45 Delicious Dinners You Can Make on a Budget
Delicious food on a budget doesn’t have to be difficult or boring. With a little creativity, you can easily create flavorful and affordable dinner meals that your family will love.
Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Discover a comforting and hassle-free meal with our Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti recipe. Perfect for a quick comfort food dinner the entire will love.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Easy Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Try our mouthwatering Stuffed Pepper Casserole! Perfect for feeding a hungry crowd, this recipe is quick, easy, and loved by families.
Get the Recipe: Easy Stuffed Pepper Casserole
15-Minute Korean Beef Bowl
Discover an easy twist on the classic Korean beef bowl recipe. This ground beef dish combines rich flavors of aromatic spices into a flavorful meal.
Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Beef Bowl
Crock Pot Beef And Noodles
Try our easy Crock Pot Beef and Noodle recipe for a satisfying and comforting meal. Perfect for chilly nights or weekends.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Beef And Noodles
TikTok Spaghetti
Discover the viral sensation – the easiest TikTok Spaghetti, made with six simple ingredients for a hearty family meal.
Get the Recipe: TikTok Spaghetti
Honey Garlic Chicken
Throw out the takeout menu and whip up our delicious Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. Perfect for anyone looking for a flavorful and hassle-free meal.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Chicken
Dirty Rice With Sausage
Dirty Rice with Sausage is a one-pot wonder that’ll satisfy even the hungriest crowds. Ground beef, sausage, and a touch of Cajun seasoning come together in one pot for an easy, flavor-packed meal!
Get the Recipe: Dirty Rice With Sausage
Easy Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Easy Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak! Tender beef patties simmered in rich mushroom gravy with simple ingredients. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Crockpot Beef & Sausage Chili
This Crockpot No-Bean Beef & Sausage Chili is hearty, flavorful, and packs just the right amount of heat. It’s perfect for everyday dinners and an excellent addition to your weekly meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Beef & Sausage Chili
Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
Enjoy our flavorful, easy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken with this easy recipe. Perfectly ai fried, juicy chicken tossed in a sweet and savory sauce.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
German Spaetzle (Traditional 5 Ingredient Recipe)
Spaetzle is one of Germany’s most popular side dishes. This classic egg noodle has only five ingredients and takes just 30 minutes to make.
Get the Recipe: German Spaetzle
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Our Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers is made by combining sausages, bell peppers, onions, and marinara sauce, resulting in a flavorful dish.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Ham and Potato Casserole
Indulge in our hearty and filling ham and potato casserole, the perfect recipe for foodies craving a tasty weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Potato Casserole
Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole Recipe
Spice up taco night with this easy Taco Casserole recipe! Everybody will be asking for seconds of this spin on a Mexican favorite.
Get the Recipe: Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole Recipe
Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken
Try this delicious Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken recipe perfect for busy nights. It’s quick, flavorful, and easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken
Thai Red Chicken Curry
Make our flavorful Thai Red Curry Chicken recipe for a quick and tasty one-pan dinner that your whole family will enjoy. It’s both easy and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Easy Thai Red Chicken Curry
Easy Baked BBQ Pork Chops
Indulge in the ultimate family comfort food with our mouthwatering baked BBQ pork chops recipe. Perfectly tender and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked BBQ Pork Chops
Hearty Bolognese Sauce You’ll Make Again and Again
Our Ultimate Bolognese Sauce recipe is rich, hearty, and easy to make. Perfect for family dinners, it’s sure to become a favorite!
Get the Recipe: Hearty Bolognese Sauce You’ll Make Again and Again
Zucchini Boats
Stuffed Zucchini Boats are a great 5-ingredient dinner idea. Tender zucchini filled stuffed and baked to perfection in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Boats
Easy Ham And Noodle Casserole
Our family loves this quick, easy, and hearty Ham and Noodle Casserole (German: Nudelauflauf mit Schincken). Creamy homemade sauce, chunks of savory ham, and velvety egg noodles unite under a layer of melt-in-your-mouth Swiss cheese.
GET THE RECIPE: Ham And Noodle Casserole
French Onion Pasta
Our one-pot French Onion Pasta combines the hearty richness of classic French Onion Soup with the comforting flavors of a creamy pasta dish.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Pasta
Tortellini Soup
Tortellini Soup is a delicious, hearty soup recipe that’s simple to whip up and perfect for busy weeknights. It’s packed with veggies, a savory broth, and rich cheese tortellini. We’ve also snuck in some fresh spinach for a little boost of protein.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Soup
Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Craving crispy, juicy chicken cutlets? This easy Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets recipe delivers in just 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Cutlets
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
This fuss-free way to make egg rolls is so easy! Make these for dinner and serve over rice for a cheap and filling dinner option that the whole family will love for its take-out flavor.
GET THE RECIPE: Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Lasagna Soup
Quick and easy Lasagna Soup combines Italian sausage, pasta, and a trio of delicious cheeses for cozy comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Soup
American Goulash
If you’re looking for an easy-to-make, delicious comfort food recipe, you will love American Goulash. Perfectly cooked ground beef cooked in a deliciously spiced tomato sauce, with tender pasta, and topped with Cheddar cheese.
Get the Recipe: American Goulash
Easy Cheesy Lazy Lasagna
Our cheesy Lazy Lasagna is easy to make, perfect when you need a last-minute delicious comfort meal the entire family will love.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Lazy Lasagna
Three Cheese Baked Ziti Recipe
Baked Ziti is one of these incredibly delicious, foolproof, evergreen pasta recipes everybody loves. Perfect when you need to feed a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Three Cheese Baked Ziti Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
This Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings recipe delivers crispy, flavorful chicken wings from frozen in just 30 minutes with your air fryer.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Zucchini Boats
Stuffed Zucchini Boats are a great 5-ingredient dinner idea. Tender zucchini filled stuffed and baked to perfection in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Boats
Hamburger Soup
Juicy ground beef and a medley of fresh veggies are perfectly seasoned and simmer in a flavorful tomato beef broth and then combined with pasta shells.
Get the Recipe: Hamburger Soup
Chicken And Rice Casserole
Chicken and Rice Casserole is the perfect comfort food that is both delicious and easy to make. Juicy rotisserie chicken, fluffy rice, and veggies are baked to perfection with bubbly, golden cheese on top.
Get The Recipe: Chicken And Rice Casserole
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Our easy one-pan Cajun Chicken Pasta is a surefire crowd-pleaser and delivers both spicy and creamy flavors in one simple pasta dish.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Pasta
German Potato Soup With Sausages
A delicious and hearty potato soup with sausage that is cooked to perfection. It’s a perfect meal for any time of year!
Get the Recipe: German Potato Soup With Sausages
Roasted Tomato and White Bean Stew
This stew is hearty and healthy; it has protein-packed white beans and tasty roasted tomatoes. This is one yummy way to fill up a family and stretch a food budget a little further.
GET THE RECIPE: Spicy Roasted Tomato and White Bean Stew.
Ground Beef Stroganoff
If you’re looking for a yummy dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor or require much time or effort, this flavorful Ground Beef Stroganoff is just what you need!
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stroganoff
Tomato Soup
This rustic homemade Tomato Soup Recipe is easy to make and incredibly flavorful. The stars of this showstopper soup are fresh, ripe, and juicy tomatoes, complimented by fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. It is so simple but oh so flavorful!
Get The Recipe: Easy Tomato Soup
Easy Chicken Meatloaf With Barbecue Sauce
This juicy barbecue chicken meatloaf is easy to make, tender, and loaded with flavor. Simply the perfect comfort food for busy days.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Meatloaf With Barbecue Sauce
Ground Beef Quesadillas
You can’t go wrong with beef and cheesy quesadillas for a cheap and filling family meal. Serve with chips and salsa and a little sour cream or guacamole if you like.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Quesadillas
Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef
Stuff some shells with meat, cheese, and sauce for a delicious and easy dinner idea that pairs well with a salad and bread for a budget-friendly dish. This is a great dish to add extra veggies to to stretch your grocery budget even further!
GET THE RECIPE: Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef.
Pizza Quesadillas
Skip delivery and get pizza flavor from the air fryer with these crispy, cheesy pizza quesadillas. You can add your favorite toppings like onions, peppers, tomato chunks, or even mushrooms for a fast, tasty, and cheap dinner idea.
GET THE RECIPE: Pizza Quesadillas.
Air Fryer Biscuit Pizzas
Make these biscuit pizzas in your air fryer for the cheapest and easiest way to make pizza night at home! You can add your favorite toppings or keep it simple with pepperoni and cheese.
GET THE RECIPE: Air Fryer Biscuit Pizzas
Chicken Noodle Soup
You can’t go wrong with a cheap and filling pot of chicken noodle soup for a budget-friendly family meal. This recipe is yummy, especially if you could use classic comfort food on a cold day!
Get the recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Southern Style Ham and Beans
Get a wholesome, stick-to-your-ribs meal ready in an instant with this recipe. Use leftover holiday ham to make these beans even more economical. Serve with something simple like fried potatoes with onions or cornbread for a filling meal.
GET THE RECIPE: Instant Pot Southern Style Ham and Beans
Chicken and Biscuit Skillet
What could be better than chicken and biscuits for a cozy dinner? This recipe is sure to satisfy your craving for comfort food while stretching your grocery budget. It has a pot pie flavor in each bite.
Get the recipe: Chicken and Biscuit Skillet
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.