Seriously cheap and genuinely delicious recipes
Being able to cook food that fills you up with joy is something that can't be beaten! So, while we're feeding students and fighting for systems change, we thought it'd be a good idea to create a collection of our most popular cheap & delicious recipes! Have a browse below.
Firstly, what do we mean by 'cheap'?
Consider a young Australian student, studying full time who is living out of home, the maximum they can get from Centrelink is $562.80, a fortnight. A Homelessness Australia report revealed a student like this would be left with $13 a day. This $13 would have to cover transport, utilities and food. We estimate that after paying public transport and bills, this student would have $5 a day for food! If they're an international student, there is little support available so budgets would be significantly less.
If you consider students already have access to some basic staples like oil, butter, spices etc... cheap could be:
A meal that costs more than $5 but is multiple serves
A meal where ingredients can be foraged or rescued
A meal where the costs are shared between friends or family
Red Chilli Pesto Pasta
This bold and speedy pasta brings the heat — think red chilli pesto tossed through your favourite pasta shape, with broccoli and spinach for extra greens and goodness. Whether you use a jar or make your own, it’s a weeknight winner that comes together fast and doesn’t hold back on flavour.
Euro Summer Holiday Salad
Sun-soaked and full of colour, this salad is your shortcut to a Mediterranean-style meal. While the pasta cooks, you can prep nearly everything else — fresh herbs, crisp veggies, briny feta, and chickpeas come together fast for a vibrant, no-fuss dish that tastes like a Euro summer holiday.
Pumpkin & Grain Salad
With sweet roasted pumpkin, nutty grains, and a bright yogurt and orange topping, this salad tastes like autumn in a bowl. It’s a warming, nourishing dish that celebrates the season’s best produce — perfect for sharing or savoring on a crisp day.
Brown Rice & Lentil Salad
This Brown Rice & Lentil Salad is hearty, fresh, and packed with plant-powered goodness. It’s perfect for using up those tired herbs in the back of your fridge and holds up beautifully for up to 72 hours in the fridge — making it ideal for meal prep, lunchboxes, or a no-fuss dinner.
Cinnamon & Cayenne Chocolate Balls
These Cinnamon and Cayenne Chocolate Balls are bold, bite-sized bursts of energy — sweet, spicy, and naturally satisfying. Perfect for powering through your day or kicking cravings to the curb, they’re quick to make and even quicker to disappear.
Whole Banana Bread
Yes, you can eat the peels too! This whole banana bread recipe uses the entire banana — peels included — to cut down on food waste and grocery costs. It’s a delicious, low-waste, budget-friendly way to bake more sustainably.
Mushroom & Lentil Bolognese
Hearty, rich, and entirely plant-based, this Lentil and Mushroom Bolognese brings all the comfort of a classic — without the high price tag. It’s a satisfying, affordable meal that’s easy to make and great for feeding a crowd.
Can-Be Vegan Chilli
This vegetarian chilli recipe is like a warm hug on a chilly evening. Customise it how you like with whatever optional toppings you have on hand. We love it with cheese, sour cream and coriander!