Making dinner for the family can feel like a lot, especially when you’re short on time and money. These 29 dinner ideas help you get a good meal on the table without spending too much or working too hard. The recipes are simple, filling, and great for busy weeknights. If you need meals that save you time and cash, this list is a smart place to start.
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Cream of Celery Soup
Give that forgotten celery a second chance with this creamy, cozy soup. It uses basic ingredients and just a bit of butter to make something rich without spending much. This is a smart and budget-friendly way to turn leftovers into dinner that actually fills you up. When money’s tight, this soup keeps both the fridge and your stomach from going to waste.
Get the Recipe: Cream of Celery Soup
Tomato Basil Bisque
Make a warm bowl of soup that tastes like a splurge but costs less than lunch. This tomato basil bisque is smooth, creamy, and made from just a few simple ingredients. It’s one of those budget-friendly recipes that feels rich without the high price. You’ll get a comfort meal without stressing your grocery budget.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Bisque
Weeknight Lasagna Roll-Ups
Roll your way into dinner with this easy twist on lasagna. These bundles bake fast and cost way less than the layered kind. It’s a budget-friendly recipe that fills everyone up without making a mess or emptying your wallet. Perfect for nights when you want something hearty but simple.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll-Ups
Potato Corn Chowder
Make something thick, creamy, and cheap with a few pantry staples. This chowder mixes potatoes, corn, and bacon into a filling soup that doesn’t need much to taste good. It’s a great budget-friendly dinner idea that feels cozy without being expensive. You won’t need anything fancy to make this one work.
Get the Recipe: Potato Corn Chowder
Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Give canned tuna a bold upgrade with this simple salad. With jarred pesto and sundried tomatoes, you can throw together something fresh and full of flavor in minutes. It’s a cheap and easy dinner that tastes like more than it costs. Great for lunches or light dinners when you’re watching your spending.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Crisp up something fast and fun with this air fryer tortilla pizza. It skips pricey dough and uses tortillas for a smart shortcut that saves time and money. You can use whatever toppings you have, making this a flexible and budget-friendly meal. When you’re short on cash, this still hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Creamy Tuscan Bean Soup
Stir up a pot of comfort using canned beans and herbs you already have. This creamy soup feels rich and filling without costing much or needing meat. It’s a simple, one-pot recipe that makes a budget-friendly dinner feel special. Even leftovers taste like something new.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Bean Soup
Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Put together a meal that looks fancy but comes together fast and cheap. This recipe uses chicken, orzo, and a few herbs to make something bright and filling. It’s a budget-friendly way to make dinner feel different without spending a lot. Good for nights when you want variety without the price tag.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Skip the takeout and toss everything into one fast and flavorful pan. This dish brings together ground chicken, cabbage, and sauce for a cheap dinner that still tastes bold. It’s quick to cook, easy to clean up, and light on the wallet. That makes it a great go-to when you want something hot and hearty on a budget.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Let the Instant Pot handle dinner while you save money and time. This broccoli cheddar soup is thick, cheesy, and full of veggies without needing a long grocery list. It’s a smart, budget-friendly meal that works for lunches or weeknight dinners. When you’re short on time and cash, this recipe pulls through.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Chicken and Rice Soup
Stir up something warm and filling with just chicken, rice, and broth. This soup comes together with basics you probably already have at home. It’s an easy way to stretch a few ingredients into a dinner that feels like more than it is. Keep this one in your back pocket for the nights when payday feels far away.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Soup
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Dress up pasta night with this easy and cheap recipe. Fresh tomatoes and creamy ricotta turn pantry items into something that feels a little special. It’s a great way to turn a few ingredients into something that doesn’t feel like a repeat. When groceries are running low, this pasta still brings something new to the table.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Hit start on your Instant Pot and turn a few basics into a full dinner. This chicken noodle soup is cozy, easy, and quick to make. It’s the kind of cheap meal that makes you feel like someone cooked for you. Save it for busy nights when you need a break without spending extra.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Creamy Pea Pasta
Switch up pasta night with this cheesy, creamy dish that uses frozen peas and just a few extras. It comes together fast and fills you up without needing anything fancy. This is the kind of budget-friendly dinner that doesn’t leave you hungry or bored. Even picky eaters go back for more.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Shortcut Chicken Salad
Mix up a quick lunch or dinner with this easy canned chicken salad. It’s fast, filling, and costs very little to make. Great for sandwiches, wraps, or straight out of the bowl. When you need something cheap that still feels fresh, this one works every time.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Chicken Tortellini Soup
Use leftover chicken and store-bought tortellini to build a soup that feels rich but doesn’t cost much. It’s hearty, fast, and tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant. This recipe does a good job of stretching leftovers into something brand new. Keep it in mind when your fridge looks half-empty.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
Carrot Ginger Soup
Grab a few carrots and whip up a smooth soup with a bright pop of ginger. This one uses just a few ingredients but still feels filling and full of flavor. It’s a smart way to use up what’s left in the veggie drawer. Dinner feels fresh again, even if the ingredients are nothing new.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Ginger Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Throw chicken, beans, and corn into a pot and simmer your way to a bold, cheap dinner. This soup tastes full and flavorful without needing a lot of extras. It’s a strong contender when you want something fast that still feels like real cooking. Leftovers don’t stick around long with this one.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Fill up the whole table with this one-pan meal that’s cheesy, meaty, and easy to make. Ground beef and rice work together with just a few extras to make something hearty and cheap. It’s one of those meals that feels like you planned ahead, even when you didn’t. Everyone gets seconds, and you still spend less than expected.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Lemon Butter Pasta
Brighten up your dinner with this simple pasta made with lemon, butter, and not much else. It tastes light and fresh, but costs just a couple of bucks to put together. When time and money are both tight, this dish still brings something nice to the plate. It’s the kind of cheap dinner that doesn’t taste like one.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Pasta
Tomato Soup
Pour a few cans into a pot and stir together a soup that’s smooth, warm, and simple. This tomato soup is cheap to make but still feels like comfort food. It’s the kind of meal that turns a quiet night into something a little better. Pair it with toast or a sandwich and call it dinner.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Soup
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Crack open a can of tuna and toss it with pasta and tomatoes for a meal that feels like more than just pantry scraps. It’s fast, flavorful, and won’t cost much to pull together. This is a great trick for when dinner sneaks up on you. You’ll spend less and still get something solid on the table.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Add bacon and tomatoes to your regular mac and cheese for a meal that feels new without costing more. It’s still full of comfort, just with a little extra flavor. This is a cheap way to turn boxed or basic ingredients into something that tastes like a treat. Dinner feels a little more fun when it’s dressed up like this.
Get the Recipe: Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Simple Salmon Patties
Make a quick meal with canned salmon, a few mix-ins, and a hot skillet. These patties are crispy outside, tender inside, and don’t take much time or money. It’s a smart way to stretch one can into a filling dinner. You won’t miss takeout when these are on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Simple Salmon Patties
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spice up leftover chicken with this bold and easy salad that’s full of crunch. It’s fast to make, filling to eat, and doesn’t cost much at all. This one brings heat and flavor without a big grocery bill. Cheap dinners don’t have to be boring, and this one proves it.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy Tuna Rolls
Skip delivery and roll your own sushi-style bites at home with canned tuna and pantry basics. These spicy tuna rolls are fun to make and way cheaper than ordering out. You don’t need anything fancy to feel like you made something special. It’s proof that budget cooking can still feel like a win.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Tuna Rolls
Creamy Chickpea Tomato Soup
Blend chickpeas and tomatoes into a smooth soup that’s rich and hearty without any meat. It’s packed with protein, costs very little, and fills you up fast. This one works great when the fridge is empty, but your pantry’s still stocked. It’s cheap, warm, and ready in no time.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chickpea Tomato Soup
Cacio e Pepe
Boil some pasta, toss in cheese and pepper, and end up with something that tastes like more than it costs. Cacio e pepe is proof that you don’t need much to make a good dinner. It’s fast, cheap, and full of flavor with just three ingredients. Save this one for nights when you’ve got five bucks and ten minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Venison Stew
Simmer venison with potatoes and herbs to make a stew that’s filling and full of flavor. It turns simple ingredients into something rich without using pricey cuts of meat. This recipe stretches what you’ve got into something that feels like a full meal. It’s a solid choice when you’re feeding more on less.
Get the Recipe: Venison Stew