47 Budget-Friendly Meals That Taste Like a Million Bucks

Are you looking to trim your grocery bill or interested in discovering flavorful, versatile, and budget-friendly ingredients? If so, you’ll appreciate this assortment of inventive and economical recipes. Despite being wallet-friendly, these dishes boast plenty of delicious flavors. They’re proof that affordable doesn’t equate to dull. You’ll find these cheap recipes anything but boring!

Yummy Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl

Pork egg roll in a bowl is a low-carb alternative to traditional egg rolls. This is an easy recipe with ground pork, veggies, and other flavours which is sure to satisfy a craving for Asian food.
Get the Recipe: Yummy Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl

Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Taco stuffed zucchini boats offer a little of everything – nutrition, meat, veggies, a pop of Mexican seasoning, and of course a tasty meal!
Get the Recipe: Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

One Pot Taco Macaroni and Cheese

Taco macaroni and cheese is a simple 30-minute meal that you can make in one pot. South-of-the-border flavors combine with cream cheese and pasta to make this hearty dish. It’s a brand new take on classic mac ‘n cheese.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Taco Macaroni and Cheese

American Chop Suey (American Goulash)

American chop suey is a delicious dish that’s popular in the New England region. Also known as American goulash, this dish is meaty and tasty.
Get the Recipe: American Chop Suey (American Goulash)

Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole Bake

Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole Bake is filled with chicken, pasta, corn and beans. It’s a great way to use leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken and this cheesy chicken bake is a delicious weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Fiesta Chicken Pasta Casserole Bake

Swedish Meatballs

Try making these delicious copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs at home and enjoy the same great taste as the ones you find in the store.
Get the Recipe: Swedish Meatballs

Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles

Slow cooker beef and noodles with mushrooms is a perfect winter warmer and comfort food. It’s also a tasty, easy crockpot beef recipe which will be a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles

Sweet Potato Curry

Creamy coconut sweet potato curry made with very simple ingredients in less than half an hour! Comforting, delicious, and easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Curry

John Wayne Casserole

You are going to love this John Wayne Casserole. It’s packed full of savory beef and veggies, with a golden brown biscuit crust.
Get the Recipe: John Wayne Casserole

Old-Fashioned Hamburger Casserole

An easy recipe, old-fashioned hamburger casserole relies on creamy canned soup and a few other simple ingredients for its flavor and texture!
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Hamburger Casserole

One Pot Pasta

Easy 15-minute one-pot pasta made with very basic ingredients! This pasta is perfect for busy people who want to make a tasty meal quickly.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Pasta

Crunchy Beef Tortilla Folded Wrap

It’s one of the most delicious recipes you can make with ground beef and a tortilla wrap. Use a large flour tortilla if you’re ravenously hungry or smaller tortillas if you prefer.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Beef Tortilla Folded Wrap

Meatball Marinara Subs

Savor the juicy homemade meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and fluffy brioche buns in Italian meatball marinara subs – a satisfying comfort food that’s perfect for lunch or busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Marinara Subs

One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

This easy taco pasta is wonderful for dinner and it’s one of the best skill pasta dinner ideas I’ve found. Beef, onion, and garlic are the dominating flavors in this creamy taco pasta with macaroni noodles.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

Air Fryer Unsloppy Joe Biscuit Pockets

This air fryer version of Manwich biscuits seals the tasty beef mixture inside a biscuit for a delicious meal. Manwich biscuits are the readymade sloppy joe sauce and you just need to cook them while these Pillsbury biscuit sloppy joes are homemade.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Unsloppy Joe Biscuit Pockets

Cabbage Sausage Skillet

Flavorful cabbage sausage skillet, a quick and easy meal. Special seasoning and picking the right sausages make this a great lunch or dinner idea!
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Sausage Skillet

Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice for the win. You’ll love this easy low carb cauliflower rice and chicken. {low carb, gluten free}
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

Honey Garlic Chicken Breast

You’re just 12 minutes away from this Honey Garlic Chicken – juicy seared chicken breast smothered in the most incredible 5-ingredient Honey Garlic Sauce!
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Chicken Breast

Baked Beans With Ground Beef

This baked beans with ground beef recipe is the best southern baked beans you’ll ever make! It’s easy, delicious, and full of flavor!
Get the Recipe: Baked Beans With Ground Beef

Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta

Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta is done all in one pot! Its creamy, cheesy, spicy, and savory! This is one dinner that has it all! Filled with savory kielbasa, pasta & creamy melted cheese all in a one-skillet meal that is sure to please everyone in the family!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta

Orecchiette With Sausage And Broccoli

This orecchiette with sausage and broccoli is a delicious and nutritious weeknight dinner. Ready in 30 min + made with 5 simple ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Easy Orecchiette with Sausage And Broccoli

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Cheesy, creamy, and packed with broccoli, this Broccoli Cheese Casserole is a recipe loaded with onion, garlic, and 3 cheeses, then topped with buttery crackers!
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Creamy Lemon Chicken Breast

Chicken breast recipes can be so dull – but not this one! With a luscious lemon cream sauce and crispy chicken, this is quick and easy yet company-worthy!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Lemon Chicken Breast

Ground Beef Stir Fry

Quick, easy and healthy ground beef stir fry recipe featuring fresh vegetables and a homemade garlic ginger stir fry sauce.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry

Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

If you love alfredo, but can’t afford to eat the regular, calorie-heavy version regularly, you will love this spaghetti squash alfredo made with a lightened-up sauce and spaghetti squash.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

Super Easy Spaghetti

This Easy Spaghetti Recipe is ready in just 15 minutes and is a hearty, comforting meal during cooler months. Pair with a side salad for a full meal!
Get the Recipe: Super Easy Spaghetti

Beef Stew

This beef stew recipe is comfort food heaven! Tender beef is simmered in beef broth with carrots, onions, celery, peas, and carrots until tender.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stew

Caprese Chicken

Caprese Chicken is gluten-free, low carb, and ready in 30 minutes. Full of tangy, smokey flavors, fresh mozzarella, juicy tomato, and fresh basil.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Chicken

Easy Baked BBQ pork Chops

Indulge in the ultimate family comfort food with our mouthwatering baked BBQ pork chops recipe. Perfectly tender and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked BBQ Pork Chops

Crock Pot Potato Soup

This crock pot potato soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food for fall and winter dinners. Made entirely in the slow cooker with chicken broth, cream cheese, corn, carrots, and fresh potatoes or hash browns. Favorite food of picky eaters. Includes vegetarian option.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Potato Soup

World’s Best Chili With Bacon

The world’s best homemade chili with bacon, ground beef, beans, and the perfect blend of spices. Everyone will go crazy for this classic!
Get the Recipe: World’s Best Chili With Bacon

Oven Braised Meatball Stew

This oven meatball stew is a vintage recipe that is incredibly easy to make and totally delicious! It’s a complete meal in one pot.
Get the Recipe: Oven Braised Meatball Stew

Air Fryer French Bread Pizza

You can make Air Fryer French Bread Pizza with baguettes from scratch in 10 minutes – perfect for a quick lunch for the whole family!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer French Bread Pizza

Ramen Noodle Soup

Ramen noodle soup is a rich and flavorful vegetable and noodle-filled soup that is frugal and easy to make in about 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Ramen Noodle Soup

15 Minute Pineapple Fried Rice (Vegan, Gluten-free)

Delicious Pineapple Fried Rice is a perfect way to use up leftovers. Make this pineapple fried rice recipe for a frugal, quick, and super easy midweek meal!
Get the Recipe: 15 Minute Pineapple Fried Rice (Vegan, Gluten-free)

Mexican Garbanzo Bean Soup

Warm up with this super tasty Mexican Garbanzo Soup! This meatless soup is healthy, hearty, and can be made in around 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Garbanzo Bean Soup

Pork, Bean & Sauerkraut Soup (Istrian Jota)

Jota is a traditional pork, bean, and sauerkraut soup or stew from the Istrian region and it is eaten by Croats, Italians, and Slovenians.
Get the Recipe: Pork, Bean & Sauerkraut Soup (Istrian Jota)

Easy Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken Ingredients: 1 pound chicken breasts · 0.87 ounces Caribbean Jerk Seasoning…
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Caribbean Jerk Chicken

Marinated Chicken Fajitas

These 6-ingredient marinated chicken fajitas are made with chicken breast meat for a lean and healthy dinner option everyone will love!
Get the Recipe: Marinated Chicken Fajitas

Addictive Garlic Noodles Recipe

This umami-packed recipe for garlic noodles is super quick and incredibly tasty. Definitely a recipe you’ll want in your regular rotation!
Get the Recipe: Addictive Garlic Noodles Recipe

Best Shepherd’s Pie

Seasoned ground beef and mixed vegetables are topped with creamy, homemade mashed potatoes for our hearty Shepherd’s Pie.
Get the Recipe: Best Shepherd’s Pie

French Onion Soup

French onion soup is an absolute classic. While it’s pretty simple it also manages to be super rich and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup

Tuna Casserole

This tuna casserole recipe is an easy to make and filling, cheesy casserole with all familiar ingredients—delicious comfort food!
Get the Recipe: Tuna Casserole

Easy Pink Pasta

This pink pasta sauce isn’t just easy to make with alfredo sauce and tomatoes. It’s delicious and turns your spaghetti a shade of pink!
Get the Recipe: Easy Pink Pasta

Black Eyed Pea Salad

This black eyed pea salad is fresh, a Blue Zone meal, and so good for you! It is a dish that you can easily put together for a wholesome meal.
Get the Recipe: Black Eyed Pea Salad

Chicken Meatballs

This chicken meatballs recipe quickly assembles and makes an excellent, versatile meal for those busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Meatballs

Italian Chopped Salad

An easy, Italian chopped salad that you can make your own, and enjoy as a side, a main, or bring to your summer BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chopped Salad