13 Budget-Friendly Heart-Healthy Meals

By Candace Braun Zafirellis
Published 1/23/2025
13 Budget-Friendly Heart-Healthy Meals
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

You may think cooking heart healthy meals at home means spending a fortune on fancy ingredients. But these 13 budget-friendly heart-healthy meals prove it’s easy to cook healthy recipes while still saving money. 

Whether you’re craving comforting pasta, spicy chili or an easy one-pot meal, these affordable healthy recipes show you how to eat on a budget and take care of your heart at the same time. These homemade heart healthy meals use fresh in-season vegetables, economic lean proteins that are frequently on sale, and bold seasonings.

Save money at the grocery store while staying good to your heart. Try these 13 affordable recipes that support a heart healthy diet while keeping the grocery bill low.

Here are 13 Heart-Healthy Recipes to Make on a Budget:

  1. Heart Healthy Beef Chili
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    75 mins

    This chili is made with canned beans and tomatoes, both affordable staples you can easily stock up on when they're on sale. It's the best healthy meal to make when you want a dish that’s hearty, nutritious and budget friendly, with plenty of leftovers!

  2. Heart Healthy Vegetable Baked Ziti
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    120 mins

    When you need to feed a crowd or a large family on a budget, make this vegetable baked ziti. Using simple vegetables and multigrain pasta, this is an affordable healthy recipe that tastes like a dish from a fine dining restaurant.

  3. Heart Healthy Mediterranean Chicken and Zucchini
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    60 mins

    With just chicken, zucchini and a few pantry seasonings, this Mediterranean dish is both affordable and flavorful. It's a simple way to enjoy a gourmet meal while keeping costs low.

  4. Heart Healthy Spaghetti and Roasted Vegetables
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    45 mins

    For a healthy and inexpensive meal that’s easy to make without breaking the bank, this dish of whole grain spaghetti and seasonal vegetables hits the mark. It uses simple ingredients to create a heart healthy pasta dish.

  5. Heart Healthy Chicken Casserole
    Photo Credit: Shutterstock
    45 mins

    This casserole recipe stretches the dollar by only using minimal chicken but tons of healthy vegetables flavored in a creamy sauce. This comfort food is an affordable healthy recipe for families to enjoy. 

  6. Heart Healthy Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    90 mins

    By replacing traditional lasagna noodles with zucchini slices, this recipe saves money while staying low carb. Using inexpensive, heart-friendly ingredients like ground lean turkey and tomatoes makes it a great budget-friendly choice.

  7. Heart Healthy Vegetarian Sloppy Joes
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    30 mins

    Substituting meat with low-cost beans and vegetables makes this sloppy joe recipe both inexpensive and heart healthy. It’s a filling meal that’s easy to prepare with budget-friendly pantry staples.

  8. Heart Healthy Beef Tacos
    Photo Credit: Shutterstock
    30 mins

    Lean ground beef combined with simple and inexpensive toppings like lettuce, tomatoes and salsa makes this the perfect meal to pull together quickly on a busy weeknight.

  9. Heart Healthy Balsamic Chicken
    Photo Credit: Getty Images
    45 mins

    A simple balsamic marinade transforms affordable chicken breasts into a flavorful dish that’s good for your heart. With just a few pantry staples, this healthy chicken recipe delivers a budget-friendly gourmet experience.

  10. Heart Healthy Meatloaf
    Photo Credit: Adobe Stock
    75 mins

    Lean ground beef and pantry staples like breadcrumbs and eggs create an economical yet protein-packed meal. The vegetables and oats in the recipe turns a classic comfort food into a heart healthy dinner.

  11. Heart Healthy Creamy Bow-Tie Pasta
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    30 mins

    To enjoy comfort food without overspending, make this pasta dish that uses healthy whole grain pasta and inexpensive frozen vegetables to keep costs low while adding essential nutrients for heart health.

  12. Healthy Beef and Bean Enchiladas
    Photo Credit: Adobe Firefly
    45 mins

    By combining lean ground beef with beans, this recipe stretches the protein in this dish while staying flavorful and filling. These enchiladas are a delicious way to end the day while still supporting your heart.

  13. Heart Healthy Eggplant Chickpea Stew
    Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer
    105 mins

    Eggplant and chickpeas are affordable ingredients that create a hearty, flavorful stew without pricey proteins. This dish is our best budget-friendly meal that leaves you feeling satisfied and nourished.

Healthy Recipes on a Budget

Eating budget-friendly meals doesn’t have to mean eating cereal for dinner each night. Packed with heart-healthy ingredients and bold flavors, these 13 budget-friendly heart-healthy recipes prove that eating well on a budget can be delicious, satisfying and simple.

So keep your wallet, taste buds and heart happy by making one of these affordable healthy recipes every night of the week!

Looking for more meal ideas? Eat healthy on a budget with these affordable meal ideas.

Craving fast food but trying to watch your spending? Here are cheap and easy copycat fast food recipes.

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