Eating healthy and delicious meals doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little planning and creativity, you can easily cook delicious dinners that are also budget-friendly.
In this post, we share a collection of our favorite budget-friendly dinner recipes. These recipes are all easy to make and use affordable ingredients that you can find at most grocery stores.
Ground Chicken Burgers
Ground chicken is a cheaper and healthier alternative to other ground meats. Make these chicken burgers in the air fryer, pan fried or bake in the oven. This hearty chicken burger is a filling meal that won’t break the bank.
Get the recipe: Chicken Burgers.
Chicken Barley Soup
Shredded chicken with veggies and barley is full flavor and fulfilling. An easy one-pot meal, this inexpensive dinner makes enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.
Get the recipe: Chicken Barley Soup
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Spice up dinner with this easy air fryer sweet and sour chicken. Cubed chicken breasts (or use chicken thighs to save a little money), red and green bell peppers, an onion and canned pineapple chunks are all budget friendly ingredients.
Get the recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Air Fryer Chicken Quarters
Chicken leg quarters are usually a fraction of the cost of breasts. This recipe cooks them in the air fryer for a flavorful meal that is cheap and easy.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Quarters.
Pesto Pasta
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this flavorful pesto pasta. Use store-bought pesto sauce to save extra dollars instead of making your own. This budget friendly dish is delicious and easy, to stretch your grocery budget a little further without sacrificing flavor.
Get the recipe: Pesto Pasta.
Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup
Navy bean soup and cornbread would make a great crowd pleasing meal on a chilly day. You can cook this in your instant pot for a fast and flavorful way to fill the family up without going broke.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup.
Sausage and Cabbage Skillet
Sausage and cabbage come together to make an easy and filling family dinner. You will love this on weeknights when your time and budget are stretched thin.
Get the recipe: Sausage and Cabbage Skillet.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Pasta is always a budget friendly option. This recipe loads it up with buffalo chicken flavor for a flavorful and filling family dinner that has enough zing to make pasta an exciting dish!
Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pasta .
Chili Cheese Hot Dogs
Chili cheese hot dogs are always a family favorite. Great for a quick dinner on a small budget. Make these in the air fryer and you can serve them up in just a few minutes. Fast and filling, it’s a win-win for dinner and your wallet.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chili Cheese Hot Dogs.
One Pot Pasta
You can have this one pot pasta on the table in just 15 minutes for a filling yet cheap dinner idea that can feed a family for under $5. Pair with a salad or breadsticks for a complete meal everyone will love.
Get the recipe: One Pot Pasta.
American Goulash
This blend of noodles, sauce and meat makes for a great budget friendly dinner. This dish cooks fast and is so filling. It also reheats well for leftovers for lunch the next day.
Get the recipe: American Goulash.
Chana Masala
With a few spices, onions, a can of tomatoes and chickpeas, you can get this vegan curry on the table. This makes for a filling and nutritious meal, even on the tightest budget!
Get the recipe: Chana Masala.
Mushroom Aglio Olio
You only need 6 simple ingredients to get this hearty and delicious budget friendly dish on the table. Pasta and mushrooms are perfect partners for a filling and fast family meal.
Get the recipe: Mushroom Aglio Olio.
Zucchini Frittata
Not only is this frittata delicious, it is also cheap! With zucchini, eggs and cheese, this is a filling meal and is ready in 30 minutes for a fast food at home option.
Get the recipe: Zucchini Frittata.
Pasta Alla Checca
This raw tomato sauce pasta dish is perfect for busy nights, or those times that it is just too hot to cook. This dish is made with simple ingredients for a budget friendly meal everyone can enjoy with a side salad.
Get the recipe: Pasta Alla Checca.
Brothy Beans and Garlic Toast
Beans are always a budget friendly dinner idea. This recipe spoons them over crunchy garlic toast for a variety of textures and flavors that go so well together!
Get the recipe: Brothy Beans and Garlic Toast.
Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice
Let your instant pot do the work of making a fast and filling meal. This recipe is so cheap yet so delicious. It might become a regular in your meal plan rotation.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Black Beans and Rice.
Savory Lentil Soup
If you need to stretch your grocery budget, turn to lentils! They are healthy, wholesome and best of all cheap! This soup is perfect for a chilly night’s meal, and can feed the hungriest of brood for just a few dollars.
Get the recipe: Savory Lentil Soup.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta
This broccoli pasta is so creamy! It is also nutritious and delicious for a cheap and easy family style dinner everyone will enjoy.
Get the recipe: Creamy Broccoli Pasta.
Barley Vegetable Soup
A pot of barley vegetable soup makes a great filling family meal that is budget friendly and tasty. A bowl of this soup will be a welcome sight on a blustery afternoon. This recipe cooks in the instant pot for a fast homemade food option.
Get the recipe: Barley Vegetable Soup.
Veggie Chow Mein
Serve this plant based chow mein for a cheap and easy dinner that is so satisfying! You can add your favorite veggies, or use what you have on hand to stretch your grocery dollar further.
Get the recipe: Veggie Chow Mein.
Red Beans and Rice
Red beans and rice are a classic combo for cheap, easy and good food. This dish has smoky meat, hearty red beans and filling rice for a combination that is as easy as it is yummy!
Get the recipe: Red Beans and Rice.
3 Ingredient Chicken and Gravy
This creamy chicken and gravy needs only 3 ingredients for a fast and filling family meal. Serve this over noodles, mashed potatoes or biscuits for a budget friendly dish everyone will like.
Get the recipe: 3 Ingredient Chicken and Gravy.
Tuna Fried Rice
Have you ever added tuna to fried rice? This budget friendly protein makes this dish taste extra flavorful. You will love how easily this recipe comes together for a weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe: Tuna Fried Rice.
Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is one of those stick to your rib meals that is easy to prepare and tastes great on a chilly night. Serve this with crusty bread or a baked potato for a complete, cheap meal.
Get the recipe: Split Pea Soup.
Taco Spaghetti
A fun twist on a classic dish and a perfect way to add new excitement to Taco Tuesday. Make it a one-pot meal in your Instant Pot or cook it the traditional method on your stove top. Ground beef or turkey with pasta is a hearty meal for a tight budget.
Get the recipe: Taco Spaghetti.
Soups On! 16 Slow Cooker Beef Soups for Cozy Nights
Slow cooker beef soups are perfect for these chilly nights.
Get the recipes: 16 Slow Cooker Beef Soups.