If you roast a whole chicken at the beginning of the week and use it in salads and grain bowls the rest of the week, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck. Do as Yewande Komolafe does and stir it together with crisp cabbage and red bell pepper, then toss it in the bright and spicy Vietnamese sauce, nuoc cham. We’re big fans of these healthy pasta sauce recipes, too. The budget template helps us take control of our finances and save more money.
Sheet-Pan Sausage Meatballs With Tomatoes and Broccoli
My kids love these because they’re cheesy and warm, and I love how inexpensive they are. Bake a potato and top it with shredded cheese, butter, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. I use this when I need something cheap that the whole family will eat. You can also add beans or steamed broccoli if you want to make it heartier. I remember stretching out a single bag of rice over several dinners and getting creative with cans of beans, pasta, and whatever vegetables were on sale that week.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken
You’ll come back to this budget-friendly dinner collection again and again. Spread whole grain bread with hummus, then layer with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. You can make these for lunch or a quick dinner when you don’t feel like cooking much. You can use perfectly ripe in-season tomatoes or the grocery store variety for this deceptively simple and, yes, kind-of sophisticated dish from Lidey Heuck. Now is the time to whip out those little star or alphabet noodles you bought on a whim. “Over the past few years, I’ve made this soup at least 100 times,” wrote one reader.
Spinach and Egg Scramble
Here, we’re marinating the chicken before grilling it over medium heat. Once the chicken is cooked, stuff it into pitas and top with purchased hummus and fresh veggies. All the flavor of creamy chicken enchiladas without the rolling and fuss.
Budget-Friendly Dinner Ideas Your Whole Family Will Love
A little taco seasoning, some corn tortillas, a can of enchilada sauce, cover it with cheese and boom! You’ve got a powerhouse meal for four (or for two, with leftovers) ready to go. Shelf-stable foods have a reputation for being bland and unhealthy—and with some things, like spinach or green beans, we tend to agree. But some canned foods, such as tuna, beans, pumpkin, or corn are perfectly healthy, long-lasting, and even easier to use than the fresh stuff. This one pot queso chicken and rice is pure comfort with a Tex-Mex twist. Everything cooks together so the flavors https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/healthy-recipes get cozy fast, and cleanup is basically nonexistent.
Chinese Takeout-Style Tofu And Broccoli
Some ideas include a veggie stir fry with rice, a can of black beans turned into burritos, or a dozen eggs stretched into several breakfast meals. Pasta with garlic and olive oil (aglio e olio) is a classic that costs pennies per serving. Stick to meals that rely on starches (like rice, pasta, potatoes) as the base and add whatever vegetables and protein you can afford. It’s all about being resourceful and using what’s already in your pantry or freezer. Looking for a new way to turn a bag of frozen cheese ravioli into a satisfying and healthy dinner?
Chicken and Broccoli with Dill Sauce
Sauté tofu with soy sauce and garlic, then add frozen veggies and serve over rice. This meal is quick, healthy, and keeps you full for hours. In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby zucchini, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes. This simple, flavorful weeknight dinner puts ground turkey, a relatively inexpensive lean protein, front and center.
Lentil and Spinach Curry
Pretend your mac ‘n’ cheese is actually healthy by adding some broccoli to the mix. This recipe calls for only three ingredients, and you can always add a protein to the mix if you want. Season the chicken with a BBQ rub, then cook it on a can of beer on the grill for unimeal app juicy and flavorful results. This recipe elevates baked tilapia with a spicy and tangy marinade featuring chili powder, lime, and garlic.
Sesame Tofu With Broccoli
Stir-fry broccoli with chickpeas, garlic, and olive oil, then serve over rice. I make this when I need a quick, healthy dinner that doesn’t break the bank. The combination of protein and veggies keeps everyone satisfied.
- Rendered chicken fat is the key to this beloved recipe from Dan Pelosi, which has over 9,000 ratings and counting.
- Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called “pearls”) in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.
- 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.
- It’d be easy to compile dozens of inexpensive dinners around the chickpea alone, but Zainab Shah’s take on the spiced dish found across South Asia is a real standout.
- This meal is so easy to make, and it’s great for feeding a family.
One-pot meals and recipes
With a creamy tomato-based sauce, vodka pasta is one of the most-loved dinners out there—and it’s so easy and cost-efficient to make! Sprinkle on some parmesan and serve it with a simple salad and crusty garlic bread. For this crowd-pleasing, low-cost dinner idea, just pile spiced chicken and gooey cheese atop a mound of tortilla chips before digging in!
