12 Cheap Dinner Ideas

With grocery prices soaring, now more than ever, having some cheap dinner ideas you can make will help you save your hard-earned money.

What exactly makes these meals a more affordable option? Well, some of these recipes are made with cheaper cuts of meat or are meatless altogether, while others use inexpensive pantry staples you may already have on hand.

We hope these budget-friendly dinners will help get you through when money is tight. If you want more cheap recipe ideas, comment and let us know.

Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes

This easy dinner recipe uses bone-in chicken thighs and legs with the skin, which is one of the cheapest cuts of chicken. The other star cheap ingredients in this dish are potatoes.

Plus, everything cooks in one sheet pan, so besides being budget-friendly, cleanup couldn’t be easier.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Potatoes

Simple Black Bean Tacos

One of the most inexpensive ingredients you can incorporate into your meals is beans, and these simple and flavorful black bean tacos will be your new favorite!

This recipe calls for canned beans, which are still pretty cheap, but if you want to make this dish even cheaper, buy a bag of beans and make them yourself. It is more time-consuming, but it’s a good option if you’re trying to pinch every penny.

Get the Recipe: Simple Black Bean Tacos

Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Making these Philly cheesesteak sliders is the perfect Friday night or weekend meal to make instead of spending money on restaurants or fast food. Plus, this recipe is a family favorite that’s ready in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Zucchini Boats

Bursting with Italian flavor, these zucchini boats are made with Italian sausage, seasoning, and plenty of melty cheese.

This recipe calls for a one-pound pack of Italian sausage, which you can pick up for under $6, which is a pretty affordable protein source.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini Boats

Lentil Soup

Made with budget-friendly lentils, pantry staples, and veggies, this dinner will save you when you’re trying to make it through to your next paycheck.

One bonus to this recipe is it freezes well, so you can make a double batch to freeze so you always have a cheap dinner on hand.

Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup

Taco Pie

Taco Tuesday just got even yummier (and a little cheaper) with this amazing taco pie recipe. It’s made with ground beef, one of the most inexpensive cuts of meat, especially if you can get it on sale.

Another thing that gives it a 10 out of 10 score for being affordable is this recipe only uses five tortillas, so you can make this recipe again with the same bag of tortillas, score!

Get the Recipe: Taco Pie

Chicken and Biscuits

If you’re someone who grabs dinner for your family at Popeyes or KFC, making this chicken and biscuit casserole is going to feed the crew for way cheaper!

It’s made with canned biscuits, Campbell’s soup, and some spices you probably already have. Plus, you only need two cups of shredded chicken to make this casserole, so you’ll have leftover chicken in the pack to use for another meal.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Biscuits

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

This recipe is made with basic ingredients like inexpensive smoked sausage, ketchup, and bell peppers. The sweetness comes from the pineapple chunks and brown sugar.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Kielbasa

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Five ingredients are all you need to make these tasty chicken drumsticks in the slow cooker. They have the best honey and soy flavor.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Baked Spaghetti Pie

This easy spaghetti pie casserole has six servings, enough to feed a family, or if feeding a couple of people, you’ll have plenty of leftovers the next day. Making spaghetti in pie form is such a clever idea.

Get the Recipe: Baked Spaghetti Pie

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

Made with salsa, canned beans, and canned corn, this chicken is delicious over rice or piled in some tortillas.

It’s freezer-friendly, so if you spot a good deal on chicken, you can buy an extra pack and make a double batch to freeze for later.

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Salsa Chicken

Cajun Chickpea Soup

Since beans are a standout cheap ingredient (and healthy for you, too), the key is to vary up the recipes that incorporate them so you never get bored.

This chickpea soup is made in the Instant Pot with flavorful spices, carrots, and vegetable broth.

Get the Recipe: Cajun Chickpea Soup