A resourceful father has revealed his incredibly simple three-ingredient pasta bake recipe that can feed a family of four to six people for under £3, offering a lifeline for households grappling with rising food costs. Elliot Jeory, a 39-year-old dad of two from Preston, Lancashire, is renowned for his knack for spotting bargains and regularly shares money-saving tips online.
The Ultimate Budget-Friendly Family Meal
Elliot describes his creation as an "absolute bargain" and insists it is "absolutely delicious," proving that economical eating does not have to compromise on flavour. His straightforward approach requires minimal effort and just a handful of affordable items from discount supermarkets.
Ingredients and Cost Breakdown
The recipe calls for a bag of pasta priced at 41p, two jars of pasta sauce at 69p each from Aldi, and a bag of grated cheese from Farm Foods for 99p. This brings the total cost to a mere £2.78, making it one of the most cost-effective family meals available.
Simple Step-by-Step Instructions
Elliot outlines the easy preparation process: "Add the bag of pasta to boil in salted water. Then when the pasta is cooked, drain it, and add it to an oven tray. Pour over the two jars of sauce, then fill one of the jars up with tap water and pour that in as well. Give it a right good stir and mix it all in."
He continues, "Then put it in a preheated oven for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, add the bag of cheese; try and even out the cheese. Then, after another 20 minutes in the oven, it should look like this. So now you've got a rich, saucy, cheesy pasta bake. It only takes three ingredients, it's very simple to cook."
Versatility and Public Reaction
Elliot claims that families can easily stretch this dish to serve five or six individuals, depending on portion sizes, enhancing its value further. The recipe video garnered significant attention, amassing 158,000 views and over 4,000 likes, with viewers enthusiastically sharing their own adaptations and compliments in the comments section.
Leanne suggested, "36p garlic baguette on the side…" while Kirstie added, "I chuck in frozen veg & put garlic bread as a side." Dan recommended, "To make it even nicer add some cut up hotdogs to it, game changer." Another viewer emphasised, "ooh you definitely need garlic bread with this," and Samantha simply stated, "Bargain will try this."
This recipe highlights how creativity and smart shopping can lead to substantial savings without sacrificing taste, providing a practical solution for families aiming to manage their food budgets effectively during challenging economic times.
