Cheap Food Near Me? Make These $2 Meals at Home

💰 Cheap Food Near Me? Make These $2 Meals at Home

By Rossi Voss | October 7, 2025

You’re not alone if you’ve ever searched:

• “cheap food near me”
• “affordable meals near me”
• “dollar menu meals”

But what you’re really asking is:

• “What can I eat for under $3?”
• “What won’t leave me hungry an hour later?”
• “What’s better than fast food?”

The best “cheap food near me” isn’t at a drive-thru — it’s in your kitchen.

Here are 5 meals you can make at home for $2 or less per serving — high in protein, ready in 30 minutes, and perfect for beginners.

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🍲 1. Creamy Red Lentil Dal (25 mins | $1.50/serving)

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric
• 3 cups broth
• ½ can coconut milk (optional)

1. Add all to pot. Simmer 20 mins.
2. Serve over rice with lime and cilantro.

💡 From: 100 Beginner’s Instant Pot Bean and Grain Cookbook

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🍚 2. Black Beans & Rice (Cuban-Style, 30 mins | $1.75/serving)

• 1 cup black beans (canned or dried)
• 1 cup rice
• Onion, bell pepper, garlic
• 1 tsp smoked paprika, cumin

1. Sauté veggies. Add beans, rice, broth, spices.
2. Simmer 25 mins (or Instant Pot: 25 mins).
3. Fluff and serve.

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🍳 3. Egg & Black Bean Scramble (15 mins | $1.25/serving)

• 2 eggs per serving
• ½ cup black beans
• 1 bell pepper, onion, garlic
• 1 tsp cumin

1. Sauté veggies. Add beans to warm.
2. Pour in beaten eggs. Scramble until set.
3. Serve with toast or tortilla.

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🥣 4. Pinto Bean & Sweet Potato Bowl (35 mins | $1.90/serving)

• 1 cup pinto beans
• 1 large sweet potato, cubed
• 1 bell pepper, 1 tsp chili powder
• 3 cups broth

1. Sauté sweet potato and pepper 5 mins.
2. Add beans, broth, spices. Seal → Manual 25 mins (Instant Pot).
3. Quick release. Serve with rice.

💡 From: Bean & Grain Cookbook

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🍛 5. Turkey & Rice Soup (30 mins | $2.00/serving)

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion, 2 carrots, celery
• 6 cups broth
• 1 cup rice
• Thyme, bay leaf

1. Brown turkey and veggies (Sauté mode).
2. Add broth, rice, herbs.
3. Seal → Manual 10 mins → Quick release.

💡 Freezes well — make extra for “cheap food near me” night #2.

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📦 What If You *Do* Order Takeout?

It’s okay! But here’s how to get back on track:

• Use my Free 4-Week Meal Plan to reset
• Try just one recipe this week — build confidence
• Next time you search “cheap food near me,” you’ll have a better option

🍲 More from Rossi Voss

• Stockpot Cookbook: 139 Simple and Hearty Recipes – Perfect for soups, stews, and one-pot wonders.
• 100 Beginner’s Instant Pot Bean and Grain Cookbook – Fast, filling meals using pantry staples.
• 82 Essential Instant Pot Fermentation Recipes – Make yogurt, kefir, and more.

— Rossi Voss
Author of the $0.99 Cookbook Series
rossivoss.blogspot.com