5 Budget Beef Recipes You Can Cook for ₱200 or Less (Pinoy Edition)

Beef dishes are always a hit at home — pero alam mo naman, minsan medyo mahal siya, especially when you’re feeding a whole family. But over the years, I’ve learned a little budgeting magic. With the right cuts, a few pantry staples, and konting diskarte, you can actually cook beef meals for under ₱200 per dish. Yes, moms — possible pala talaga!

I remember one time when I wanted to surprise the family with something “special” for dinner, pero syempre, nagtitipid din tayo. I grabbed a small pack of ground beef from the grocery and stretched it with veggies, eggs, and lots of flavor. Boom! Parang feast pero budget-friendly. Moments like that remind me that good food doesn’t need to be expensive — just cooked with love and a little creativity.

So today, I’m sharing 5 budget beef recipes you can cook for ₱200 or less, Filipino-style, hearty, comforting, and perfect for everyday ulam.

1. Beef Giniling na May Gulay (₱180 Budget)

Why it’s budget-friendly: You only need 250g beef giniling + gulay extenders.

Ingredients:

• 250g beef giniling
• 1 small carrot, diced
• 1 potato, diced
• 1 bell pepper
• ½ cup green peas
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp tomato paste or 1 small pack tomato sauce
• Salt & pepper

How to Cook:

1. Sauté garlic and onion.
2. Add beef giniling and cook until browned.
3. Add tomato paste/sauce.
4. Add vegetables and simmer for 10–12 minutes.
5. Season and serve with rice!

Tipid Hack: Add more potatoes if you want a bigger batch

2. Beef Tofu Stir-Fry (₱190 Budget)

Why it’s budget-friendly: 150–200g beef sirloin strips + tofu for volume.

Ingredients:

• 200g beef strips
• 1 block firm tofu, cubed and fried
• 1 onion
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• Black pepper
• Sesame seeds (optional)

How to Cook:

1. Pan-fry tofu cubes and set aside.
2. Stir-fry beef strips until brown.
3. Add onion, oyster sauce, and soy sauce.
4. Toss in tofu and cook for 2 minutes.

Sulit Tip: Use oyster sauce para lasang “restaurant levels.”

3. Beef with Ampalaya (₱200 Budget)

Why it’s budget-friendly: Ampalaya is cheap, and you only need 200g beef.

Ingredients:

• 200g ground beef sirloin
• 1 large ampalaya, sliced
• 1 onion
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 cloves garlic

How to Cook:

1. Marinate beef in soy sauce + cornstarch for 10 minutes.
2. Sauté garlic and onion.
3. Add ground beef and cook until tender.
4. Add ampalaya and cook for another 5 minutes.

Tip: To reduce bitter taste, soak ampalaya in water with salt before cooking.

4. Beef and Mushroom Gravy (₱200 Budget)

Why it’s budget-friendly: Canned mushrooms + beef strips = ulam + gravy rice winner.

Ingredients:

• 200g beef strips
• 1 small can mushrooms
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 cup water or beef broth cube mixture
• Salt & pepper

How to Cook:

1. Sauté beef until browned.
2. Add mushrooms.
3. Add butter and flour, mix well.
4. Pour water and simmer until thick and creamy.

Perfect with: Buttered rice or mashed potatoes.

5. Ginisang Corned Beef na May Repolyo (₱120–₱160 Budget)

Why it works: Hindi “fresh beef,” pero beef pa rin — and super tipid!

Ingredients:

• 1 can corned beef
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 potato, diced (optional extender)

How to Cook:

1. Sauté garlic and onion.
2. Add potatoes and cook until half tender.
3. Add corned beef.
4. Add cabbage and sauté for 2–3 minutes.

Bonus: Big batch, good for 3–4 servings.

Cooking beef on a budget is possible — basta marunong sa extenders, smart cuts, at techniques that stretch flavor. These five budget beef recipes Philippines households love are perfect for weekly meal plans, tipid days, and office or school baon.