Low Budget Nigerian Meals

February 14, 2022
Chef Chidi
Low Budget Foods

These are low-budget Nigerian meals that anyone could make without breaking the bank.

So what if I am operating on a low budget or a student and looking only to stay within my weekly allowances, what are the foods anyone could afford in Nigeria?

I get lots of questions about cheap and affordable foods for the everyday Nigerian, here we go.

Foods are part of the basic need of every human being, and learning about some of the healthy foods that could be made with little money can be a lifesaver.

What are Low-budget Foods

These are foods that wouldn’t cost you much money to prepare.

Also, they must be healthy foods, as I don’t think coke and buns should be on this list. πŸ˜€

They must be homemade too and not store-bought. Also, you save over 65% in cost when you make your own foods instead of eating out.

Below are the 11 top low budget Nigerian foods that are also easy to prepare.

1. Moi Moi (Beans Pudding)

Moi moi recipe

Moi moi is made from beans and can be served with pap or custard. You don’t need much for this recipe, 3 cups of beans, crayfish, seasoning, eggs etc. Just about 2000 naira would make enough moi moi for 6 persons.

2. Akara and Pap

Akara Beans cake

We also make akara from beans, this is another low-budget Nigerian food that anyone can try at home.

I make it with just three cheap ingredients – beans, salt, and vegetable oil. The onion and peppers are optional.

Akara should cost about 1000 naira to make, that is if you have vegetable oil at home. πŸ˜€

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3. Okro Soup and Eba

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Lots of people don’t actually know this, but okro soup is one of the cheapest to make in Nigeria.

Once you can lay your hands on fresh okro, with some meat, crayfish, and seasoning, you will have a delicious pot of okro soup.Β 

2000 Naira would make Okro soup for a family of six.

4. Noodles

Indomie Noodles

Noodles are affordable and easy to make.

Since they come packed with all the necessary ingredients, they serve as a great option for students.

Four large-sized noodle packs that would cost about 1200 naira should serve a family of six.

You can add eggs and vegetables and still not break the bank.

5. Low Budget Yam Recipes

Yam recipe

Most yam recipe are affordable and easy to prepare.Β 

Depending on where you live in Nigeria, you can pay between 500-1500 naira for a tuber of yam.

Then you need just some crayfish, palm oil salt and stock cubes to turn your tuber of yam into porridge.

6. Tea and Bread

Nigerian breakfast Recipe

This tea and bread combination is very popular among students and low-income earners.Β 

Sometimes we add butter, fried eggs, or tomato stew in between the bread.

It can also be plain sliced bread and a cup of tea.

Either way, it is a popular low-budget Nigerian food.

7. Low Budget Porridge beans

Porridge Beans

Beans used to be the cheapest staple food in Nigeria, even with the current rate of things, it remains affordable,

and making it one of the low-budget food for Nigerian families and students alike.

In my home, it’s either paired with fried ripe plantain or cubed sweet potatoes.

8. Fried Yam and Sauce

You find the image at the top of this page.Β 

Fried yam or yam chips can be served with either tomato sauce or ketchup.

It can be served as lunch, breakfast, or dinner.

Since yam tubers are generally affordable in Nigeria, most yam recipes are considered low-budget foods

9. White Rice and Stew

With just about 5000 naira, you can make white rice and stew for a family of six.

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10. Spaghetti Jollof

Spaghetti

A pack of spaghetti is just 400 naira today. You will also need some tomatoes, vegetables (carrots and green beans).

You can use meat, fish, or just corned beef.Β 

With 2000 naira, you should be able to make a pot of spaghetti jollof.

11. Plantain Porridge

Low budget plantain porridge

Plantains are affordable at certain seasons in Nigeria. You can fry them, roast them or turn them into porridge.

Remember, bulk buying saves you a lot of money too. Buying a bunch of plantains is considerably cheaper than buying from retailers.

You can also save a lot of much by avoiding the street markets, going to major markets helps you save more.

There are more low-budgetΒ Nigerian foods. You can add your own using the comment form below.

See Popular Nigerian food name and pictures

More Nigerian Recipes and Cookbooks

Try this Cheap Achi Soup

36 Comments

Olivia Jamok
Reply

Hmmm
This food na for big people o.
Non of this foods are cheap πŸ€·πŸΌβ€β™€οΈ
Including the bread and tea sef πŸ™„

August 9, 2024
Chef Chidi
Reply

Lol. Still cheaper than others.

August 21, 2024
Alfred Otache
Reply

I love this article, it’s helpful. Just that the amount you listed to feed a family of six in most food may only feed a family of two if not one in this present day. Would be better if there’s a substitute for most of the food we eat that has skyrocketed in prices. For me, I prepare tea or pap with soya beans instead of milk. I make pancakes instead of buying breads and a few more. If you are a student like me, you wouldn’t want to spend today and stare at your ceiling with an empty stomach, empty store and heartbreak tomorrow πŸ€§πŸ˜‚

June 28, 2024
Olowolafe Funmilola
Reply

With the situation in Nigeria now 2000 can only cook eba with okro with no fish

March 18, 2024
Chef Chidi
Reply

Lolzz

March 22, 2024
Eyo
Reply

One cup of beans is now #350. One packet of spaghetti is now #1300-1500. This dishes are not cheap now a days.

May 25, 2024
Elizabeth
Reply

Madam is like u will come back and repost northern food as low budget, considering the time being now ,all these your low budget no join at all

February 23, 2024
Chef Chidi
Reply

Lol.

March 8, 2024
Lolade Adeshina
Reply

Funny u

November 22, 2023
Nkechi
Reply

I really appreciate the good work you are doing , your labor of love will not go unrewarded.

September 20, 2023
Helen Chima
Reply

Thanks for this chef, this is helpful you need to update the price of spaghetti.

September 16, 2023
Chef Chidi
Reply

Lol. Thanks,willdo that.

September 18, 2023
Chinwe Okafor
Reply

Thanks πŸ‘ alot

November 14, 2023
Chiamaka
Reply

2000 for rice and stew ?
5cups of local rice go take the 2k so …

September 7, 2023
Chef Chidi
Reply

Lol. You can make 2 cups, yes?

September 13, 2023
Jay
Reply

πŸ˜…πŸ˜…πŸ˜… let’s talk about now

February 22, 2024
Dahra
Reply

Update your blog, spaghetti na 500 now oπŸ₯²

July 9, 2023
Chef Chidi
Reply

Lol. You are very correct.

July 10, 2023
Judith
Reply

One derica of rice don chop half of the money already πŸ€¦πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
Spaghetti is not even considering the fact that I’m just a student πŸ€¦πŸ»β€β™€οΈπŸ€¦πŸ»β€β™€οΈ las las I’ll settle for garri and sugar

September 4, 2023
Folorunsho Feranmi
Reply

Abi I o🀣wetin I even find come this topic sef

August 5, 2023
Meearah
Reply

500 ko…na 600πŸ˜”πŸ˜”

August 26, 2023
Amarachi
Reply

It is #700 now πŸ₯²

October 24, 2023
Mie
Reply

Spaghetti is now 1200 πŸ˜‚πŸ˜ͺ

May 13, 2024
Ezekiel
Reply

Yes, all these list of food are actually good, but some are even very expensive for students and the price of raw materials and food stuffs in Nigeria is getting higher and higher 😒

June 25, 2023
Milicent
Reply

I guess the cheapest Nigerian food anyone can prepare any day is beans and its ofsprings – moi moi, akara etc. The thing is that lots of people don’t like beans, even the people that love beans still need other foods to make dietary sense.

May 17, 2023
Olu
Reply

Beans is especially cheap, 1k can make a pot of porridge beans. Serve with pap or bread.

May 17, 2023
kife
Reply

Balancing income and expenditure are serious issue now, thanks for sharing low budget food ideas, not the mention the ever-skyrocketing price of food stuff.
Chicken is now 2200 per kg, chimo!

May 17, 2023
Chef Anyim
Reply

I have learned to cut down on meat and fish. Too much meat no kuku good for body sef, learning to stay on budget is vital to the survival of Nigerian home. Feeding a family cost a lot of many. Truth is, you can make a pot of soup with 2000 naira, you can also do it with 10000 naira. Last night I made a big pot of soup using 1500 naira cow meat and small roasted fish, surprisingly, it turned out perfect, only that everyone gets one meat only. lol.

Normally, we use chicken of about 4500.

May 14, 2023
Elena
Reply

It’s really helpful, Learning about foods that one can prepare with little money.

May 13, 2023
Amaka Anyi
Reply

Timely article, now that price of goods are taking new heights. I just started forcing beans on my family! Lol. Beans is great nutrition wise but we all hate it. My kids are now learning to enjoy it. 1k can make a large pot of porridge beans for the family, I can’t think of anything else. Porridge yam is good too.

October 11, 2022
Onyi
Reply

Thanks for the articles, can you also make a list of cheap foods one can try in the morning or afternoon. We spend so much money on milk for tea this days. Imagine a sack of milk is now over 3k, break is around 1k in my state. It used to be 500 naira. Pls help us before person go village o.

October 11, 2022
EMEKA
Reply

I tell you, prices of commodities are skyrocketing

March 13, 2023
Dera
Reply

This article is helpful. Thanks

October 5, 2022
Khalillah Bello
Reply

The cooking method re amazing! I am going to try some of these low-money foods. thanks

June 12, 2022
Rahmat
Reply

It is nice. Ur cooking book has helped me a lot

March 29, 2022
Chinny damian
Reply

I love this,well done

March 15, 2022

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Feedback

Omg! Chef, I love u so much, God bless d day I came across dis site,u make me wanna eat every time and try all recipes,Have tried d fried rice,mashed chicken porridge,indomie and I am trying d beans 2nyt, U re Jst Awesome,Tnks 4 impacting so much knowledge God bless you, but I still need u 2 teach us how 2 mk friut juice ,nd spagetti bolognese! LOL.