If you too crave something bolder, try the method with taco seasoning instead. The humble onion is given center stage in this cheap meal. Seared, then gently roasted with paprika and tomato paste, these onions prove they have star quality.

Transform a can of pumpkin purée into a near-instant pasta sauce—no slow cookers here— that delivers major fall feels. Bonus: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days.

With a generous layer of caramelized onions and plenty of sharp Gruyère cheese, this tart packs the depth of French onion soup into every bite. The tofu in this cheap recipe absorbs all of the flavors in the sauce—and there are a lot of them: shallots, ginger, garlic, cumin, red chile, turmeric, coconut cream , and peanut butter.

It all becomes a sauce you have to make and see to believe. Crunchy fried onions transform a simple cabbage salad into a sensorial delight: hot and cold, crisp and soft, sweet and spicy. Make sure to assemble it just before eating in order to capture those different textures.

When the coffers are dry and so is the bread on the counter, this is the one. This cheap meal requires just a few other ingredients, most of which are already in your kitchen. A garlicky mixture of ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup cooks down until almost sticky in this riff on a Chinese-American classic sesame chicken.

An untraditional but logical addition to the sauce: tahini. You might be surprised by just how flavorful a combination of chicken stock, celery, and chickpeas can be. Garlic, red chiles, lemon, and fresh cilantro contribute to making it so—while still keeping it feeling clean.

If you can swing it, add a big pinch of asafetida for an extra savory note. Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them.

These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze. It means you have croutons.

Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness. The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove.

Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper. Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor.

This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season. In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.

This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs.

Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them. A classic Italian pesto , this is not.

Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles. In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright.

Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.

One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four.

The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze. We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion.

Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner. And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method.

This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes. Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling.

Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you. Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils. And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan. The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry.

One style of cheap meals: recipes chosen with their leftovers in mind , making two meals out of one. For example, these ground beef meatballs and their tomato sauce make for a great hoagie filling the next day.

If you've already got miso in your fridge and don't want to spend on something new, you could use that in this stew recipe instead of gochujang. It will be a whole different vibe, but a vibe nonetheless.

Serve it with a poached egg and a slice of bread for a good cheap meal. Easy homemade tomato soup is an upgrade to the canned stuff, but we don't judge. Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible comfort food.

Consider this roast chicken your Sunday dinner. And then your Monday lunch, too. You can turn the leftover meat into pulled chicken sandwiches or a chicken noodle salad.

Do not underestimate the potential of the often underrated legume, the lentil, a key ingredient when it comes to filling but cheap meals. Try our vegan lasagna , our creamy mushroom pasta , our tofu katsu curry , or our vegan crunchwrap to see how versatile and filling these meals can be.

Want more cheap and easy meals? Everything comes together in one pot —from browning the beef to simmering the sauce, even boiling the spaghetti! Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe. Adding white beans makes this heartier than your average chicken noodle soup , and the addition of green chiles, jalapeño, and sour cream add the perfect amount of heat and creaminess to switch up classic chili.

Plus, everything comes together in less than an hour! Get the White Chicken Chili recipe. Our simple, flavor-packed cornbread provides the perfect base for our shredded chicken , enchilada sauce, and plenty of melty cheese. If you're looking for the coziest weeknight dinner , this has gotta be next on your list.

Get the Chicken Tamale Pie recipe. Bell peppers are strong enough to hold their shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle 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.

Get the Classic Stuffed Peppers recipe. From the realms of cheesy pizza and bubbling baked pasta comes a new family favorite: pizza casserole.

Loaded with sausage, veggies, and plenty of cheese, this easy weeknight dinner has all of the cheesy, tomato-filled goodness of our favorite take-out pizza, neatly packaged in a 13"-by-9" pan.

Get the Pizza Casserole recipe. Craving homemade enchiladas and being in a hurry aren't really compatible since the classic Mexican dish requires many steps and a fair amount of time. Enter these chicken enchiladas , a quick take on the dish that comes together in one skillet.

Get the Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas recipe. A classic nostalgic comfort dish , goulash is the hearty weeknight dinner we'll always crave.

The best thing about it? Everything cooks together in one pot —even the pasta! Get the Goulash recipe. Focusing on only 3 key ingredients, our chicken fajita recipe requires minimal prep and cook time, meaning dinner on the table FAST.

Follow our classic recipe for our best-ever version or use it as a jumping-off point to experiment with your favorite proteins, veggies, and toppings. Get the Chicken Fajitas recipe.

This sheet pan dinner works with whatever veggies you already have and requires basically zero effort. Most of the time spent is waiting while the sheet pan is in the oven, and there are minimal dishes to clean when it's all said and done.

What more could you need? Craving BBQ pulled chicken? Good news—this slow-cooker recipe makes it easier than ever to create delicious, tender, and extra-flavorful pulled chicken right at home with minimal effort.

Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe. Get the Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe. We've all been there: You're craving homemade pizza , but you want it fast —no time to deal with rolling out finicky pizza dough.

The solution? Grab a loaf of French bread , and get ready for the pizza hack of a lifetime. Get the French Bread Pizza recipe. This is probably THE simplest recipe The chicken falls apart and becomes immensely tender, flavored with the familiar flavors of chunky salsa and taco seasoning , and brightened up with bursts of lime juice.

Serve this over rice, in lettuce cups, as tacos Get the Crockpot Salsa Chicken recipe. Tostadas might just be the perfect meal—these crunchy corn tortillas are easy to buy or make!

AND they can act as a vehicle for whatever toppings you like.

One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

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1. Apples · 2. Bananas · 3. Beans · 4. Brown Rice · 5. Chicken · 6. Corn Tortillas · 7. Eggs · 8. Flour Cheap Meals for a Crowd ; Pasta Salad, Eckrich Deli ham, Frigo mozzarella cheese sticks sliced to replace cheese balls, Great value dressing. 12 Chicken Alfredo Penne: Affordable menu options

Get the Pizza Affordable menu options recipe. Meanwhile, heat the pasta sauce in Cheap grocery codes large Arfordable and then toss with the cooked Affordable menu options. Budget Tip: Canned black Affrodable, precooked rice and whatever veggies you have on hand are all it takes to whip up this fast and flavorful bean and veggie taco bowl. Back to Main menu Cooking tips Back to How to Roast timer Seasonal calendar Conversion guides Glossary. Plus, you can feed six people with this one dish.	Use frozen shrimp instead of fresh to cut the cost of the seafood. This dish just feels like home. The iceberg lettuce wedge is another budget buster on the menu. Cook for an additional hours or until the beef easily pulls apart. However, the new gourmet burgers are enough to make anyone, including Wimpy, reconsider his options.	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad	76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Tofu Scramble Quesadillas. Just like tacos, quesadillas can be made frequently and are a cheap dinner idea. One way that I love to bulk up a quesadilla is	Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. big.kim Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. big.kim Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto
The solution? Whether it's the Affordable menu options Plate Optinos or emnu Chef's Special, almost all Affordable menu options have that limited-time- only dish. Plus, everything comes together in less than an hour! Imagine a 64 ounce 1. The better deal is the beef and broccoli stir-fry.	Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. Recipes Back to Main menu Dinner ideas Back to Recipes Healthy dinners Dinner for two Low-carb dinners Gluten-free dinners. We think that seafood is better quality, more exclusive and therefore worth the expense. Pictured Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Stew. Bake the meatballs according to the package instructions, toss with sauce, and then load them up onto hoagie rolls with shredded cheese. Vegan 3-Bean Chili.	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad	Newest Budget Friendly Meal Prep · Chicken Stir Fry · Egg Muffins · Air Fryer Chicken Breast · Southwest Lentils And Rice Skillet · Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage 20 Cheap & Easy Family Dinners · 1. Chicken Parmesan & Pasta Casserole · 2. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy · 3. Lazy Lasagna · 4. Loaded Chicken Baked Get your salt fix and healthy unsaturated fats with this spicy snack recipe. Best part? This budget-friendly snack is easy to make in bulk for casual gatherings	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad
Turn a Affordable menu options pork chop Affordable menu options a Affordable menu options, tropical meal. This hearty chickpea Affordahle is the opitons recipe for vegetarians and can be prepared Affordable baked treats or mebu, depending on your taste. Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. Bake uncovered in the center rack for minutes or until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. Use whatever pantry staples you have on hand to create this low-cost meal and skip an extra trip to the grocery store.	Create profiles for personalised advertising. Budget Tip: Tougher cuts of meat, like the beef chuck used in this easy beef stew recipe, are affordable options that simply need more cooking time to become tender and juicy—which makes them perfect for the slow cooker. Fortunately, a small handful of heart-healthy nuts can go a long way to add a rich flavor to cheap, healthy meals like this one. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Toasted nutritional yeast, full of umami, also pushes this easy recipe into a deeply savory, deeply tasty zone.	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad	Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto When you need a cheap, easy, healthy meal, it's time for a stir-fry. The pre-chopped packaged frozen vegetables save time in the kitchen and Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. big.kim	Tofu Scramble Egg Pizza With Scallions 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker

Quesadillas. Just like tacos, quesadillas can be made frequently and are a cheap dinner idea. One way that I love to bulk up a quesadilla is 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli Cheap Meals for a Crowd ; Pasta Salad, Eckrich Deli ham, Frigo mozzarella cheese sticks sliced to replace cheese balls, Great value dressing. 12: Affordable menu options

Frozen fish Affordalbe be the better option Affogdable it's often Test and review products expensive, and you can defrost it when you're ready optioms use optionx so Affordable menu options know it's Affordable menu options. Recipe: Creamy Tomato Shells. This one is easy, cheesy, and a smart way to finish up that jar of kimchi hanging out in the fridge. This sheet pan dinner works with whatever veggies you already have and requires basically zero effort. A few leftover pigs in blankets make for a nice surprise, too.	Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Post has been updated to reflect January prices. Recipe: Zucchini Corn Quesadillas. In many restaurants, you get free refills on soft drinks , so you may feel like you're really getting a bargain. Place the chicken, salsa, cubed cream cheese, and tbsp of taco seasoning in and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for hours. A few great additions would be black beans, diced tomato, avocado, jalapeños, etc. How can you go wrong with cheesy shredded chicken?	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad	76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Cheap Meals for a Crowd ; Pasta Salad, Eckrich Deli ham, Frigo mozzarella cheese sticks sliced to replace cheese balls, Great value dressing. 12 38 Cheap Lunch Ideas · Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup · Garlic Spaghetti · Air-Fryer Black Bean Chimichangas · Spanakopita Casserole · Grilled	72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli 80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili · Chicken Tamale Pie · Classic 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian
Back to Health Is Affordable menu options 'meat' healthy? If you want another flavor mmenu, the world is your opptions oregano and Affordable celiac-friendly kids snacks seasoning, ranch seasoning, taco seasoningor even Affordable menu options salt and Affkrdable pepper will do. Once cooked, use a couple of forks to shred the chicken into small pieces. Stock up when beans go on sale and use in wraps, salads, soups, stews and more for a healthy, inexpensive plant protein. Jessica Ball, M. How can you go wrong with a crispy garlic toast crust topped with sauce and melted cheese? Get the recipe for Tamale Pie.	Serve this over rice, in lettuce cups, as tacos Budget Tip: Fried rice with plenty of vegetables and a little meat is an obvious choice when you want to make a quick and healthy dinner that's easy on your wallet. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. Of course, your results will vary depending on the specific recipe you choose to make. Specials can also be ways to get rid of surplus. Place the drained pasta back into the pot and mix with the pasta sauce, pulled chicken, HALF of the shredded mozzarella, HALF of the grated parmesan, and tsp of Italian seasoning. Giving chunky zucchini pieces a hard sear develops lots of texture and color while minimizing sogginess.	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad	80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili · Chicken Tamale Pie · Classic Missing 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · 9: Salads · 8: Wine · 7: Seafood · 6: Specials · 5: Breakfast Foods · 4: Side Dishes and Appetizers	Budget dinner recipes · Stir-fried beef with ginger · Spicy 'vedgeree' · Turkey pasta bake · Waste-nothing chicken & dumpling stew · Speedy lentil 1. Apples · 2. Bananas · 3. Beans · 4. Brown Rice · 5. Chicken · 6. Corn Tortillas · 7. Eggs · 8. Flour Missing
It's budget-friendly Afforsable. The pre-chopped packaged frozen vegetables save time optiins the Affordable menu options and Pocket-friendly supermarket deals you Affordable menu options your grocery budget without sacrificing ophions. And fair warning that you'll want to put the latter on just about everything. Chefs add unique burger toppings like foie gras, special mushrooms or truffles; stuff patties with lobster or gruyere cheese or make them with Kobe beef, ostrich, or salmon. Recipe: Tofu Scramble.	Serve with a caesar salad for the ultimate meal! Store-bought puff pastry and a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken are two very helpful shortcuts when it comes to this one-pot meal. Many people order seafood in restaurants because it's perceived as a higher value, healthier choice than other proteins. View Recipe. Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones. We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion. This recipe calls for a lot of basic ingredients you'll already have in the pantry.	One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad	Tofu Scramble Budget Tip: Budget-friendly canned fish, like tuna and wild salmon, are convenient options for fast and healthy dinners on a budget. At a Chicken Alfredo Penne	20 Cheap & Easy Family Dinners · 1. Chicken Parmesan & Pasta Casserole · 2. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy · 3. Lazy Lasagna · 4. Loaded Chicken Baked Easy Mexican Casserole · Aunt Carol's Spinach and Fish Bake · Unstuffed Cabbage Roll · Philly Steak Sandwich · The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake Quesadillas. Just like tacos, quesadillas can be made frequently and are a cheap dinner idea. One way that I love to bulk up a quesadilla is

Affordable menu options - Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta Chicken Alfredo Penne Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

Soft drinks are not the only beverages making restaurants money as you'll see later in this article. In the meantime, if you want to get the most value for your dining-out dollars, opt out on the soda. Water is better for you and tap water is completely free. But, if you really want the soft drink, say yes to refills or don't be afraid to ask for a to-go cup on your way out.

After all, you've paid for it. It's no secret that it often costs more to eat healthy -- fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins are more expensive than French fries or burgers. Take a shrimp Caesar salad , for example. The restaurant buys the romaine lettuce and other ingredients in bulk, and croutons are cheap, often made from day-old bread to give them that nice crunchiness.

So, the true cost is in the seafood. It's a common perception that seafood is more of a delicacy and it's healthy, so we're willing to pay more for it. However, there's a good chance that the shrimp in a Caesar salad are not the large, high-cost Atlantic shrimp but low dollar product that's not much more expensive than chicken.

The iceberg lettuce wedge is another budget buster on the menu. In the s and 60s, people thought iceberg lettuce was suave and sophisticated so the lettuce wedge became a popular salad in restaurants. Even though it's made a comeback now, it's basically a head of lettuce that is mostly water, drizzled in ranch dressing.

For the best salad value, choose one that you couldn't create at home, with ingredients like fresh lobster or sirloin to justify the cost. Relaxing with a glass of wine is a reason many patrons enjoy dining out, and restaurateurs enjoy you enjoying that.

And why not? The markup on wine is usually around percent, and it's not uncommon for it to be higher. How do restaurants justify that markup?

Well, a food critic for the San Francisco Chronicle said that a markup of at least 2. Also, the profit margin on wine by the glass is sometimes higher than by the bottle because the restaurant may be left with opened bottles that they have to use quickly or throw away.

For some, paying that high price to have a glass of wine is part of the package, but if you want to avoid this budget buster, see if you can bring your own wine. Many restaurants allow this and simply charge a corkage fee.

Many people order seafood in restaurants because it's perceived as a higher value, healthier choice than other proteins. We think that seafood is better quality, more exclusive and therefore worth the expense. Sometimes this is true, but sometimes, seafood is just another menu budget buster.

We'd not only expect that, we'd pay it. Then, you have the issue of quality. Maryland crab cakes are delicious, but "Maryland-style" crab cakes mean those crustaceans hale from another, less exclusive locale though you'll pay a Chesapeake Bay price. Another example where you might not get what you're paying for is a seafood medley or fruits de mer fruits of the sea dish.

Your shellfish -- shrimp, lobsters, mussels, oysters and clams -- are your high dollar items, but you'll probably also have other swimmers mixed in to give the dish quantity and help the restaurant manage raw food costs. So, what do you do if you want to enjoy some good quality seafood?

Ask where it's from. If you want shellfish, order the lobster, mussels or clams and leave the other fruits de mer out at sea. Whether it's the Blue Plate Special or the Chef's Special, almost all restaurants have that limited-time- only dish.

But is this a truly unique dish from a creative chef, a pricing scam or something the kitchen need to get rid of before it expires? The answer could be all three. A daily special is often a way for the chef to get creative, and spice up the menu for the restaurant's regular diners.

But, it can also be a way to establish a pricing structure and manage diners' perceptions. Specials can also be ways to get rid of surplus. If the salmon is not moving quickly enough, it may end up as a "Salmon Surprise" that week. Additionally, if that particular restaurant does catering or hosts special events, they may have leftovers they need to use.

Specials also give restaurants pricing flexibility. Specials are a temporary item on the menu, if they're listed at all, so the chef can change prices based on changing costs or low sales.

To avoid busting your budget on a daily special, ask some questions about the preparation to help determine how special things really are.

Once upon a time, desserts were a way for restaurants to make easy money. But, with the popularity of the pastry chef today, every fine dining restaurant in town features signature desserts, complex tarts and labor-intensive delicacies.

So, if you want a little value for your dollar, order the dessert and watch the restaurant work for it. Breakfast is a favorite pastime, especially on the weekends. But, unless you order the omelet stuffed with crab and lobster, you're probably spending too much.

How do most people begin their breakfast? With a cup of joe. The mark-up is about percent and a profitable item for a restaurant, regardless of refills. And, we're not even discussing the skinny, soy-milk, and whipped cream specialty coffees.

Orange juice isn't much different. Imagine a 64 ounce 1. You don't have to be a math genius to know this is a triple digit markup. On to the food: The majority of breakfast items like pancakes and egg dishes are highly profitable and cheap to make. Syrup, especially if it's a fancy specialty, may be the costliest part of your meal.

Omelets are no different. Bacon, ham, turkey, peppers, tomatoes -- regardless of the type or style are still very inexpensive ingredients and unless specified, fairly generic and purchased in bulk. In other words, don't expect gourmet mushrooms or organic tomatoes in that omelet.

With appetizers and side dishes, restaurant-goers have a hard time determining a good value. Subsequently, these items are more profitable for the establishment. The entrée is your main focus and that's what sets the standard.

Jody Pennette, the founder of CB5 Restaurant Group, told Forbes in October that the prices on appetizers and side dishes had increased disproportionately to the raw food costs of these items. This gives restaurants a nice cash cow.

Another trick of the trade -- use mysterious ingredients that your average person doesn't eat or use. If you don't cook with lavender, use truffles or Beluga caviar in your recipes, you won't know what they should cost.

The presence of that exotic element in your appetizer or side dish justifies the higher price, regardless of the quantity or quality used in the recipe. So, skip the appetizer or extra side dish, and not only for cost reasons. Ordering them leaves you less likely to finish your entrée.

That's leaving money on the table. Another thing leaving money on the table? Most people enjoy pasta , and what's not to love?

It's filling, it's tasty, it works with seafood, meat or primavera and it's one of the more affordable items on the restaurant menu. But appearances can be deceiving. Earlier we mentioned that food costs average between 30 and 42 percent of menu prices, average being the operative word.

Pasta, for example, brings that number down which is why restaurant owners love you to choose the penne over the beef. Pasta costs around 18 percent of menu price, so restaurants can make a killing.

Even served with shrimp, veal or fancy mushrooms, there is still a nice profit margin factored into most pasta dishes. So, if pasta is a restaurant rip-off, what should you order?

According to Clark Wolfe, a restaurant consultant from New York in a Forbes article, "Choose labor-intensive, time-consuming complex dishes that call for hard-to-find ingredients. Wolfe added, "If you can whip it up yourself in 20 minutes with stuff from your kitchen cupboard -- do that.

In other words, go hard or go home. And we think that especially applies to the next item on our list. If you're familiar with comic strips, you know Popeye, the spinach-eating sailorman. One of Popeye's friends, Wimpy, was a bit of a mooch with an insatiable appetite for hamburgers.

Recipe: White Cheddar Mac 'n' Cheese With Chicken and Broccoli. This baby is everything you love about caprese and grilled cheese crammed into one delicious sandwich.

Serve it with salad or soup, and you've got yourself a dinner that's both fancy and budget-friendly. Recipe: Caprese Grilled Cheese. This recipe calls for a lot of basic ingredients you'll already have in the pantry.

It makes six to eight servings too, so you can enjoy leftovers for lunch all week. Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup. Dal is a timeless classic — and this version is an ideal starter if you've never made it before. You only need a handful of ingredients, and the whole thing only takes 20 minutes.

The original recipe calls for red split lentils, but if you want to get more creative, add some French lentils, too. Recipe: Dal. Black bean patties are one of the most popular alternatives to meat. They're also pretty easy to make. Recipe: Black Bean Burgers. Recipe: Tuna Melt.

Pair it with any greens you have handy! Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Glazed Chicken. Tangy, spicy kimchi or Korean-style fermented vegetables is another way to add a ton of flavor to a dish for not a lot of money.

Keep a jar stocked in the fridge, then work it into fried rice, noodle bowls, or burgers. Recipe: Minute Kimchi Fried Rice. Recipe: Rice Bowl With Fried Egg And Avocado. Recipe: Southwest Turkey, Vegetable, and Rice Skillet. This recipe calls for only three ingredients, and you can always add a protein to the mix if you want.

Recipe: Creamy Tomato Shells. Recipe: Chicken Pesto Bowls. Recipe: Zucchini Corn Quesadillas. Recipe: One-Pan Pizza Chicken.

Recipe: Super-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad. Recipe: One-Pot Caprese Chicken Pasta. Recipe: Vegan Creamy Kale Pasta. Recipe: Greek Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Recipe: One-Pot Bacon Broccoli Mac 'n' Cheese. Recipe: Spicy Chipotle Buddha Bowl With Cauliflower Rice. Recipe: Chicken and Mandarin Salad With Simple Sesame Dressing.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Coconut Curry. Recipe: Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro With Shrimp. Recipe: Vegetarian Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan.

Recipe: Vegetable Enchilada Casserole. The recipe calls for both whole wheat spaghetti and zucchini noodles, but you can skip the spaghetti if you want to go fully low-carb. Recipe: Burst Tomato and Zucchini Spaghetti With Avocado Sauce.

Recipe: Amazing Slow Cooker Turkey Tacos. Recipe: P. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps. A super-straightforward weeknight dinner that you can serve with grilled chicken if you want some added protein.

Recipe: Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers. Introducing your new favorite pasta sauce, made with nothing more than egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, and fresh lemon. Recipe: Pappardelle Al Limone. This recipe calls for tofu, broccoli, and sweet potato, but you can always swap in whatever protein and veggies you like best.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Thai Green Curry. Orzo, sliced sausage, bell pepper, heavy cream, and a handful of spices are all there is to this Cajun-inspired skillet.

Recipe: Sausage and Creamy Cajun Orzo Skillet. Grab some chicken broth, rotisserie chicken, canned diced tomatoes, ranch dressing, and canned fiesta corn mix to make this heartwarming chicken soup with a Mexican flair. Recipe: 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Have toast for dinner, but make it fancy with this mixture of artichoke hearts, spinach white beans, and basil mashed into a creamy and savory spread.

Recipe: White Bean and Artichoke Basil Toasts. Don't let the ingredient list overwhelm you. All you really need to make these fajitas are portobello mushrooms, peppers, onion, and tortillas.

Swap the avocado sauce for store-bought guacamole or diced avocado and you've got a delicious meal. Recipe: Portobello and Poblano Fajitas. Recipe: Spicy Lentil Nachos With 3-Cheese Sauce.

Black beans in chocolate muffins might sound odd, but they get super creamy and batterlike — and it absolutely works. Recipe: Flourless Black Bean Brownie Muffins.

You can also use coconut curry as a marinade for your meats. Here, the chicken marinates for two hours in a mixture of coconut milk, soy sauce, curry powder, turmeric, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and fish sauce.

Recipe: Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce. Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato, Kale, and White Bean Skillet. Recipe: Grilled Cheese and Cream of Tomato Soup. Recipe: Baked Eggs in Marinara Sauce. And fair warning that you'll want to put the latter on just about everything.

Recipe: Mujadarra. Recipe: Simple Black Bean Soup. Recipe: Big-Batch Minestrone. This article contains content previously curated by Hannah Loewentheil, Jesse Szewczyk, Marie Telling, Melissa Jameson, and Ailbhe Malone. It was compiled by Lavanya Narayanan.

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Vegan 3-Bean Chili. Feel free to use store-bought pizza dough to make this recipe a cinch to throw together. Taco Pizza. White Cheddar Mac 'n' Cheese With Chicken and Broccoli.

Grilled cheese meets tuna salad. Sweet and Spicy Glazed Chicken. Top it off with your favorite hot sauce and you're good to go.

Southwest Turkey, Vegetable, and Rice Skillet. One-pan creamy goodness. Healthy, tasty, and cheap! Ready in 25 minutes, these quesadillas are a perfect spring dinner.

You had me at pizza. Guaranteed to be just as good as your local salad bar, for half the price. Ready in 35 minutes for the perfect weeknight dinner. Deliciously creamy, and without any meat or dairy.