Need good recipes on a budget? These dinner ideas, made with pasta, ground beef, stir-fry veggies and more, will keep your wallet full and your taste buds happy.
What could be more comforting (or easy!) than a slow cooker mac and cheese? Nothing! This cheap dinner idea is a rich and cheesy meatless main dish, and I’ve never met anyone who didn’t ask for second helpings. —Bernice Glascoe, Roxboro, North Carolina
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We first had Aunt Dolly’s potpie at a family get-together. We loved it and were so happy she shared the recipe. Now, we make it almost every time we bake a ham. —Mary Zinsmeister, Slinger, Wisconsin
Cleanup is a breeze with this creamy spinach chicken. To make things even easier, tear the spinach with your hands instead of cutting it. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Canned soup, white wine, Swiss cheese and crushed croutons dress up the chicken breasts in this elegant entree. Ideal for unexpected guests, it requires only a few ingredients. The creamy sauce is excellent with garlic mashed potatoes or rice. —Beverly Roberge, Bristol, Connecticut
This recipe is my grandmother’s. Originally, she even made the tomato juice in it from scratch! Gram had this recipe cooking on the stove every time I visited her. She enjoyed making this tomato soup and other favorite dishes for family and friends, and she made everything with love. —Gerri Sysun, Narragansett, Rhode Island
This recipe is not only quick and easy to prepare, it's pretty, too. This colorful pasta dish combines julienned ham, Parmesan cheese, peas and linguine.—Priscilla Weaver, Hagerstown, Maryland
I had this cheap dinner idea in the early 1970s when I was down to very little food in the house. Because it’s a combination of barbecue sauce, hamburger, hot dogs and beans, this one-skillet meal makes both children and adults happy. —Val Rananawski, Millville, New Jersey
Looking for a dessert for later? Try this vintage poor man’s cake recipe.
Sweet potatoes are topped with bacon, veggies, pulled pork and goat cheese for a unique take on a baked potato dinner.
Here’s a quick, easy hamburger stir-fry that uses ground meat instead of the traditional beef strips. It has a nice sauce and is different enough to feel like a treat for the taste buds! —Kathi and John Horst, Westfield, New York
This foolproof weeknight dinner is naturally gluten free, and is on your table in no time! It is easily adaptable and can be made using seasonal fruits or veggies. —Melissa Erdelac, Valparaiso, Indiana
Kids won’t think twice about eating their vegetables after tasting this cheesy soup. It’s a delicious but cheap dinner! —LaVonne Lundgren, Sioux City, Iowa
This mildly flavored ramen noodle stir-fry combines tender strips of chicken with vegetables and popular ramen noodles. I came up with this ramen noodle recipe when I wanted a quick-fix meal for myself. Sometimes I change the vegetables or substitute ground turkey for the chicken. —Dawn Boothe, Lynn Haven, Florida
This hearty chicken potpie recipe with biscuits takes just 10 minutes to assemble before you can pop it in the oven. —Dorothy Smith, El Dorado, Arkansas
Pick a budget-friendly dessert to finish off your cheap meal!
I created this pork tenderloin sheet-pan dinner to suit our family’s needs. It’s so quick and easy to clean up since you use one pan for everything! Use any variety of small potatoes—fingerlings or other colored potatoes are a fun and delicious option. —Debbie Johnson, Centertown, Missouri
I love using frozen cooked winter squash because the hard work—peeling, chopping and cooking—is all done for me. —Jennifer Roberts, South Burlington, Vermont
If you like finding cheap recipes, you’ll love these dinners for under $10.
I’ve been making this mild family-pleasing southwest casserole for years. It tastes wonderful and fits nicely into our budget. Best of all, the recipe makes a second casserole to freeze and enjoy later. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
I live in Georgia, but I appreciate the tangy, sweet and slightly spicy taste of Carolina vinegar chicken. I make my version in the slow cooker. After the tempting aroma fills the house, your family is sure to be at the dinner table on time! —Ramona Parris, Canton, Georgia
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You'll be surprised at how quickly this dish comes together for an easy weeknight meal. And with very little effort, you'll have tender and juicy meat that begs to be added to a salad or sandwich the next day. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan
This tasty chicken stuffing casserole is chock-full of homey, comforting flavor! It’s a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken, plus it’s so quick to assemble using handy pantry items. —Cathy Smith, Wyoming, Michigan
I absolutely love this creamy and cheesy mushroom carbonara. I serve it with a side salad and rolls to make a complete meal. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
This tasty pizza is the perfect combo—quick and easy to make, and a winner with even picky eaters. It’s a handy option for a family dinner on a busy night or for the center of the table at a kids’ party. —Karen Wittmeier, Parkland, Florida
This is the only hamburger recipe you need! We'll walk you through how to make hamburger patties that grill up to juicy perfection.
Dinner guests won’t be too shy to get in line when this yummy chipotle pork moves to the buffet table. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
I love Mexican-inspired food. I also enjoy experimenting with recipes like this one and making them healthier—and downright good! —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, West Virginia
This quick and healthy chicken and peppers recipe tastes like a naked taco and is bursting with fresh flavors. And it can all be prepared in the same pan for easy cleanup—it’s a win-win! —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
These flavorful “steaks” fit into everybody’s budget. A special friend shared the recipe, and I think of her each time I make it. —Susan Wright, Mineral Wells, West Virginia
At least once a week my six-year-old son, also known as Doctor John, hands me a “prescription” for chicken noodle soup. Needless to say, I’m always happy to fill it. —Heidi Hall, North St. Paul, Minnesota
These taco-stuffed peppers are ready in record time. The bell peppers create a colorful container for this meal. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
These Italian-inspired roll-ups are fast and fun to make. They may look elegant, but they are also very kid-friendly (and budget-friendly, too!). —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario
I adapted this dish from my favorite chicken Caesar salad recipe. It has many of the same ingredients as the salad: croutons, grated Parmesan, chicken, and creamy Caesar dressing. This makes the perfect comforting meal on a busy weeknight. —Joyce Conway, Westerville, Ohio
I made this for our pastor one night. He loved it so much we nicknamed it “Jason’s Pasta.” It’s a sneaky way to get our kids to eat more veggies. —Suzie Foutty Mansfield, Ohio
This chicken enchilada recipe is one of the first dishes I created and cooked for my husband right after we got married. He was so impressed! We fix these creamy enchiladas for friends regularly. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Ground beef, sausage and cheese make this tater tot casserole with green beans a crowd-pleaser. Cayenne pepper and hot Italian sausage give it a pleasant kick. —Ryan Jones, Chillicothe, Illinois
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“Foolproof” is a perfect way to describe my barbecue pork recipe. With just four ingredients and a slow cooker, you can make these fabulous sandwiches with very little effort. —Sarah Johnson, Chicago, Illinois
I get bored with the same old breaded chicken, so I came up with this simple recipe. The coating adds fast flavor to tender chicken cooked on the stovetop. —Laura Theofilis, Leonardtown, Maryland
French cassoulet is traditionally cooked for hours. This version of the rustic dish offers the same homey taste in less time. It’s easy on the wallet, too. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida
This simple fettuccine Alfredo recipe combines heavy whipping cream Parmesan and Romano cheese or a creamy, cheesy sauce that’ll come together in minutes. —Jo Gray, Park City, Montana
This Kentucky grilled chicken is perfect for an outdoor summer meal, and my family thinks it's fantastic. It takes about an hour on the grill but is worth the wait. I use a new paintbrush to mop on the basting sauce. -Jill Evely, Wilmore, Kentucky
This thick and hearty stew with great northern beans is sure to chase the winter chills away. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
I get a kick out of serving this chicken sausage dish—everyone’s always on time for dinner when they know it’s on the menu. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida
You could call this a comfort food mashup made in heaven. Jumbo stuffed pasta shells are loaded up with cheeseburger goodness in a dish that will soon become a family favorite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I love chili verde. I order it whenever I can at restaurants, and figured out how to make an easy, tasty version at home. People have the option to eat the chili verde with a fork or in tortillas with a variety of toppings such as cheese, cilantro, minced onions or lime wedges. There are never leftovers at my house. —Julie Rowland, Salt Lake City, Utah
The everything-mashed potato casserole seemed to evolve over a year and it’s a great dish to take to a covered dish event. If I need to keep it warm for a longer time, I sometimes place the mixture into a Crockpot and then add the sour cream, bacon, cheese and chives. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
These are the best cheap crock-pot meals that are a must-try.
This Sunday dinner staple is first fried and then baked to a crispy golden brown. Well seasoned with oregano and sage, this classic is sure to satisfy diners at church potlucks or late-summer picnics. I love fixing it for family and friends. —Donna Kuhaupt, Slinger, Wisconsin
I always have the ingredients for this cheesy bean burrito recipe on hand. Cooking the rice and shredding the cheese the night before save precious minutes at dinnertime. —Beth Osborne Skinner, Bristol, Tennessee
After my first child was born, I needed meals that were satisfying and fast. This easy chicken fried rice is now part of our regular dinner rotation. —Alicia Gower, Auburn, New York
Looking for a way to get a little more heart-healthy fish into your family’s diet? You’ll win them over with this quick and easy entree. —Melanie Bachman, Ulysses, Pennsylvania
Because this ground beef hash brown casserole is practically a meal in itself, I simply pair it with a salad and dessert. —Rochelle Boucher, Brooklyn, Wisconsin
Who likes cleaning up after making mac and cheese? Not this girl. This one-pot mac and cheese is a family favorite, and my 3-year-old is thrilled to see it coming to the dinner table. We love to add sliced smoked sausage to this creamy mac recipe! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
These chimichangas get a little love from the air fryer, so they’re much healthier than their deep-fried counterparts. Black beans provide protein, and the recipe is a smart way to use up leftover rice. —Kimberly Hammond, Kingwood, Texas
