Sometimes you gotta budget. And when you do, one of the biggest places to recoup that extra spending is at the grocery store.
Whether you're saving up for a big home reno, or just feeling sticker shock at the supermarket, it's handy to have a few family-friendly budget-conscious recipes that are both tasty and easy on the wallet, for your weekly meal rotation.
To help, we've assembled a big list of over 80 of our favorite cheap and easy dinner ideas. These will let you stretch your dollars while still keeping mouths happy and stomachs full.
How to save money on food:
Instead of your local supermarket, try shopping at a value-focused grocery store, such as Aldi or even the Dollar Store. You'll save a lot of money by only (or mostly) shopping their house brands. You can shop house brands at your regular grocery store too—but pay attention! Sometimes there are slightly better deals on name-brand products.
Look for coupons! Many stores now have apps where you can find (and claim) the weekly deals and specials. It doesn't hurt to get that frequent shopper card, either.
Pay attention to state rules! In some states, for instance, a "buy one, get one" (BOGO) deal requires that you actually get two items. In other states, you can get the one item for half price.
Get veggie-heavy! Besides being healthier for you, vegetarian recipes also tend to be a lot cheaper! When you do cook with meat, try to make it a smaller portion of the meal. And focus on chicken dinners, which is far and away the least expensive meat.
Got some space? You can also save some money by growing your own vegetables. It's not a fast fix, but vegetable gardens are a time-honored way of getting super fresh food on the table for pennies!
Find more smart ways to budget right here:
- 20 Savvy Ways to Decorate on a Shoestring
- 30 Ways to Save Money Like Your Grandma Did
- 28 Easy Canned Tuna Recipes for Last-Minute Weeknight Dinners
1
Sausage, Potato, and Cabbage Soup
Becky Luigart-StaynerSoup's long been a delicious and easy way to stretch your dollar, and this recipe is no exception. A carrot, an onion, a couple potatoes, and some sausage, and suddenly you've got a meal for 6. The whole thing comes together in about half an hour, too.
Get the recipe for Sausage, Potato, and Cabbage Soup.
2
Mushroom Pot Pie
Becky Luigart-StaynerFlour is cheap, and mushrooms are not much more expensive! Drop biscuits, which require no rolling, are fast and easy to make. And the whole thing tastes like a million bucks. What more could you want!
Get the recipe for Mushroom Pot Pie.
3
Chicken Kiev
Becky Luigart-StaynerIf you're craving a big protein dinner but don't want to spend the bucks, then chicken is your friend.
We took this classic recipe and added a few smart hacks so it's also a lot easier, and a little less messy than your standard dredge-and-fry recipe.
Get the recipe for Chicken Kiev.
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4
Baked Cabbage and Potato Buns
Becky Luigart-StaynerOne of the smartest ways to make simple ingredients taste better is to put in a little work. This recipe comes from Eastern Europe, and it's a genius way to take some leftover mashed potatoes, a bit of cabbage, and some flour, and breathe new life into all of them.
Don't skimp on the sour cream!
Get the recipe for Baked Cabbage and Potato Buns.
5
Chicken Tetrazzini
Becky Luigart-StaynerYou can't beat pasta for making an inexpensive dinner. This classic casserole is so tasty you'll want seconds!
Get the recipe for Chicken Tetrazzini.
6
Gnudi with Brown Butter Sauce
Becky Luigart-StaynerCan a cheap dinner be fancy? You better believe it can! Two kinds of cheese, a dusting of semolina flour, some eggs, and butter are all you really need for a filling, delicious, fancy-romantic dinner.
You can skip the pine nuts, which can get expensive, or swap 'em for slivered almonds if you like.
Get the recipe for Gnudi with Brown Butter Sauce.
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7
Pasta Carbonara
Becky Luigart-StaynerAlso known as "coal miner's spaghetti" for the way it fed Italian coal miners, or carbonaros, this is a classic low-cost, high-flavor dish.
Get the recipe for Pasta Carbonara.
8
Risotto with Mushrooms and Parmesan
Becky Luigart-StaynerSkip the called-for truffle salt and stick to cheaper button mushrooms, and this delicious dish of rice, cheese, and mushrooms will knock everyone's socks off without breaking the bank.
Get the recipe for Risotto with Mushrooms and Parmesan.
9
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Ian PalmerIt's hard to beat a Crock Pot for turning inexpensive ingredients into a heavenly meal. Chicken thighs work best in this dish, dark meat especially, but nearly any chicken can work.
Skip the wine if you need to (replace it with stock), but don't use cooking wine, or anything you wouldn't drink.
Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup.
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10
Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata
Becky Luigart-StaynerThis simple vegetable soup is surprisingly sustaining. With beans and broccolini, tomato and quinoa, it'll make a belly-filling bowl that can power you through an afternoon, or quench a serious dinner hunger.
Get the recipe for Vegetable Soup.
11
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Ian PalmerNothing beats mac and cheese for filling bellies! What makes this extra easy is that the macaroni cooks right in the sauce. So you don't have to boil it ahead of time!
Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.
12
Our Best-Ever Chicken Pot Pie
Becky Luigart-StaynerPuff pastry makes this extra-yummy pot pie both simple and delicious!
Get the recipe for Chicken Pot Pie.
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13
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
Ian PalmerServe this staple-filled soup with good, crusty bread for a simple, effective, and delicious meal.
Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Potato Soup.
14
Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Ian PalmerPerhaps the only thing more warming and delicious than chicken soup on a cold day is chicken and dumplings.
Get the recipe for Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings.
15
One-Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Ericka McConnellThis fast stovetop recipe skips roasting, but is steeped in flavor. And with just a few ingredients (mostly squash), it's easy on the wallet! You can skip the brandy and use a little more cider to save some cost.
Get the recipe for One-Pot Butternut Squash Soup.
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16
Easy, Delicious Chicken Parmesan
Ian PalmerSome chicken cutlets and pantry staples — and plenty of Parmesan, of course — can quickly turn into this family favorite.
Get the recipe for Chicken Parmesan.
17
Tuna Melt
Becky Luigart-StaynerThe underrated tuna melt, that staple of diners and lunch plates everywhere, deserves to be making a big time comeback.
You probably have most of the ingredients in your fridge right now. What are you waiting for?
Get the recipe for Tuna Melt.
18
Tamale Pie
Becky Luigart-StaynerIf you're looking for a way to use ground beef in a spicy, simple dinner that'll make the whole family happy, then you've just found your recipe for tonight!
Get the recipe for Tamale Pie.
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19
Beef Enchiladas
Becky Luigart-StaynerThis ground beef enchilada dinner is especially a winner. A little taco seasoning, some corn tortillas, a can of enchilada sauce, cover it with cheese and boom! You've got a powerhouse meal for four (or for two, with leftovers) ready to go.
Get the recipe for Beef Enchiladas.
20
Classic Stuffed Shells
Becky Luigart-StaynerWant 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.
