When you’re on a budget, eating out isn’t exactly a part of your menu. Rather than constantly rain-checking on dinner plans, here are some easy & cheap recipes for you to make for your vinas:

PESTO CHEESE LINGUINI

Start by cooking your favorite linguini or pasta (my fav is spinach and chive linguine from Trader Joe’s), enough for 2-2 people. then add:

• 2 tbs of butter
• 2/3 cup of heavy cream
• 3-4 tbs of pesto sauce (or more for taste)
• 1& 1/2 cups of parmesan cheese (again, more or less to your liking)
• 1 bunch of broccoli- trim off the tops (should look like confetti)

Mix all of these ingredients in with the pasta with the heat on low until everything is melted. Put it in a bowl and enjoy!

GUACAMOLE

Might not sound like an entire meal, but add some rice and black beans on the side, and this guac is guaranteed to fill you up! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 avocados
• 1/2 cup of sweet corn (fresh)
• 1 cup of diced tomatoes (more/less to your liking)
• 1/4 cup of red onion
• 2 limes
• 2 tsp of salt

Grab some chips and you have a healthy meal. Have some left over? Squeeze some extra lime and place the avocado seed in the center of the bowl. Cover with plastic, and the guacamole shouldn’t be brown the next day.

SHRIMP SALAD

Don’t read shrimp and get intimidated-–this is a delicious way to get your hands dirty. Get yourself about a pound of shrimp (feeds 2-3 people), peel, and rinse them. In a large sauce pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Add 1/2 cup of white onion, and 2 cloves of garlic. Sprinkle in some paprika, black pepper, and cumin. After 2 minutes, add the shrimp. When one side is pinkish, flip the shrimp until the other side is, too (about 2-3 minutes per side- longer if you like it crispy).

In another pan, head sunflower oil (or whatever oil you have in your cabinet). Sauté 2 cups of spinach, half of a yellow bell pepper, and half of a red one. Add some tomatoes and onions if you’d like. Throw all that on a plate and top it off with your shrimp. Dinner is served.

Stop bailing on your vinas and invite them over for dinner. Have any other easy recipes? Let us know or post the link in the comments! 

(Feature image via Pinterest)