10 Good "Cheap Meals" Even the Rich Will Beg for Seconds

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Imagine you’re filthy rich: a sea-view mansion with a Tesla parked in your driveway. Amidst all the luxury, you can’t help but find yourself at the kitchen counter, reaching for your all-time favorite mashed potatoes. A mouthful you back to when you barely managed to pay student loans. Some things never change, and food choices might be one of them. Here are 10 meals you might not stop eating even when you could have Michelin-star food at a whim.

1. Peanut Butter & Jelly

As one person mentioned, PB&J is a classic. Why limit it to breakfast when you can practically have it at any time of the day? Feeling snackish at midnight? You know what to do. Want something light but fun for lunch? PB&J is the way to go.

2. Rice and Beans

According to many people, rice and beans are the go-to food combo. One kind fellow even shared their secret recipe: add onions, black pepper, turmeric, curry, red pepper, and cooking oil to your almost-ready beans.

3. Empanadas

Several folks voiced their love for empanadas. There’s just so much you can do with them. Get some dough and load it up with veggies of your choice (mine are black beans and corn). Bake it up and enjoy!

4. Cinnamon Toast

Someone gave away the best possible way to make yourself a delicious cinnamon toast (and no, we’re not talking about the notorious cereal). Add some butter and cinnamon sugar blend to your warm toast and cut it up into strips. Always keep a cinnamon sugar blend in your pantry.

5. Malt-O-Meal Cereal

Now, this one might cause contention with Cinnamon Toast Crunch fans but hear me out. So many people swear by the Malt-O-Meal Cinnamon Toasters for all the right reasons. One, it’s budget-friendly. Two, it’s less likely to get soggy due to its hard texture, and we know that soggy cereal is a no-no.

6. Pierogi

Pierogi are essentially potato dumplings, but you can spice things up (literally) and add tons of flavor. Feel free to use alternative veggies like mushrooms or even fruits if you want something sweet. I’d say it’s best to think of pierogi as a blank slate for your culinary creativity.

7. Cheap Instant Noodles

There’s barely a college student who didn’t cook up some instant ramen in their dorm to survive through a taxing exam season. But what’s really odd is that no matter how many times you make some instant noodles, you don’t get bored of them. And if you are feeling adventurous, someone recommended going for expensive instant noodles instead.

8. Potatoes

Potatoes are such a glorious oddity. You can think of them as a template and customize things however you want. Play around with the flavor and technique till you stumble upon something you enjoy. One person described how you could mash or bake them and even put them in a stew.

9. Kraft Mac and Cheese

I’d put it in a similar category to instant noodles in terms of convenience and taste. As a user pointed out, you’d just keep eating more and more of it. Someone said to mix Kraft Mac and Cheese with Hormel Chilli for the ideal comfort food. Season it with whatever tickles your fancy, and there you have it! Now, it’s not the healthiest food out there, but there’s no harm in toning down the guilt by throwing in a few veggies.

10. Pupusas

A little Salvadorean exposure will tell you how much of a favorite pupusas are. Super delicious and easy to make. Many folks swear by them as their comfort food. And, of course, as someone mentioned, you must have them with a side of curtido / pickled coleslaw.