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Easy Cheap Meals for Backpackers

You can’t always eat out at restaurants while you’re travelling. After all, money isn’t made on trees – especially for us backpackers. That’s why it’s important that you’re able to make cheap easy meals on the go. Whether you’re camping in WA or hostel hopping up the East Coast of Australia, having the ability to whip up easy cheap food is super important to you and your holiday budget.

Of course, logistics can be an issue. Sometimes, you simply don’t have access to the kitchen equipment and ingredients you need. Some hostels might only have hobs and microwaves and no ovens, and camping utensils can become bothersome to lug around. That’s why I’ve curated the top 4 recipes for easy cheap meals that will keep you going while you’re travelling through Australia. They’re not only quick and cheap to make, but also easy to create, no matter where you are in Australia.

Easy Cheap Meals

1. Tuna Pasta

Tuna pasta is filling, cheap and simple; making it the perfect travelling meal! Plus, is can be eaten hot or cold. Most hostels will have olive oil and pepper stocked in their kitchen, so your shopping list for this recipe isn’t too large.

Ingredients:

  • 400g penne pasta (or whatever pasta you have)
  • 4 tbls pesto
  • 1 large can tuna in olive oil
  • 2 tbls olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves (so some garlic paste)
  • Cracked black pepper
  • Your favourite cheese

Method:

  • Boil the pasta, before adding everything else (apart from the cheese) to the pan until browned.
  • Top off with your fave grated cheese!

Don’t have access to a stove? Whip up a tuna salad instead! Literally all you need is a large bowl, tuna, pesto, a mixed pack of salad and a spoon to mix it all together. Done!

easy cheap meals tuna pasta
Spaghetti with Tuna by thebittenword.comlicense

2. Chilli Tacos

Want to know a great way to add a kick of flavour to any dish on the road? Chilli! Picking up a can of chilli mix and adding it to your meals is a great way to achieve full flavour with minimal effort. Making some spicy tacos while you’re travelling is great because you don’t have to do much cooking, just mostly chopping! Just combine some fresh veggies,  a can of beans and the chilli mix,  and top off your tacos with whatever veggies look the freshest at the supermarket.

Ingredients:

  • Can of mixed beans (drained and rinsed)
  • Small onion (diced)
  • 1 clove garlic (crushed)
  • 2 tomatoes (diced)
  • 1 tspn. Chilli mix (or more if you’re brave)
  • Olive oil (for cooking)

If there are herbs and spices in the hostel kitchen then lookout for ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric and paprika and add a pinch of each of those too!

Method:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, then sauté the onion and garlic.
  2. Add the Chilli mix and other spices, then mix through.
  3. Add the tomatoes and beans, then continue cooking until the beans soften and the tomato is cooked.
  4. Roughly mash with a fork, then serve in soft taco shells with your choice of toppings. I recommend cold corn with fresh cherry tomatoes and sliced avocado, but a bit of fresh crispy lettuce and some grated cheese works well too!

Find more quick and easy Chilli Bean Taco recipes on this interactive recipe map.

3. Spag Bol

Aussies are huge fans of their beloved spag bol, (Spaghetti Bolognaise), so you’re missing a trick if you don’t make a big batch of it while you’re on the road. Aussie spag bol is different to the traditional Italian recipe, in that it’s packed with more ingredients like vegetables and mincemeat – great for a big feed to keep you going. This dish is a particularly good idea if you’re whipping up a large, yet cheap easy meal for old mates and new friends alike. No matter who you’re travelling with, try out this super easy spag bol recipe for a friends’ feast on the road, and you can all enjoy some comfort food far from home.

Ingredients:

This recipe feeds 6 so if all your mates chip in it’s worth buying all the ingredients as it’s tasty, easy cheap food

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • brown onion, finely chopped
  • carrot, finely chopped
  • celery stick, finely chopped
  • 100g shortcut bacon, coarsely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • large zucchini, finely chopped
  • 1kg Beef Mince
  • 2 x 400g cans Chopped Tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cups (375ml) beef stock
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh oregano
  • 500g spaghetti, cooked, to serve
  • Finely grated parmesan, to serve
  • Fresh basil leaves, to serve

Method:

  • Heat the oil in a large heavy-based saucepan or stockpot over medium heat. Cook the onion, carrot, celery and bacon for 5 mins or until vegetables have softened. Add garlic and zucchini and cook for 2 mins, then add the mince and cook, using a wooden spoon to break up any lumps, for 5 mins or until browned.
  • Add the tomato, stock and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour 10 mins or until the mixture has thickened slightly.
  • Divide the spaghetti among bowls. Top with the bolognaise sauce. Scatter over the parmesan and basil leaves to serve.

This super tasty recipe is from taste.com.au.

easy cheap food
Spag Bol is really easy cheap food to make, especially with your friends

4. Vegetarian Couscous

Need a nutritional vegetarian dish to get you through your day of hiking, canoeing or swimming down under? You don’t have to sacrifice your healthy diet when you’re backpacking, as there’s heaps of easy and cheap vegetarian recipes out there that require very little effort. The secret to making sure your vegetarian dishes are packed with flavour? Keep a small pouch of spices in your kit to easily add to any dish. Couscous is great to have on the road too, as it’s easy to eat out of  Tupperware and all you really need access to kitchen-wise, is a bit of boiled water. Try out the Middle Eastern flavoured recipe below!

Ingredients:

  • Couscous
  • Goats cheese
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 tbls olive oil
  • 3 chopped tomatoes
  • Chives
  • Sage
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Boiled water

Method:

  • Put the couscous in a bowl with a tablespoon of olive oil and a dash of boiled water
  • Leave covered for 10 minutes before fluffing up the couscous with a fork
  • Add all the herbs, tomatoes, cheese and squeeze and zest the lemon into the couscous

Goats cheese a little too pricy? Fair enough. Swap it out for some Greek feta instead!

My advice is always to go to the local farmers markets for good quality, fresh fruit and vegetables at a decent price! Rusty’s Market in Cairns for example, (shown in the main image above) is a superb market to visit!

Author: Emily is a health, lifestyle and travel writer from Sydney, Australia. Her other interests include picnicking, brunching, going to markets, playing music, playing with dogs, napping, reading & skiing.

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