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8 Cheap Eats to Make This Week
Let’s be honest – Summer is great, but it can be expensive. Between holidays, days out, and the dreaded back-to-school uniform shop, most of us are trying to save the pennies wherever we can. So if you’re looking for cheap eats that don’t skimp on flavour, you’ve come to the right place.
8 Budget Friendly Recipes
I’ve pulled together eight of my favourite cheap recipes using the air fryer and slow cooker – ideal for those warm summer evenings when you want something quick, easy, and budget-friendly. These are proper family recipes that you’ll want to keep in your weekly rotation. Nothing fancy, just good food that won’t cost the earth.
Let’s get into it.
Air fryer Chicken Gyros
If you’ve got chicken thighs and some wraps in the fridge, you’re halfway there. These fakeaway-style chicken gyros are much cheaper than grabbing a takeaway. You can watch a demo here.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Perfect for: Midweek dinner, picky eaters
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese
It’s a classic for a reason. Slow cooker spag bol is the definition of cheap eats – you can make loads, freeze the leftovers, and it’s proper comforting.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 6 hours
Perfect for: Batch cooking, fussy kids
Air Fryer Spice Bag
If you’re craving a fakeaway, you need to make this. Use frozen chips and chicken strips for this recipe (to make it cheaper) and feel free to use up any leftover veg.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Perfect for: Fakeaway Friday, picky teens
Air Fryer Sausage Traybake
Bit of a back-to-school classic here. You don’t need fancy sausages – whatever’s on offer will do – and it’s a great way to use up leftover potatoes and veg.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 6–7 hours
Perfect for: Busy weekdays, filling hungry bellies
Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
A quick and easy dinner ready in less than 30 minutes! Simply cut your chicken into pieces and pair with your favourite vegetables and spices, and pop in the air fryer for 15 minutes.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Perfect for: Quick dinner, grab and go
Slow cooker chicken curry and ricee
A simple one-pot classic that involves throwing everything in, even the rice.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 3 hours
Perfect for: Quick dinner, throw and go
Air Fryer Crispy Peking Chicken
The fastest fakeaway you’ll make in your life, the sauce ready in 1 minute and the chicken ready in 8. Top notch taste with minimal effort.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 5 mins (not even!)
Cook time: 8 mins
Perfect for: Meal prep, quick dinner, fakeaway
Slow cooker Irish Mince
This is a childhood classic for me/ It feels a bit like a deconstructed cottage pie, and I love it. You can watch a demo of this recipe on YouTube.
Cheap eat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 3-4 hours
Perfect for: Quick dinner, throw and go, hearty meal
Cheap Doesn’t Mean Boring
Whether you’re skint after the school shoe shop or just trying to stretch the food shop a bit further, these cheap eats prove that saving money doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour.
With a few simple ingredients and a bit of help from the air fryer or slow cooker, you can feed your family without breaking the bank. Most of these recipes come in under £1.50 a portion (some even cheaper), and they’re perfect for batch cooking, freezing, or using up what’s in the cupboard.
So if you’re looking for cheap recipes, family-friendly dinners, or just need some inspiration to shake things up this week, give one (or all!) of these a go.
Let me know over on Instagram or TikTok if you try any of them – I love seeing what you’re making!
Catch you next time,
Nathan 🙂
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