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The Passport Kitchen

20 Cheap Dinner Recipes So Good, Your Wallet Will Thank You Before Your Taste Buds Do

November 25, 2024 by Donna Dizon Leave a Comment

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When you are struggling to cut costs, thinking of cheap dinner recipes can be a bit of a challenge. After all, food costs are difficult to keep in check. 

These cheap dinner recipes are the perfect meal to serve and they are delicious! 

Creamy Tahini Pasta Recipe

Creamy Tahini Pasta Recipe.

Image Credit: A Sweet Alternative.

Tahini pasta offers a swift, effortless, and nourishing dish brimming with taste. Whether served hot, chilled, or at room temperature, this creamy pasta coated in tahini sauce makes for an excellent choice for school or work lunches.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Tahini Pasta Recipe

 

Vegetarian Singapore Noodles (Vegetarian Mei Fun)

Vegetarian Singapore Noodles (Vegetarian Mei Fun).

Image Credit: Chocolates and Chai.

Vegetarian Singapore Noodles offer a delightful meat-free alternative to the classic takeout dish. This simple mei fun recipe is sure to become a repeat favorite in your dinner rotation.

Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Singapore Noodles (Vegetarian Mei Fun)

 

Tater Tot Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Tater Tot Buffalo Chicken Casserole;

Image Credit: Chicken Fried Kitchen.

The Tater Tot Buffalo Chicken Casserole melds the finest elements of a comforting meal into a single dish. It features a zesty buffalo sauce, succulent chicken, and those beloved golden, crispy tater tots that are the hallmark of a classic tater tot casserole. Additionally, its simplicity in preparation makes it an ideal choice for hectic evenings or game-day gatherings.

Get the Recipe: Tater Tot Buffalo Chicken Casserole

 

Smoked Sausage and Rice

Smoked Sausage and Rice.

Image Credit: Corrie Cooks.

Consider this Smoked Sausage and Rice recipe for an effortless, flavorful one-pot dish that combines savory smoked sausage with perfectly cooked rice.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Sausage and Rice

 

Ground Beef and Broccoli

Ground Beef And Broccoli.

Image Credit: Living Chirpy.

Discover a quick and healthy recipe for Ground Beef and Broccoli using just nine ingredients, ready in 20 minutes, all in a single pan.

Get the Recipe: Ground Beef And Broccoli

 

Oven Hamburger Steaks With Mushroom Gravy

Oven Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy.

Image Credit: The Dinner Bell.

Hamburger steaks smothered in mushroom gravy offer a delectable and economical dinner choice, ideal for hectic evenings. The use of ground beef makes the meal cost-effective, and the rich mushroom gravy adds a touch of elegance. This dish requires minimal preparation and is cooked on a single sheet pan for easy cleanup.

Get the Recipe: Oven Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy

 

Peruvian-Style Fried Rice (Arroz Chaufa)

Peruvian-style fried rice (arroz chaufa recipe).

Image Credit: Irene Mercadal.

Chaufa Rice, also known as Peruvian Fried Rice, is a staple of Chifa cuisine, which originates from Chinese culinary traditions. This dish typically consists of fried rice mixed with vegetables, eggs, and either chicken or shrimp, offering a unique Peruvian twist on the classic fried rice.

Get the Recipe: Peruvian-style fried rice (arroz chaufa recipe)

 

Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe

Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe.

Image Credit: Yellow Bliss Road.

Hamburger Soup is easy to prepare, economical, and can be served in roughly 30 minutes. It brims with ground beef, pasta, and vegetables, all simmered in a hearty and savory broth.

Get the Recipe: Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe

 

Dump & Go Chili 

The Best, Easy, Dump & Go Chili in the Slow Cooker.

Image Credit: The Sage Saver.

Looking to make an easy, dump-and-go chili in the slow cooker? It’s a breeze to prepare, requiring just a few minutes and mostly pantry staples. It’s a speedy and economical meal option!

Get the Recipe: Dump & Go Chili

 

Easy Puerto Rican Picadillo (Spiced Ground Beef)

Easy Puerto Rican Picadillo (Spiced Ground Beef).

Image Credit: A Latin Flair.

Puerto Rican Picadillo, a traditional Latin American dish featuring ground beef, is an excellent choice for a quick weeknight dinner. This dish combines ground beef simmered with vegetables and spices, all prepared in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Easy Puerto Rican Picadillo (Spiced Ground Beef)

 

The Best Chicken Soup Recipe

The Best Chicken Soup Recipe.

Image Credit: The Forked Spoon.

This Chicken Soup Recipe is ideal for those times when you crave comforting simplicity or need a warm pick-me-up. It features bone-in chicken thighs slowly cooked into a savory broth, brimming with soft onions, carrots, celery, and succulent shredded chicken.

Get the Recipe: The Best Chicken Soup Recipe

 

30 Minute Chicken and Rice Soup

30 Minute Chicken and Rice Soup.

Image Credit: The Benson Street.

This straightforward chicken and rice soup recipe features a mix of vegetables and rice, coming together beautifully in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: 30 Minute Chicken and Rice Soup

 

Hamburger Hash

Hamburger Hash.

Image Credit: Little Chef Within.

Make Hamburger Hash your new favorite dinner option! It’s a quick and easy dish that uses simple ingredients likely already in your pantry. Loaded with ground beef, bell peppers, onions, and potatoes, this one-pot meal is ideal for hectic weeknights!

Get the Recipe: Hamburger Hash

 

Creamy Vegan Spinach Pasta Recipe

Creamy Vegan Spinach Pasta Recipe (Easy Pasta Sauce).

Image Credit: Veg Buffet.

This Creamy Vegan Spinach Pasta offers total comfort with a gentle twist on classic pesto pasta, substituting cheese for coconut milk. Seasoned with oregano, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and black pepper, the creamy spinach sauce is irresistibly addictive, giving the pasta a burst of vibrant color. Drizzle it with olive oil for an extra hearty touch!

Get the Recipe: Creamy Vegan Spinach Pasta Recipe

 

Vegetable Stew With Onion, Broccoli, and Cauliflower

Vegetable Stew with Onion, Broccoli, and Cauliflower.

Image Credit: Refresh My Health.

This vegetable stew, featuring onions, broccoli, and cauliflower, is incredibly simple to prepare, exceptionally nutritious, and ideal for those times when you crave a warm and tasty dish. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and boasts a unique vegetable taste with a hint of spice. Plus, it requires only one skillet and can be ready in just 30 minutes!

Get the Recipe: Vegetable Stew with Onion, Broccoli, and Cauliflower

 

Paccheri Pasta

Paccheri Pasta.

Image Credit: Xoxo Bella.

You really can’t go wrong with a hearty pasta dish! This paccheri pasta has become one of my go-to baked pasta recipes. It has the flavors of a good Bolognese, but it’s way quicker to put together. Rich ground beef, herbs, sausage, and tomato get cooked together and baked with the pasta tubes so that the flavors meld beautifully.

Get the Recipe: Paccheri Pasta

 

Easy Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread

Easy Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread.

Image Credit: Style and Grace.

Whip up dinner in just 20 minutes using only a few ingredients with this delightful recipe! Easy Cheesy Beans are smothered in a rich marinara sauce and crowned with a beautiful layer of gooey mozzarella. Garnished with fresh basil and served atop warm, toasted garlic bread, this dish is a sophisticated and incredibly tasty twist on the classic beans on toast that will leave you craving more.

Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread

 

Rice Stuffed Onions – Sogan Dolmasi

Rice Stuffed Onions - Sogan Dolmasi.

Image Credit: Cooking Gorgeous.

Rice Stuffed Onions, also known as Sogan Dolmasi, is a classic Middle Eastern dish that showcases the flavors of basic ingredients. The dish features soft onion shells filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, tomato paste, fresh herbs, and aromatic spices.

Get the Recipe: Rice Stuffed Onions – Sogan Dolmasi

 

Easy Ground Chicken Soup With Noodles

Easy Ground Chicken Soup with Noodles (Dutch Oven).

Image Credit: Caroha.

This scrumptious ground chicken soup, prepared in a reliable Dutch oven, melds lean ground chicken, soft vegetables, and noodles, all stewed together in a single pot within a savory, hearty broth. Ideal for chilly days, this simple-to-make chicken soup delivers warmth and solace to your dining experience in less than 30 minutes!

Get the Recipe: Easy Ground Chicken Soup with Noodles

 

Pasta With Broccoli and Pancetta

Pasta with broccoli and pancetta..

Image Credit: The Pasta Project.

Pasta with broccoli is a beloved classic Italian dish that is both quick and simple to prepare. While this recipe features pancetta, it’s versatile enough to allow for substitutions with other meats, fish, or vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Pasta with broccoli and pancetta

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