Meatloaf cupcakes
Tired of yet another weeknight meal of easy chicken cutlets or bland meatloaf? We agree. It can be tough to come up with out-of-the-box dinner recipes within a frugal budget that the whole family can enjoy. After all, who can afford to splurge on fancy-pants ingredients such as fish sauce or crème fraiche just to make a weeknight dinner recipe that isn't boring?
CafeMom has rounded up 40 cheap and easy dinner ideas and recipes that are both kid-friendly and delicious, guaranteed. We've included some vegetarian and paleo dishes and even several budget dinner ideas for picky kids who refuse to eat anything but pizza, chicken tenders, and hot dogs.
Most of these recipes are easy to make with simple ingredients that won't break the bank: from classic English muffin pizza bagels that everyone loved as a kid and Buffalo chicken quesadillas made with wholesale club rotisserie chicken, to healthier fare such as chicken lettuce wraps and a spaghetti squash skillet.
Keep scrolling to get ideas for unique dinner ideas that are perfect for the family on a budget, including one-pot meals, classic casseroles, slow cooker fare, and more.
CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI SHELLS WITH CHEESE
This recipe is a grownup version of the classic macaroni and cheese, made healthy with the addition of chicken and greens. But the best news is it's an easy, one-pot meal with simple ingredients.
POOR MAN'S BEEF STEW
What's the difference between a pricey stew and a cheap one? This simple but hearty recipe calls for ground beef instead of chunks of beef (which is often the cheaper option) and a lot of potatoes: the original frugal carb!
SKILLET CHICKEN WITH BACON
Bacon is not exactly the cheapest ingredient in the world, but this recipe only uses a few slices, plus it's easy to season this meaty one-pot meal with wine that's already been opened.
EGGS IN PURGATORY
Whether they're known as Eggs in Purgatory/Hell or Shakshuka, eggs baked into a spicy tomato sauce is one of the heartiest, meat-free dinners that an entire family can enjoy. Save time and money by purchasing jarred tomato sauce for this recipe.
MEATBALL SUBS
Healthier than getting takeout from a sandwich chain and almost as budget-friendly, this classic, freezer-friendly fare calls for meatballs, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese on a toasted hot dog bun. That's it!
CHICKEN TAMALES AND CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This Tex Mex-inspired casserole recipe is mostly made with pre-packaged mixes: cornbread mix, creamed corn, and canned enchilada sauce. The result is a cheesy, creamy casserole that's easy to make and easy on a household grocery budget.
BLACK BEAN BURGERS
Meatless burgers are a tried and true recipe that cuts down on grocery costs. These vegetarian burgers are simply made with black beans, bell pepper, onions, egg and breadcrumbs. Top with a spoonful of aioli for a flavorful twist!
PASTA WITH BROCCOLI AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE
Pasta is a favorite poor man's food. Save on pricey pork sausage by purchasing chicken sausage instead. As a bonus, this one-pot recipe calls for whole wheat pasta, which gives it a healthy spin!
TURKEY CHILI
Save on ground beef by using turkey instead with this rich and meaty chili made with beans, tomatoes, and corn. Crumble tortilla chips on top or add a dollop of sour cream for a tasty garnish.
CREAMY CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM STUFFED PEPPERS
Most of the flavor from this dish comes from a can of familiar (and cheap!) cream of mushroom soup. It's a budget-friendly, unique twist on the typical stuffed peppers made with ground beef and red sauce.
PIZZA BAGELS
Pizza Bagels remind us of childhood, and they're still just as delicious in a pinch when we really don't feel like cooking or shopping. All that this recipe calls for is English muffins or mini bagels, pizza sauce (jarred is fine), shredded cheese, and toppings.
HAM AND SALAMI STROMBOLI
Instead of ordering this cheesy crowdpleaser from a local pizzeria, try making a stromboli from home! This recipe has only four basic ingredients: store-bought pizza dough, ham, salami, and cheese, so it's very easy on the wallet.
HONEY SRIRACHA CHICKEN
For adventurous eaters only, this spicy chicken over rice dish tastes like a healthier version of Thai takeout. With fewer than 10 ingredients, it's a budget-friendly, unique dinner option.
ROTISSERIE CHICKEN BUFFALO QUESADILLAS
Every frugal grocery shopper knows that one of the most basic food staples for any household is rotisserie chicken. An entire chicken usually costs $5 at a wholesale club and can remixed and stretched for multiple meals, including this shredded Buffalo chicken quesadilla recipe.
TURKEY BURRITO BOWLS
It's easy to prep this colorful Mexican favorite ahead of time (and healthier than Chipotle). Swap out ground beef for turkey and fresh vegetables for canned to make it even more budget-friendly.
PESTO ZUCCHINI NOODLES
Who knew that we only needed basil, garlic, pine nuts, and zucchini to make a cheap vegetarian feast? Add plenty of nuts to this recipe for protein!
CHICKEN FRIED RICE
Another twist on a takeout classic, this healthier version of classic fried rice is sure to be a hit with the kids. Plus, rice is cheap to buy in bulk, so be sure to stock up!
PIZZA CUPCAKES
The world needs infinite creative ways to eat homemade pizza! This recipe only requires mini pepperoni, pizza sauce, mozzarella, flour and eggs. It's another budget-friendly way to feed kids with their favorite foods.
GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN WINGS
The chicken wings are the cheapest part of the chicken, so buying them in bulk to feed a family of four or more is totally doable. These crispy wings are garlicky and a lot less messy than their Buffalo counterparts.
ROOTBEER PULLED PORK SANDWICHES
Instead of buying or making expensive marinades, just use rootbeer and regular barbecue sauce for a smoky-sweet flavor that transforms the pork shoulder in this recipe. Besides, who doesn't like sandwiches for dinner?
MEATLOAF CUPCAKES
This is a new way to upgrade an old meatloaf recipe without going over-budget. Simply transform classic meatloaf and mashed potatoes into mini meatloaf "cupcakes" topped with ketchup and mashed potato "frosting."
POOR MAN'S SPICY TUNA ROLLS
Yes, there is an affordable way to whip up homemade sushi! These spicy tuna rolls are made with rice, seaweed, mayo, Sriracha, and canned tuna. The canned tuna cheat stretches a cheap dinner into a gourmet meal.
LOADED HASSELBACK POTATOES
Potatoes cost mere pennies and taste even better stuffed with cheese, bacon, and sour cream, as seen in this recipe.
SLOPPY JOE SANDWICHES
What is it about kids and their attraction to messy foods? This easy recipe breaks down how to make a sloppy Joe sandwich from scratch or cheat and use a pre-made kit (the family probably won't know the difference).
LEMON CHICKEN PICCATA
This one-pan meal is fairly simple and relies on wine and lemon to create most of the rich flavor. For this chicken piccata, the capers can be easily substituted with green olives.
BLT PASTA SALAD
This unique pasta salad is a summery version of the classic sandwich. The blog that posted the recipe — Busy Budgeter — suggested using pre-crumbled bacon to save time and money.
CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS
Make a homemade (cheaper) version of the iconic appetizer made famous by P.F Chang's. This gluten-free, budget-friendly dinner will only take about 20 minutes to make.
BEEF CAKES
All innuendos aside, this 19th-century recipe is a smart way to reuse leftover beef or mashed potatoes. A spiced bacon and beef patty rests between two "buns" of mashed potato for a heartier spin on a hamburger.
GREEK SALAD PITA POCKETS
Stuffing a pita with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese never sounded so good! This ultra-cheap sandwich can be made heartier by adding slices of chicken.
PRETZEL DOGS
Upgrade the iconic hot dog by ditching those stale buns and making pretzel buns from scratch instead. The salty, buttery flavor of the pretzels wrapped around cheap, packaged hot dogs will make this dinner a new favorite.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH SKILLET
One of the easiest ways to slash a grocery budget is to go meatless (at least every once in awhile). This cheesy one-skillet meal will make kids forget that their dinner is almost entirely made out of vegetables.
FISH STICK TACOS
Fish stick tacos are the poor man's fish tacos, and they taste almost as good as the real thing! These tacos are topped with a fresh, avocado-mango salsa.
RAVIOLI BAKE
Dumping a package of ravioli from the freezer aisle into a casserole pan and layering marinara sauce and more cheese on top is a genius, budget-friendly way to upgrade a familiar meal. This recipe takes less than an hour to make.
SLOW COOKER CHEESEBURGER SOUP
Want a tasty way to stretch ground beef? Whip up cheeseburger soup. This recipe calls for chicken broth, bargain Velveeta cheese, vegetables, and seasonings.
MAPLE CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO HASH
Minimal ingredients paired with unexpected flavors make for a unique family dinner for any budget. This one-skillet recipe is a new way to spice up two staple ingredients,
RAMEN ALA CARBONARA
This ramen dish gives the typical college budget food a grownup upgrade. Combine the salty flavors of the classic Italian dish (bacon, eggs, and cheese) with dirt-cheap packaged ramen for a tasty dinner.
CORNFLAKE CHICKEN TENDERS
Whose family wouldn't be excited to have cereal for dinner? These cornflake chicken tenders are crispier and sweeter than their breaded predecessors and just as easy to make.
BOWTIE CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD
Adding pasta to a classic Caesar salad recipe is a cheap and easy way to "bulk up" the salad from a side dish to a full meal. This recipe takes just minutes to prepare.
CHILI PASTA SKILLET
One of our favorite "cheap" family dinners from childhood is chili mac: a cheesy combination of two favorite dishes. But although we may remember Hamburger Helper as the base for the classic chili macaroni and cheese, this updated recipe is equally budget-friendly but made entirely from scratch!
SALISBURY STEAK
The poor man's steak allows the frugal grocery shopper to skip the expensive cuts of steak and go for cheap chopped meat doused in brown gravy. It's an easy way to splurge on "steak" without breaking the bank.
