Less expensive cuts of meat can be tender and full of flavor when cooked properly. This guide shows you how to sear, braise, roast, or simmer chuck, top round, whole chicken, liver, and soup bones. You'll also find recipes that use each cooking method.
Jump to:
- How to Choose Inexpensive Cuts of Meat
- Match the Cut to the Cooking Method
- How to Make Inexpensive Meat Go Further
- Inexpensive Beef Cuts and Recipes
- Pan-Seared Chuck Steak
- Chuck Pot Roast
- Hungarian Goulash
- Marinated Chuck Steak
- How To Cook Thin Ribeye Steaks
- Homemade Dirty Rice Recipe
- Top Round Stir Fry
- Sirloin and Noodles
- Grass-Fed Beef Tacos
- Instant Pot Chili
- Chuck Steak Chili
- Beef and Peppers Stir-Fry
- Beef Bone Broth
- Lamb Chops When They Are on Sale
- Air Fryer Loin Lamb Chops
- Pan-Fried Lamb Chops
- Ways to Make Chicken Go Further
- Seared Chicken Breast
- Chicken Tortilla Wraps
- Katsu Chicken
- Chicken Salad with Grapes
- Deli-Style Chicken Salad
- Chicken Feet Soup
- Grandma Chicken Soup
- Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken Soup
- Cuban Chicken Tacos
- Key West Chicken Tacos
- Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder
- Lemon Basil Chicken
- Pan-Fried Panko Chicken Strips
- Crispy Chicken Nuggets
- Chicken Fajitas
- Fried Chicken Cutlets
- Inexpensive Organ Meat Recipes
- Chicken Livers with Onions
- Deli-Style Chopped Chicken Liver
- Beef and Chicken Chopped Liver
- Pan-Fried Veal Liver
- Chopped Turkey Livers
- Baked Beef Liver
- Southern FRIED CHICKEN LIVERS
- Ways to Make Turkey Go Further
- Butterball Turkey Breast Roast
- Pan-Fried Turkey Cutlets
- Turkey Salad with Cranberries
- More Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget
- Inexpensive Meat Recipes FAQ
How to Choose Inexpensive Cuts of Meat
Start by comparing the price per pound, but also consider how much usable meat you will get and how many meals it can make. A whole chicken, chuck roast, or package of bone-in pieces can provide dinner plus meat for soup, salads, tacos, or sandwiches.
- Chuck: Choose it for braising, slow cooking, chili, or thin steaks you can marinate and sear.
- Top round: Slice it thinly across the grain, marinate it, and cook it quickly for stir-fries or steak sandwiches.
- Whole chicken and bone-in pieces: Roast or simmer them, then use the leftover meat and bones for another meal.
- Liver and other organ meats: Cook briefly over moderate heat to keep them tender. Liver cooks quickly; follow the recipe's cooking time and safe internal temperature, and avoid overcooking.
- Soup bones and chicken feet: Simmer them slowly to make rich broth and stock.
Match the Cut to the Cooking Method
The cooking method matters more than the price tag. Cuts with plenty of connective tissue become tender with moist, slow cooking. Lean cuts such as top round stay more tender when sliced thinly and cooked quickly. No matter which method you use, slice cooked meat across the grain to shorten the muscle fibers and make each bite easier to chew.
- Braise or slow-cook: Chuck roast, beef shank, stew meat, and other firm cuts.
- Marinate and sear: Thin chuck steaks, top round, and thin-cut steaks.
- Roast: Whole chicken, bone-in chicken pieces, and turkey breast.
- Simmer: Soup bones, chicken feet, whole chicken, and meat for soups or broth.
- Quick-cook: Liver, thin cutlets, ground meat, and small pieces for stir-fries.
How to Make Inexpensive Meat Go Further
Use meat as part of the meal instead of making it the entire meal. Beans, rice, pasta, potatoes, and vegetables add volume and absorb the meat's flavor. Cook once and plan a second use for the leftovers: roasted chicken can become soup or salad, while chili can become tacos, nachos, or a topping for baked potatoes.
Inexpensive Beef Cuts and Recipes
Chuck and top round respond to different techniques. Braise or slow-cook firm pieces of chuck, or marinate thinner steaks before searing. Slice top round thinly across the grain and cook it quickly to keep it tender.
Pan-Seared Chuck Steak
Chuck steaks vary in tenderness depending on where they are cut from the shoulder. Marinate thinner, well-marbled pieces before searing. Braise thicker or firmer chuck steaks until fork-tender.
Serve with garlic confit mashed potatoes and peas and carrots for a simple, inexpensive steak dinner.
Chuck Pot Roast
Pot roast turns an inexpensive chuck roast into a tender, flavorful dinner. Slow cooking softens the meat and creates rich pan juices. Serve it with potatoes and vegetables, then use the leftover beef for sandwiches or another meal.
Hungarian Goulash
This Hungarian goulash uses chuck roast simmered with sweet paprika, onions, garlic, and potatoes until the beef is tender. It's a hearty, one-pot meal that turns an inexpensive cut of meat into a filling family dinner.
Marinated Chuck Steak
This marinated chuck steak is an easy, budget-friendly dinner with great flavor. The marinade helps tenderize the meat and gives it a nice golden crust in a hot skillet.
How To Cook Thin Ribeye Steaks
Learn how to cook thin-cut rib steaks in a hot pan. This quick approach takes about five minutes and gives you a tender, well-browned steak without using the oven.
Homemade Dirty Rice Recipe
This Cajun dirty rice is a classic one-pot dish from New Orleans. It's made with long-grain white rice, sausage, ground beef, chicken livers, vegetables, and Creole seasoning for a bold, filling meal or side.
Top Round Stir Fry
This stir-fry uses thin slices of top round, an affordable cut that turns tender when marinated and cooked quickly. A sweet, tangy sauce coats the beef and vegetables, and the whole dish comes together fast.
Sirloin and Noodles
Sirloin steak seared with garlic butter mushrooms and served over egg noodles makes a simple, filling dinner. The steak stays juicy, the mushrooms add flavor, and the noodles soak up the sauce.
Grass-Fed Beef Tacos
This grass-fed beef taco recipe comes together in under 30 minutes. Season the meat with a simple homemade blend, simmer it with tomato sauce, and spoon it into crisp taco shells. It's a healthy Taco Night recipe that doesn't cost much and fills everyone up.
Instant Pot Chili
This Instant Pot chili stretches lean ground beef with kidney beans and tomatoes for a filling, protein-rich meal. Top it with cheddar and red onion, then use the leftovers for chili dogs, beef tacos, chili mac, or nachos.
Chuck Steak Chili
This chili uses chuck steak and slow-cooks it with tomatoes and spices until the beef is tender and well seasoned. It's a simple and filling meal.
Beef and Peppers Stir-Fry
This beef stir-fry is a simple take on classic pepper steak. Thin strips of top round marinate in orange juice, coconut aminos, and spices, then cook quickly with bell peppers and onions. It's ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for a fast, filling meal.
Beef Bone Broth
Beef bone broth is made by simmering beef bones for several hours until the broth becomes rich and deeply flavored. The long cook pulls collagen, gelatin, and minerals from the bones.
Lamb Chops When They Are on Sale
Lamb can be expensive, but chops are worth considering when they're on sale. Because they cook quickly and they're very rich, a small package can make a simple dinner for two.
Air Fryer Loin Lamb Chops
Air fryer lamb chops cook quickly and come out golden brown. Seasoned with garlic and herbs, they're a simple, high-protein dinner that's ready in minutes and pair well with low-fat tzatziki on the side.
Pan-Fried Lamb Chops
These pan-fried lamb chops are coated with seasoned panko and fried until crisp outside and juicy inside. Finished with fresh lemon and parsley, they make a quick dinner or appetizer in about 15 minutes.
Ways to Make Chicken Go Further
Chicken goes further when you roast or simmer a whole bird, buy bone-in pieces, and plan a second meal with the cooked meat. Use leftovers in soup, salad, tacos, wraps, or chowder.
Seared Chicken Breast
Pan-sear chicken breasts in a hot cast-iron grill pan on the stovetop. A quick sear gives you juicy, well-browned chicken with a grilled feel, without using the grill.
Serve it as a main dish, slice it for salads and sandwiches, or add it to pasta, wraps, stir-fries, chicken tacos, or bowls.
Chicken Tortilla Wraps
These chicken tortilla wraps are quick to make and packed with protein. Seasoned chicken cooks with peppers and onions, then wraps in almond flour tortillas for an easy, high-protein meal.
Katsu Chicken
Katsu Chicken is a simple Japanese fried chicken breast with a golden, crunchy coating and juicy chicken inside. Serve it with rice and tonkatsu sauce (Japanese BBQ sauce) for a quick, easy dinner.
Chicken Salad with Grapes
Chicken salad with grapes is a cold, creamy mix of savory and sweet. It combines cooked chicken, chopped almonds, and juicy seedless grapes. Serve it on a bed of lettuce or as a sandwich.
You can make it with poached boneless breasts, boneless chicken thighs, leftover rotisserie chicken, or even leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
Deli-Style Chicken Salad
This homemade deli-style chicken salad is based on the kind you'd find at a New York deli. It starts with poached chicken, real mayonnaise, and crisp celery, mixed just enough to hold together.
For more ideas, check out our series of tasty New York deli-style recipes.
Chicken Feet Soup
Chicken feet soup is made by slowly simmering chicken feet with herbs and spices to create a rich, full-bodied broth. The long cook time pulls out collagen, giving it a naturally thick, silky texture.
Grandma Chicken Soup
This classic chicken soup is made the old-fashioned way. Start with a whole chicken or a few pounds of chicken parts, then simmer with carrots, celery, onion, and simple seasonings.
Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken Soup
This pressure cooker whole chicken soup turns a chicken into a protein-rich meal in under an hour. Cook it in the Instant Pot, then crisp the chicken skin in a skillet and serve it on the side.
Cuban Chicken Tacos
These Cuban chicken tacos feature chicken marinated in a garlicky lime-and-orange mojo, then grilled and served in warm tortillas. Use chicken thighs or drumsticks for a juicy, protein-rich meal that costs less.
Key West Chicken Tacos
These Key West Chicken Tacos combine juicy blackened chicken, warm tortillas, and chunky guacamole. They're a bold, protein-rich dinner that comes together quickly.
Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder
Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder is a one-pot soup made with chicken, sweet corn, potatoes, bacon, vegetables, and cream. It is easy to meal prep and filling enough to serve as a full meal for lunch or dinner.
Lemon Basil Chicken
Buying a whole chicken usually costs less than buying just the breasts and gives you more meals. This roasted chicken is seasoned with lemon, garlic, and basil and comes out full of flavor without much effort. Serve with Steamed Broccoli and Carrots and a Mixed Garden Salad for a great meal.
Pan-Fried Panko Chicken Strips
These panko chicken strips are coated in flour, egg, and light, airy breadcrumbs, then pan-fried until golden and crunchy. They cook in about 20 minutes and stay tender and juicy inside. Serve them for dinner with a simple side or as an appetizer with honey mustard dipping sauce.
Crispy Chicken Nuggets
These pan-fried chicken nuggets are crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Made with simple ingredients and cooked in a skillet, they're an easy dinner or snack that pairs perfectly with homemade dipping sauces.
Chicken Fajitas
Marinated chicken, sautéed peppers, and onions come together fast in a hot skillet for an easy Tex-Mex dinner. Serve with warm tortillas, guacamole, and pico de gallo.
Fried Chicken Cutlets
Fried chicken cutlets are thin, golden, and full of flavor with a crisp breadcrumb coating and juicy center. Serve them with salad, pasta, sandwiches, or dipping sauces for an easy homemade dinner.
Inexpensive Organ Meat Recipes
Liver is one of the most affordable parts you can buy, and it's been used in home cooking for generations. It's rich in iron and other nutrients, making it a smart choice when you want something both filling and nourishing.
Chicken Livers with Onions
Chicken livers are usually among the least expensive options at the meat counter.
They have a mild flavor and cook quickly, making them easy to work into simple meals. If you're looking for a nutrient-dense option that won't cost much, chicken livers are a solid choice.
Deli-Style Chopped Chicken Liver
This deli-style chopped liver spread is rich and creamy with deep, savory flavor. It's made with chicken livers, slowly sautéed onions, hard-boiled eggs, and a bit of apple.
Serve it chilled with crackers, spooned onto lettuce, or piled onto fresh rye bread for an appetizer or simple lunch.
Beef and Chicken Chopped Liver
This chopped liver combines beef and chicken livers for a rich, balanced flavor. Adding a small amount of beef liver increases the iron content. Slow-cooked onions and a generous amount of salt bring it together into a classic deli-style spread.
Pan-Fried Veal Liver
Learn how to cook veal liver so it turns out tender and full of flavor. This simple recipe uses calf's liver and caramelized onions for a lighter take on classic liver and onions. It's a good place to start if you're new to cooking liver or want a more reliable way to make it.
Chopped Turkey Livers
Chopped turkey liver is old-fashioned comfort food. Cook the liver, along with hearts and gizzards, with onions, mix it with hard-cooked eggs, and mash it into a rich spread.
Baked Beef Liver
Beef liver and onions is a classic, high-protein dinner that's simple and filling. The liver is smothered in sweet onions and tastes great!
Southern FRIED CHICKEN LIVERS
Pan-fried chicken livers have a crunchy panko crust and tender centers. Serve them hot with a squeeze of lemon and your favorite dipping sauce for a southern-style meal with a little extra crunch.
Ways to Make Turkey Go Further
Turkey is a lean, versatile option that works well for both quick meals and meal prep. Cutlets cook in minutes, while a turkey breast provides enough meat for dinner and leftovers. Look for holiday sales and freeze what you don't need.
Butterball Turkey Breast Roast
This Butterball turkey breast roast is an affordable, easy alternative to cooking a whole turkey. You can roast it from frozen or thawed, and it comes with a gravy packet for an effortless meal. A three-pound roast serves about four people, with leftovers for sandwiches, salads, or soup.
Pan-Fried Turkey Cutlets
These gluten-free turkey cutlets are coated with seasoned almond flour and pan-fried until golden and crisp. They cook in about 10 minutes and stay tender and juicy inside, making them an easy option for a quick weeknight dinner.
Turkey Salad with Cranberries
This creamy turkey salad combines cooked turkey breast with celery, red onion, dried cranberries, fresh herbs, and sliced almonds. It's a simple way to turn leftover turkey into another meal. Serve it in sandwiches, wraps, lettuce cups, or over mixed greens.
More Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget
Here are a few more recipes that taste good and don't cost much:
Vegetables also help stretch your meals. Ounce for ounce, they cost less than most meats and add flavor and nutrients to the plate.
Boil cabbage, steam potatoes, or roast spaghetti squash for a simple side. If you haven't tried pasta with roasted cauliflower or baked Brussels sprouts, they're worth it.
See the roasted veggie recipes for more ideas.
Prices may be high right now, but you can still eat well by choosing the right ingredients and keeping things simple.
For more steak ideas, see Easy Steak Recipes for Dinner.
Inexpensive Meat Recipes FAQ
Chuck, top round, beef shank, and soup bones are often economical choices, although prices vary by store and season. Braise firm chuck or shank until tender. Marinate top round, slice it thinly across the grain, and cook it quickly.
Cook tougher cuts low and slow to soften connective tissue, or slice them thinly across the grain and cook them quickly. Both approaches make the meat easier to chew and help it stay tender.
A whole chicken usually costs less than buying individual parts and gives you more meals. Roast it for dinner, then use the leftovers for soup, salads, or wraps.
Use vegetables, rice, or pasta to fill out the plate. Stir-fries, soups, tacos, and noodle dishes use less meat per serving but still feel like a full meal.
Yes. Organ meats like liver and heart are among the least expensive items at the meat counter. They're nutrient-rich and work well in simple dishes like chopped liver and other traditional recipes.
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