17 Cheap And Healthy Recipes That Will Break Your Fast Food Habit Forever

Surely you've heard it before: healthy food isn't cheap and cheap food isn't healthy. While this can be true in many instances, any savvy chef will argue that there are PLENTY of recipes out there that will keep your pocket fat, your lifestyle healthy and your stomach full. As proof, here are 17 of our favorite healthy dishes that can be made for under $10.

Maple Chili-Glazed Pork Medallions

Try this super simple recipe to satisfy your sweet and spicy cravings without breaking the bank. Ground chipotle peppers, chili powder, and salt lay the spicy foundation, while a sweet maple syrup and cider vinegar glaze add a balanced sweetness. The pork medallions themselves only contain 180 calories per serving, so feel free to get creative with the seasonal veggies you decide to serve on the side. Maple Chili-Glazed Pork Medallions Recipe

Ginger Turkey Stir-Fry

You already know turkey is super lean (and super cheap) and you’ve likely already substituted the famous fowl for proteins in burgers and bacon with great success. Now we’re asking you to step a little further out of the box and sub turkey into your stir-fry. Trust us, the sauce you’ll be preparing for this meal is good enough to transform your turkey into a delectable asian dish you’ll thank yourself for making. Ginger Turkey Stir-Fry Recipe

Easy Pasta Primavera

A common misconception is that you can’t eat pasta while maintaining a healthy diet. While it is true that many pasta dishes contain rich sauces and cheeses that are loaded with calories and fat, there is a way around such pitfalls as long as you know what you’re doing. Consider this easy pasta primavera recipe exhibit A in that argument. Easy Pasta Primavera Recipe

Beef And Black Bean Chili Recipe

Sometimes a healthy dinner on the cheap takes a little bit of forethought. Set aside about 20 minutes for prep work either the night before or the morning of. Then, simply add the ingredients to the slow cooker about 8 hours before you’d like to eat. Your home will smell delicious for days and the leftovers will be a sure hit in a pinch later on. Beef And Black Bean Chili Recipe

Vegetarian Gumbo

For all of our vegetarian friends, this gumbo is for you (although you certainly don’t have to be vegetarian to try this delicious dish in your home). Cajun seasoning gives this dish a bold pop of flavor and the wide array of veggies will give you the nutrients and energy you need to take on any challenge. Vegetarian Gumbo Recipe

Potato And Broccoli Casserole

You can put this stunning casserole together in your home for about $10 in total ingredients. Plus, you’re bound to have leftovers with the added benefit that it’s far healthier that anything you can get in fast food for $10. Tip: Use low fat cheese to help lighten the dish. Potato And Broccoli Casserole Recipe

Beefy Stuffed Sweet Potato

Finally, a meat and potatoes recipe that is cheap AND healthy. Sweet potatoes have fewer calories than regular potatoes, plus they contain a large amount of vitamin A. The ground beef filling is extremely easy to make (and super cheap) so you’ll have no excuse to keep this recipe off your most frequented list. Beefy Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

Antipasti Penne

The key here is whole grain penne noodles. Yeah, they might cost a little more than regular penne, but honestly the difference in price is negligible compared to the difference it makes in your health. Plus, you can still pull it off for under $10, so what more do you want? Antipasti Penne Recipe

Broccoli With Black Bean Garlic Sauce

This one is low carb AND low cal. It’s also perfect for those nights when you’re looking to go meatless. Broccoli is filling enough on its own, and the addition of sesame seeds and rice wine vinegar really elevate this common vegetable to new heights. Broccoli With Black Bean Garlic Sauce Recipe

Fajita-Ranch Chicken Wraps

If you strive to cook cheap yet flavorful meals, this one’s a champion of taste. The great thing about fajitas is that they’re almost impossible to mess up since you can literally put whatever ingredients you want into it. These fajita-ranch chicken wraps are a great beginner recipe to base your future fajitas on though. Fajita-Ranch Chicken Wraps

Grilled Pork And Pineapple

Pork is a lean and readily available meat. This grilled pork and pineapple recipe is well balanced and provides plenty of bold flavor with the orange marmalade glaze. The best part? It’s only about 300 calories per serving. Grilled Pork And Pineapple Recipe

Italian Bean Soup

This soup is perfect for those cold rainy days or harsh winter nights. You definitely won’t have to worry about price for this one (all the ingredients are dirt cheap) so we recommend you go nuts and make enough to save for later. Italian Bean Soup Recipe

Pan-Seared Fish Tacos

Who doesn’t love a great fish taco? This simple recipe brings the best of the U.S. West Coast to your kitchen, and you won’t be getting rid of it anytime soon. With a killer sauce and healthy fats from fresh avocados, you won’t believe this dish is actually healthy for you. Pan-Seared Fish Tacos Recipe

Honey Chipotle Chicken Tenders and Sweet Potatoes

This is another recipe that you won’t mind preparing a bit in advance. The key here is to allow the marinade to coat the chicken overnight to make sure you incorporate all of the honey chipotle flavors possible into your final product. Honey Chipotle Chicken Tenders Recipe

Whole Wheat Pesto Cheese Pizza

Healthy pizza!? Yeah, you read that right. Pesto cheese pizza might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to you, your wallet or your swimsuit. A crispy and deliciously filling whole wheat crust and the skim ricotta cheese will make all the difference. Whole Wheat Pesto Cheese Pizza Recipe

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

Hearty black bean quesadillas are great because they’re cheap and healthy (obviously), but also because they’re perfect for the busy bees of the world who think they don’t have time to cook. If you’ve got 15 minutes, you can whip up a batch of these vegetarian quesadillas that will last you the rest of the week. Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas Recipe

Simple Southwest Chicken Skillet

Think southwest stir-fry. It’s got all of the simplicity (and generally the same techniques) you’ve come to expect from stir-fry, but with the bold southwest flavor you love. Simple Southwest Chicken Skillet Recipe