What is your favorite CHEAP meal that you cook?

I love food. My father was an excellent chef and could turn spam and bread into a 4 course meal that tasted phenomenal (and he still can). Nowadays my parents can afford much more than they could then, but it seems that now my position is what theirs was and their position is where their parents were then. I’m curious as to what your favorite cheap meal (that can be made at home – ie McDonalds doesn’t count) is and how do you make it? Is it a diet mainstay? Or is it out of convenience and being broke? Or do you hate eating it, but can’t wonder for the life of you how to make anything else?