Whānau meals made easy: delicious, affordable and cooked with gas

With a little planning and seasonal ingredients feeding your family hearty, home-cooked meals doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The hardest part? Finding fresh inspiration. So, we’ve done the work for you! These budget-friendly recipes from your favourite New Zealand supermarkets make the most of fresh, affordable produce—and they’re all easy to cook over gas.

PAK’nSAVE

PAK’nSAVE knows that affordable, tasty meals start with seasonal ingredients—so they’ve put together a whole range of budget-friendly recipes, plus handy tips on making the most of leftovers, cooking with mince, or whipping up quick and easy dinners.

Here are some of our top picks for affordable family meals:

• Super simple vege nachos – Easy, nutritious and delicious.
• Cottage pie – An oven-baked favourite made with mince and fluffy mashed potatoes.
• Crispy chicken burger – A crunchy, golden chicken burger that’s easy to make at home.

 

New World

New World’s Seasonal Meal Plans are designed around fresh produce available that season—helping you save money while serving up five delicious family dinners each week. You can even add all the ingredients to your trolley in one click for a no-fuss shop.

Check out some of our favourite budget-friendly recipes from the Autumn Meal Plan:

• Nom nom nachos – With nutritious kūmara instead of corn chips, this vegetarian dish will be a new family fave.
• Spanish-style meatballs – Flavour-packed meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, best served with rice or pasta.
• Easy chicken curry–A mild, family-friendly curry that’s quick to cook and full of flavour.

Woolworths/Countdown

Woolworths has a range of Budget-Friendly Dinners that might just make you forget about Friday night takeaways! Even better, their online recipes let you ‘add items to trolley’, so you can check prices ahead of time and get everything delivered or collected at a time that suits your whānau.

Here are a few of our top picks:

• Chinese chicken stir-fry – A quick and easy meal with tender chicken and crunchy vegetables.
• Cheesy sausage bake – Comfort food at its finest, with a golden, cheesy crust.
• Veggie fried rice – A veggie-filled classic with a spicy kick. 

With the right recipes, a little planning, and the instant heat of gas cooking, affordable family dinners have never been easier. Try these supermarket-approved meals and see just how tasty budget-friendly can be!