Cheap dinners will always be so helpful for those busy weeks.
I mean nobody has time for a recipe with 23 ingredients and a 30-minute prep time. Well I guess sometimes we do, but I’m gonna assume that you and I are pretty busy and would like to relax.
Also, when all of the ingredients start to stack up and the grocery bill is not on-budget, the stress goes up. You make your meal plan and think, “This week is gonna have some amazing dinners.” And then you start writing down all of the ingredients you’re gonna have to buy, and suddenly you find yourself looking for cheap meals for your meal planning.
Well thankfully you can have some good cheap family meals that are also delicious. There’s no need to sacrifice the flavor or the money. You can have both and enjoy very tasty dinners every single night of the week. Just grab a few of the affordable family recipes below that’ll keep you on budget and add them to your meal plan rotation.
1. 3-Ingredient Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
This is one of those easy cheap dinner ideas you have on repeat throughout the month.
This frugal taco recipe yields 5 cups of chicken and takes just 5 minutes of prep time! That means you’re getting a lot of food for very little work.
Basically, you can throw the food in the slow cooker, get a lot of things done in the home, smell the tasty food cooking, and then it’s finished! You have a flavorful dinner ready for the family, no stress.
Last Note: I feel like Mexican or Mexican-inspired recipes are amazing for the family since you can have so much fun with the toppings. You get to choose what you want and I think that’s great and nice for choosy kids.
GET THE RECIPE2. Oven Baked Nachos
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
She gives 16+ topping ideas which are always fun for the family, it has a 5-minute prep time, and it takes just 10 minutes to cook.
So in 15 minutes, you’re ready for a weeknight-friendly dinner! Also, it serves 8 people so you’re probably gonna have some very tasty leftovers for future family dinners.
GET THE RECIPE3. Easy Taco Soup
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
The prep time is just 6 minutes, it has 8 ingredients, and serves 6 people. Double the recipe and you’ll have another inexpensive dinner (or more) for the week.
Also, it’s done in just 20 minutes which means you can get home, quickly throw it together, and be having a super flavorful dinner fast.
And lastly: Taco soup is another one of those great recipes where you can customize the toppings, and this makes it so much more fun for you and the family.
GET THE RECIPE4. Dutch Oven Creamy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
The prep time is just 5 minutes, and while it serves only 2 people, it can be easily doubled or tripled (I checked).
Also, it’s going to have ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen which makes things so much less stressful. And to top it all off, you’re getting creamy ranch goodness with hearty chicken and potatoes. I don’t know how that isn’t satisfying.
GET THE RECIPE5. Taco Pasta Bake
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
It serves 10 people… 10! So if you have a big family, you’re all good. And if you don’t, you’re good for multiple nights.
This definitely takes some stress off your shoulders, so I’d put this on your list of cheap easy dinner ideas to try.
And lastly, it has quite a few spices you probably already have in your cupboard, so I’d say that’ll help your grocery budget out big time. Also, did I mention it has 10 servings?
GET THE RECIPE6. 30-Minute Spaghetti Carbonara
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
Spaghetti carbonara has to be one of the simplest pasta dishes out there that’s ridiculously satisfying and tasty.
And this economical recipe serves 6 people which is great, but I also wanna give one quick tip. She does add some extra ingredients that carbonara doesn’t normally have. So if you want a more simple (and more authentic) but still tasty version, then do this: cut out the wine, choose one of the cheeses she mentions (like the Romano), and that’s it.
GET THE RECIPE7. Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
This filling, protein packed Mexican-inspired recipe serves 8 people which means you’re probably gonna get more than one (or two) meals out this budget family dinner.
It has 8 main ingredients plus different topping options. So if you wanna have fun and get creatively tasty, you can add a lot of toppings. Or you can save money and just have one or two. It’s up to you.
Last Note: You can start this in the morning when things are quiet, and in a little over 6 hours, it’ll be done. No stressing and rushing to get dinner done at night.
GET THE RECIPE8. One Pot Cheesy Chili Mac
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
I’ve never had chili mac before (big fan of just the original mac and cheese), but this does look pretty darn good. And beyond it looking good, it’s a one pot meal and done in about 30 minutes. So you’re saving time when it comes to the cooking and cleanup process.
Lastly: This is another one of those easy family dinners that serves a lot of people. It makes up to 8 servings and either has staple ingredients you already have, or ingredients that don’t cost a ton. I’d say it’s worth it!
GET THE RECIPE9. 15-Minute Instant Pot Spaghetti
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
While the original recipe featured above no longer exists, you can find another very similar recipe for instant pot spaghetti here. It’s also very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.
10. Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
This entire dinner is done and on your table in 50 minutes, and it serves 6 people. Double the recipe and you’ll probably have more than two dinners out of this.
It also has a total of 10 ingredients, but I’d say you probably already have around 6 of them in your home.
And lastly, this is a budget dinner recipe you can probably pair with so many different sides. I’d say it’s worth your time and effort!
GET THE RECIPE11. (Easy) Air Fryer Pasta Bake
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
Let’s break this down. It has four ingredients, 10 minutes of prep time, and serves four people (could easily be doubled).
Oh, and those four ingredients are pretty darn inexpensive, so I’d say put this one down on your meal plan for the week.
Also, this just looks like one of those nice Wednesday supper ideas. You know, the kind of dinner that’s super easy to make for that mid-week slump when you’re just a little too exhausted?
GET THE RECIPE12. 15-Minute Pasta Aglio E Olio With Breadcrumbs
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
It serves 4 people, the prep time is 5 minutes, and the cook time is just 10 minutes.
This is a life saver for those crazy busy nights!
Also, she has a tool that shows how much of each ingredient you’ll need if you want to double (triple, quadruple, etc.) the recipe.
Just hover your mouse (or click) on the number 4 where it says “Servings” in the ingredients and instructions area. Then you can adjust to how many you need. Pretty cool!
GET THE RECIPE13. Ground Beef Fried Rice
Why the Recipe Will Work for You:
It’s ready in less than 30 minutes, you get your takeout fix without ordering takeout, and it has several staple ingredients you probably already have in your home.
Also, ground beef is just a great way of saving money while also getting in protein. I’d say it’s worth your time!
Lastly: The recipe serves 4, and depending on how many people are in your family, you can double the recipe and have a whole cheap family meal ready and done for the next evening.
GET THE RECIPE
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.