget. 3/50 Healthy Turkey Chili 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 50 min Servings 12 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve taken my mother’s healthy turkey chili recipe and made it thicker and more robust. It’s a favorite, especially in fall and winter. —Celesta Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 200 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 26mg

cholesterol, 535mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 8g fiber), 15g protein

cholesterol, 535mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 8g fiber), 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1 starch. 4/50 Skillet Pork Chops with Apples & Onion 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Skillet Pork Chops with Apples & Onion Recipe photo by Diana Rattray for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Simple recipes that land on the table fast are lifesavers. I serve skillet pork chops with veggies and, when my husband lobbies, cornbread stuffing. —Tracey Karst, Ponderay, Idaho Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 3/4 cup apple

Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 fruit, 1 fat

mixture: 360 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 545mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 3g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 fruit, 1 fat. 5/50 Vegetarian Enchilada Bake 19 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Vegetarian Enchilada Bake Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 3 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve had this vegetarian enchilada bake recipe for years. You’ll enjoy the delicious Tex-Mex flavors so much that you won’t even miss the meat. —Barbara Stelluto, Devon, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 286 calories, 11g fat

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 lean meat

(6g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 676mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 12g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 lean meat. 6/50 Parmesan Tilapia 92 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Jackie Alpers for Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I are always looking for light fish recipes because of their health benefits. This one’s a hit with him, and we’ve served it at dinner parties too. It’s become a staple! —Michelle Martin, Durham, North Carolina Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet: 179 calories, 4g fat (2g

Diabetic Exchanges: 5 very lean meat, 1/2 fat

saturated fat), 89mg cholesterol, 191mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 35g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 very lean meat, 1/2 fat. Pro tip: Here’s the easiest way to portion your meals. 7/50 Beef and Cabbage Stew Test Kitchen Approved Beef Cabbage Stew Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 10 min Servings 6-8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is one of my favorite meals since I don’t have to stand over the stove or dirty a lot of pots and pans to prepare it. With six in the family,

we have enough dishes to wash after each meal!

we have enough dishes to wash after each meal! Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 194 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 402mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 19g protein. 8/50 Spinach ‘n’ Broccoli Enchiladas 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Spinach ‘n’ Broccoli Enchiladas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like to top this wonderful meatless meal with lettuce and serve it with extra picante sauce. It’s quick, easy, filled with fresh flavor and definitely satisfying! —Lesley Tragesser, Charleston, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 1/2 fat

enchilada: 246 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 614mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 1/2 fat. Psst…Find ways to save money on groceries. 9/50 Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes 24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Relax after work with a cold drink while this savory chicken marinates in an herby tomato blend for an hour, then toss it on the grill.

It tastes just like summer

It tastes just like summer. —Laura Lunardi, West Chester, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 177 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 171mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 10/50 Contest-Winning Greek Pasta Bake 24 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Contest-Winning Greek Pasta Bake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve taken this hot dish to potlucks and it’s received rave reviews. There’s never a morsel left. Best of all, it’s a

We’re big fans of these healthy pasta sauce recipes, too

simple, healthy and hearty supper made with cheap, healthy foods that are easy to find. —Anne Taglienti, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 398 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 832mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 9g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 very lean meat, 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. We’re big fans of these healthy pasta sauce recipes, too. 11/50 Cobb Salad Wraps 8 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cobb Salad Wraps Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the

Recipe Creator:

Recipe Creator: A homemade dressing lightens up these refreshing tortilla wraps. The avocado, bacon, blue cheese and tomato deliver the flavors I enjoy most while keeping me on my healthy eating plan. —Lynne Van Wagenen, Salt Lake City, Utah Nutrition Facts: 1 wrap: 372 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 607mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat. 12/50 Chicken Jambalaya 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Jambalaya Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 6 servings Go

It’s great to serve at parties and it reheats well after!

to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a great easy chicken jambalaya recipe. It’s great to serve at parties and it reheats well after! —Lynn Desjardins, Atkinson, New Hampshire Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 285 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 43mg cholesterol, 654mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 2 lean meat. 13/50 Mexican Pork Chops 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mexican Pork Chops Recipe photo by Sonia Bozzo for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We enjoy Mexican pork chops

over rice to catch the spicy sauce

over rice to catch the spicy sauce. You can use mild, medium or hot salsa. If the pork chops are too spicy, you can eliminate the cumin-chili powder rub. —Nancy Negvesky, Somerville, New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop: 289 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 368mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1/2 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 14/50 Penne with Veggies and Black Beans 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Penne with Veggies and Black Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to

Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Chock-full of zucchini, tomatoes, sweet pepper and carrots, this hearty pasta dish puts your garden harvest to good use. For variety, I sometimes add one-half cup of salsa or one-half cup of thickened teriyaki sauce. —Vickie Spoerle, Indianapolis, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 300 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 643mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 8g fiber), 14g protein. 15/50 Baked Tilapia 84 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Seasoned Tilapia Fillets Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you

need a healthy, keep-it-simple solution to dinner tonight, you just found it

need a healthy, keep-it-simple solution to dinner tonight, you just found it. This restaurant-quality tilapia fillet recipe relies on spices you’re likely to have on hand to deliver big flavor. This is how to make tilapia. —Dana Alexander, Lebanon, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet: 193 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 589mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat. 16/50 Vegan Lentil Soup 52 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Double the recipe and

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⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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