When the food budget needs a little stretching, these are the dinners I come back to again and again.
If you’re trying to spend a bit less on groceries but still want dinners everyone will actually eat, you’re in the right place. I’ve pulled together some of my favorite cheap dinner ideas that are easy to make, don’t need loads of ingredients and still taste really good. We got this.
These cheap dinner recipes are the kind of meals I turn to when I want to keep costs down without eating the same thing night after night.
There’s a bit of everything here, including easy pasta dishes like Mushroom Pasta, cozy comfort food, one-pan meals like this Sheet Pan Pizza and plenty of quick dinners like Ramen Noodle Stir Fry, for busy nights.
A lot of these budget dinner recipes are packed with simple ingredients you probably already buy, along with pantry and freezer staples. And if you don’t have them, you can simply swap in ingredients you already have.
So, if the food bill is creeping up or you just need some new cheap dinner ideas to add to the weekly rotation, have a scroll through. Hopefully you’ll find a few new family favorites like Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
A Few Kitchen Tips
- Meal Prep – making meals in advance and storing them in airtight containers to grab throughout the week will help save both time and money.
- Fuss-free cooking – turn to countertop appliances like an air fryer and Instant Pot that minimize hands-on cooking time and reduce stress.
- Stock Your Pantry – keeping your pantry stocked with affordable staples, spices, and seasonings makes it easy to whip up a delicious meal on even the busiest of days.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
More Recipes You Might Like
- Easy Dinner Recipes.
- Easy Party Recipes.
- Canned Chicken Recipes.
- The best Pinwheel Recipes.
- The Best Dips.
Cheap Dinner Recipes and Ideas
With this easy sheet pan sausage and vegetables recipe, it’s entirely possible to serve up a flavorful, budget friendly meal on even the busiest days.
Want a delicious and super quick Air Fry Chicken dinner the whole family will love? Then whip up this tasty hearty and filling Air Fryer Chicken and Potatoes dinner made from pantry staples.
Spice up your weeknights with this sheet pan Cajun shrimp and sausage dinner! A quick and cheap recipe that’s bursting with flavor and sure to satisfy.
Enjoy Asian comfort food at home with this quick-cooking 10-Minute Ramen Noodle Stir Fry. This vegetarian dish cooks quickly but is packed with flavor, and it’s easy to make on a budget.
This easy sheet pan pizza recipe comes together quickly and easily, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. It’s fast, filling, super customizable and loved by everyone.
Busy weeknights need quick and simple dinners that require minimal effort but have maximum flavor. And this recipe for Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos really delivers!
Change up your weeknight pasta with this delicious dump and start Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti. This complete meal is ready in under 30 minutes and is great for meal prep.
5 ingredient Baked Feta Pasta is a viral sensation! Creamy feta cheese and cherry tomatoes are seasoned with olive oil and baked into a simple yet elegant sauce that is bursting with flavor. You’ll love this quick and cheap pasta recipe. Plus, you get an Instant Pot Baked Feta Pasta too.
This hearty Dump and Start Instant Pot Chicken Stew recipe is full of pantry staples and super quick to make, thanks to the Instant Pot.
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nachos is a cheesy flavorful comfort food treat that cooks in less than 5 minutes, making it the perfect meal or snack for your busy family.
These 5 ingredient Chicken Fajita Foil Packets are a pantry staple, minimal prep lunch or weeknight dinner that can be made on the grill or in the oven. The whole family will love these.
These easy, quick, 5 ingredient black bean quesadillas make a tasty lunch and dinner. Flavorful on the inside and crispy on the outside your whole family will love this Tik Tok folded tortilla hack.
Top this easy Instant Pot Fajita Rice, loaded with juicy chicken and lots of cheese, with your favorite toppings to make a tasty meal your whole family will love.
This Meal Prep Chicken and Rice dish is bursting with flavor! Made with zesty Jerk seasoning, this 20-minute recipe makes it easy to spice up your weekly chicken and rice meal prep routine. Meal prep helps you save time and money while still enjoying what you eat.
This creamy mushroom pasta is the perfect date night recipe or simple weeknight recipe everyone will love!
Need a quick and easy appetizer for a party, game day, Super Bowl party, tailgating, Christmas, summer holidays, graduation party, pool party, for lunch, or as an after-school snack? Then these Dill Pickle Pinwheels are just what you need.
All the delicious flavors of the Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup are recreated in this creamy easy Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup. It is a cozy and hearty soup, made from simple ingredients that the whole family will love.
This creamy Chicken Chicken Fajita Pasta is one of those flavorful comfort food one pot meals that cooks fast in the Instant Pot, making it the perfect meal for your busy family. Serve this chicken fajita dish for dinner tonight!
Tender seasoned chicken, onions, peppers, and loads of melty cheese. Everything you love about fajitas in a simple-to-make casserole that you can prepare in advance and toss in the oven for a quick and delicious dinner tonight.
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs are bursting with flavor and loaded with veggies for a flavorful, low-carb dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
If you are new to making takeout-style meals at home, Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice is the perfect starter meal. It’s so easy to make, and the taste is incredible. You may never buy takeout fried rice again.
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas is an easy and quick-cooking dish that’s full of flavor! This classic combination of chicken and veggies is a super versatile meal the whole family will love.
Instant Pot Minestrone is so easy to make. This dump-and-start recipe is ready in under 30 minutes so it’s perfect for busy, budget-conscious families. This copycat Olive Garden soup recipe is better than the restaurant version without the hassle and expense of going out.
This sundried tomato pasta is a quick 30 minute pasta dish you are going to have on repeat. It is budget friendly but tastes like you just bought it from a restaurant.
You will love how this flavorful Instant Pot Taco Pasta Recipe is a twist on traditional tacos. This new taco night favorite combines meat, cheese, and taco seasoning with tender pasta for an unforgettable dinner the whole family will love.
You aren’t going to believe how insanely simple it is to prepare this delicious Greek Chicken recipe for meals all week long. This meal prep bowl is so good, you’ll never get bored!
Instant Pot Lasagna Soup has all the flavors of classic lasagna but is simple to make and cooks super fast. You’ll love digging into a bowl of this cheesy, meaty tomato soup goodness.
You are going to love how easy it is to make this spicy Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese with leftover chicken or canned chicken. This whole meal is cooked right on your stovetop. No oven needed!
This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a comforting, budget-friendly, weeknight recipe you’ll find yourself making on repeat. It is super simple, uses everyday ingredients and is perfect for chilly nights or long lunches.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is the perfect meal for busy nights when you are craving something comforting and flavorful. This 30-minute meal is full of cheesy goodness and that classic buffalo wings flavor everyone loves!
This chicken Caesar pasta salad is the perfect summer meal. It’s packed with chicken, freshly squeezed lemon juice, crunchy croutons and kale.
You only need 5 ingredients to make this easy and flavorful baked ranch chicken recipe in less than 1 hour. It is great for busy weeknights dinners.
This roast chicken recipe is so simple to prepare and easy to cook. You can skip the store-bought rotisserie chicken and save money when you learn how to roast a chicken at home.
This Dutch Oven Chicken recipe is simple and succulent. Add potatoes and a whole chicken to a dutch oven for an all-in-one family meal that’s satisfying and delicious. You will love making this effortless dutch oven roast chicken.
This easy Chicken casserole recipe with broccoli, rice and cheese is hearty, wholesome and simple to prepare. If you are looking for a warm, satisfying meal that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy, then you’re in for a treat with this chicken broccoli rice casserole.
This pasta with zucchini and tomatoes is fresh and flavorful, and it’s the perfect way to enjoy fresh produce. You’ll have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
Cajun Chicken is a one-pan wonder for those busy nights when you want creamy comfort food and don’t want to spend a lot of time prepping and cleaning. The spicy chicken dish cooks in about 30 minutes. It’s fast and flavorful, and you are going to love this cajun chicken recipe.
These chicken pinwheels packed with taco flavor are a quick and easy appetizer that’s perfect for all sorts of occasions!
Tools
- Kitchen appliances like an air fryer, Instant Pot, and Crockpot will make holiday meal prep easy.
- This handy thermometer to check your food for doneness.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Did you make this recipe? Then I would love to hear how it turned out. Please leave a comment and star rating below. And I really appreciate you sharing this recipe with your family and friends. Enjoy every mouthful 😊🍲 – Bintu
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