Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious. Freeze half of these burgers to pull out during those times when you get the craving for fast food.

Just add heat; you already paid. Here are our favorite ways to prove that a cheap meal can also be the best meal. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness. View Recipe. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua.

Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. Photo by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht.

Photography by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro, Food Styling Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen.

Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones. Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen.

Photograph by Julian Cousins, Food styling by Adriana Paschen. Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones. Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio.

Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Billingskog. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova. Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou.

Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Heather Greene. Alex Lau. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics.

Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Maggie Ruggiero, prop styling by Sophia Pappas. Photo by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Haubert, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky. Photo by Alex Lau. Food styling by Susie Theodorou. Photography by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jamie.

Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova. Photo and Food Styling by Emma Fishman. Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton.

Photograph by Emma Fishman. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime. Photo by Chelsie Craig, styling by Molly Baz. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Pearl Jones. With only six ingredients, these enchiladas are a breeze to make. Grab your favorite toppings—like cilantro, jalapeños, hot sauce, guacamole, or sour cream—if you want to dress it up once it comes out of the oven.

These "Sneaky" Sloppy Joes earn their name from the addition of onions, bell peppers, and budget-friendly lentils into the meaty mix. and get those veggies in without a struggle," says Andie. Five ingredients pack a serious punch of flavor in this savory tater tot casserole. Cream of chicken soup melts into the browned beef and mixed vegetables creating a rich filling, while crispy and crunchy tots take the limelight.

There's nothing quite like a ready-to-eat Reuben. This classic hot sandwich features piles of steaming thinly sliced corned beef and sauerkraut with a mixture of melted Swiss and creamy Thousand Island.

This wallet-conscious and healthy one-pot meal is also kid-friendly, according to StephR "This is incredibly easy, delicious, and spicy! Taste-test approved by a very picky 3-year-old. Encrusted with a mayo-and-potato-chip outer layer, this skillet-toasted tuna melt gets extra crunch, perfectly complementing its gooey and melty cheese center.

Minced red onions, pickles, and Dijon lend a vibrance to the tuna mixture; while, sharp Irish cheddar brings it all together. When Chef John proclaims a dish is a hit, you'd better believe it.

Who doesn't love juicy, fall-off-the bone chicken in flavorful Greek spices? This four-ingredient red curry chicken is hassle-free and inexpensive to make, especially when compared to takeout prices. If desired, substitute white rice for the rice vermicelli noodles, or garnish with cilantro, green onions, or red chile peppers.

Simmered tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, and spices are topped with eggs that cook sunny-side-up in this traditional Tunisian and Israeli dish. Serve with warm, crusty bread or pita for dipping into this mouthwatering mixture.

This family-friendly casserole is guaranteed to please. Kids love it! This one is a keeper! Get the recipe for Beef Enchiladas. Want to make your whole family feel taken care of? Treat them to a baked pasta dish. It's easy, it's cheap, and it's super filling. Get the recipe for Classic Stuffed Shells.

Who's in the mood for a minute dinner? Besides gnocchi and frozen spinach, all you need for this meal is some cream, some cheese, and a few pantry spices. Get the recipe for Gnocchi with Creamed Spinach. Tuna salad has been the centerpiece of a number of cheap and easy snack dinners in our household.

Add some crackers, some cheese, a little fresh fruit, and you've got a meal! Get the recipe for Tuna Salad. Broken noodles simmer in a tomato broth with sausage and spinach, capped off with a big dollop of blended cheese.

Get the recipe for Lasagna Soup. An easy way to save on dinner costs? Have breakfast for dinner. This simple but delicious mix of eggs, tortillas, and sausage is a fun way to go all out while still saving some cash. Get the recipe for Migas with Chorizo.

If you're craving a tasty pasta dish that's a little more grown-up than jarred red sauce, give this dish a whirl. We're pretty sure it'll become a regular part of your dinner plans. Get the recipe for Salmon and Creamed Spinach Fettuccini.

We always seem to have the makings for tuna salad around, and elbow macaroni is not expensive. So when we're on a budget, this tuna mac makes a dinner that's fun, filling, and fast. Get the recipe for Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad. Is there a more classic cheap dinner than mac 'n cheese? Especially because this recipe shows you how to cook the pasta and make the sauce all in the same pot, no draining required!

Get the recipe for Easy-Peasy Stovetop Mac 'n Cheesy. Known around the Upper Midwest as "hot dish," this pure comfort-food classic is easy, inexpensive, and plate-lickingly good.

Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples big.kim › Meals & Cooking › Recipe Headquarters 80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili

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