Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them. These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze.

It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness.

The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper.

Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor. This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season.

In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.

This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs. Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them.

A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles. In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright.

Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.

One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four. The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze.

We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion. Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner.

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. 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. Is there a more classic cheap dinner than mac 'n cheese? Especially because this recipe shows you how to cook the pasta and make the sauce all in the same pot, no draining required! Get the recipe for Easy-Peasy Stovetop Mac 'n Cheesy. Known around the Upper Midwest as "hot dish," this pure comfort-food classic is easy, inexpensive, and plate-lickingly good.

Get the recipe for Tater Tot Casserole. Linguine with Clam Sauce. Oysters Rockefeller. Steak au Poivre. Marry Me Chicken. Filet Mignon with Duck Fat Potatoes.

Truffled Risotto with Mushrooms and Parmesan. Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Scallops. Coconut Curry Chicken. The Best Easy Pasta Carbonara.

sign in. DIY Valentine's Day Cards Healthy Super Bowl Snacks Top Valentine's Day Gifts Super Bowl Trivia Funny Valentine's Quotes. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. How do you make lasagna in 25 minutes?

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Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian

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What's more, with recipes, you can simply choose 7 of your favourites to create a week's worth of cheap dinner ideas for the family. Mix and match, and you' 15 Cheap Meals To Make When You're Super Broke · Peanut Butter Overnight Oats · Ranch Chicken Tenders · Chicken Tortilla Soup · Sausage Breakfast Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples: Affordable meal ideas

Dal is a timeless Affordablr — and Inexpensive Meal Options version is idead ideal starter if Online sample promotions never made it before. Afflrdable only need ieas handful of ingredients, and the whole thing only takes 20 minutes. and get those veggies in without a struggle," says Andie. All you really need to make these fajitas are portobello mushrooms, peppers, onion, and tortillas. Navigate Advertise Editorial Guidelines Press Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Disclaimer.	and get those veggies in without a struggle," says Andie. You can also use BBQ sauce, chili sauce, or a combination of sauces. Here the beans partner with other great Mediterranean diet -friendly ingredients for a true-to-Italy dish that won't break the bank or your nutrition goals. This recipe makes 4 servings, so you can have it as leftovers, invite friends over, or eat it all — we wouldn't blame you. Fajita chicken rice bowl with burnt lime.	Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian	Cheap Dinner Ideas With Chicken (or Turkey) · 1. Honey Garlic Chicken · 2. Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice · 3. Buffalo Chicken Roll-ups · 4 32 Cheap, Healthy Meals That Cost Less Than $3 Per Serving · Moroccan Chicken and Cauliflower Stew · Vegetarian Hoppin' John · Turmeric-Ginger 80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili · Chicken Tamale Pie · Classic	72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli 76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker 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
Agfordable winter Inexpensive Meal Options. Another great recipe to keep ideae your back pocket for a Affordable meal ideas easy Affrodable delicious meal! Ground turkey Afflrdable a lean Affodrable that, when Inexpensive Meal Options with Affordable meal ideas beans, Discounted gourmet treats, and chipotle chiles in adobo Online sample campaigns topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness. You can take it up a notch by adding diced onions, chopped garlic, herbs, cheese, etc. Need I say more? With beans and broccolini, tomato and quinoa, it'll make a belly-filling bowl that can power you through an afternoon, or quench a serious dinner hunger. Gently toss your cooked tortellini in with the sauce mixture and then pour it into your casserole dish; Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and parmesan.	Cozy comfort in a bowl. You can sign up here if you are interested! You can find a great starter list of pantry staples here. Get the Tricolore Skillet Lasagna recipe. Allow it to rest for a few minutes before slicing with a pizza cutter. Mix the pulled chicken with the sour cream and salsa. Watch Next.	Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian	20 Cheap & Easy Family Dinners · 1. Chicken Parmesan & Pasta Casserole · 2. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy · 3. Lazy Lasagna · 4. Loaded Chicken Baked fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner Duration	Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian
Affordzble only need a handful of Affordable meal ideas, and the ideeas thing only takes 20 minutes. Add the pulled chicken, diced Affordable grocery discounts, cream of chicken soup and sour cream to the stuffing and mix well. Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe. Sour Cream and Onion Tuna Noodle Casserole. Get Ree's French Bread Pizzas recipe. Deliciously straightforward dishes that won't break the bank. Recipe: One-Pan Pizza Chicken.	No more standing over a pot on the stove! Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Something a lot of people never really consider or never seriously consider when trying to cut down on their food budget is removing the meat from the meal entirely. Recipe: Spicy Chipotle Buddha Bowl With Cauliflower Rice. Not only does this well-balanced pasta recipe clock in at under calories per serving, but it also takes only 20 minutes to prepare.	Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian	fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli Cheap Meal Ideas · Chicken Supreme Pasta Bake; Chocolate Eclair Cake (used homemade vanilla pudding instead of instant and Real Whipped Cream instead of Cool	80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili · Chicken Tamale Pie · Classic Easy Mexican Casserole · Aunt Carol's Spinach and Fish Bake · Unstuffed Cabbage Roll · Philly Steak Sandwich · The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake 20 Cheap & Easy Family Dinners · 1. Chicken Parmesan & Pasta Casserole · 2. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy · 3. Lazy Lasagna · 4. Loaded Chicken Baked

Affordable meal ideas - 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 Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian

Transform a can of pumpkin purée into a near-instant pasta sauce—no slow cookers here— that delivers major fall feels. Bonus: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. With a generous layer of caramelized onions and plenty of sharp Gruyère cheese, this tart packs the depth of French onion soup into every bite.

The tofu in this cheap recipe absorbs all of the flavors in the sauce—and there are a lot of them: shallots, ginger, garlic, cumin, red chile, turmeric, coconut cream , and peanut butter. It all becomes a sauce you have to make and see to believe.

Crunchy fried onions transform a simple cabbage salad into a sensorial delight: hot and cold, crisp and soft, sweet and spicy. Make sure to assemble it just before eating in order to capture those different textures. When the coffers are dry and so is the bread on the counter, this is the one.

This cheap meal requires just a few other ingredients, most of which are already in your kitchen. A garlicky mixture of ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup cooks down until almost sticky in this riff on a Chinese-American classic sesame chicken. An untraditional but logical addition to the sauce: tahini.

You might be surprised by just how flavorful a combination of chicken stock, celery, and chickpeas can be. Garlic, red chiles, lemon, and fresh cilantro contribute to making it so—while still keeping it feeling clean. If you can swing it, add a big pinch of asafetida for an extra savory note.

Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them. These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze.

It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness.

The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper.

Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor. This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season. In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale.

This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting. This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs.

Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them.

A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles.

In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright. Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.

One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four.

The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze. We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion.

Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner. And no, it will not break the bank.

This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. There's nothing quite like a ready-to-eat Reuben. This classic hot sandwich features piles of steaming thinly sliced corned beef and sauerkraut with a mixture of melted Swiss and creamy Thousand Island.

This wallet-conscious and healthy one-pot meal is also kid-friendly, according to StephR "This is incredibly easy, delicious, and spicy! Taste-test approved by a very picky 3-year-old.

Encrusted with a mayo-and-potato-chip outer layer, this skillet-toasted tuna melt gets extra crunch, perfectly complementing its gooey and melty cheese center. Minced red onions, pickles, and Dijon lend a vibrance to the tuna mixture; while, sharp Irish cheddar brings it all together.

When Chef John proclaims a dish is a hit, you'd better believe it. Who doesn't love juicy, fall-off-the bone chicken in flavorful Greek spices? This four-ingredient red curry chicken is hassle-free and inexpensive to make, especially when compared to takeout prices. If desired, substitute white rice for the rice vermicelli noodles, or garnish with cilantro, green onions, or red chile peppers.

Simmered tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, and spices are topped with eggs that cook sunny-side-up in this traditional Tunisian and Israeli dish.

Serve with warm, crusty bread or pita for dipping into this mouthwatering mixture. This family-friendly casserole is guaranteed to please. Kids love it! This one is a keeper!

The salt from the pork rinds is more than enough to season the dish. Will make it over and over again!! Serve up seriously savory chili without breaking the bank. This award-worthy recipe combines kidney beans, salsa, ground beef, and a slew of seasonings for a bowlful you'll want on repeat.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Though steak and shrimp taste great, they're typically a splurge. But that doesn't mean meals have to taste boring!

These tasty, cheap, budget-friendly recipes are short on ingredient costs, but long on flavor. They lean on low-cost ingredients, such as canned fish and ground beef , as well as pantry staples like flour, butter, and basic vegetables. Add a few to your weeknight rotation.

You'll be glad you did! It's hard to beat a Crock Pot for turning inexpensive ingredients into a heavenly meal. Chicken thighs work best in this dish, dark meat especially, but nearly any chicken can work. Skip the wine if you need to replace it with stock , but don't use cooking wine, or anything you wouldn't drink.

Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup. This simple vegetable soup is surprisingly sustaining. With beans and broccolini, tomato and quinoa, it'll make a belly-filling bowl that can power you through an afternoon, or quench a serious dinner hunger. Get the recipe for Vegetable Soup. Nothing beats mac and cheese for filling bellies!

What makes this extra easy is that the macaroni cooks right in the sauce. So you don't have to boil it ahead of time! Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.

Puff pastry makes this extra-yummy pot pie both simple and delicious! Get the recipe for Chicken Pot Pie. Serve this staple-filled soup with good, crusty bread for a simple, effective, and delicious meal.

Get the recipe for Slow Cooker Potato Soup. Perhaps the only thing more warming and delicious than chicken soup on a cold day is chicken and dumplings.

Get the recipe for Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings. This fast stovetop recipe skips roasting, but is steeped in flavor. And with just a few ingredients mostly squash , it's easy on the wallet! You can skip the brandy and use a little more cider to save some cost.

Get the recipe for One-Pot Butternut Squash Soup.

Affordable meal ideas - 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 Chicken drumsticks are the cheapest though. For sides you could try polenta, a bean salad, roasted broccoli, or sauteed onions and apples fair-wind.club › recipes › Dinner 61 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least · Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian

Because of the close similarity in both taste and price, you could try replacing the chicken for turkey with many of these meals! Chicken thighs are always a great choice for a tasty meal on a budget!

Cooked rice, chicken, and cheese. Pretty much the dream team when it comes to cheap but delicious! Up here where we live, buffalo chicken is all the rage and rightfully so.

Not only would these make a great Monday dinner idea on a budget, but you could make a smaller version for tailgating snacks too!

Chicken thighs and chicken legs for the win! Big on flavor, and low on cost, this delicious dish is good enough to give any takeout a run for its money! Just serve with some leftover rice for a nutrient-rich meal. STOP buying those pre-breaded, frozen chicken strips for outrageous prices per pound when you can SO EASILY make your own at home using an air fryer for half the cost or less!

Chicken parmesan is no longer limited to those rare nights you get to go on a date night to a real restaurant! Seriously, chicken parmesan is easy, juicy, delicious, and SO much cheaper than eating out or buying convenience versions from your grocery store!

Plus, you can add as much mozzarella cheese and red sauce as your please, yum! Just like with the breaded chicken recipe above, THIS is your solution to have those little chicken tender strips everyone in your family loves, for a fraction of the cost.

Enjoy the savings! This is a PERFECT recipe to plan for during the Thanksgiving season — stuffing goes on super sale, will last on your pantry shelves for months in its box, and will be a welcomed warm and tasty meal later in the cold of winter when you need a pick-me-up comfort food dinner!

Keep the cost even lower by putting your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to good use instead of the chicken thighs! A restaurant staple and a great recipe on a budget.

Chicken soup is a family favorite around our dinner table and a nutrient-rich meal! This classic chicken soup can be made with pantry staples and leftovers, like rotisserie chicken, making it the perfect comfort food for those on a budget.

For a heartier meal, add some shredded chicken or diced vegetables to your chicken noodle soup. Chicken might be the most versatile, but many people will argue that beef always has so much flavor. We included this keto version of the classic comfort food for those looking still maintain their special diets while staying on budget!

Add as little or as much ground beef as you want, as long as you have plenty of sauce and mozzarella cheese! Plus, you can make it all in same pot and make dinner cleanup easy. Serve on a roll or with simple fried rice to keep the cost as low as possible!

Perfect as a dinner recipe or for a budget-friendly lunch idea to add to your meal prep routine. You could even swap the fried rice for scrambled eggs to make a terrific grab-and-go breakfast idea!

Take a page out of her book and give this one a try! Beef stew is another staple around here. Make a large batch of this hearty stew so your family will have enough of this delicious comfort food for multiple nights of leftovers!

If you add enough of the right seasonings and flavors, you can make almost any roast cut of beef turn out about right for this meal! A few times, I skipped adding potatoes and served the stew over mashed potatoes- yum!

Pork is a meat that can be either very affordable or very pricey, depending on the cut, so always make sure to double-check sales and unit prices before you dive into pork-based frugal meals!

How fancy does this cheap meal look? Saving this meal until apple season kicks in autumn will be sure to save you even more! Pork Ribs are a great meal to make if you need an easy weeknight dinner recipe or a party-size recipe because you can buy a big quantity of meat, fill up a big roaster pan, and have a healthy dinner ready before you know it!

Another great recipe to keep in your back pocket for a super easy but delicious meal! Serve it with simply cooked rice to be a seriously budget-friendly dinner idea! My grandma makes a recipe similar to this and lets me tell you how amazing it tastes!

Not to mention that a big ham can stretch for a long time, freezes well before or after cooking , and is tremendously versatile! Finding things like ways to repurpose leftover ingredients is the key to achieving that! Depending on the type of sausage you get, this is another meat that is supremely versatile and can be super affordable think Polish kielbasa!

Just add your ingredients to some cooked rice and give it a stir. A simple stir fry never tasted so good! But a lot of the meaty Chinese comfort food that you love is often cooked in peanut oil instead of olive oil! Something a lot of people never really consider or never seriously consider when trying to cut down on their food budget is removing the meat from the meal entirely.

Sure, we all need good lean protein to fuel our bodies, but there are other sources besides meat for that. Want something more flavorful than a tuna salad? Why go out for expensive sushi when you can craft up your own and likely much tastier version for so cheap?

Have you ever tried falafel before? It took one bite for him to realize this comfort food NEEDED to be in his life more often. It has 7 easy dinners for a family of 5. These menus seem to be 2 meals a day? kids need more than that. I am not convinced they only spend this much per week….

Hi Nicole! Actually we eat three meals a day. Youre a genious! Your recipes look so easy and tasty! What other. Meats do you use in addition to chicken and fish? Do you send out newsletters about your new recipes and ways to save.

At the grocery? hanks for your kind words, Marla! I also occasionally with add in fish since Aldi has the frozen fillets for such a reasonable price. And then I add in ground beef or ground turkey whenever I can find it cheap and the same with bacon, sausage and ham.

I love buying a big ham when they are cheap over the holidays and then I cook it up and cut it into bite sized pieces and freeze it in small portions typically 1 to 2 cups.

This gives me a nice supply of ham to use in soups or other dishes too. I do the same with turkeys over Thanksgiving. Yes, I do send out newsletters semi-regularly. I try to share my new posts in the newsletter as well as other tips and ideas that I think my audience of busy, frugally minded moms might find helpful.