INSIDE: Looking for some cheap dinner recipes? When time and money are short, your whole family will love these 10 easy recipes on a budget.
Let’s face it, there never seems to be enough hours in your day or money in your bank account. But your family counts on you to make nutritious, tasty dinners for them every night.
How do you keep things simple, delicious, and affordable? Try these 10 ten cheap, easy, and healthy dinner recipes!
Your whole family will love these 10 easy recipes on a budget
Sometimes, you just need some ideas to get your creative juices flowing in the kitchen. These easy recipes on a budget are just what the busy mom ordered.
One-pot pasta
The last thing you want to do after dinner is spend the whole evening cleaning up the kitchen. With this one-pot pasta recipe, doing the dishes will be a breeze. And it’s certainly one of the easiest cheap dinner recipes you can find.
Your family is sure to love this new approach to spaghetti night which features flavorful tomato sauce, olive oil, and parmesan cheese. Making dinner has never been easier — or gentler on your wallet.
Tuna noodle casserole
Want another way to make budget-friendly pasta the star? Check out this tuna noodle casserole recipe that uses items you already have in your freezer and pantry.
Combine some noodles, canned tuna, frozen peas, cream of mushroom soup, and a few other ingredients. Then, toss it in the oven, and dinner will be ready in less than 40 minutes.
Customizable fried rice
Craving Chinese food, but want to avoid getting takeout? This fried rice recipe is sure to satisfy that craving and please the whole family. The classic dish features rice, vegetables (frozen vegetables are allowed!), scrambled eggs, and soy sauce.
This is an easy recipe on a budget that is highly customizable. Try different oils and your choice of protein, like tofu or chicken breast. Bonus: this cheap meal only requires dirtying one pan!
Honey garlic chicken thighs
If you feel like chicken when you’re looking through cheap dinner recipes, break out your slow cooker and give this honey garlic chicken thigh recipe a try. The finger-licking sauce takes just five ingredients and a little whisking to make.
And, after you pour it over the chicken thighs, you can set your slow cooker on low and walk away. Six hours later, pair it with your favorite sides and call it a meal!
Beef tacos
Next Taco Tuesday, impress your family with this recipe for beef tacos. Just jazz up your ground beef with an array of seasonings that you probably have on your spice rack. Then, warm up the taco shells, put out your toppings, and dinner is served.
Don’t forget the chips, salsa, and fresh guacamole!
Pork chop, sweet potato, and apple bake
Next time you’re in the mood for pork, make this pork chop, sweet potato, and apple bake recipe. The not-so-secret ingredient in this dish is brown sugar, which really puts a tasty, new spin on an old classic.
This easy recipe on a budget is a rustic, one sheet pan meal that is both sweet and savory – perfect for celebrating the fall season. You and your family won’t be able to stop eating it!
Chicken pot pie
This chicken pot pie recipe is sure to make you feel all warm and cozy inside – without breaking the bank or too much of a sweat. Use pre-made pie dough, canned gravy, frozen veggies, and shredded rotisserie chicken to create this hearty family favorite in a snap.
Feeling ambitious? Cook up some chicken breasts at home instead of hitting the deli.
Instant pot chicken and rice
When you want cheap dinner recipes, the Instant Pot is the way to do it! And if you love risotto but you don’t have the time or patience to make it, try this instant pot chicken and rice recipe.
A touch of lemon juice and a generous amount of fresh parmesan cheese elevates what could otherwise be a boring dish.
Need another reason to add this cheap meal to the menu? All of the ingredients get cooked in the pot, which makes for easy cleanup.
Black bean burgers
This black bean burger recipe is perfect for Meatless Mondays and it’s one of my favorite easy recipes on a budget. Just as hearty as ground beef, they’re easy to make, fast to cook, and taste much better than the frozen patties you usually microwave!
In the summer, toss them on the grill. In the winter, throw them in the oven. Like a little more heat? Add some extra Thai chili sauce to the mixture.
The best tuna salad sandwich
Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy to cook a meal. When that happens, turn to this tuna salad sandwich recipe. If you’ve got canned tuna, mayonnaise, some seasonings, and an element of crunch, you’ve got dinner covered. Now, there’s an easy recipe on a budget for ya.
The salad can be put on bread, crackers, or a bed of greens. Plus, any leftovers become the makings of tomorrow’s lunch!
And, if you feel like warming it up, try adding some to grilled cheese for a delicious melt.
What are your favorite cheap dinner recipes?
Every night, your endearing (but demanding) loved ones expect you to cook dinner. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or expensive. You can put healthy meals on the table that your family will rave about — without toiling over a stove all day or busting your food budget.
Tell us: What are your favorite fast, cheap, and yummy weeknight dinner ideas? Share your easy recipes on a budget in the comments!
–By Laura Gariepy