When doing the grocery shopping, perhaps you cringe at the prices of your favorite meats. If those things aren’t within your budget though, you can make your money and your food supply work for you if you simply reach for the more inexpensive and underused portions of meat.

Grab a grocery cart and load it up with these meats that will fill you up without gobbling up your grocery budget!

Chicken thighs

Most people gravitate toward chicken breast, but it’s much more expensive. Chicken thighs are a tender and juicy solution to serving chicken. You can do a lot more with them too and they won’t dry out like chicken breast is prone to doing.

Pork loin

For the other white meat, pork loin is a great choice. If you want to make an excellent roast but can’t afford beef, adding this to your slow cooker with your favorite marinade makes for an unbeatable meal that requires very little effort while keeping your costs way down.

Ground turkey

Love burgers, meaty lasagna, and beef tacos but hate how little beef you get for the price? Ground turkey is a fantastic alternative. You can use it interchangeably in recipes that call for ground beef. One word of caution though: when making burgers, they can dry out easily so be sure to account for the loss of moisture by using moist ingredients mixed in.

And what about if you simply must have beef? There are plenty of cuts that make the cut for your budget too.

Merlot steak

Have a hankering for flank steak? This tender and tasty beef option is almost indiscernible from the ever-popular and intensely expensive flank steak. The only thing you’ll notice that’s different is that you’re not paying a hefty price tag to say “flank steak.”

Faux filet

If you love beef tenderloin, then be on the lookout for this cut of beef. Known as teres major or petit tender, it comes from the cow’s shoulder and is an ideal substitute for that pricey filet mignon. While it’s worlds cheaper, it gives you that seductively delicious flavor that makes filet mignon so desired. Slice it up or sear it whole, then roast it for a beef dinner fit for a king.

Beef shank

Short ribs can really short-change your wallet. Beef shank is even better for braising recipes, plus the bone is full of marrow which makes it add more flavor and depth to your stews and soups.

With these cheaper cuts of meat, it’s even easier to get a hearty meal onto the table. Which one will you be making tonight?