Use white potatoes if you like, which are cheaper, and any spices you already have in your pantry. Leftovers are delicious any time of day - I like to serve with scrambled eggs for leftover breakfast. Spicy Quinoa and Black Beans is made in one pot in about 30 minutes. Sub any color bell pepper you want if the red is too pricey, and feel free to omit the cilantro.

You can also use rice instead of quinoa which is cheaper and often more accessible. I love this as a full dinner because it has protein from both the feta cheese AND eggs - the eggs are incorporated into the sauce, similar to a carbonara.

It's packed with healthy spinach. Buy block feta and crumble it yourself to save money it tastes better freshly crumbled, too!

You can use any kind of pasta you want, so buy what's on sale, or use a whole wheat or chickpea pasta for an extra boost of nutrition. Don't skip the fresh lemon though - it really brings it all together. Want more protein? Fry some eggs and serve them on top!

Shepherd's pie is something I made over and over when I was a student, and again as a teacher, when I was very strapped for cash. You can easily make half a recipe, or, my favorite- assemble two in smaller casserole dishes while you are cooking and pop one in the freezer for later.

Leftovers are great for packing in lunches. This is one of those hearty meals that will leave you feeling full! Save money by buying ground beef in the larger bulk packages, as well as potatoes. Black Beans and Rice is so easy to whip up in only 10 minutes.

It also uses mostly pantry ingredients so it's great when you don't have time to go to the store for fresh things. All you need are a couple cans of black beans, onion, and spices. While the recipe calls for fresh cilantro and lime, which are delicious in it, you can skip them and be fine.

I recommend serving with any veggie you have, or you can add bell peppers, corn, tomatoes, or other veggies to the bean mixture, for added nutrition. If you opt for bulk chicken thighs and use frozen green beans and canned tomatoes, you'll save some money making this easy slow cooker Greek green beans and chicken thighs.

Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken. This recipe calls for four thighs, but if you want to add 8 to the pot to make more servings, that will work well.

As a bonus, the leftovers taste amazing. From Budget Bytes. This recipe calls for chorizo, but you can easily omit it to save money or make it vegetarian. You'll need canned black beans, 8 eggs, and some frozen corn as the main ingredients here. Again, skip the cilantro if you want.

Since the eggs are the star of the show here, if you can, I recommend pasture-raised or organic, which will taste better, but any eggs will do. Serve with tortilla chips to make this meal go further. This recipe roasts potatoes in an oven safe skillet, such as cast iron. Then, spinach is added along with a jar of marinara sauce, eggs cracked directly in, and covered in cheese.

It's baked again until the eggs are cooked and cheese is melted. I used to make this without the cheese when I was doing the Whole You can omit the fresh rosemary or use another spice or herb mixture of your choice.

The potatoes take a while to cook but are fuss-free, so just be sure to plan ahead. The potatoes add a lot of substance and absorb all the delicious flavors from everything! I'm a big fan of a quiche any time of day, including dinner. Even better if you don't have to fuss with a crust!

This crustless quiche is packed with healthy broccoli, eggs, and cheese. You can add bacon or ham if you want. Bisquick, or a mix of flour and baking powder, is mixed right in the batter to result in a fluffy quiche. And the leftovers are perfect for breakfast or lunch. I make this recipe almost weekly for my family.

You can use ground beef, lamb, or turkey, so you can get whatever is on sale. While this recipe uses fresh or dried mint, if you don't have that, I've made it with dried oregano before with great results.

It's an interesting combination of spices including cinnamon that you'll love! You'll also need a can of tomato paste and some orzo for the other main ingredients. This dutch oven chicken breast recipe is juicy, simple, and creamy, too! From The Oregon Dietician. This protein-packed stew is so healthy, with chicken, black beans, and healthy sweet potatoes.

It's got a great flavor from smoked paprika and tomatoes. You can easily omit the chicken and still have a healthy balanced vegetarian meal. It calls for rotisserie or already cooked chicken - to save money, you can cook your own chicken, though rotisserie chickens are often pretty inexpensive and the work's already done.

It comes together in 30 minutes. Swap out white pasta for whole wheat or chickpea pasta for an extra boost of nutrition! You could also double up the amount of beans to make it extra hearty. I love a good meatball when I'm looking for a cheap meal. You can form meatballs in advance to save some time at dinner, or freeze half for later if you're cooking for one or two!

This Instant Pot chicken pasta is a dump and go recipe that will for sure enter your weekly dinner rotation.

From Simple Living Recipes. If you like hamburger helper, you'll love this healthier homemade option! Tuna melts are those things I make when I am scrambling for dinner and don't feel like cooking. Just whip up a quick tuna salad, top some halved english muffins with it, add a slice of cheese, and bake until warm and melty!

Canned tuna is cheap and healthy, and for a boost of nutrition you can use whole wheat or sprouted grain English Muffins. I like to serve them with whatever fruit or veggies I have lying around. Because you use dried beans for this recipe, it's so much cheaper than using canned beans and your slow cooker does all the work for you!

I do recommend soaking the beans before cooking this, so you'll need to plan ahead a bit, but you only need a few minutes of prep. Potatoes are really cheap and very filling, making them one of the best budget meals.

Simply bake them or even microwave them , and then top with butter, seasoning, chicken, sour cream, bacon bits, onion, or anything else you have on hand. Kids love them, and each one can be customized to their liking. How can you go wrong with cheesy shredded chicken? You can take it up a notch by adding diced onions, chopped garlic, herbs, cheese, etc.

Serve with a side of mashed potatoes and veggies for the ultimate comfort food. All the flavors of a cheeseburger but in the form of a pasta casserole! I recommend using your favorite frozen chicken nugget brand.

Chicken tenders or strips work great, too. The first time I made this dish, I was completely shocked at how flavorful and delicious it was. The ingredients sound simple, but the combination is heavenly.

Are you looking for last minute dinner ideas? These mini pizzas are super fun and easy to make with just 3 ingredients plus the toppings of your choice. How can you go wrong with a crispy garlic toast crust topped with sauce and melted cheese?

Frozen chicken comes to the rescue again! I love the idea of using crunchy chicken strips to make tortilla wraps. Whatever you have on hand! For some reason, baking pasta is a total game changer. The cheese gets that irresistible toasty flavor, and the pasta seems to absorb all of the amazing sauce.

This meat sauce casserole includes cream cheese, making it extra rich and scrumptious. Simply place your roast in your slow cooker with a few seasoning packets before you head out the door, and your house will smell like heaven when you get back.

Such a cheap and easy dinner idea that takes very little effort. Bake the meatballs according to the package instructions, toss with sauce, and then load them up onto hoagie rolls with shredded cheese. My mouth is watering just talking about it!

This crockpot soup has amazing reviews! The great thing about these tacos is that you can use any shredded chicken including rotisserie, canned, leftovers, etc.

My family likes to serve them with guacamole for dipping! You can also try these with taco seasoned ground beef. I did some experimenting with fewer and cheaper ingredients, and it actually turned out better with less hassle!

You can even buy prepared mashed potatoes at most grocery stores, making it extra lazy. Classic quesadillas with a fun twist! Load them up with pizza toppings like pepperoni, olives, and jalapeños, and then dip them in pizza sauce.

Fun, easy, and delicious! For some reason I only think of hot dogs for backyard BBQs, but boy do kids love eating them as a special treat on a regular day inside!

With only 5 ingredients you can make this fun and easy weeknight meal that your kids will absolutely love! Skip to main content Skip to secondary menu Skip to primary sidebar Home Recipes About Contact. If you're a busy parent with a family to feed, you've come to the right place.

These quick and easy budget meals are simple to make with just a few basic ingredients. In a large pan or pot, cook and drain the pasta according the package directions. 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.

Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes over medium-low heat and then spread it evenly onto the bottom of your baking dish; sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over top. In a small bowl, mix together the panko bread crumbs, melted butter and garlic powder; sprinkle it evenly over the top of the casserole.

Bake uncovered on the center rack for about 15 minutes or until the panko crust turns golden brown. Full Printable Recipe.

In your crockpot, whisk together the water, cream of chicken soup, and both packets of chicken gravy mix. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and use a spoon to cover them well with the gravy mixture. Cover and cook on LOW for hours or until the chicken shreds easily.

Once cooked, use a couple of forks to shred the chicken into small pieces. Stir in the sour cream and allow it to warm for an additional 15 minutes. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta.

Lazy Lasagna This is seriously the laziest meal you will ever make. Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce. Top with half of the remaining sauce and half of the mozzarella. Finish by topping with the remaining sauce and mozzarella. Sprinkle the top with parmesan. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the foil, and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese starts to brown. Loaded Chicken Baked Potatoes Potatoes are really cheap and very filling, making them one of the best budget meals.

Microwave for about 5 minutes on a paper towel or bake in a degree oven for about 45 minutes or until soft. Smash the insides with a fork and mix in a few tablespoons of butter, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper to taste.

Crockpot Creamy Chicken Tacos How can you go wrong with cheesy shredded chicken? Place the chicken, salsa, cubed cream cheese, and tbsp of taco seasoning in and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for hours. Shred with a fork and let the chicken absorb the salsa mixture for at least 15 more minutes.

Serve in soft tortillas, taco shells, or over a bed of lettuce. In a large bowl, mix together the dry stuffing mix, ground beef, eggs, water and HALF of the ketchup. Fill the prepared pan with your mixture and use your hands to evenly squish it down into the pan. Top it with the remaining ketchup and spread it evenly over the top.

You can also use BBQ sauce, chili sauce, or a combination of sauces. Bake for minutes it takes about 50 minutes in my oven. Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole All the flavors of a cheeseburger but in the form of a pasta casserole! Meanwhile, preheat your oven to degrees and grease and 9×13 baking dish.

In a large skillet, brown and chop the ground beef with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the cooked pasta, tomato soup, a half cup of water and HALF of the cheese to your skillet with the browned beef; stir and cook for minutes over medium heat.

With just a few simple ingredients, these cheap dinner ideas are satisfying and delicious. Save money on your next trip to the grocery store A good way to find new recipes is to search for “recipe” and an ingredient(s) you want to use. It's a good way to use up things you already big.kim › Meals & Cooking › Recipe Headquarters

Inexpensive recipe finds - Missing With just a few simple ingredients, these cheap dinner ideas are satisfying and delicious. Save money on your next trip to the grocery store A good way to find new recipes is to search for “recipe” and an ingredient(s) you want to use. It's a good way to use up things you already big.kim › Meals & Cooking › Recipe Headquarters

You could also double up the amount of beans to make it extra hearty. I love a good meatball when I'm looking for a cheap meal. You can form meatballs in advance to save some time at dinner, or freeze half for later if you're cooking for one or two!

This Instant Pot chicken pasta is a dump and go recipe that will for sure enter your weekly dinner rotation. From Simple Living Recipes. If you like hamburger helper, you'll love this healthier homemade option!

Tuna melts are those things I make when I am scrambling for dinner and don't feel like cooking. Just whip up a quick tuna salad, top some halved english muffins with it, add a slice of cheese, and bake until warm and melty!

Canned tuna is cheap and healthy, and for a boost of nutrition you can use whole wheat or sprouted grain English Muffins. I like to serve them with whatever fruit or veggies I have lying around. Because you use dried beans for this recipe, it's so much cheaper than using canned beans and your slow cooker does all the work for you!

I do recommend soaking the beans before cooking this, so you'll need to plan ahead a bit, but you only need a few minutes of prep. Come home to a delicious meal all ready to go.

Stovetop and Instant Pot instructions also included. Greek Lentil Soup is so healthy and nutritious and packed with flavor. If you have fresh herbs growing, it's a great excuse to use a bunch of them, but you can also use dried.

A bag of lentils only costs a couple bucks and this batch serves Feel free to omit the red wine, use water instead of stock, and decrease the olive oil to save some money.

I always stick half the batch in my freezer for another meal later. Your email address will not be published.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Great suggestions, Elizabeth!

In this day and time and with a not to rosy outlook, we are going to have to make some adjustments away from meat centric meals to other high protein ingredients. We are trying in our home. They go along way and leftovers freeze really well.

Waste not, want not! Meals like you suggested are very delicious and satisfying. Keep those recipes coming!! Hope you and your family are doing well. Many thanks from your friends on the Eastern Shore of MD for your hard work! You make it easy for us. So glad you liked these suggestions and thanks for taking the time to write this comment!

I keep an inventory list on the fridge of what I have in freezer. It works as well as looking at a restaurant menu! But I have to remember…. label and date containers before they get tucked away. I just use masking tape! Tacky, but it works.

I do the same thing! And I used to use masking tape but now I use a dry erase marker, which washes right off of containers. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Home Recipes Shop About About the Blogger Press FAQs Contact Work With Me Sponsorships, Collaborations, and more Blogging Income Why are Food Blog Posts so Long?

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Home » Budget Meals » 20 Cheap Dinner Recipe Ideas. Sheet Pan Sausage and Sweet Potatoes. Spicy Quinoa and Black Beans.

Spanakopita Pasta Spanakopasta! Easy Shepherd's Pie. Quick and Easy Black Beans and Rice. Slow Cooker Greek-Style Green Beans and Chicken Thighs. Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet. Chorizo and Black Bean Huevos Rancheros.

Baked Eggs with Potatoes, Spinach, and Marinara. Crustless Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche. Manestra Greek-Style Orzo with Ground Beef. Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables.

Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Black beans. Easy Tuscan White Bean Pasta Recipe - Budget Bytes. Simple Chicken Parmesan Meatballs. Instant Pot Chicken Pasta - Dump and Go Recipe. Photo Credit: simplelivingrecipes. One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta - One Pot Pasta. English Muffin Tuna Melts.

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup Instant Pot and Stovetop Friendly. Greek Lentil Soup Fakes Soupa. Pan-Seared Salmon Bites with Honey Sesame Soy Sauce ». Kids won't know the difference, and everyone will think it's totally delicious!

Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. This dish just feels like home. It gives you everything you want in a meal: the healthiness of vegetables, the protein of chicken, and the delightful texture of a biscuit. This recipe takes less than half an hour to make.

So what are you waiting for? Get rid of that idea in your head that cooking seafood is hard! It's that easy! Recipe: One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. This dish is so delicious, you won't believe it only calls for a handful of ingredients.

The secret is pairing pesto with mozzarella cheese — it's always a crowd pleaser. This recipe makes 4 servings, so you can have it as leftovers, invite friends over, or eat it all — we wouldn't blame you. Recipe: Pesto Chicken Bake. Great news! This dish is super easy and quick! to make.

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. Recipe: Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne.

Who doesn't like fried rice? With brown rice, peas, carrots, eggs and scallions, this dish is a classic. This veggie fried rice is also a great call if you get home hungry — Instant Pot to the rescue!

Recipe: Healthier Veggie Fried Rice. Let's just face the facts: quinoa in salad is elite. This salad is a vegetarian's dream, with a refreshing combo of cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach. Top it all off with a lemony dressing to really seal the deal. Recipe: Avocado Quinoa Power Salad.

Stir-fry is always a good idea. This recipe is flexible, since we all know stir-fry can be made with everything and the kitchen sink and still taste delicious! You can even switch out the rice for noodles for a change in texture.

This recipe is easy and delicious — and, even better, you can swap out some of the vegetables for ones already in your fridge. If you have tofu, dijon, and something green, you are most of the way there.

Get scrambling! Recipe: Tofu Scramble. It only takes 15 minutes to whip up this simple-but-satisfying masterpiece.

Plus, the whole recipe only requires one pan. So not only will cooking be easy, but so will clean up! Recipe: Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara. Craving sushi but don't want to go out?

We got you. Even better, the recipe is flexible, so you can swap out the veggies or protein for whatever you happen to have on hand. Recipe: Sushi Bowl. The recipe calls for a mixture of kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, but of course you can swap in whatever canned beans or grains that are already in your kitchen.

Recipe: Vegan 3-Bean Chili. Recipe: Egg Pizza With Scallions. This hearty chickpea masala is the perfect recipe for vegetarians and can be prepared spicy or mild, depending on your taste. The recipe calls for a splash of heavy cream, but you can use coconut milk to keep it vegan.

Recipe: Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala. This easy, kid-friendly dish starts with crescent roll dough on the bottom, then it's loaded with ground beef, cheese, and any of your favorite taco toppings. Recipe: Taco Pizza. This recipe uses baby kale to stuff the toast cups, but feel free to use spinach or arugula if kale isn't your favorite.

Recipe: Bacon and Egg Toast Cups. Feel free to use any hearty veggies you have on hand in place of the beets and radishes. Brussels sprouts, diced sweet potatoes, and carrots would all work well. Recipe: Baked Eggs With Roasted Vegetables.

This creamy mac 'n' cheese is loaded with all kinds of good stuff, like white cheddar, broccoli, and seared chicken. Leave out the chicken.

Broccoli isn't your favorite? Feel free to substitute it with whatever vegetables you have on hand. 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.

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