50 Delicious and Inexpensive Dinners

Creating family-favorite dinners doesn’t have to break the bank! From timeless classics to innovative twists, these budget-friendly dinners prove that delicious meals don’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Discover affordable and tasty recipes that will transform your kitchen into a hub for satisfying and economical meals. These dishes are so good, you’ll find yourself making them over and over again.

Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki thighs are the easiest weeknight recipe ever. The teriyaki sauce is easily made with only a few ingredients and gluten free. Quick and easy instant pot pressure cooker dinners are the best!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs

Soy-Glazed Chicken Thighs have the juiciest and most tender meat under a wonderfully crispy chicken skin. This family favorite comfort food has only four basic ingredients, plus the chicken thighs.
Get the Recipe: Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli is loaded with tender beef and a sauce that is full of flavor. Made gluten free and super easy in the Instant Pot.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps are packed with flavor and nutrition. It’s an easy gluten-free meal made in under 30 minutes with mostly pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients like ground chicken and fresh basil. Top with your favorite Asian-inspired spices, and you have a healthy and delicious meal the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Spicy Gochujang Chicken Stir Fry

Gochujang chicken is sweet, spicy and very savory. It’s a typical Korean-inspired stir fry that looks so appetizing and served in butter lettuce leaves with rice and Korean garnishes.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Gochujang Chicken Stir Fry

Beef Yaki Udon Noodle Stir Fry

Beef yaki udon is a tasty noodle stir fry which you can make in less than 30 minutes. Try this easy udon recipe if you’re looking for a simple Japanese dish to make with beef and noodles. You can make the entire thing in one wok, and since it has meat, vegetables, and noodles, you don’t even need to come up with side dishes.
Get the Recipe: Beef Yaki Udon Noodle Stir Fry

Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs Recipe

A good Swedish meatball recipe with a creamy gravy means you can avoid the Ikea crowds and make them yourself at home. And you can put these together without a complicated diagram or having two screws left over at the end!
Get the Recipe: Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs Recipe

Italian Meatball Marinara Subs

The combination of a toasted brioche bun, homemade beef and pork meatballs and amazing marinara sauce is hard to beat. This is an easy weeknight meal which sounds like comfort food but is actually quite nutritious.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Marinara Subs

Air Fryer Steak Kabobs

Air Fryer Steak Kabobs are the perfect delicious dinner! Made with steak, onion, and bell peppers. You’ll love these healthy kabobs, made in just 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Steak Kabobs

Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer

A juicy chicken breast is guaranteed to become your new favorite dinner staple. From freezer to air fryer with no thawing time in between, the frozen chicken breasts cooks beautifully. Every mouthful is deliciously browned, tender, and juicy.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Air Fryer

Garlic & Smoked Paprika Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

These air fryer drumsticks are tossed in garlic and paired with sweet and smokey paprika. Every bite is juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. These mouthwatering air fryer chicken legs are oh so crispy on the outside while being unbelievably tender on the inside.
Get the Recipe: Garlic & Smoked Paprika Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer

Frozen Meatballs cooked in an air fryer – taste like you spent hours in the kitchen making them, but in reality, they’re really simple to prepare. On the outside, they are crispy and flavorful, while on the inside, they are savory, juicy, and tender.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast with Garlic Herb Butter

This cast iron skillet chicken is super easy to make, perfectly seasoned golden brown chicken that is tender and juicy and goes perfectly with any side dish!
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast with Garlic Herb Butter

Creamy Pesto Pasta

This creamy pesto pasta is perfect for busy weeknights, it comes together in 30 minutes and is creamy, herby, savory, and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pesto Pasta

Easy, Cheesy 5-Ingredient Pizza Pasta Bake

This incredibly quick and easy pizza pasta bake is an absolute lifesaver on busy nights! It’ll be in the oven in no time flat – you can even mix it all up right in the pan (and you don’t even have to precook the pasta)! So cheesy and full of great pizza flavors!
Get the Recipe: Easy, Cheesy 5-Ingredient Pizza Pasta Bake

3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos

With just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, these EASY and delicious Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos are an absolute lifesaver on busy nights! Enjoy them very simply, just rolled in tortillas.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos

Rasta Pasta Recipe with Jerk Chicken

This extra creamy rasta pasta recipe with jerk chicken is easy to make and great for busy weeknights. It’s creamy, spicy, and packed with flavor! Plus, the whole recipe comes together in less than 45 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Rasta Pasta Recipe with Jerk Chicken

Baked Chicken Thighs

Wondering how long to bake chicken thighs? In this recipe I’ll walk you through exactly how to bake chicken thighs, how long to bake them for, and how to make sure they are perfect and juicy every time! Dinner tonight is solved.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Thighs

Veggie Fajitas

This quick and easy veggie fajitas recipe is a life saver! They are loaded with plant-based protein and make a satisfying dinner meal that you can make in under 30 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Fajitas

5 Ingredient Vegan Stuffed Shells

These 5-ingredient spinach and ricotta stuffed shells is a quick and simple vegan pasta dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight or a special occasion. These easy stuffed shells provide a comforting, wholesome, flavorful treat and make the perfect 30 minute meal the whole family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: 5 Ingredient Vegan Stuffed Shells

Spaghetti Casserole

This creamy, most satisfying Spaghetti Casserole is a low-effort meal that deals impressive flavors of ground beef and cheddar cheese in 45 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole

Cajun Dirty Rice

If you enjoy fried rice, you’ll love this Cajun Dirty Rice made with ground pork, chicken liver, and flavorful smoked sausage.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Dirty Rice

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Chicken Gnocchi Soup is so easy to put together and a hearty dinner recipe. Loaded with juicy shredded chicken, vegetables, and gnocchi which are soft puffy “Italian dumplings”.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken

Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken can be on the table for your family in under an hour. With just four simple store-bought ingredients, and 10-minutes, this chicken dinner together is one easy recipe!
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken

Instant Pot Rice and Vegetables

You can’t go wrong with this quick Instant Pot Rice and Vegetables recipe which is super easy, budget-friendly, and so versatile.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Rice and Vegetables

Dump and Start Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

Dump and Start Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa tastes like you spent hours cooking, when it actually requires almost no effort at all! You will love how healthy, versatile and affordable it is to make flavourful Mexican Quinoa in the Instant Pot.
Get the Recipe: Dump and Start Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

Vegetable Barley Soup

This nourishing vegetable barley soup is healthy, hearty, wholesome, satisfying, versatile, meal-prep friendly, and packed with flavor- perfect for chilly fall/winter evenings!
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Barley Soup

Creamy Curry Pasta

This creamy curry pasta recipe is an easy 35-minute fusion dinner loaded with flavor, is super satisfying, is easily customizable with your different protein and veggies, and a great go-to for busy weeknights!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Curry Pasta

Easy Pan Seared Chicken Breast

Tender, juicy, and loaded with delicious flavors, this pan seared chicken breast it’s a super easy-to-make recipe that’s ready in just 20 minutes, and it can be paired with many side dishes to create a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pan Seared Chicken Breast

Ramen Noodles Stir Fry

Enjoy Asian comfort food at home with this quick-cooking 10 Minute Ramen Noodles Stir Fry. This vegetarian dish cooks quickly but is packed with flavor, and it’s easily customizable.
Get the Recipe: Ramen Noodles Stir Fry

Chicken with Beans & Mushrooms

Chicken with Beans & Mushrooms is a delicious and nutritious dinner option that’s easy to make and perfect for any night of the week. This flavorful dish features tender chunks of chicken breast cooked with hearty beans and savory mushrooms, all seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Beans & Mushrooms

Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese

This Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese recipe is a one-pot meal that can be made in your pressure cooker in less than 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese

Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheese

This gluten free cauliflower cheese is homely comfort food that is easy to make with a creamy flourless cheese sauce baked with cauliflower. It’s perfect eaten as a main meal, lunch, or a gluten free side dish to accompany a traditional family roast dinner.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheese

Lemon Chicken Tray Bake

This lemon chicken tray bake is such an easy dinner that works equally well in the summer months served with salad or in the colder months with garlic bread. Made all in one pan which is always a bonus in my kitchen!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chicken Tray Bake

Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These healthy chicken lettuce wraps have become a few favorite in our household. They’re like a homemade version of P.F. Chang’s famous lettuce wraps, but even healthier, macro-friendly, and just as delicious as the restaurant version.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Beef Teriyaki

This quick and easy beef teriyaki is made right at home with a salty-sweet homemade teriyaki sauce.
Get the Recipe: Beef Teriyaki

Hamburger Soup

Hamburger soup is a delightful dish that combines the savory flavors of ground beef, vegetables, and a hearty broth, making it an excellent choice for a satisfying meal. If you enjoy a deliciously comforting bowl of soup but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this recipe is perfect for you.
Get the Recipe: Hamburger Soup

Easy Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken

This Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken recipe is full of flavorful spices and sweet pineapple. Serve over rice or with tacos as an easy weeknight meal!
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken

Chicken Soup Recipe

This is the best Chicken Soup Recipe to make when you’re craving simple comfort food or feeling under the weather. Made with bone-in chicken thighs simmered into a flavorful broth and filled with tender onions, carrots, celery, and juicy shredded chicken.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Soup Recipe

Simple spaghetti with peas, garlic and Parmesan

With a mix of al dente spaghetti, spring peas, fresh garlic and loads of Parmesan “carbonara style”, this will be your new favorite weeknight dish.
Get the Recipe: Simple spaghetti with peas, garlic and Parmesan

Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Crema

This grilled chicken with cilantro crema is a perfect summer meal. With juicy marinated and grilled chicken breast, and a creamy, tangy cilantro crema, it’s a delicious and flavorful pairing that’s amazing for weeknights or summer cookouts.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Crema

Shrimp Cacciatore

This pescatarian-friendly shrimp cacciatore for two is hearty and rustic, with notes of tangy tomato, plump shrimp, and sweet red peppers.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Cacciatore

Sausage and Wild Rice Soup with Collard Greens

It’s a pretty simple soup, coming together in less than 30 minutes. I made it even easier by using VeeTee rice, which microwaves to complete perfection in about 2 minutes! A
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Wild Rice Soup with Collard Greens

Sheet Pan Pineapple Fried Rice

Fried rice is the perfect side to “fakeaway” nights – otherwise known as homemade takeout. Crisp rice, salty soy sauce, zesty garlic and the surprise sweetness or pineapple make this fried rice absolutely perfect! This sheet pan pineapple fried rice is a fuss-free way to use up leftover jasmine rice, with no fuss or supervision. Throw all the ingredients onto a sheet pan, and you’ve got easy, and classic fried rice.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pineapple Fried Rice

Hawaiian Tuna Mac Salad

This Hawaiian tuna mac salad is a protein-packed version of a classic, creamy pasta favourite. A simple mayonnaise-based dressing, with the perfect balance of sweetness and tang is all you need for the best macaroni salad ever.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Tuna Mac Salad

Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad

Mediterranean orzo salad with pesto is a bright flavorful summer salad with fresh cucumbers, artichokes, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese in a lemon pesto mayo dressing. Perfect for a summer BBQ or picnic.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

These cast iron skillet chicken drumsticks are so flavorful. This no-fuss recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken

This honey lemon pepper chicken is so easy to make. It is delicious and you just need a few simple ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken

Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops

Slow cooker ranch pork chops come out tender and delicious every time. Super flavorful and easy to throw together this protein packed dinner. If you loved our baked pork chops with dry rub recipe, this is easier and still out of control YUM.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Slow Cooker Taco Soup is a delicious and easy alternative to taco night while still enjoying all your favorite flavors. This simple weeknight dinner will leave everyone asking for seconds!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Taco Soup