75 Best Cheap & Easy Dinner Ideas

Kind of magical how the edges get crispy while the inside stays gooey, right? Serve it straight from the dish for that family-style vibe, or pair with a crisp salad to cut through the richness. Get recipes, tips and NYT special offers delivered straight to your inbox. Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Being frugal in the kitchen starts with how you fill your cart.

Homemade Pasta Sauce

Tuck into this healthy version featuring mince, lentils, carrots and potatoes. It’s low-fat and low-calorie with three of your five-a-day. Find more inspiration for easy midweek meals including our one-pot recipes and oven baked dinners. I’m a bread lover through and through, but swirl a crusty slice into a flavorful garlicky dip, and I’m in heaven. There’s just something https://recipes.heart.org/en/ I find irresistible about fresh bread meeting sweet, tangy, savory sauces—it takes a simple dipping experience to another level.

Baked Spaghetti

You’d be surprised how much you can make with just $5. Some ideas include a veggie stir fry with rice, a can of black beans turned into burritos, or a dozen eggs stretched into several breakfast meals. Pasta with garlic and olive oil (aglio e olio) is a classic that costs pennies per serving. Stick to meals that rely on starches (like rice, pasta, potatoes) as the base and add whatever vegetables and protein you can afford. It’s all about being resourceful and using what’s already in your pantry or freezer. Casseroles, soups, tacos, and pasta bakes are excellent cheap family meals.

Slow cooker pulled chicken

From cozy dinners to healthy lunches, these meals are proof that you can save money without sacrificing flavor. You don’t have to sacrifice quality or flavor to stay within a budget. Look no further than this collection of crowd-pleasing and budget-friendly dinner ideas for every night of the week, from cheap casseroles to inexpensive pastas.

Ground Turkey Stir Fry

So I started keeping a running list of my favorite cheap meal ideas. The caveat here is that I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT MAKE BLAND MEALS… EVER. Toss chicken, peppers, and onions with spices, spread it on a sheet pan, and let the oven do its thing. Bell peppers are strong enough to hold their shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle unimeal review techbullion enough to go well with just about anything. This is our favorite recipe, but the customization options are endless—check out all our stuffed pepper recipes here too. BBQ Drumsticks are smoky, saucy, and satisfying – an easy dinner that feels special without the cost.

Mexican Dinner Ideas

• That one doesn’t eat raw tomatoes, this one hates chicken (unless it’s in nugget form) and that one over there won’t touch anything green.
• This growing collection of budget-friendly recipes provides delicious and affordable meals for you and your family any day of the week.
• Try serving it with a side of crusty bread to soak up any extra sauce.
• Add extra carrots or swap in what you have—this soup adapts beautifully which gives you the opportunity to make it low carb and it is already gluten free.
• Red Curry brings aromatic spices and creamy coconut together for a budget friendly dinner with bold flavor.
• A timeless, filling dinner that stretches every ingredient.

Cooking on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on taste or nutrition. This list of affordable recipes shows how you can create delicious, wholesome meals without draining your wallet. A hearty pot of classic chili made with pantry staples and ground beef. Tender chicken thighs roasted on a sheet pan with a simple paprika-forward spice blend. A classic one-pot dinner made with ground beef, pasta, and a savory tomato sauce.

Quick Tomato, White Bean and Kale Soup

You probably already have all of the ingredients on hand and it takes less than 20 minutes to make. With this cheesy pasta dish, you’ll be cheesin’ in no time. It might look like a fancy steak, but this dish is actually made with affordable ground beef! The creamy mushroom sauce makes it feel even more elegant. Ground beef, onions, and a cheesy crust make this dish an all-time family favorite.

If you’re that person that steals the cheesy broccoli out of broccoli cheddar soup, this broccoli cheddar chickpea skillet will be your dream dinner. Steamed broccoli and chickpeas are tossed together in a light cheesy sauce for a protein-filled one-pan meal that’s primed to become a new family favorite. Mini Taco Cups (10 Minute Dinner)This mini taco cups (10 minute dinner) is a go-to meal for busy families. Tostadas 10 Minute DinnerThis tostadas 10 minute dinner is a go-to meal for busy families.

Eating well made easy

Start roasting some green beans when you begin preparing the fish — they’ll be done when you slide the fish out of the oven. Don’t you love that smug-happy feeling you get when you not only make a delicious meal but also use the sad, wilted vegetables in your fridge in the process? This adaptable noodle dish from Kay Chun is just that kind of recipe. If you can’t get your hands on frozen presteamed yakisoba noodles, cook dried noodles according to package instructions, and then proceed with the recipe.

Perfect Ricotta Gnocchi

I serve them year-round with an equally easy side of Italian roasted vegetables, roasted cauliflower, or skillet zucchini. Canned tuna is one of the most affordable sources of protein available. It’s easy to use, keeps well in the pantry, and is endlessly versatile.

Roasted Cabbage and Butter Beans

Plenty of these dishes are casual, fancy, and everywhere in between. So you can prepare a beautiful and tasty plate no matter the occasion. You don’t have to be a professional chef to make the most out of your ingredients.

Adasi is a Persian dish of simply seasoned lentils that’s often eaten for breakfast in Iran, but you really can enjoy it all day long. Every version starts with lentils, salt and water, but Yasmin Fahr’s variation includes onion, cumin and turmeric. Eat it however you like, but Yasmin likes it best with a pat of softened butter stirred in and topped with fresh herbs. “The best white chicken chili out there,” wrote one reader about this mild-mannered dish from Sarah DiGregorio. It can be made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, and it would work great with leftover roast turkey or chicken. Serve it alone, over rice or tucked into a tortilla.

Everything cooks together so the flavors get cozy fast, and cleanup is basically nonexistent. Baked ziti is what happens when pasta night decides to go all in. Layers of noodles, sauce, and melty cheese come together in one big pan of crowd-pleasing magic. This sheet pan sausage and veggies dinner is fast, filling, and endlessly flexible.