"Tastes Lekker": Pick n Pay R21 One Pot Meal Review Sparks Budget Food Buzz in SA

• Eastern Cape blogger Luchae tested the Pick n Pay No Name One Pot Value Meal, priced at just R20,99 per pack
• The chicken potjie flavour comes in a 250g dry pack that serves two people and takes under 35 minutes to make
• South Africans flooded the comments after the video caught attention for its honest take on budget-friendly eating

Eastern Cape food blogger Luchae put a R20,99 Pick n Pay budget meal to the test in her home kitchen on 14 August 2025, and South Africans had a lot to say about it.

The product she reviewed is the Pick n Pay No Name One Pot Value Meal, a 250g dry pack sold on the @picknpayasap app. She picked up the chicken potjie flavour and shared the full cook-and-taste experience in a selfie-style reel posted to her Instagram page.

What goes into the R21 meal

Making it is straightforward. The entire 250g pack gets combined with four and a half cups of water in a pot, brought to a boil, and left to simmer for 25 to 30 minutes with occasional stirring. After that, it rests for five minutes off the heat before serving.

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What comes out, Luchae explained, is essentially a thick veggie stew with rice and soy, seasoned with spices.

"It's essentially like having a lekker veggie stew with lots of sauce mixed in with rice," she said in the clip.

Her verdict was straightforward: worth it. She described it as a practical option for anyone working with a tight budget who needs a quick, filling meal.

The chicken potjie is one of three flavours in the range. Beef shisanyama and mutton curry are also available, each offering a different flavour profile within the same no-frills format.

Watch Luchae's full review here.

Mzansi weighs in on budget eating

The video on the Instagram page struck a nerve with many South Africans facing real financial pressure, and the comment section reflected that honestly.

@francine_pillay wrote:

"Sadly there are many people who have R20 for a whole meal 😢, for some, this will be 5 star. I've seen it 💔. Good effort from PnP."

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@carrenbrandt shared:

"We've bought it for food parcels. I haven't asked anyone for feedback but as you say if you are strapped for cash it does the job. I'm sure it can be elevated with some chicken pieces or anything basically. Add your own spices etc. But yes I've bought it but never made it myself."

@mayhem_and_chaos1984 suggested:

"Look for the Afrigrano Pasta Ready meals at Grocery Express. Think it's R35 a bag (pasta, soy, spices), serves 4. Tastes so good and you can scan a code on the bag which gives you suggestions of things to add to the meal 😁 Comes in chicken or beef."

@drumcrazyozzy admitted:

"This will probably be our meals very soon... the way world is heading... looks better than I expected tbh."

More on budget food

• Briefly News recently reported on a Shoprite polony price that was more than R800 that left South Africans stunned.
• A Ugandan couple celebrated a birthday with a bread “cake”, winning over viewers with their simple and joyful celebration.
• A man showed Mzansi how he makes fresh orange juice for just R15, with viewers sharing ideas for using the leftover pulp.

Source: Briefly News