10+ Cheap Dinner Recipes for Easy and Budget-Friendly Meals

Finding dinner ideas that don’t break the bank definitely makes the week a little less stressful. Cheap dinner recipes save money while still tasting good and filling you up. You don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated steps to cook something simple and affordable.

With just a few basics in your kitchen, you can throw together meals that work for your budget and your schedule. Having easy recipes on hand helps you skip last-minute takeout and avoid those pricey ingredients that sneak up on you.

1) Chicken drumsticks with roasted vegetables

Tasty and easy—chicken drumsticks with roasted veggies hit both marks. Just season the chicken, chop up your favorite vegetables, and toss everything onto one sheet pan.

Roast at 425°F (220°C) and the chicken gets crispy outside, juicy inside. The veggies caramelize and soak up flavor.

It’s a weeknight dinner that’s filling, cheap, and barely makes a mess.

Ingredients

• 6 chicken drumsticks
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (like carrots, bell peppers, and onions)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs (such as thyme or rosemary)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Toss veggies with half the oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Brush drumsticks with the rest of the oil and sprinkle with herbs, salt, and pepper.
4. Spread chicken and veggies on a foil-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake 35-40 minutes, until chicken’s cooked and veggies are tender.

For a full guide, check out this Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Vegetables recipe.

2) Easy dumpling soup

Dumpling soup is a quick, budget-friendly dinner that comes together in about 15 minutes. Just grab some frozen dumplings, broth, and maybe a few veggies.

No need to steam the dumplings first—just drop them straight into the simmering broth. They’ll soak up all the flavor as they cook.

Customize with whatever veggies or seasonings you like. It’s flexible, fast, and super easy on the wallet.

Ingredients

• 1 package frozen dumplings
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup chopped spinach or bok choy
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat broth in a pot until it’s just starting to simmer.
2. Add dumplings. Cook 5-7 minutes, until they float.
3. Stir in mushrooms, spinach, and green onions. Cook another 2-3 minutes.
4. Add soy sauce, taste, and adjust if you want. Serve hot.

Find more tips at Easy Dumpling Soup – Budget Bytes.

3) Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup

Classic, simple, and always comforting. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a dinner that just works.

You probably have most of the ingredients already. Both cook up fast, so you’ll have dinner ready in no time.

The soup’s creamy and warm, and the sandwich is crispy and melty—perfect for dipping. If you want a recipe, there’s a good one here.

Ingredients

• Bread slices (2 per sandwich)
• Cheese slices (2 per sandwich)
• Butter (2 tablespoons)
• Canned or fresh tomatoes (4 cups)
• Onion (1 medium)
• Garlic (2 cloves)
• Vegetable broth (2 cups)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat butter in a pan over medium heat.
2. Sandwich cheese between bread slices, grill until golden—about 3-4 minutes per side.
3. In a pot, sauté chopped onion and garlic until soft.
4. Add tomatoes and broth, simmer 15 minutes.
5. Blend soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve hot with your grilled cheese for dipping.

4) Zatarain’s jambalaya with sausage

Zatarain’s jambalaya mix is a solid hack for a filling and tasty dinner. Just add sausage—maybe andouille or kielbasa—and toss in some veggies for extra flavor.

Chop up onions, bell peppers, and garlic to stir in as it cooks. Some folks like adding diced tomatoes or corn for more color.

One pot, easy cleanup, and the flavors blend together as it simmers.

Ingredients

• 1 package Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice Mix
• 1 pound smoked sausage (andouille or kielbasa), sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1-2 bell peppers, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
• 1 can corn, drained (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook until soft.
3. Stir in jambalaya rice mix and water (as directed on the box).
4. Toss in diced tomatoes or corn if you want.
5. Cover and simmer on low 20-25 minutes, until rice is tender.
6. Serve warm.

5) Beans and rice bowl

Beans and rice bowls are a classic for cheap, filling meals. Black beans, rice, and a few spices—that’s all you need.

It’s easy to add veggies or sauces based on what you’ve got. Cook everything in one pot for less mess.

Salsa or hot sauce on top gives a nice kick. Dinner’s ready in about 30 minutes.

You can find easy recipes for beans and rice bowls that fit your budget and taste at 5 Dollar Dinners.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice
• 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Salsa or hot sauce (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook rice according to package directions.
2. In a pan, sauté onion until soft.
3. Add beans, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook 5 minutes.
4. Combine beans with rice in a bowl.
5. Top with salsa or hot sauce if you’re in the mood.

6) Spaghetti aglio e olio

Spaghetti aglio e olio is one of those “pantry staple” dinners that feels a little fancy but is dirt cheap. All you need is pasta, garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes.

Cook the pasta, sauté the garlic in olive oil, then toss it all together. If it seems dry, just splash in a little pasta water.

Parmesan is optional but always welcome. It’s a fast, filling meal you can make with what’s already in your cupboard.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• Salt to taste
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add garlic and chili flakes, cook until garlic is light golden.
4. Drain pasta, save 1/4 cup pasta water.
5. Toss pasta with garlic oil, add pasta water if needed.
6. Season with salt, add Parmesan if you want. Serve hot.

7) Vegetable stir-fry with tofu

Vegetable stir-fry with tofu is a quick, cheap, and healthy dinner. Use any vegetables you’ve got—fresh or frozen.

Press the tofu to get rid of extra water so it crisps up nicely. Cook the tofu first, then add your veggies and a simple soy-sesame sauce.

Serve it over rice or noodles. It’s easy to adjust based on what’s in your fridge and takes barely any time.

Ingredients

• 1 block firm tofu, pressed and cubed
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, or spinach)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add tofu cubes, cook until golden, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove tofu and set aside.
4. In the same pan, cook garlic and ginger for 1 minute.
5. Add veggies, stir-fry 3-5 minutes until tender.
6. Return tofu to pan, add soy sauce and sesame oil, stir to combine.
7. Cook 2 more minutes. Serve over rice or noodles.

8) Taco salad with ground beef

Taco salad is fast, easy, and budget-friendly. Brown the ground beef with taco seasoning, then toss it with lettuce and whatever toppings you like.

Cheese, tomatoes, and crunchy tortilla chips make it extra satisfying. A tangy dressing or salsa ties it all together.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tsp oil (such as avocado or vegetable)
• 2 tbsp taco seasoning
• 8 oz chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup tortilla chips
• Optional: salsa or dressing

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add ground beef, cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
3. Stir in taco seasoning, cook 1 minute more.
4. In a big bowl, combine lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.
5. Add beef and mix gently.
6. Top with tortilla chips and drizzle with salsa or dressing before serving.

9) Slow cooker chili

Slow cooker chili is one of those cheap, easy dinners that just makes sense. Toss your ingredients in, let it do its thing for hours, and forget about it.

You can go classic with ground beef, or skip it and stick to beans if you’re watching your budget. Canned tomatoes, beans, and chili seasoning keep things simple and flavorful.

The slow cooker really brings everything together. I love coming home to that rich, spicy smell.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (optional)
• 2 cans chili beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef and drain the fat if you’re using it.
2. Toss the beef, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, and spices into the slow cooker.
3. Give everything a good stir.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or crank it up to high for 3-4 hours if you’re in a hurry.
5. Stir before serving, and tweak the seasoning if you want.

10) Baked potato bar

A baked potato bar just makes sense when you want something simple and cheap for dinner. You bake up a bunch of potatoes, then let everyone go wild with their favorite toppings.

Honestly, it’s kind of fun—everyone gets to build their own meal just the way they want. Cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, broccoli, tomatoes—whatever you’ve got in the fridge works.

Chili or avocado? Why not. It’s a filling, easy dinner, and you don’t have to fuss over individual plates.

If you’re feeding a crowd or just trying to get dinner on the table fast, this setup is a lifesaver. You don’t need fancy ingredients, and it stretches to feed a lot of people without denting your wallet.

Ingredients:

• Large baking potatoes
• Butter
• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Bacon bits
• Chopped chives
• Steamed broccoli
• Chili
• Diced tomatoes
• Avocado (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Wash potatoes and poke holes with a fork.
3. Bake directly on the oven rack for 45-60 minutes until soft.
4. Set out toppings in small bowls.
5. Let everyone load their baked potato with their favorite toppings.