10 Cheap Casserole Recipes to Feed Your Family for Less
Casseroles are a classic dinner option for many reasons. By combining protein, starches, and veggies all in one dish, you can serve a complete meal for less money (and with way less effort).
These budget-friendly casserole recipes offer nostalgic comfort while feeding the whole family their favorite flavors. Plus, they make giant servings you can live off of for days!
Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole
This cozy casserole is a fun mash-up of spaghetti and lasagna. After cooking the pasta, toss it in a herby ricotta egg mixture, then add the meatballs and smother with sauce before baking.
You get 12 servings just from one casserole, so it’s an inexpensive dinner. Plus, it’s more fun than traditional spaghetti but much easier than arranging layers of lasagna.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole is an old, tried and true, budget-friendly dinner option.
You just need to raid the pantry for canned tuna, dry pasta, and cream of mushroom soup, then spend a little time boiling the pasta. Dinner is served in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Filled with tender morsels of chicken in a creamy cheese sauce, this chicken and rice casserole is comfort food at its finest.
Best of all, the rice will cook in the oven, so it’s truly a one-dish meal, and it’s made with just five ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Cheese is the secret to serving more veggies to picky eaters, and this broccoli cauliflower casserole understands this idea very well.
Meat can get expensive, so having even one meatless dinner a week can cut down on your grocery bill.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
Cowboy casserole has all the same cozy, comforting flavors you get from a bowl of chili with cornbread, but in casserole form.
The base is filled with everyday pantry staples, like beans, canned corn, and diced tomatoes, which are combined with ground beef and then topped with a super simple box mix cornbread.
It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory and will warm you up from the inside out.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
If nachos could become a casserole, they’d taste something like this. King Ranch chicken casserole is a Texas classic made with shredded chicken, roasted tomatoes, chili seasoning, tortilla chips, and more.
Serve with sour cream, green onions, and extra tortilla chips for a new (and inexpensive) family favorite.
Get the Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole
You’ve probably never heard of sloppy joe casserole, but that’s all about to change. Start with a homemade sloppy joe mixture, then sprinkle little bite-sized pieces of canned biscuits and cover with cheese.
While baking, the biscuits will puff up and act like the “bun” for your sloppy joes. This is the easiest way to make and serve sloppy joes ever.
Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole
Ham and Broccoli Noodle Casserole
Now, this is truly the perfect budget-friendly casserole! It’s made with tender noodles, broccoli, and ham, all baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce.
It’s a complete meal on its own and a great way to up leftover ham you may have on hand.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Broccoli Noodle Casserole
Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole
Is “Breakfast for Dinner” a thing in your house? This sausage potato breakfast casserole relies on inexpensive ingredients like potatoes and sausage, which also makes it extremely satisfying.
Plus, the leftovers can be reheated the next day for a budget-friendly breakfast. What’s not to love?
Get the Recipe: Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole
Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
This casserole is cheap thanks to inexpensive ingredients like canned chili and hot dogs. It’ll be a new family favorite that the kids will want you to make all the time.
Get the Recipe: Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
