15 Cheap Dinner Recipes

When grocery prices are sky-high, how do you eat well without compromising your budget?

These cheap dinner recipes use simple, everyday ingredients like chicken thighs and ground beef paired with affordable veggies and the most flavorful spices and seasonings.

It certainly will not taste like you’re counting your pennies, but your wallet will thank you. Make enough for leftovers, and you’ll save tons of money on lunches for the next day, too!

Greek Lemon Chicken & Potatoes

You can probably already taste the bright, lemony chicken and tender potatoes, right? This recipe cleverly roasts the chicken on top of the potatoes so they soak up all that flavor. Serve with some veggies or a salad, and you’re all set.

Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken & Potatoes

Cheese Enchiladas Casserole

Casseroles are a classic budget-friendly option since you can easily stretch meat or beans with different sauces and starches.

This version ditches the meat completely, instead layering cheese between each layer of saucy tortillas for the most delicious vegetarian meal.

Get the Recipe: Cheese Enchiladas Casserole

Creamy Taco Soup

If you want to stretch your budget, add more soups to your menu. We’re not talking just ordinary chicken noodle either.

You can enjoy options like this creamy, hearty taco soup packed with ground beef, black beans, corn, and more without breaking the bank.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Taco Soup

Apricot Chicken

If your family is always begging for takeout, give them their favorite flavors at home instead and watch your grocery bills shrink.

This recipe uses inexpensive chicken thighs tossed in a sweet, savory, tangy glaze made with ordinary pantry staples and a jar of apricot jam.

Get the Recipe: Apricot Chicken

Hamburger Steak and Gravy

Steak on a tight budget? This recipe uses hamburger steaks, made by combining ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasoning.

They’re like a cross between burgers and meatloaf and taste amazing in the flavorful gravy.

Get the Recipe: Hamburger Steak and Gravy

Skillet Kielbasa, Zucchini, and Potatoes

Budget-friendly meals don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.

This skillet meal has you cook the potatoes, zucchini, and kielbasa separately to get the best golden-brown crust and gorgeous flavor, yet the whole thing is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Kielbasa, Zucchini, and Potatoes

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is a classic comfort food with ground beef and lots of veggies cooked together in a delicious gravy, then topped with mashed potatoes and baked.

It’s a complete meal in one, and this clever version uses some simple swaps, like jarred salsa, canned veggies, and instant potatoes, to make it faster and easier than ever.

Get the Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie

Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

If you’re thinking making a bunch of homemade meatballs sounds time-consuming and expensive, just wait.

This budget recipe uses frozen meatballs, canned cream of mushroom soup, and French onion soup mix for tons of flavor with minimal prep.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatball Stroganoff

Chicken Soup

One of the most iconic and comforting budget meals is chicken noodle soup. It relies on the simplest, most affordable veggies, leftover chicken, and dry pasta, yet it always tastes like a hug in a bowl.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Soup

Hot Dog & Potato Foil Packs

We love recipes that combine the starch and the protein together because you can tackle two parts of the meal at the same time.

The potatoes and hot dogs are cooked with butter, cheese, BBQ sauce, and some simple seasonings for lots of flavor. Since everything cooks in foil, there’s minimal clean-up, too.

Get the Recipe: Hot Dog & Potato Foil Packs

Baked Chicken Thighs

Bone-in chicken thighs remain one of the least expensive cuts of meat out there, yet you have to prepare them just right to get perfectly crispy skin and moist, flavorful meat.

This recipe uses just some oil and a few spices, but with the right technique, you can get perfect chicken any day of the week.

Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Thighs

Stovetop Chili

Chili is a classic struggle meal, but it usually takes hours to build the right flavor. This version speeds up the timeline by using just four ingredients, so you can get eating in 30 short minutes.

Get the Recipe: Stovetop Chili

Hamburger Potato Casserole

If you grew up eating Hamburger Helper, this recipe will be a throwback. The combination of inexpensive ground beef, potatoes, and cheese tastes fantastic and makes enough leftovers for days of easy eating.

Get the Recipe: Hamburger Potato Casserole

Pork Chop and Rice Casserole

One way to balance the budget while serving larger portions of meat is to choose less expensive cuts and pair them with inexpensive starches, like dried rice.

You would not believe how easy this five-ingredient entree is, thanks to minute rice and some French onion soup mix.

Get the Recipe: Pork Chop and Rice Casserole

Cube Steak with Balsamic Onion Gravy

Cube steaks are one of the least expensive steaks available, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be tender or delicious.

This recipe relies on a classic technique of lightly frying the breaded meat, then simmering it in the most delicious onion gravy for a rich, meaty flavor and the perfect texture.

Get the Recipe: Cube Steak with Balsamic Onion Gravy