Healthy Dinner Ideas When Youre Cooking on a Budget

If you’re that person that steals the cheesy broccoli out of broccoli cheddar soup, this broccoli cheddar chickpea skillet will be your dream dinner. Steamed broccoli and chickpeas are tossed together in a light cheesy sauce for a protein-filled one-pan meal that’s primed to become a new family favorite. With a side of white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

We like to buy a whole salmon filet and cook it with potatoes and green beans or other veggies. Gnocchi with White Beans and Spinach cooks quickly with fire-roasted diced tomatoes and Parmesan for a satisfying meatless meal in under 30 minutes. Here are some of our favorite vegetarian, meatless recipes. Ground Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats are loaded with cheese and meat.

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Here, we’re rounding out the meal with inexpensive pantry staples like veggies and pasta. You can have the whole dish on the table in just 20 minutes. When you need a cheap, easy, healthy meal, it’s time unimeal app reviews for a stir-fry. The pre-chopped broccoli saves time in the kitchen and keep you below your grocery budget without sacrificing nutrition.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Really, most weeknights we turn to easy, healthy dinners that come together quickly and for low effort. We firmly believe saving money doesn’t have to mean giving up flavor or convenience. Check out our list of 72 quick and healthy meals that won’t break the bank for easy weeknight dinner inspiration. You can often find presliced and ready-to-cook fresh vegetables in your grocer’s produce section.

Cheap Dinner Ideas That Are Big on Taste

Whole chickens are great because you can use the scraps/bones to make chicken broth. 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. Avoid the time-consuming mess of tenderizing, breading, and frying with this casserole version of chicken Parmesan. This recipe calls for tofu, broccoli, and sweet potato, but you can always swap in whatever protein and veggies you like best. A super-straightforward weeknight dinner that you can serve with grilled chicken if you want some added protein.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Apple-flavored chicken sausage adds flavor and protein in this quick dinner hash that uses a bag of shaved Brussels sprouts as its hearty, high-fiber base. Steaming the cubed sweet potatoes in the microwave cuts way down on total cook time. This easy inside-out ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layering or mixing bowls required.

Chicken Caesar Florentine

This three-ingredient dinner (not counting salt, pepper and oil) is really as easy as it gets. To be mindful of the salt, look for simmer sauces with less than or close to 350 mg sodium per 1/4-cup serving. This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don’t forget to reserve some pasta water—its starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth.

Chicken Pesto Bowl

Is it possible to make cheap meals for large families? This is the question I asked myself after realizing how much money we used to spend on food. We have a budget friendly meal plan that you can download here. Crockpot Whole Chicken is another easy way to cook a whole chicken!

• Looking for some cheap and easy meal ideas for busy nights?
• You can stretch them even further by doubling recipes and saving leftovers.
• Cooking in batches saves time and keeps you from ordering takeout after a long day.
• Trying to come out with cheap dinner recipes or affordable meals for a family was something that I needed to plan every week.
• Serve up seriously savory chili without breaking the bank.
• For this three-ingredient dinner, a premade salad kit is the perfect shortcut because it has everything you need in one bag, including the dressing.

Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta

One-pot meals and casseroles are also great for keeping costs down. They let you use less meat and more filler ingredients like grains and veggies, without compromising on flavor or satisfaction. One of the best ways to save some money is to go meatless (and not just on Mondays). You’d be surprised how much you can make with just $5.

Vegetarian Sheet Pan Zucchini Parmesan

This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top. These lovely, budget-friendly lunch ideas are guaranteed to satisfy your appetite and your tastebuds. Explore more budget lunch recipes for midday inspiration. Our best budget tips, freezer hacks and tasty ideas with leftovers will help you keep costs down, without compromising on taste. Find out our smartest ways to save money at the grocery store.

I use this when I need a super cheap meal that doesn’t feel too plain. You can also throw in some spinach or frozen peas to give it a nutritional boost. Sauté whatever vegetables you have and serve them over rice with a soy or teriyaki sauce. I love how versatile this meal is because you can use up all the leftover veggies in your fridge.

Luckily most supermarkets have great chevre—Vermont Creamery and Laura Chenel are straightforward varieties you’re likely to find. If you’ve got access to funky local options, bust them out for this quick breakfast recipe. Aside from the goat cheese, eggs and herbs, you need just a few pantry ingredients and 20 minutes for one of the best omelets you can make. This is a critical step if you are trying to cut costs at home. Having a grocery budget can help you avoid overspending, plan meals that fit your budget needs, and identify areas where you can cut back and save money.

Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

For meal ideas when budget is less of a concern, take a look at our healthy recipes and healthy family faves. Cabbage, ever the budget-cooking workhorse, shines in this dish that is at once showstopping and simple. Dan Pelosi roasts wide ribbons https://recipes.heart.org/en/ of cabbage on a sheet pan, then tops it with a mixture of butter beans coated in anchovy olive oil. Whether you treat it as a vegetarian main or a hearty side, it deserves a spot in your rotation. Nargisse Benkabbou’s speedy, comforting stew is made entirely with pantry staples.

Add frozen or canned chicken for a protein boost without extra prep. Use microwave mashed potatoes for a faster prep, or make homemade if you have extra time. A drizzle of gravy brings everything together for the perfect comfort meal.

When real pizza dough feels like too much but delivery isn’t in the budget, French bread pizza saves the day. Crunchy outside, melty inside, and totally customizable with whatever’s in your fridge. Toss chicken, peppers, and onions with spices, spread it on a sheet pan, and let the oven do its thing. 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.