Get the recipe for Tamale Pie. This ground beef enchilada dinner is especially a winner. A little taco seasoning, some corn tortillas, a can of enchilada sauce, cover it with cheese and boom!

You've got a powerhouse meal for four or for two, with leftovers ready to go. Get the recipe for Beef Enchiladas. Want to make your whole family feel taken care of? Treat them to a baked pasta dish. It's easy, it's cheap, and it's super filling.

Get the recipe for Classic Stuffed Shells. Who's in the mood for a minute dinner? Besides gnocchi and frozen spinach, all you need for this meal is some cream, some cheese, and a few pantry spices.

Get the recipe for Gnocchi with Creamed Spinach. Tuna salad has been the centerpiece of a number of cheap and easy snack dinners in our household. Add some crackers, some cheese, a little fresh fruit, and you've got a meal! Get the recipe for Tuna Salad. Broken noodles simmer in a tomato broth with sausage and spinach, capped off with a big dollop of blended cheese.

Get the recipe for Lasagna Soup. An easy way to save on dinner costs? Have breakfast for dinner. This simple but delicious mix of eggs, tortillas, and sausage is a fun way to go all out while still saving some cash. Get the recipe for Migas with Chorizo. If you're craving a tasty pasta dish that's a little more grown-up than jarred red sauce, give this dish a whirl.

We're pretty sure it'll become a regular part of your dinner plans. Get the recipe for Salmon and Creamed Spinach Fettuccini.

We always seem to have the makings for tuna salad around, and elbow macaroni is not expensive. So when we're on a budget, this tuna mac makes a dinner that's fun, filling, and fast.

Get the recipe for Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad. Though only open for about a year, this New York bodega-themed burger shop has already made its name for itself in the vast Houston burger scene. A post shared by Burger Bodega burgerbodegahtx. A post shared by Cuban and Mexican Cuisine elreytaqueria.

Go the a la carte route and build your meal, starting with appetizers like falafel or hummus before moving on to a sampler plate of gyro, shawarma, grape leaves, tabbouleh, pitas, and sauces. Each pack comes with a pound of each of the meats, six pitas, plus large orders of hummus, salad, rice, tzatziki, and garlic sauces.

Be sure to tack on a side of baklava or its dessert pita — its version of a dessert pizza made with fried pita chips tossed in Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust and topped with chocolate syrup. A post shared by AL Quick Stop alquickstop. Sweet tooth? A post shared by Lankford Grocery lankfordgrocery.

A local favorite since , this old-school burger shack has remained a breakfast and lunch favorite for Houstonians looking for a hearty bite, especially when on a budget. The burgers and breakfast sandwiches are no slouch, either — with its Champ burger loaded with bacon and cheese, and its classic sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich.

The black bean or falafel burger rivals some of the meat-based options. For fragrant bowls of pho noodle soup, rice plates, and spring rolls head to this unassuming Vietnamese restaurant. Nothing on the menu exceeds twelve dollars, meaning that you could order a bowl of beef, chicken, and seafood pho alongside an appetizer of the cha gio—Vietnamese egg rolls alongside a few Vietnamese iced coffees for under fifty dollars.

A post shared by Pho Saigon phosaigonhtx. A post shared by Houston Foodie becauseigothungry. Houston is not short of great red sauce joints, and this casual Italian cafe in Montrose is another case in point.

A post shared by Tacos tierra caliente tacostierracalientetx. Since launching in , this fast-casual burger bar has garnered a loyal following, and for good reason.

Its burgers are built with 2- or 5-ounce 44 Farms beef patties and can be customized from bun to bun to your liking. A post shared by burger-chan burgerchanhtx.

Sushi night can be pricey, but at Oishii, diners can indulge in all of the house staples paired with beer, wine, or sake without breaking the bank. The debate of which West African country makes the best jollof rice will forever linger, and this Nigerian hotspot may help make up your mind.

An herbaceous traditional bowl of okra soup is the perfect place to start before diving into one of its signature plates, like the jollof rice or yam porridge, which are complimented with two pieces of meat or one portion of fish, with the option to add on chicken, oxtails, mackerel, beef, goat, or vegetarian options.

Located inside a Galleria-area convenience store, this no-frills counter is the definition of a hidden gem. Known for its mouthwatering Greek eats served fast and at a seriously reasonable price, its Gyro sandwiches are packed full of meat. A post shared by Nora Houston Cheap Eatz htxcheapeatz.

In it for takeout? Offering an affordable assortment of chaat, dosas, and entrees, Shri Balaji gives the option to sample. Feeling extra hungry? And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method.

This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes. Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling.

Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you. Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils.

And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan. The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry.

One style of cheap meals: recipes chosen with their leftovers in mind , making two meals out of one. For example, these ground beef meatballs and their tomato sauce make for a great hoagie filling the next day.

If you've already got miso in your fridge and don't want to spend on something new, you could use that in this stew recipe instead of gochujang. It will be a whole different vibe, but a vibe nonetheless. Serve it with a poached egg and a slice of bread for a good cheap meal.

Easy homemade tomato soup is an upgrade to the canned stuff, but we don't judge. Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible comfort food. Consider this roast chicken your Sunday dinner. And then your Monday lunch, too. You can turn the leftover meat into pulled chicken sandwiches or a chicken noodle salad.

Do not underestimate the potential of the often underrated legume, the lentil, a key ingredient when it comes to filling but cheap meals. Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious.

Freeze half of these burgers to pull out during those times when you get the craving for fast food. Just add heat; you already paid. Here are our favorite ways to prove that a cheap meal can also be the best meal. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness.

View Recipe. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua.

Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. Photo by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht.

Photography by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro, Food Styling Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen.

Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones. Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen.

Photograph by Julian Cousins, Food styling by Adriana Paschen.

Missing 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker

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Discounted dinner options - 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli Missing 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker

It's cheesy, comforting, and fit for a crowd. Plus, even picky eaters can get on board with the ground beef and noodle dish. Get the Cheeseburger Casserole recipe. Jam-packed with veggies and a satisfying, savory sauce, these noodles are everything you love and more!

Serve with a drizzle of hot sauce, like Sriracha, if you want an added kick. Get the Lo Mein recipe. Buy a store-bought rotisserie chicken at the supermarket and you'll be supplied with endless dinner ideas, like this hearty burrito filed with rice, beans, chicken, and cheese.

Get Ree's Ancho Chicken Burritos recipe. When you're in a pinch, you can't go wrong with that can of tuna that's hidden in the back of the pantry! Use it to make this fun pasta salad inspired by tuna noodle casserole. Get the Tuna Pasta Salad recipe.

Ree says that you can call this a "clean out the fridge soup" because it's so versatile. Swap out your choice of veggies depending on what you have on hand. Get Ree's Hamburger Soup recipe. SHOP STOCK POTS. Eating on a budget doesn't need to be boring and this casserole recipe proves it!

The packet of ranch seasoning mix gives it a punch of flavor, plus you can't go wrong with anything topped with bacon! Get the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole recipe. Stew meat or even chuck roast is a great inexpensive option for making this hearty twist on chicken and noodles. It has that stick-to-your-ribs kind of goodness.

Get the Beef and Noodles recipe. If you've invested in an Instant Pot, then not only will this chili be budget-friendly, but it'll be easy to make, too!

No more standing over a pot on the stove! Get the Instant Pot Chili recipe. Satisfy your pizza craving and your pasta craving at the same time. You'll get a two-for-one deal with this fun Italian mash-up.

Get the Pizza Casserole recipe. The humble potato is the star ingredient in this comforting soup recipe. You can dress it up with fun loaded potato toppings like cheddar cheese, chopped chives, sour cream, or bacon.

Get the Slow Cooker Potato Soup recipe. BBQ Meatball Subs Are the Ultimate Picnic Main. Tilapia is one of the most affordable fish to buy. This recipe elevates baked tilapia with a spicy and tangy marinade featuring chili powder, lime, and garlic.

Recipe: Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With Avocado Crema. This whole chicken is enough for multiple meals. Season the chicken with a BBQ rub, then cook it on a can of beer on the grill for juicy and flavorful results. Recipe: Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. This rainbow bowl also serves as a rainbow of nutrients.

It's packed with energizing ingredients like quinoa, mushrooms, beets, herbs and a tangy tahini dressing — a nutritious and filling budget meal. Recipe: Energy-Boosting Buddha Bowl. These noodles are literally made of vegetables — so this meal is doing double duty as comfort food with a healthy twist.

Add kale to your pesto to sneak another veggie in there. Kids won't know the difference, and everyone will think it's totally delicious! Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto.

This dish just feels like home. It gives you everything you want in a meal: the healthiness of vegetables, the protein of chicken, and the delightful texture of a biscuit.

This recipe takes less than half an hour to make. So what are you waiting for? Get rid of that idea in your head that cooking seafood is hard!

It's that easy! Recipe: One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. This dish is so delicious, you won't believe it only calls for a handful of ingredients.

The secret is pairing pesto with mozzarella cheese — it's always a crowd pleaser. This recipe makes 4 servings, so you can have it as leftovers, invite friends over, or eat it all — we wouldn't blame you.

Recipe: Pesto Chicken Bake. Great news! This dish is super easy and quick! to make. You probably already have all of the ingredients on hand and it takes less than 20 minutes to make. With this cheesy pasta dish, you'll be cheesin' in no time. Recipe: Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne. Who doesn't like fried rice?

With brown rice, peas, carrots, eggs and scallions, this dish is a classic. This veggie fried rice is also a great call if you get home hungry — Instant Pot to the rescue! Recipe: Healthier Veggie Fried Rice. Let's just face the facts: quinoa in salad is elite. This salad is a vegetarian's dream, with a refreshing combo of cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach.

Top it all off with a lemony dressing to really seal the deal. Recipe: Avocado Quinoa Power Salad. Stir-fry is always a good idea. This recipe is flexible, since we all know stir-fry can be made with everything and the kitchen sink and still taste delicious! You can even switch out the rice for noodles for a change in texture.

This recipe is easy and delicious — and, even better, you can swap out some of the vegetables for ones already in your fridge. If you have tofu, dijon, and something green, you are most of the way there.

Get scrambling! Recipe: Tofu Scramble. It only takes 15 minutes to whip up this simple-but-satisfying masterpiece. Plus, the whole recipe only requires one pan.

So not only will cooking be easy, but so will clean up! Recipe: Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara. Craving sushi but don't want to go out?

We got you. Even better, the recipe is flexible, so you can swap out the veggies or protein for whatever you happen to have on hand.

Recipe: Sushi Bowl. The recipe calls for a mixture of kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, but of course you can swap in whatever canned beans or grains that are already in your kitchen. Recipe: Vegan 3-Bean Chili. Recipe: Egg Pizza With Scallions.

This hearty chickpea masala is the perfect recipe for vegetarians and can be prepared spicy or mild, depending on your taste. The recipe calls for a splash of heavy cream, but you can use coconut milk to keep it vegan. Recipe: Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala. This easy, kid-friendly dish starts with crescent roll dough on the bottom, then it's loaded with ground beef, cheese, and any of your favorite taco toppings.

Recipe: Taco Pizza. One of the easiest ways to cut down on dinner costs is to go for cheaper cuts of meat, or utilizing more expensive ones in creative ways. Try adding ground beef , turkey , or chicken to help bulk out old standbys.

Try roasting a whole chicken or buying a rotisserie chicken , then utilizing it for everything from pizza to tacos all week long. Try adding more expensive seafood or steak to pasta or rice to help make smaller, more affordable portions go further, like in our smoked salmon pasta or our creamy steak fettuccine.

They help dinners come together SO fast. One of the best ways to save some money is to go meatless and not just on Mondays. Try our vegan lasagna , our creamy mushroom pasta , our tofu katsu curry , or our vegan crunchwrap to see how versatile and filling these meals can be.

Want more cheap and easy meals? Everything comes together in one pot —from browning the beef to simmering the sauce, even boiling the spaghetti!

Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe. Adding white beans makes this heartier than your average chicken noodle soup , and the addition of green chiles, jalapeño, and sour cream add the perfect amount of heat and creaminess to switch up classic chili.

Plus, everything comes together in less than an hour! Get the White Chicken Chili recipe. Our simple, flavor-packed cornbread provides the perfect base for our shredded chicken , enchilada sauce, and plenty of melty cheese. If you're looking for the coziest weeknight dinner , this has gotta be next on your list.

Get the Chicken Tamale Pie recipe. Bell peppers are strong enough to hold their shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle enough to go well with just about anything. This is our favorite recipe, but the customization options are endless —check out all our stuffed pepper recipes here too.

Get the Classic Stuffed Peppers recipe. From the realms of cheesy pizza and bubbling baked pasta comes a new family favorite: pizza casserole. Loaded with sausage, veggies, and plenty of cheese, this easy weeknight dinner has all of the cheesy, tomato-filled goodness of our favorite take-out pizza, neatly packaged in a 13"-by-9" pan.

Get the Pizza Casserole recipe. Craving homemade enchiladas and being in a hurry aren't really compatible since the classic Mexican dish requires many steps and a fair amount of time.

Enter these chicken enchiladas , a quick take on the dish that comes together in one skillet. Get the Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas recipe. A classic nostalgic comfort dish , goulash is the hearty weeknight dinner we'll always crave.

The best thing about it? Everything cooks together in one pot —even the pasta!