It’s no secret that we love the retro-classic dinner staple that is apricot chicken (and so do taste.com.au members!) So as part of our budget-friendly Savvy Dinner Plan I’ve given this fruity dish a contemporary spin. Meet my crumbed apricot chicken tray bake. It has all the flavours of the original family favourite, with the satisfying texture of a golden, crunchy crumb and a crew of useful ingredients.How to make my budget-friendly crumbed apricot chicken tray bake: key ingredient swapsTo keep this dish lower-cost but no less delicious, I’ve bulked up the tray bake with well-matched veggies – a hearty, healthy and budget-friendly addition. And, using crumbed chicken tenders not only brings texture to the plate, but these handy ready-to-cook ingredients also cut down on time and save you money.My secret to boosting the flavours of this apricot chicken traybake is French Onion Soup Mix. It does the work of multiple ingredients, acting as both a thickener and flavour booster, which helps reduce the shopping list.I’m also using canned apricots instead of apricot nectar and dried apricots (which are traditionally used in this dish) to help make this tray bake even more cost efficient without diminishing the lovely fruity flavours.A cook’s tip: adding a little Coles Simply Unsalted Butter to the couscous prevents the grains from sticking together and makes the couscous lighter and fluffier. This savvy ingredient is a great way to add lovely buttery flavour with just a small amount.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste.com.au + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. For this recipe, you can use the couscous from our French onion curried sausages in week 1.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 3.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.
Rich in Mediterranean flavours, my one-pan ratatouille risoni sees two great dishes form one delicious, budget-friendly dinner you’ll want to make time and time again. Ratatouille is a firm favourite recipe here at taste.com.au, and the addition of risoni means it goes further – making it a great addition to week 2 of our Savvy Dinner Plan.This impressive yet simple one-panner boasts maximum flavour with minimal washing up – what’s not to love? And, perhaps best of all, you can make it ahead of time and freeze it. You’ll thank yourself later.How to make my budget-friendly one-pan ratatouille risoni: key ingredient swapsTo keep costs down in this recipe, I’ve added plenty of vegetables to bulk-up the risoni. I’ve also used Coles Simply Tomato & Basil Sauce, which is rich, herby and tomatoey, as a savvy way to give this dish its Mediterranean flair (without having to buy more ingredients to do so!). The parmesan is optional, but buying pre-grated parmesan is more affordable (and time-saving) than grating your own.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. For example, you can use the grated parmesan you purchase for this recipe on the chicken cacciatore meatballs from this week’s plan, too.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to make this recipe ahead of time, see our notes below the recipe.
Satay chicken is a go-to weeknight dish among the taste.com.au community – and I’ve used this classic combo to create my satay chicken rice tray bake to make midweek cooking even simpler.Rice is a fantastic pantry staple to make meals stretch that little bit further, and this tempting tray bake makes use of a bunch of clever, budget-friendly ingredients to ease the pinch. No wonder it’s part of our Savvy Dinner Plan.How to make my budget-friendly satay chicken rice tray bake: key ingredient swapsWhile putting together week 2 of our Savvy Dinner Plan, I’ve carefully considered every ingredient on our menu to make sure it’s great value. That’s why I’ve used Coles Simply Unsalted Butter to fry the vegetables as a savvy way to add flavour without blowing out the budget. I opted to use an all-rounder satay simmer sauce to further bring this dish to life.The satay sauce is not only the key to the delicious satay flavour of this dish, but I also use it as the liquid to cook the rice in at the same time. Even better, the sauce doubles as a marinade for the chicken. To make things more affordable, I’ve used small chicken breasts because they keep costs down and are quicker to cook – making them ideal for a weeknight dinner.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. It’s a great idea to buy a larger bag of rice to cover your recipes for the month of Savvy Dinners, to bring down your monthly grocery cost. Then you can use this rice in the sweet and sour sausages and the hidden-veg porcupine meatballs recipes in week 3.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to get ahead with this recipe, see our notes below the recipe.
Rissoles are one of taste.com.au’s most commonly searched dinner recipes - so I knew they had to play a starring role in our Savvy Dinner Plan. A staple at Australian barbecues and a favourite fuss-free weeknight dinner, rissoles are simple but mighty. I’ve reimagined the classic with this chicken cacciatore rissoles recipe that’s friendly on the budget and full of flavour. I serve these rissoles on spiral pasta, which mops up the sauce and stretches the meal even further.Better yet, you can make these up to three months in advance so you have ready-made rissoles ready to, uh, roll when you’re short on time.How to make my budget-friendly chicken cacciatore rissoles: key ingredient swapsTo make this rissole recipe, I used Coles Simply Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce to add Mediterranean flavours using only one simple ingredient. And, I’ve also used herb-and-garlic-flavoured breadcrumbs to boost flavour (and bolster the rissoles) using fewer ingredients. Another trick? If you choose loose cup mushrooms, rather than purchasing pre-packaged mushrooms, they work out more affordable per kilogram.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use the breadcrumbs from this recipe in the beef and baked bean rissoles featured in week 4 of the plan, and use the pre-grated parmesan in the one-pan ratatouille risoni this week (week 2).What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to make these rissoles ahead and freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
I love an opportunity to get creative in the kitchen. So, when I began brainstorming ways to improve the much-loved meatloaf and make it more budget-friendly as part of our Savvy Dinner Plan, I decided to think outside the box (or loaf pan, as it were). I know the taste.com.au community loves a good meatloaf (not to mention the leftovers on sandwiches, yum!).My resulting hidden-veg family meatloaf is a family-pleasing (and pocket-pleasing!) twist on the original that might just be the midweek meal you didn’t know you needed in your life. It’s full of flavour and – don’t tell anyone – baked beans (yes!) to ensure it’s an especially juicy loaf, and their reserved tomato sauce to create a perfectly sticky glaze. Who knew?I’ve also added some extra shortcuts to have this meatloaf on the table faster (like using a food processor to chop your veggies and combine the mince mixture).How to make my budget-friendly hidden-veg family meatloaf: key ingredient swapsNo need to buy an extra sauce for this recipe. Straining and reserving the tomato sauce from the Coles Simply Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce is a savvy choice that allows you to create a glaze without buying extra ingredients. Hooray! And, if you don’t have quite enough sauce from the beans, you can use tomato sauce to top it up.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. To make this recipe, you can use leftover Worcestershire sauce that appears in the beef stroganoff pasta bake and the family cottage pie in week 1 of the Savvy Dinner Plan.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze this recipe for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
I think the reason tray bake recipes are such popular dinner ideas on taste.com.au is that they make light work of an impressive-looking (and impressive-tasting) meal – which is why we had to include chicken tray bake in our Savvy Dinner Plan. I love that tray bakes require minimal prep, you really can let the oven do the heavy lifting, and, hey presto, you have a dinner-party-worthy dish you can whip up on a weeknight.That’s why I’ve created this creamy French chicken tray bake. This recipe transforms chicken and potatoes with a simple, rich and creamy sauce that celebrates retro classic flavours. Plus, by browning chicken with a little butter and oil, you can add a richness and extra depth of flavour to your chicken.My pro tip? Take care not to overheat your pan, to avoid burning your butter. Then, serve your tray bake with green beans and you have one well-rounded meal for less.How to make my budget-friendly creamy French chicken tray bake: key ingredient swapsTo start, using smaller chicken breasts is not only a budget-friendly choice, but it also cuts down on cooking time because they cook faster. I’ve also bulked up this tray bake using plenty of roast potatoes to stretch the dish further.Then, browning my chicken in butter and a little oil takes the flavour of this seemingly simple (yet oh-so flavourful) meal to the next level! I chose Coles Simply Unsalted Butteras a savvy way to add richness without adding lots of extra ingredients.And I’ve ‘cheated’ by using another secret ingredient that adds loads of flavour while also making your shopping list that little bit shorter. My secret ingredient? I used French onion soup mix to enhance the traditional French onion flavour of this dish, while also cutting down on the amount of ingredients required to achieve it. Two birds, one product, zero complaints.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use the Coles Simply Unsalted Butter in the couscous from our French onion curried sausage recipe from week 1.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.
Bringing together two well-loved, flavourful recipes in one budget-friendly bowl of comfort, I present to you my *drum roll please* garlic bread savoury mince recipe! As part of our Savvy Dinner Plan, I wanted to create something new using savoury mince. Garlic bread recipes are always popular on taste.com.au (who doesn’t love a buttery, garlicky toasted slice of bread?), and savoury mince is a comforting classic, so I’ve decided to marry the two in this satisfying recipe. And, let me tell you, it’s a perfect match.Savoury mince is often used as a delicious toast-topper, but I’ve turned this concept on its head and instead topped the mince with garlic bread slices and cheese to create a full meal that’s also a winner, winner one-pan dinner.How to make my budget-friendly garlic bread savoury mince: key ingredient swapsAdding plenty of finely chopped vegetables to the beef mince not only makes the meal go further for less, but it also adds extra nutrients. I’ve used budget-friendly carrots, celery, potatoes and frozen peas. Then, I’ve added Coles Traditional Gravy Mix – because it adds a beefy flavour to the sauce while also thickening the mixture (an ideal ‘twofer’ product).To save time, I’ve taken advantage of the convenience of Coles Simply Garlic Bread Slices as a savvy topper for this easy dinner. Unlike other bakes, which can take a long time to cook, by topping with the garlic bread it only takes 15 mins – just enough time to make the garlic bread crispy and the gooey cheese to melt. Et voila! An impressive bake on a budget.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tipsThis recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to freeze this dish and make more budget-friendly shopping choices, see the notes below the recipe.
While a simple, homemade stir-fry is an easy dinner that many time-poor cooks will have in their repertoire, I’ve come up with a way to make this go-to dinner even more cost-effective and (dare I say?) even more delicious. Taste.com.au’s community of home cooks know I love a cooking challenge, so as part of our Savvy Dinner Plan,I took the humble stir-fry and tested new ways to create an enticing, speedy and pocket-friendly version. Better yet, it’s on the table in half an hour.The result? Even better than I expected! Here’s how to create some midweek magic using one interesting ingredient.How to make my budget-friendly stir-fry: key ingredient swapsIt may come as a surprise, but by using beef sausages in this stir-fry (instead of beef steak, which is commonly used in stir-fry recipes), I’ve reduced the overall price of the dish. Plus, the sausages bulk up and bolster your dinner – stretching it further. Top-notch leftovers for lunch, anyone? Using Coles Simply Honey Thin BBQ Sausages was an easy choice because the honeyed flavour complements the honey-soy stir-fry sauce and balances the sriracha. Win, win!On that note, I used a combined honey-soy sauce, which means you save on having to buy two separate products to bring flavour to this dish. I've also used canned baby corn, which is more affordable than buying fresh corn (and keeps for longer, if you’re shopping ahead of time). Plus, using fresh noodles means you cut down on cooking time. Fewf! A faster, more budget-friendly dinner coming right up!Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use leftover honey-soy sauce and sriracha in week 4’s bang bang chicken recipe.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 2.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep your stir-fry ingredients ahead of time, see the notes below the recipe.
Curried sausages - it’s been one of the most popular budget dinners in the taste.com.au dinner archive for over a decade. As part of our Savvy Dinner Plan, we wanted to give this old classic a new twist - so I’ve reworked our most popular version with a few ingredient switch-ups and some added vegies to bring the costs down.This recipe is a great way to zhoosh up sausages, and despite the ‘curried’ label, it’s mild enough for the kids to enjoy (but if you do like it on the spicier side, you can certainly dial up the curry powder to your taste).How to make my budget-friendly French onion curried sausages: key ingredient swapsI used Coles Simply Thin BBQ Sausages as a savvy way to inject a flavour boost to the dish. They’re flavoured with herbs and paprika, which means I saved money on buying extra herbs and spices.Using French onion soup mix and water in place of stock is another budget stretcher, as it acts as a great flavour enhancer in this dish without having to add more expensive ingredients. I also snuck in some added vegetables to help stretch the dish even further and add to your daily veg quota, which is always a win in my book!Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use leftover peas in the speedy cheesy cottage pie, which is also featured in the plan.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes to pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
Fish tacos continue to be one of the biggest trending dinner searches on taste.com.au as the nation’s obsession with Mexican food shows no signs of slowing down. The ingredients list for classic fish tacos can get quite lengthy (and can add up pretty quickly once you factor in all the accompaniments), which is where my Savvy Dinner Plan version of fish tacos comes in.This version of fish tacos uses some clever shortcuts to lower the cost, reduce food waste, and have dinner on the table in 20 minutes!How to make my budget-friendly easy tuna fish tacos: key ingredient swapsCanned fish is a great way to keep fish on the menu when you’re on a budget, so I used Coles Simply Tuna in Vegetable Oil to keep costs lower in this twist on the original. It’s responsibly sourced, moist and flavoursome, and works really well with the slaw, making it a savvy alternative to fresh white fish.To shorten the shopping list even more, I used a taco kit, which contains salsa, seasoning mix and tacos, instead of buying everything separately. Despite the best of intentions, half-used jars of salsa can be one of those ingredients that end up languishing, forgotten, at the back of the fridge. Taco kits are a great way to use only what you need.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use leftover shallots from this recipe in the easy crispy pork mince ramen, which is also featured in the plan.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes to pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
The idea for this hearty beef stroganoff bake arose when the team and I challenged ourselves to come up with a budget-friendly version of the classic Russian dish as part of our Savvy Dinner Plan. I wanted it to be quick and easy enough to make for a hungry family mid week, and for it to be cheaper than the original recipe – without losing any of that delicious richness stroganoff is known for.The result is a saucy pasta bake that can be on the table in just 25 minutes!How to make my budget-friendly beef stroganoff: key ingredient swapsI used Coles Simply Pasta Spiralsas a great-value option to make this dish stretch further, without compromising on flavour or texture. This savvy ingredient not only helps reduce the cost, but it really holds its shape well, making it ideal for a pasta bake.While steak is traditionally used in beef stroganoff, I used beef strips in this recipe because it not only cooks quickly but it works out cheaper, too.To keep costs down further, I swapped button mushrooms for cup mushrooms, swapped crème fraîche for sour cream, omitted the wine, and used a stock cube with water instead of liquid stock.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use leftover tomato paste from this recipe in our easy butter chicken rice pilaf and our speedy cheesy cottage pie, which are also featured in the plan.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below.
When it comes to chicken dinners, few recipes have more enduring popularity than butter chicken. In fact, butter chicken is now the #1 chicken dinner search on taste, and it’s still growing! I’ve been on a mission to make the classic butter chicken you love more affordable as part of our Savvy Dinner Plan, and I’ve given it a makeover I think you’ll love.This version combines the chicken and rice into one fluffy pilaf, so all the delicious flavours of the sauce infuse through.How to make my budget-friendly butter chicken rice pilaf: key ingredient swapsI used Coles Simply Tomato Paste as a savvy, cost-effective option to add flavour, richness and colour. A little tomato paste goes a long way, so you can save the remainder for use in another dish (see our freezer tip in the notes below the recipe). I also opted for a simmer sauce to give that beautiful butter chicken aroma and taste instead of buying all the ingredients separately.To up the veg intake and further reduce costs, I replaced some of the chicken with pumpkin and peas. Rather than serving with rice, I transformed the curry into a pilaf, which helps stretch the meal even more. It also saves on the washing up!Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use the rest of the diced pumpkin in the one-pan vegetarian lentil and pumpkin lasagne and the leftover peas in the speedy cheesy cottage pie.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes to pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
When I was asked to redesign our classic cottage pie recipe to make it cheaper as part of the Savvy Dinner Plan, I really wanted it to be as family friendly as possible. I needed it to be hearty enough to feed a family of four, but easy enough for you to make after a busy day at work.With a few shortcuts and ingredient swaps, this version not only reduces the cost of the recipe, but it also slashes the cook time by more than half, so it’s ready in 25 minutes.How to make my budget-friendly speedy cheesy cottage pie: key ingredientsI used Coles Simply Tomato Paste as an easy, savvy ingredient to add depth of flavour to the sauce. You need only a couple of tablespoons to inject a lovely rich flavour and colour, and it can be used in so many other dishes.To make the meat mixture stretch further, I slightly reduced the amount of beef mince and increased the amount of vegetables, which is a bonus if you’re trying to boost your daily vegetable intake.One of my favourite shortcut hacks for cottage pie is frozen mashed potato. This handy ingredient saves you from cooking and mashing your own - perfect for when time is tight.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. You can use the pizza cheese in the easy beef stroganoff pasta bake, which is also in the meal plan.What’s the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes to pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
Vegetarian lasagne is the most searched-for vegetarian dinner recipe on taste.com.au - so when I was asked to create a budget-friendly version for our Savvy Dinner Plan, I wanted it to really deliver on flavour and be hearty enough to feed a hungry family of four.I served it with some salad and it stretched to serve my family of five (including two teenagers and a preschooler).How to make my budget-friendly vegetarian lasagne: key ingredientsA lot of lasagne recipes have a long list of ingredients, which can make your grocery list blow out. I opted to use Coles Simply Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce, which is a great way to reduce the ingredients list while still being rich and thick with a lovely herby hit. It also helped me save time on the prep, which was a huge win!To reduce costs even further, I bulked out the lasagne with canned lentils - one of my favourite budget ingredients to keep in the pantry. They’re so versatile and nutrient dense - being high in fibre and potassium - and they also count towards your daily serves of vegetables.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. If you’re following the plan you can use the remaining diced pumpkin in our easy butter chicken rice pilaf and the pizza cheese in the beef stroganoff pasta bake.What is the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of free, budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
We’ve seen searches for ramen recipes explode on taste.com.au over the past year - so to keep up with this high demand I wanted to develop a brand new, budget-friendly twist on weeknight ramen for our Savvy Dinner Plan.My new version uses a few flavour-bomb shortcuts to create a beautiful broth, plus crispy, caramelised pork mince that cooks quickly enough for the whole dish to be ready in just 20 minutes.How to made my budget-friendly pork mince ramen: key ingredientsEvery tasty ramen needs a broth with a bit of oomph, so in this recipe I enhanced the flavour by using Coles Chicken Noodle Flavoured Soup Mix, which is a cost-effective way to boost broths and bulk out soups without using liquid stock or home-made stock. I also opted for stock cubes and water, as well as frozen corn kernels, to reduce costs further.I chose to use pork mince instead of diced beef or pork belly, which - although a cheaper cut - caramelises really well in the pan to add a hit of crispy umami-ness to the final dish.Save even more across the month with the Savvy Dinner PlanThe taste + Coles Savvy Dinner plan is full of clever ways to use ingredients across multiple meals. If you’re following the plan you can use the leftover green shallots in the easy weeknight tuna tacos.What is the Savvy Dinner Plan?The taste.com.au food team has redesigned our most searched-for family dinner recipes to help you stretch your grocery budget further. By making savvy ingredient swaps and switching up how you plan and cook, the Savvy Dinner Plan can help shave dollars off your favourite dinners, without compromising on flavour.The Savvy Dinner Plan offers you four weeks of budget-friendly recipes, plus use-it-up hacks and cost-saving tips. This recipe features in week 1.Not a planner? You can still save. Check out all our Savvy Dinner Plan recipes and pick the perfect dish for you.For instructions on how to prep ahead of time or freeze for another day, see the notes below the recipe.
A creamy, vegetarian gnocchi bake full of the gorgeous Italian flavours of Tuscany. The gnocchi soaks up the slightly sweet and tangy sundried tomato pesto (which you can make using our simple sundried tomato pesto that takes just 20 minutes to come together). What’s more, this is a great budget meal, making it perfect for families looking for a hearty dinner at a low cost. This recipe is also super popular with young people living out of home because it makes for a great meal prep option. Taste.com.au’s Nutrition Editor, Chrissy Freer, has also put together 5 easy and healthy meal prep lunch ideas to give you more options that are equally as tasty as this creamy Tuscan gnocchi bake.
This quick and easy Thai salad is full of authentic and zesty Asian flavours.
This cake is made with five simple ingredients and is also prepped in just five minutes! Serve with a dollop of cream for the perfect afternoon treat.
Meltingly tender and crispy all at the same time - that’s the brilliance of pork belly. The trick to super crispy pork crackling is placing the pork belly in the fridge overnight to help to dry out the skin and maximise the crackle. Plus, cooking it in the air fryer allows the skin to dry out even further while keeping the meat underneath incredibly moist. This is a great way to enjoy pork belly in minutes of cooking rather than hours in the oven.
Baked in foil and ready in just 40 minutes, this easy seafood bake is packed with prawns and risoni - perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Dinner in 10! This fresh salad recipe has all the tricks you need to be serving a healthy, nourishing salad for dinner tonight.
Raspberry and white chocolate make these light and fluffy scones extra special.
Wondering why this lemon cake recipe is called ‘meltaway’? Well, it’s the only way to describe the heavenly sensation of the moist, buttery cake melting away in your mouth - you really do have to try it for yourself. The sweet glaze on top adds another lemony touch, but it does require 1 hour to set so make sure you ice the cake well before you plan to serve it. We think this lighter, spongy cake is perfect to serve for morning or afternoon tea, or even as an after-dinner dessert. If you love lemon melting moments, you’ll love this cake.
With flaky puff pastry, two types of cheeses and zucchini, this easy quiche recipe makes for filling lunch or dinner idea.
The crispy and cheesy crunch of the croutons is balanced with a creamy dressing made from French onion soup mix - now this salad ticks all the boxes!
We've turned instant mie goreng noodles into a better-for-you weeknight dinner filled with vegetables and chicken, and it's on the table in 30 minutes.
A make-ahead lunch or dinner you'll be eating on repeat, this easy vegetarian slice is made with low-cal quinoa, pumpkin and zucchini.
On the table in under 20 minutes, this easy vegetarian haloumi salad is perfect when time is short.
Loaded with sweet potato, corn and capsicum, and covered in a creamy chipotle dressing, this easy vegetarian salad will be a hit with everyone.
We call these lemon bars 'impossible' because they are so easy to make. You mix all the ingredients together and pour into a pan. Once baked, it's important to set them aside in the pan for an hour or two before placing in the fridge for a further one hour. This will help firm them up and make them much easier to cut.
These easy savoury muffins are packed with cheese, pumpkin and hidden vegetables such as leek and capsicum. The kids will never know!
Who can resist satay chicken? This creamy coconut sauce is perfect served alongside noodles and topped with fresh cucumber and crunchy peanuts.
With only a handful of ingredients, the quick and easy curry is perfect for school nights. The whole family will love the creamy coconut flavour!
Make the most of simple lamb mince with this mid-week meal that is ready in just 40 minutes.
We've swapped starchy noodles for zoodles in this healthier pork mince chow mein that's loaded with vegies.
Two Aussie icons and a popular newcomer meet to create one super special treat. This version of lamingtons uses actual Gaytime ice cream and Caramilk chocolate and it doesn't take long to make either (just make sure to plan for chilling time too).
Taco night can still go ahead even if you're wanting to eat healthy or are following a low cal diet. Even the gluten free eaters can get involved! This delicious beef and lentil taco recipe (created by our expert nutritionist) are packed with vegetables and full of goodness.
This easy chicken and zucchini spaghetti dish is ready in just 30 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner for all the family.
This vegetarian fried rice salad with honey soy tofu is quick and easy to prepare, and is great for weeknight dinners.
Baking your scones in an air fryer ensures they are crispy on the outside and soft within. They are also ready to eat in under 25 minutes (and that includes prep time!).
With just 15 minutes prep, 4 ingredients and an overnight chill, this summery slice will be your afternoon tea go-to recipe.
This popular Brazilian snack, known in its native country as pao de queijo, is gluten-free and works great as a mini savoury treat or a canape. Making it in an air fryer ensures it's extra crunchy on the outside while still chewy and soft on the inside.
Corn fritters are an awesome way to jazz up simple on-hand ingredients. To save on spices, we’ve used curry powder - adding loads of flavour and a touch of spice. Our sticky bacon jam will blow you away! It’s caramelised bacon and onion cooked with brown sugar until syrupy, and it’s what makes this dish irresistible. These fritters are the perfect addition to lunchboxes, a great after-school snack, brunch, or just a simple dinner option!
For low calorie comfort food try this healthier version of classic tuna pasta bake.
On weeknights, we want less washing up and more putting our feet up. Lucky this creamy salmon tray bake will be on the table in 30 minutes.
