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72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Week Night meals!
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items Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank.
When you don’t have enough time to prepare classic stuffed cabbage, try this deconstructed version with butternut squash instead. Save prep time by using already cubed squash, and it can be table-ready in 30 minutes!
Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage
Throw chicken, soy sauce, brown sugar and other flavorings into a slow cooker for an easy, cheap dinner. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli to round out the meal. Learn how to make teriyaki chicken.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Thighs
Head to the Southwest for this cheap dinner idea: Pre-made tamales, canned chili, cheese and peppers in one easy casserole. It’s a surefire winner for hungry families.
Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers
Make a big pot of pasta fagioli any day of the week. By using jarred tomato sauce and pre-made broth, it’s especially easy and comes together before anyone can ask, “What’s for dinner?”
Hearty Pasta Fagioli
A bite-size dish kids love and busy parents flock to for its budget-friendly ease. Fill little biscuit cups with ground beef and cheese, and bake until melty and browned on top. Ketchup optional!
Cheeseburger Cups
For a homey dinner in a hurry, you can’t go wrong with this stovetop chicken and gnocchi recipe. Personalize it with your favorite sauce, like marinara, and your choice of cheese and seasonings.
Gnocchi Chicken Skillet
The dill cream sauce comes together within minutes and tastes great with the meat and veggies in this dish. About that broccoli, here’s a tip: Don’t throw out the stalks! Peel away the tough outer portion and slice up the rest to use in this recipe o...
Chicken and Broccoli with Dill Sauce
Simply add the meat, vegetables and broth to the slow cooker before you leave for work, and you’ll come home to a soulful comfort meal for dinner. Swap in reduced-sodium beef broth and V8 to keep the sodium levels low.
Stephanie’s Slow-Cooker Stew
With a few pantry staples, you can have this delicious enchilada-inspired pasta on the table in less than 30 minutes. This cheap dinner idea is perfect for any busy weeknight and budget-minded cook.
One-Pot Enchilada Pasta
When you need to stretch those cheeseburger dollars, put all the ingredients in a quiche! This savory main dish is super easy to make, is easy on the wallet and makes at least eight servings.
Roadside Diner Cheeseburger Quiche
Pizza skewers with marinara for dipping sauce is such a clever idea. The kids can help put everything together, from skewering (with supervision) the sausage and veggies to wrapping the whole thing in store-bought dough before baking.
Pizza on a Stick
The best cheap dinner ideas are usually the easiest. For this simple and full-flavored recipe, cook vegetables, black beans and tortilla strips in enchilada sauce, cover in cheese and bake until melty.
Vegetarian Skillet Enchiladas
This simple five-ingredient casserole comes together quickly. The sauce couldn’t be easier: just simmer canned tomatoes and tomato sauce with bacon and onion. Add the sauce on top of the spaghetti and bake.
Bacon Pasta
Start with super lean ground beef and add butter. It’s as close to the famous burger you can get without having to travel. Serve all the toppings on the side so everyone can dress their burger the way they like.
Wisconsin Butter Burgers
Make a simple cream sauce, toss in cubed turkey and peas, and serve over thick toasted bread slices. This is a great recipe to use during the holidays when you have more turkey than you know what to do with.
Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich
Easy weeknight meals on a budget are possible. We've rounded up our favorite cheap dinner ideas that will easily feed a family of four without breaking the bank.
75 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights