Groceries are expensive right now. These ‘struggle meals' can help you save while still eating great.

Yahoo

09-05-2025

With grocery prices soaring and economic uncertainty growing — thanks, in part, to tariff tensions and recession fears — many Americans are taking a closer look at how and where they spend their money. One place that makes most sense to cut back is at the supermarket. Forget organic meat and fancy pistachio butter — for many people, the goal is to save as much as possible while still keeping themselves fed.
But you don't have to live on instant ramen in order to save money and stave off hunger. Enter: the struggle meal. It's a term that started on social media to describe meals that you can make when you're not doing so hot financially. Sure, microwavable mac and cheese from the dollar store counts — but the best struggle meals are the ones that are nutritious and satisfying, while still coming in at a budget price per serving.
So, which struggle meals you should try this week? Check out these recipes from across the internet.
Struggle meals stretch even further when you make something that freezes well — like this lentil soup recipe from the Kitchn which includes inexpensive ingredients like red lentils, tomato paste and onion. It's an all-around win: lentils are packed with fiber and protein to keep you full, and the soup's easily customizable if you want to throw in any additional vitamin-rich veggies you have around. (Think: extra chopped spinach that would have wilted otherwise.)
Make a big batch of this soup and then freeze it — you'll have an easy, healthy struggle meal ready to warm up whenever you're in a pinch.
Pasta is quick, cheap and customizable. Simply Recipe's one-pot spaghetti recipe uses inexpensive veggies (like canned tomatoes) as well as kale to add color, vitamins and fiber to the pasta dish. Adding canned white beans or chickpeas gets you extra protein while still keeping the dish affordable.
Potatoes may have a bad rap due to their high carb content, but actually, they're a powerhouse spud: just one potato contains more potassium than a banana, plus fiber and even a small amount of protein. Plus, they're inexpensive, as well as simple to prepare, which makes them an ideal struggle meal. Purchase russet or Yukon gold potatoes, then scrub them clean and pierce them with a fork before baking at 400 degrees F for 45 to 60 minutes. You can top your potato with canned chili or jazz it up with spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast.
This miso butter pasta recipe, from Tasty, is the adult version of butter and noodles — and it's so simple to make. As Jen Shiori Adams wrote for BuzzFeed, 'Since I was on a tight budget at all times, I found myself making miso butter pasta on repeat. It's like an elevated butter pasta and pretty inexpensive to make. Sometimes I'd add mushrooms to it and it seriously tasted like it was from a restaurant.'
Life hack for people looking to save money while keeping their food tasting fresh: Buy a basil plant, and then keep it alive — you'll save serious cash on fresh basil at the grocery store. It will also come in handy for this healthy struggle meal, which is Baked by Melissa's viral green goddess salad. In addition to the basil, the salad dressing uses inexpensive ingredients like spinach and garlic, with a base of cabbage.
The salad also calls for cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast in place of pricier Parmesan cheese — and it's packed with protein and B vitamins. You can save by buying it in bulk — then sprinkle it on everything.
Canned tuna is cheap and a great source of protein — a serving of tuna packed in water contains roughly 22 grams of protein for just 100 calories. There are so many ways to customize tuna salad as well, and you can use whatever is in your fridge to do so: chop up celery and red onion, season with lemon juice, black pepper or smoked paprika, or add a scoop of mayo. Check out some of the best recipes here.
Not into tuna? Though canned chicken is a bit pricier than tuna, it's still an inexpensive option and can be prepared similarly.
Protein-rich cottage cheese has become one of social media's recent crazes, and it's also a great base for a struggle meal due to the fact that it's both inexpensive and customizable. One way to enjoy it is to scoop some cottage cheese into a bowl and top with canned fruit, like peaches or pineapple. Prefer things savory? Add a little salt, pepper and chili oil on top.