Pantry-Friendly Recipes for Under $3 a Serving

When the only fresh ingredients you need are an onion, a bag of shredded cheese, and half a bag of frozen peas, you better believe this dish is a pantry hero. Relying on canned items like tuna, condensed mushroom soup, and sliced mushrooms to bulk up the egg noodles, this version of a classic tuna casserole is sure to satisfy those looking for some high-protein comfort — especially as this recipe calls for layer of a potato chips on top for added fun.

Yield: 6 servings
Estimated cost: $16.53 per batch and $2.76 per serving

With only five minutes needed for prep, this cheap, comforting, and nutrient-dense soup is an easy way to fill bellies with minimal spending. All you need is $3 worth of bacon ( or half a pack), chicken broth, two cans of beans, an onion and garlic, and not much else. Skip the relish and garnish to save about $3 if you don't happen to have sambal paste, lime juice, or green onion.

Yield: 4 servings
Estimated cost: $8 per batch and $2 per serving

One-pot rice dishes may be high on carbs, but thanks to a good-sized dose of plant-based protein, an impressive amount of fiber, and three ounces of healthy fat in the form of olive oil, it's also high in satiety. This recipe calls for green lentils, which cost a bit more than the more common brown, but if those aren't available or you don't mind losing the pepperiness, snag a pound of the dry brown at a fraction of the cost. Less than a cup of uncooked long-grain rice and an onion are the only other mandatory ingredients, but you can up the protein further with a single-serve cup of plain Greek yogurt.

Yield: 4 servings
Estimated cost: $3.80 per batch and 95¢ per serving

Cheesy buttered pasta is one of those dishes that feels naughty, indulgent, and comforting, but in reality, costs you nearly nothing in terms of ingredients or labor. Your most extravagant spends are for the one stick of butter you'll use and the cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Grate it yourself to eliminate additives and increase flavor. From produce, grab some fresh parsley (you'll only need a fraction of it, so make parsley pesto later in the week for another meal) and mince up some garlic to add liveliness and dimension.

Yield: 4 servings
Estimated cost: $5.70 for the batch and $1.43 per serving

Tomato sauce is an incredibly personal thing, and many families have their own recipes, all made with the same amount of love. This simple, clean version calls only for a few tablespoons of whatever oil you keep in your kitchen, an onion, one can of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste each, and some garlic and fresh basil, of which you'll only use a few leaves. Add a box of pasta, melt half a block of mozzarella, add a can of lentils, and you'll have yourself an easy, classic meal for four.

Yield: 4 servings
Estimated cost: $8.75 for the batch and $2.19 per serving, including add-ins

A bag of frozen or shelf-stable dried tortellini is the star of this easy dish, complemented with the two quarts of chicken broth, and can of beans you likely already have in your pantry. You'll also need an anchovy fillet and a meager teaspoon of tomato paste, the remainder of which you can reserve for later use by freezing. Hard cheese for grating can also be repurposed in countless ways, so go ahead and buy the wedge, despite only needing about an ounce. Swap the fresh baby spinach for canned or frozen in a pinch.

Yield: 4 servings
Estimated cost: $12.07 for the batch and $3.01 per serving

This Spanish-style baked rice dish makes dinner cheap and easy when all you need is three cups of long-grain rice, a jar of salsa, two cans of your choice of beans, and one of chicken broth. A smidgen shy of two ounces of olive oil and seasonings you likely already have — aside from cumin or chili powder, which you can swap with paprika — give it greater depth.

Yield: 8 servings
Estimated cost: $10.06 for the batch and $1.26 per serving

Olive oil is your costliest investment for this recipe, followed by a third of a jar of Kalamata olives and two cans of diced tomatoes. A tin of anchovy fillets, small jar of capers, and garlic helps to pack a flavorful punch for just another few bucks, with extra for an encore performance of this deceptively simple made dish. Bonus: with so many strong ingredients, the only seasonings you'll need are red pepper flakes and oregano. Throw this hearty sauce on a box of cheap spaghetti, and you'll have a restaurant-worthy meal at a fraction of the cost.

Yield: 4 servings
Estimated cost: $9.88 per batch and $2.47 per serving

Pinching your pennies doesn't mean you can splurge with sweets. But this recipe hides a bit of a secret: it's a pantry-friendly dessert that's made with beans! Indeed, this recipe swaps healthy black beans for flour, and uses three eggs. Beyond that, all you need is less than a cup of sugar, cocoa powder; and dashes of the salt, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil you already have on hand.

Yield: one 8x8-pan
Estimated cost: $2.55 per batch and 15¢ per serving when cut into 16

Not only is this recipe a money-saver in terms of ingredients, but you're saving a few cents in energy, too, by never even turning the oven on! A can of chickpeas, roughly half a jar of peanut butter and less than half a bag of chocolate chips are your main investments toward this indulgent treat. The recipe calls for agave nectar, but you can substitute the few tablespoons of that less conventional liquid sweetener with a 1:1 ratio of honey or maple syrup you likely have on hand.

Yield: 6 servings
Estimated cost: $3.86 per batch and 64¢ per serving