In my ideal world I would buy groceries without any regard for price. I would buy only the highest quality products and I would happily pay for exotic (read: expensive) ingredients. In reality, I’m a lot more careful. A grocery budget can quickly spin out of control, and while coupons and sales are great ways to save money, it also pays to focus on recipes that are inherently frugal. But that doesn’t mean a life of rice and beans. Thanks to some savvy bloggers, you can eat like a foodie on the cheap.

10 Frugal Cooking Blogs to Keep You on Budget

• Budget Bytes: It’s hard to go wrong with Budget Bytes. Beth Moncel has a real knack for spinning gold out of inexpensive ingredients, and she lays out the price of each dish right down to the penny. What I especially like about these recipes is that they all lend themselves to substitutions and experimentation. Nothing is precious or fussy. Our most recent favorite: Stir Fry Beef Noodles.

• Good Cheap Eats: Jessica Fisher is able to feed her family of eight (!!) without going bankrupt. Need I say more? We’re not talking sad casseroles or endless batches of lentil soup, either. Some recent offerings include Samosa Cups and Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Mushrooms and Olives.

• 5 Dollar Dinners: This site has just about everything: recipes, meals plans, tutorials, and coupon deals. The recipes are accessible even for inexperienced cooks, and it’s all very kid-friendly.  If you’re blowing your budget on energy bars, try these No Bake Chia Cherry Cashew Energy Bites.

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  No Bake Chia Cherry Cashew Energy Bites from 5 Dollar Dinners.

  Cheap Recipe Blog: This blog delivers on its name, with recipes that range from comfort food to dishes that are downright elegant. It’s an especially good choice if you’re eating paleo or following the Whole 30 diet. And even if you’re not, you’ll probably want to make these Salami Crackers.

• Frugal Hausfrau: Gorgeous photos make these recipes hard to resist. I will happily cop to being cheap if I get to dine on dishes like Guinness and Onion Soup with a Cheddar Crouton.

• Cooking with Trader Joe’s: There’s no shame in using some prepared ingredients to get dinner on the table. I figure anything that prevents you from ordering take-out is always going to be better for both you and your wallet. That’s what I like about Cooking with Trader Joe’s, which features recipes using Trader Joe’s products (although most are also adaptable to other brands). This Thai Potsticker Soup, made with frozen potstickers and red curry sauce, is tasty and wholesome.

• Skinnytaste: Okay, this is not technically a frugal recipe blog, but you won’t find any recipes here with a million different ingredients that you have to hunt down in specialty stores. It’s simple, seasonal fare that happens to be both delicious and healthful. My family loves these Asian Turkey Meatballs with Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce.

• Eating from the Ground Up: Alana Chernila is a renaissance woman who teaches readers how to replace popular processed foods with much tastier homemade versions, along with a whole host of other delicious goodies. Is there any reason not to make these Rhubarb Pop Tarts? I certainly can’t think of one.

• Hillbilly Housewife: The Hillbilly Housewife offers nice basic recipes, as well as handy homemaking tips. Anyone who’s looking to save money will appreciate these recipes, but this is an especially great blog for someone who is just starting out in the kitchen. This Beginner’s Bread is the perfect starter recipe for someone who wants to learn how to work with yeast doughs.

• The Frugal Foodie Mama: This is a nice balance of cute kid food and more sophisticated dishes. You can find recipes like Rainbow Sprinkle-fetti Cookies, but you can also make dinner party fare like Coffee Tenderloin Steaks with Scallop Tarragon Sauce.

What are you using for frugal cooking inspiration?