Meal Prep On A Budget - How To Budget Meal Prep ($3.50/meal)

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

pesto sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade pesto

💰Cheaper: store-bought basil sauce

Homemade pesto can be fresher and lower in preservatives.

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, chopped basil, salt, and black pepper.

Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.

Form the mixture into meatballs, about the size of a golf ball.

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sear the meatballs until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Transfer the meatballs to a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.

In the same skillet, add pesto sauce and a splash of pasta cooking water; stir to combine.

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat with the pesto sauce.

Add halved cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach to the pasta; cook for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts.

Serve the pesto pasta topped with the baked chicken meatballs and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level:

Allergens