Dirt Cheap Recipe Ideas to Make When You’re Flat Broke

When money is tight and groceries aren’t an option, sometimes you just have to make do with what’s already in your pantry. These recipes aren’t fancy, but they’re filling, affordable, and designed to get you through the toughest times.

1. The reality of food struggles

Being flat broke isn’t just about skipping restaurants. It’s often about not being able to buy groceries at all. 

Many people have shared their stories of skipping meals so their kids can eat, or living on one meal a day just to stretch resources. 

For some, even vegetables feel like a luxury, and these recipes are about getting by with what you already have.

2. Collaboration for ideas

This video is a collaboration with Aunt Vicki on Aunt Vickie's Variety Corner and Emily on My Beautiful Chaos. Each person brings a different perspective to creating meals from random pantry items, showing how resourceful you can be with what’s on hand.

3. Story of a single mother

One mom, raising two kids on her own and working 60 hours a week, shared that she often goes an entire day without eating so her children can have food. Rising bills and expenses leave her no choice but to sacrifice meals for their sake.

4. Story of a 70-year-old widow

Another woman, living on a fixed income after her husband passed away, is also forced to skip meals. She often eats only once a day, choosing survival over variety, and adjusting as prices rise while her income stays the same.

5. Struggle meal 101: why carbs work

Carbs fill you up fast and are inexpensive. While they’re often labeled as “bad,” they’re a reliable way to stop hunger when money is short. Drawing inspiration from other cultures can also stretch ideas further.

6. Indian fry bread

A favorite struggle recipe is Indian fry bread, also called Navajo bread. It uses simple pantry staples like flour, salt, baking powder, and milk (or water if needed). 

Knead the dough, let it rest, roll it flat, create a circle-like shape and fry until golden brown. To see just how I make it, see the video at 4:42 -9:00. 

7. Sweet or savory options

Fry bread can turned into a meal by topping with taco meat, beans, or even used as sandwich bread.

It can also be eaten plain, with butter and honey, or dusted with powdered sugar for a treat. It’s versatile, filling, and feels like a treat even on a budget.

8. Cheap and customizable beans

Beans are another staple for full bellies. Whether using dried or canned beans, you can sauté them with leftover vegetables, add random seasonings, and top with any cheese you have on hand. This makes a hearty, flavorful dish that tastes better than a “struggle meal.”

This meal is 1000% customizable. I’m going to cook the beans up with whatever random seasoning I have on hand and top with cheese. To see the exact steps, watch the video from 11:36 -14:50.

9. A surprise hit

Struggle-meal who? This tastes amazing! The bean dish turned out so good that my boys requested it again immediately.

 It’s rich in protein, fiber, and carbs, making it both filling and cost-effective, especially when using dried beans.

10. Sweet potato gnocchi

Sweet potatoes can be transformed into gnocchi with just flour and water. You might have a few sitting in your pantry like I did. Peel, slice and wash them. Then bring them to a boil until they’re fork-tender.

Mash the boiled potatoes into a dough with flour.

Sprinkle flour on your clean surface, then roll and cut individual gnocchi pieces.

If you want to be fancy, you can roll each piece along a fork to get those lines that you typically see on gnocchi. 

Then boil the gnocchi until tender, for about 5 minutes. I definitely could have cut these smaller because they grew on me!

You can make a simple sauce. Drain off about half of the cooking water and add to the pot of gnocchi some salt, pepper, and a little butter or oil to finish it off. Let it simmer until the liquid thickens to a sauce.

This gnocchi is filling, creamy, and comforting, feeding at least two people for under a dollar. Sometimes basic meals taste the best, and stretching ingredients this way means you don’t feel like you’re struggling, even when times are tough.