There is nothing like a delicious, cheap go-to meal to fill your stomach now and then. With a few pantry items and a few spare minutes, it’s easy to whip up a meal.
Here are 15 quick and easy cheap meal ideas for a budget-friendly dinner.
Instant Pot Feijoada (Brazilian Black Bean Stew)
Image Credit: The Passport Kitchen.
Put simply, feijoada is a Brazilian black bean stew made with lots of meat. The meat varies wildly depending on the kind of feijoada. For a budget-friendly option, use whatever meat is on sale or whatever leftovers and scraps you have.
Get The Recipe: Instant Pot Feijoada (Brazilian Black Bean Stew)
Easy Slow Cooker Vegan Chili
This simple Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili is a hassle-free crockpot dish perfect for busy days—just dump the ingredients and let it cook! Packed with plant-based protein, vegetables, and rich Southwest spices, this hearty three-bean chili is vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Vegan Chili
Poor Man’s Stew
This is a good, hearty hamburger stew is always a welcome sight on the table. As a bonus, this one lets the slow cooker do almost all the work.
Get The Recipe: Poor Man’s Stew
Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole
Throw some basic ingredients into a casserole dish for this super-easy tuna noodle casserole. It can even be prepped ahead of time for a good meal on a busy day.
Get The Recipe: Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole
Poor Man’s Lobster Roll
Just because a meal is cheap doesn’t mean it can’t be a bit fancy. One simple substitution makes this poor man’s lobster roll an affordable substitution for the New England staple.
Get The Recipe: Poor Man’s Lobster Roll
Spicy Ramen Noodles Recipe
What proper list of budget-friendly dinner recipes doesn’t include ramen noodles? This affordable recipe ditches the basic seasoning pack for a tasty, tangy, spicy flavor for which the family will go wild.
Get The Recipe: Spicy Ramen Noodles Recipe
Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Look no further than this bacon cheeseburger casserole for a great and hearty meal. Blending mac n’ cheese with bacon cheeseburgers is the perfect way to fill tummies with warmth and food without emptying the bank account.
Get The Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Semi-Homemade Buffalo Chicken Alfredo
Using only three ingredients, this budget-friendly dinner recipe couldn’t get much easier. It’s a hearty dish offering a little zing to a traditional family meal.
Semi-Homemade Buffalo Chicken Alfredo
Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup
This simple Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup recipe is loaded with vegetables, features fall-apart tender beef, and is served in a rich broth. It’s both healthy and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup
Cheesy Tomato Chorizo Orzo
The Cheesy Tomato Chorizo Orzo is a delightful and simple one-pot dish that melds the savory taste of chorizo sausage with tomatoes and smooth orzo pasta. It is perfect for a quick dinner on busy weeknights or for impressing guests.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Tomato Chorizo Orzo
Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Orzo
Our one-pan creamy chicken and chorizo orzo recipe makes for an ideal weeknight meal. This dish, inspired by Spanish cuisine, is easy to prepare and brimming with delightful flavors.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken And Chorizo Orzo
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
This Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili is scrumptious, creamy, and protein-rich. It’s a recipe that you’ll find yourself returning to repeatedly. You’ll want to sample the finest White Chicken Chili Instant Pot recipe for a warm and satisfying family meal!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Tortellini
The Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Tortellini is a robust and tasty dish that requires minimal effort. Let your slow cooker handle the hard work while you savor the delightful outcome.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Tortellini
Creamy Taco Soup
This Creamy Taco Soup celebrates flavors and is incredibly simple to prepare! It’s naturally gluten-free, and I’ve included dairy-free alternatives as well. With just a few minutes of preparation, the soup simmers on the stove, allowing you time to prepare any desired toppings.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Taco Soup
Whole Masoor Dal
The whole masoor dal recipe is an essential Indian lentil curry for the Instant Pot! This dish offers a nutritious, tasty, and protein-rich vegetarian meal (+vegan) that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Whole Masoor Dal Recipe (Instant Pot Sabut Masoor)
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