Tired of spending too much on takeout or last-minute food runs? These 27 simple and cheap meals make dinner easy, fast, and affordable. They use ingredients you probably already have and don’t take much time to cook. The recipes are filling and satisfying, so you can enjoy a home-cooked meal without stress. With these ideas, it’s easy to keep dinner on budget and still enjoy something tasty every night.
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Mixing canned tuna with pesto and sundried tomatoes creates a dinner that comes together in minutes without costing much. It works well for lunch, a quick dinner, or when time is short, and it uses ingredients you likely already have. This simple and budget-friendly recipe makes a fresh and satisfying meal that keeps costs low.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A pot of chicken tortilla soup with beans, tomatoes, and broth makes a hearty meal that does not cost a lot. It cooks quickly and fills the table while using ingredients you probably already have on hand. This easy budget-friendly recipe delivers a warm, filling dinner without spending too much.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Tomato Basil Bisque
Tomato basil bisque made from pantry staples feels rich and satisfying without spending much money. It cooks quickly, fills the table, and proves that low-cost meals can still taste great. This simple and budget-friendly recipe makes dinner feel complete and easy to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Bisque
Potato Gnocchi
Soft potato gnocchi made at home is filling and comforting while using only a few inexpensive ingredients. It pairs easily with any sauce and costs much less than ordering out. This budget-friendly recipe keeps dinner simple, satisfying, and affordable.
Get the Recipe: Potato Gnocchi
Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Air fryer tortilla pizza cooks quickly using crisp tortillas instead of dough, which makes preparation fast and easy. You can top it with your favorite ingredients for a crispy, cheesy meal in just minutes. This budget-friendly recipe works well for lunch, dinner, or a snack while keeping costs low.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Quinoa mixed with beans, corn, and spices in a skillet makes a complete and protein-packed dinner that does not cost much. It cooks in one pan, is easy to adjust with what you have, and comes together quickly. This budget-friendly recipe delivers big flavor without stretching the grocery budget.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Chicken Fried Rice
Leftover chicken and frozen vegetables turn into fried rice that’s quick, filling, and inexpensive. It comes together in minutes and tastes just as satisfying as takeout. This budget-friendly recipe makes a simple and tasty dinner without spending much money.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Ground beef stretches into a cheesy rice casserole that feeds a full table without costing a lot. It’s hearty, filling, and leaves leftovers that taste just as good the next day. This budget-friendly recipe makes comfort food simple and affordable.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Broccoli cheddar soup made in the Instant Pot comes together fast and uses ingredients that are easy on the wallet. It’s creamy, hearty, and filling enough to serve the whole family. This simple and budget-friendly recipe delivers a comforting meal without spending much.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Cooked chicken and store-bought sauce make cheesy enchiladas that bake into a gooey and satisfying meal. It’s quick to prepare, inexpensive, and still tastes like comfort food. This easy budget-friendly recipe saves time while keeping costs low.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Pasta tossed with tuna and tomato creates a quick, hearty, and affordable dinner. It cooks in minutes, keeps well as leftovers, and uses pantry staples. This budget-friendly recipe shows that simple meals can be filling and satisfying without spending much.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Bacon Egg Salad
Leftover eggs mixed with crispy bacon make a creamy and filling salad that works on toast, in wraps, or on its own. It’s easy to prepare, uses inexpensive ingredients, and makes a satisfying meal. This quick and budget-friendly recipe turns simple basics into a complete dinner or lunch.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Egg Salad
Pizza Pot Pies
Leftover ingredients turn into bubbling pizza pot pies that bake golden and full of flavor without costing much. They’re fun to make, filling to eat, and use simple ingredients already on hand. This budget-friendly recipe keeps comfort food affordable and easy for the table.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pot Pies
Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups
Rolling pasta with cheese and sauce creates lasagna roll-ups that cook faster than the traditional version but are just as filling. They’re simple to prepare, feed a table, and make leftovers that reheat well. This budget-friendly recipe takes inexpensive ingredients and turns them into a hearty meal.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups
Cacio e Pepe
Pasta with cheese and black pepper comes together quickly for a dinner that tastes rich but costs very little. It uses only a few ingredients, fills the table, and cooks in minutes. This simple budget-friendly recipe delivers comfort food without spending much money.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
A one-pan egg roll in a bowl is fast, filling, and affordable without using wrappers. It’s packed with flavor and comes together quickly with inexpensive ingredients. This easy budget-friendly recipe turns simple items into a satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Adding bacon and tomatoes to boxed mac and cheese creates a dinner that feels richer while still being inexpensive. It cooks quickly, fills the table, and is simple enough for busy nights. This budget-friendly recipe makes a classic dish more satisfying without spending much.
Get the Recipe: Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Pasta shells filled with cheese and baked in sauce make a cozy, hearty, and filling dinner without using meat. The recipe is simple, satisfying, and uses minimal ingredients. This budget-friendly recipe proves you do not need much to create a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Shortcut Chicken Salad
Canned or leftover chicken mixed with a few fridge staples creates a meal that works in sandwiches, wraps, or on its own. It’s filling, easy to prepare, and very low-cost. This quick and budget-friendly recipe turns simple ingredients into a satisfying dinner or lunch.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Creamy Pea Pasta
Frozen peas and a simple sauce transform pasta into a creamy, filling meal that’s easy to make. It cooks quickly, is inexpensive, and works well on busy nights. This easy, budget-friendly recipe stretches ingredients while keeping dinner satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Chicken Tortellini Soup
Leftover chicken and frozen pasta make a hearty one-pot soup that’s filling and affordable. It cooks quickly, is simple to prepare, and works for dinner or the next day. This budget-friendly recipe keeps meals satisfying without spending much money.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Leftover chicken tossed with a spicy dressing makes a salad that’s bold, quick, and low-cost. It works well on greens, in wraps, or sandwiches for a filling meal. This easy budget-friendly recipe delivers big flavor without stretching the budget.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Lemon Roasted Chicken
Roasting chicken with lemon and simple spices creates a golden, juicy, and affordable dinner. It takes little effort and uses ingredients you probably already have. This easy budget-friendly recipe makes a satisfying meal without spending much.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Roasted Chicken
Pizza Rolls
Leftovers turn into cheesy pizza rolls that bake golden and taste delicious without costing a lot. They’re quick to prepare, easy to share, and use simple ingredients. This fun and budget-friendly recipe makes a filling and satisfying dinner.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Rolls
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings create a hearty, cozy meal that’s surprisingly low-cost. It uses leftover chicken, simple broth, and soft dumplings to make a complete dinner. This budget-friendly recipe keeps weeknight meals easy, filling, and affordable.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Dumplings
Calzones
Wrapping leftovers in dough and baking creates calzones that feel fun and filling without spending much. They’re simple to prepare, handheld, and satisfying to eat. This budget-friendly recipe makes an easy meal that feels special using ingredients on hand.
Get the Recipe: Calzones
French Onion Salisbury Steak
Salisbury steak with a French onion twist makes a rich, filling meal that does not cost a lot. It uses ground beef and pantry staples to create classic flavors. This budget-friendly recipe delivers a hearty dinner without spending much money.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Salisbury Steak