3 Cheap German Meals for Under $3 a Day (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Since you all loved my last post where I shared my favorite cheap German recipes, I’m doing another one, yeah! Today we’re cooking three simple meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

These are all recipes that come from my childhood. Some are from my grandma, some from my mother-in-law, and over the years I’ve slightly adapted them. But at their core, these are the kinds of meals I grew up eating in Germany.

And the goal for today is simple:
👉 Feed one adult for an entire day for under $3

Don´t want to read? Watch the full video on my YouTube channel!

A Quick Thought Before We Start

I still have my grandma’s handwritten recipe book. And I’ve been thinking about scanning her recipes, translating them, and turning them into a simple ebook PDF. For me, this would be such a beautiful way to keep her memory alive by sharing her recipes.

If that’s something you’d be interested in, let me know in the comments under my YouTube video! And also tell me what you think about today’s recipes. I always love discovering recipes from different cultures, especially the ones people remember from their childhood.

Breakfast: Simple German Pancakes (No Sugar in the Batter)

It’s Sunday morning – and in this household, that automatically means pancake day.

It’s one of those small traditions that just stayed. I already grew up with it, and somehow I passed it on to my own family.

Now, when you hear pancakes, you might think of the typical American version – thick, fluffy stacks with maple syrup.

But German pancakes are different.
They’re thinner, simpler, and honestly much more versatile.

Why I Love This Recipe

• It’s incredibly cheap
• You only need a few basic ingredients
• No special equipment required
• And it works for sweet and savory

How to Make Them

Ingredients:
– 50 g Butter (plus a bit more for the pan)
– 600 g (Almond-)Milk
– 250 g Flour (half white / half whole wheat)
– 4 Eggs
– 1 pinch Salt

I usually mix:

• Half white flour
• Half whole wheat flour

This way the pancakes stay soft but are a bit more filling and nutritious.

Add everything into a bowl, whisk until you get a smooth batter, and that’s it. Nothing fancy. You can use a mixer, but I honestly prefer doing it by hand.

Heat up a pan, add a little oil, pour in the batter, and cook until golden. Then flip it.

If you’re feeling confident, you can try flipping it in the air – but that definitely takes some practice (and maybe a bit of German genetics).

How to Serve

What I really love:
👉 There’s no sugar in the batter

So you can go in any direction:

• Classic: sugar + cinnamon
• Sweet: applesauce
• Savory: cheese, vegetables, mushrooms

You can even roll them like a wrap, which makes them super practical.

And they’re perfect for the next day. Just heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds, and they taste fresh again.

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Lunch: Mashed Potatoes, Creamy Spinach & Fried Egg

After a sweet breakfast, we’re going for something hearty and simple:

👉 Mashed potatoes, creamy spinach, and a fried egg (Spiegelei)

This is peak German comfort food.

A Note on Simplicity

If you don’t like mashed potatoes, you can:

• just boil them
• or swap them for rice or pasta

Also, this is a perfect meal to cook in larger quantities.

Meal prepping like this can save you so much money. I still don’t fully understand how people spend $20 every day on lunch when you could easily cook multiple meals for that price.

How to Make It

Ingredients:
– 1000 g Potatoes (starchy/mealy)
– 400 g frozen spinach
– 250 ml (Almond-)Milk for the spinach sauce
– 500ml (Almond-)Milk for the Mashed Potatoes
– 50 g Butter (softened)
– 50g white flour
– 1 tsp Salt and pepper, garlic
– 5 pinches Nutmeg
– 75 g Sour Cream
– Eggs

Mashed Potatoes

Boil the potatoes until soft.

I personally don’t peel them:

• more nutrients
• less work

Once they’re soft, mash them with:

• butter
• milk
• salt
• nutmeg (very important!)

You can mash them by hand or use any kitchen appliance.

Creamy Spinach

I usually use frozen spinach:

• cheaper
• doesn’t go bad
• super convenient

I prepare a simple creamy base (similar to a béchamel):

• butter
• flour
• milk

Then add the spinach, a bit of sour cream, and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg again.

Fried Egg (Spiegelei)

Top everything with a fried egg.

Some people like a runny yolk, but I personally prefer it fully cooked. Do whatever you like.

And then comes the best part:
👉 Mix everything together on the plate

It doesn’t look aesthetic at all, but it tastes amazing.

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Dinner: German Chicken Noodle Soup (Hühnernudelsuppe)

For dinner, we’re making a classic:

👉 Chicken noodle soup

This was one of my favorite meals as a child – and now my kids love it just as much.

I personally don’t eat it anymore because I’m vegetarian, but it’s still a staple in our household.

A Bit of Nostalgia

If you grew up in Germany, you probably remember the canned versions from brands like Erasco or Maggi.

This homemade version is just as comforting – but cheaper and fresher.

Why This Recipe Works

• Super quick
• Very cheap
• Almost impossible to mess up
• Perfect for busy days

I actually made this right after coming home from a networking event, with my kids arriving soon – so it had to be fast.

How to Make It

Ingredients:
– 200 g Chicken Breast
– 100 g Onions (quartered)
– 2000 g Water Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Garlic, vegetable broth powder
– 800 g Frozen mixed vegetables (e.g. Broccoli, carrots, Cauliflower)
– 300 g noodles (e.g., rotinis or shells)

Start by sautéing:

• onions
• chicken

This step adds a deeper, slightly smoky flavor right from the beginning.

Once everything is lightly browned:

• add seasoning
• add some broth

Keep it simple. That’s the whole point.

Then add:

• vegetables (frozen or fresh)
• water (about 2 liters)
• pasta

Let everything simmer for about 20 minutes.

That’s it.

A Quick Tip on Frozen Vegetables

I learned this as an adult:
👉 Frozen vegetables often contain more vitamins than fresh ones

Plus:

• they’re cheaper
• they last longer
• they reduce food waste

So they’re a great option, especially if you’re trying to save money.

Final Touch

We usually add a bit of Maggi seasoning.

Not the healthiest thing, but sometimes it’s just about the taste of home and childhood memories.

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Final Thoughts

That’s it for today’s recipes.

Simple, affordable, and deeply connected to my childhood.

If you try any of them, let me know what you think. And if you have recipes from your own childhood, I’d love to hear about them.

What’s Next

I already shared another post with more recipes from my grandma.

And next, I’m planning to share my favorite bread recipes – passed down from my great-grandfather, who owned a German bakery.

Because honestly…
I still can’t get used to the bread here in the US.

If you’re interested in:

• frugal living
• simple recipes
• and a more minimal, intentional lifestyle

then you’ll feel right at home here.

See you in the next one.