There are a lot of reasons we reach for fast food. It’s tasty, it’s filling, and of course; it’s fast! We all know it’s not the healthiest option we could choose, but as a treat, that’s fine! You can’t argue with the convenience of a fast food favourite like a Big Mac. But, if you could make something just as tasty, that’s healthier and cheaper, why wouldn’t you?
We’ve rounded up some of the best dishes you can make at home for around the same price as a large Big Mac meal. The best bit is, they all feed at least four people, and we reckon they’re tasty enough to be worth the effort of cooking.
Before we get stuck in, a quick disclaimer: We’ve used the price of a large Big Mac meal – £5.09 – for comparison here, and our prices per portion are based on a shop at Tesco at the time of writing.
Sloppy Joes
A staple of American-style burger joints, Sloppy Joes are a pretty much as the name suggests, and tasty with it. To make them yourself, simply fry off an onion, red pepper and garlic in a little oil, then add about 400g of beef mince, some chopped tomatoes and chipotle or barbecue sauce. Top with slices of cheese, and then pile the mixture into burger buns to serve.
Get the full recipe from BBC Good Food here.
Serves 6, at £1.22 per portion.
Salmon fishcakes
Salmon is a great ingredient to get into your diet if you can. Its fishy flavour may be off-putting for some, but who can say no to a fishcake? Prepare about 600g of mashed potatoes, then mix it with 360g of tinned salmon and 50g of frozen peas. Season with salt and pepper, lemon zest and any herbs you want to add, then shape into patties about 2cm thick. Give them a quick dip in egg and flour (egg first!), then fry them for a few minutes on each side until they’re crispy and golden. Delicious!
If you don’t like salmon, you could switch it for any other fish you like and it’ll be just as tasty.
Jamie Oliver has the full recipe.
Serves 4, at £1.44 per portion.
Related: We ask pro chefs which ingredients can afford to be cheap
Chicken curry
Curry is a national favourite. This mammoth curry feeds a whopping 8 people, so if you can resist going back for seconds you’ll definitely have leftovers for another meal. Marinate chicken thighs in a garlic, ginger and masala yoghurt paste overnight. When you’re ready to cook, bake them in the oven while you make the sauce with onions, coriander, more spices, passata, yoghurt and coconut cream. When the chicken is cooked, mix it into the sauce and serve with a generous helping of rice.
Serves 8, at £0.82 per portion
Frittata
For a light meal at any time of the day, it’s hard to beat a protein-packed frittata. You can throw in whatever ingredients you have lying around. Make it more filling with potatoes, pack it with mushrooms and peppers, or even throw in some meat. Top it with cheese and finish under the grill for a tasty, healthy meal.
We love this bacon and cheddar frittata.
It serves 4, for just £0.42 per portion!
Pasta bake
It’s hard to go wrong with a pasta bake. It’s another great dish where you can more or less throw in anything you have lying around. From creamy concoctions to tomato taste explosions, the world is your oyster. Plus, you can prepare the different parts ahead of time and just throw it in the oven when you’re ready for a speedy supper.
We love this ham, chorizo and pepper lasagne that tastes more like a pizza than a pasta bake! You can customise it, too. Swap lasagne sheets for a different kind of pasta or throw in some extra veggies. You could even make your own sauces instead of using jars!
Serves 4, at £1.83 per portion.
Do any of these tickle your tastebuds more than a Big Mac?
