The Times Australia
The Times Food and Dining

.

Chef Tom Walton shares three top tips to create budget-friendly meals without compromising on flavour


Feeding the family on a budget doesn’t need to mean sacrificing flavour. Chef Tom Walton shares his top three tips for creating delicious and cost-effective meals. Here’s how you can transform simple ingredients into multiple crowd-pleasing dishes without breaking the bank.

Repurpose leftovers: "There is nothing worse than wasted leftovers, and my top budget-friendly tip is to repurpose them. As Australia’s #1 home-cooked dinner is Bolognese, I’ve created a ‘cook once, eat twice’ Spag Bol recipe using affordable pantry staples like Dolmio Bolognese sauce, and repurposed the leftovers to create a pizza, making two affordable and delicious family meals for just $3.65 per serving,” says Chef Tom Walton.

Stock your pantry and fridge with versatile staples: “Keeping your pantry and fridge well stocked with essentials like pasta, canned beans, frozen veggies, pasta sauce, rice, and pastry sheets or pizza bases allows you to quickly whip up delicious and affordable meals. A jar of Dolmio, for example, is incredibly versatile - it works for pasta dishes, casseroles, pie fillings, or even as a topping for baked potatoes, making it a lifesaver on busy nights.”

Plan ahead for the week: “Set aside a few minutes each weekend to plan your meals. Choose recipes that share similar ingredients to save money and minimise waste. Prep what you can in advance- chop veggies or cook grains. This simple step will help you avoid last-minute stress and make dinner hassle-free.”

Chef Tom Walton’s Spaghetti Bolognese + Bolognese pizza

Prep/cook time for the pasta: approx. 25 minutes

Prep /cook time for the pizza: approx. 15 minutes

Ingredients

Bolognese

1 brown onion, diced

1 medium beetroot, grated

1kg beef mince

500g pork & fennel sausage

2 jars Dolmio Bolognese Pasta Sauce

2 tbsp BBQ sauce

Pasta

500g spaghetti, cooked according to packet instructions

Basil, finely grated parmesan to serve

Pizza

220g fresh pizza dough or use a pre-made pizza base

Flour to roll

½ cup grated mozzarella

Basil, finely grated parmesan to serve

Method

Place a large frying pan over medium, high heat and add the olive oil, onion, beetroot, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes to soften, then increase the heat and add the beef & sausage mince. Cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up as it cooks, then add the Dolmio Bolognese sauce, BBQ sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions, reserving ½ cup pasta water. Drain, add to the Bolognese sauce with the pasta water, and toss well.

Season to taste and serve scattered with parmesan and basil.

For the Pizza preheat an oven to 240C. Roll or stretch the dough into a 30cm circle, place into a large frying pan or a tray, spoon over 1 cup of chilled Bolognese. Top with the mozzarella, some parmesan cheese and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden. Serve scattered with basil and some more parmesan grated over if desired.

*Cost per serve is based on ingredient prices from Woolworths and Coles in NSW as of November 2024. Prices and availability may vary by state and are subject to change.

Food & Dining

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banquets to Sydney’s first-ever Acquapole fitness classes and family fun gal...

Onsite Caterer vs a Full Service Venue: 9 important things to explore

Choosing between an external catering company and an all-inclusive venue is a major decision that affects cost, flexibility, food quality, and the overall event experience. Venues with in-house catering offer convenience and streamlined coordinatio...

Meal Prep as Self-Care? The One Small Habit That Could Improve Your Mood, Focus & Confidence

What if the secret to feeling calmer, more focused, and emotionally resilient wasn’t found in a supplement or self-help book — but in your fridge? That’s the surprising link uncovered by leading dietitians Anna Debenham and Alex Parker from The Biti...

Cult Favourite, TokyoTaco, Opens Beachfront at Mooloolaba this June

FREE Tokyo Tacos to Celebrate!  Cult favourite Japanese-Mexican restaurant TokyoTaco is opening a beachfront venue at the Mooloolaba Esplanade on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this June.  The doors of the new venue will open on 18 June and to cel...

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...