11 Cheap Dinners

When money feels tight but you still want a satisfying meal, having a few reliable dinner ideas makes all the difference.

These recipes focus on simple ingredients, familiar flavors, and portions that fill you up without stretching your grocery budget.

Many of them come together quickly, which helps on busy weeknights when cooking feels like one more chore. Keep these ideas in mind when you want dinner to be easy, comforting, and easy on your wallet.

1. Beef Noodle Casserole

This beef noodle casserole is a budget-friendly way to feed your family using pantry staples. Creamy noodles layered with seasoned ground beef and cheese make it a go-to comfort meal.

Get the Recipe: Beef Noodle Casserole

2. Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Sausage

Everything roasts together in one pan in this flavor-packed dish with inexpensive ingredients like gnocchi, sausage, and veggies. It’s a hands-off dinner that comes together quickly and delivers big on taste.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Sausage

3. Ground Turkey Pasta

This pasta recipe uses ground turkey, an affordable protein option, along with bell peppers and salsa. It’s a satisfying one-pot meal that’s easy to throw together on a weeknight.

Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Pasta

4. Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Juicy chicken drumsticks roast alongside carrots and potatoes for a hearty, satisfying sheet-pan dinner. This is a dependable meal that takes minimal prep but delivers on flavor.

Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks

5. Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Meatballs

These sweet and sour meatballs pair juicy meat with pineapple, bell peppers, and a sticky homemade glaze. Skipping takeout and making this instead will save you so much money.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Meatballs

6. Chickpea Spinach Curry

Coconut milk and warm spices create a rich, comforting base for this plant-based chickpea curry. This is one of those cheap meals that’ll stretch your grocery budget and tastes great, too.

Get the Recipe: Chickpea Spinach Curry

7. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

These sliders are stuffed with shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, layered with ranch, and melted mozzarella. It comes to about $1 per serving, making it an affordable option.

Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Sliders

8. Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

This homemade version of Taco Bell’s crunchwrap supreme has everything you love without paying fast food prices. It’s a fun way to recreate a fast food favorite at home.

Get the Recipe: Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

9. Chicken and Rice Casserole

With only four ingredients and five minutes of prep, this budget-friendly chicken and rice casserole will be your new favorite. It’s a warm, satisfying dish that’s great for busy weeknights.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole

10. Burger Bowl

This burger bowl packs all the elements of a classic burger, like beef, cheese, pickles, and sauce (minus the bun). Skip the drive-thru line and make this delicious dinner instead.

Get the Recipe: Burger Bowl

11. Creamy Bacon Pasta

This creamy bacon pasta with peas is ideal when you’re craving something rich and comforting. The recipe uses only six slices of bacon, so you can use the rest of the pack in another recipe.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Bacon Pasta