50 Easy Recipes When You’re on a Budget
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Getting dinner on the table when you’re on a budget can be hard. I am always on the hunt for cheap dinner recipes.
As a busy mom easy recipes are something that I need.
I do not like to spend a lot of time preparing meals, heating up the kitchen, or fixing anything that requires a ton of ingredients. Plus, I like to prep on a budget. Can you relate?

Shopping and preparing meals on a budget can be a daunting task. But seriously with a little thought and preparation it is a battle we can all overcome!
We have put together a list of recipes that are perfect to make when you’re broke.
Large Family Costco Grocery Haul and Weekly Meal Plan
Here is what a large family grocery haul looks like for our family of seven. Also get a quick look at out meal plan for the week.

Baked Puerto Rican Chicken and Authentic Puerto Rican Rice
This is so easy to make and very inexpensive. Your family will love it.
50 Cheap Dinner Ideas

50 Easy Recipes When You're on a Budget
When you're broke you need access to recipes that will meet your budget needs. All of these recipes are cheap to make and use common ingredients you likely already have on hand.

Indiana Chowder is a hearty, 30-minute meal featuring ground beef, wide egg noodles, and a medley of vegetables like corn and peas, all brought together with Rotel tomatoes and melted cheese. This comforting dish is perfect for busy weeknights, offering a flavorful and satisfying dinner option for the whole family.

These Sweet Brown Sugar BBQ Meatballs are tender, pan-seared bites coated in a sticky, caramelized glaze made from brown sugar and your favorite barbecue sauce. Inspired by Vietnamese Xiu Mai, they offer a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavor—perfect for parties, sandwiches, or a quick appetizer.​

This Chicken Breast in Sour Cream Sauce recipe features tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich, creamy sauce infused with onion, sweet red peppers, garlic, paprika, and chicken broth. It's an easy-to-make dish that delivers restaurant-quality flavor, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

This Cheesy Burrito Casserole is a comforting, family-friendly dish that layers seasoned ground beef, refried beans, and shredded Mexican cheese between torn flour tortillas, all topped with a creamy blend of sour cream and condensed cream of mushroom soup. Baked to golden perfection in just 25 minutes, it's a quick and satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights.

​These Simple Oven Tacos from are an easy and delicious twist on traditional tacos. They feature seasoned ground beef layered into taco shells, topped with cheese, and baked until crispy and melty—perfect for a quick, family-friendly dinner.

This Crockpot Chicken Marsala is a simple, hands-off recipe that combines tender chicken tenderloins, mushrooms, and herbs in a creamy sauce made with butter, broth, and cream cheese. With just nine ingredients and minimal prep, it's a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights.

​This Crockpot Chicken, Mushroom, and Green Bean Casserole is a comforting, hands-off meal perfect for busy nights. It features tender shredded chicken, green beans, and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, topped with crispy fried onions—ready in just over 3 hours with minimal prep.

​These Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a quick and budget-friendly meal, featuring tender, crispy chicken coated in a sweet and spicy glaze made with brown sugar, honey, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Paired with steamed broccoli and white rice, this satisfying dish comes together easily with ingredients from Aldi, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

​This Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hearty, flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. It combines tender shredded chicken, sweet corn, and a creamy broth, all topped with crispy tortilla strips for a comforting, family-friendly dinner.

​This Sweet and Spicy Beef and Peppers Slow Cooker Stew combines tender stew beef with bell peppers, onions, and a flavorful blend of brown sugar and red pepper flakes for a comforting, Chinese takeout-inspired meal. It's an easy, family-friendly dish that simmers to perfection in your slow cooker, offering a hearty dinner option with minimal prep.


This Slow Cooker Beef Stew is a hearty, hands-off meal that combines tender stew meat with vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and green beans in a savory broth. With just 15 minutes of prep time, it simmers over 7–8 hours, making it a perfect choice for busy days.

​This Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls recipe is a simple, flavorful meal that combines chicken breasts, salsa, black beans, corn, and spices. Cooked in a slow cooker, it's served over rice and topped with shredded cheddar and green onions, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.

This Quick & Easy Texas Toast Pizza is a fun and simple meal that kids and adults alike will love. With just four ingredients—Texas toast, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your choice of toppings—it’s ready in minutes and perfect for a casual dinner or playdate.​

These Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a quick, healthy, and flavorful dinner option that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. Featuring ground chicken, water chestnuts, and a savory sauce made with hoisin and soy sauce, they're served in crisp lettuce leaves for a gluten- and dairy-free meal that's both satisfying and fun to eat.

​This Cheesy Tortellini Casserole offers a comforting, lasagna-like dish that's quicker and easier to prepare. Topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, it's baked until bubbly and golden. This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner, providing both flavor and convenience.

These Broccoli and Cheese Mini Quiches are a delightful, bite-sized treat perfect for brunch or a savory snack. Whether using fresh or frozen broccoli, these mini quiches are easy to prepare and sure to impress guests.

This Easy Gluten-Free Chili Mac is a hearty, one-pan meal that combines ground beef, gluten-free elbow pasta, and a savory tomato-based sauce. It's naturally dairy-free, with optional cheese for those who prefer it, making it a versatile and comforting dish suitable for various dietary needs.

This Slow Cooker Green Chicken is a flavorful, hands-off meal. Simply combine the ingredients in your crockpot, cook on high for 5–6 hours, shred the chicken, and serve over tortillas or cilantro lime rice for a satisfying dinner.

This Easy Fried Rice recipe is a budget-friendly, gluten-free, and dairy-free meal that transforms leftover rice into a flavorful dish. By sautéing vegetables, scrambling eggs, adding cooked meat, and seasoning with tamari or soy sauce, you can create a customizable meal using ingredients you already have on hand.

This Butternut Squash Soup is a comforting, vegan-friendly dish that combines the natural sweetness of roasted butternut squash with the aromatic flavors of fresh sage, rosemary, and ginger. Blended until smooth and creamy, it's a perfect fall meal that's both nourishing and satisfying.

This Broccoli Cheese Soup is a lighter, yet indulgent, take on the classic comfort food. The recipe utilizes both broccoli florets and stems, maximizing flavor and minimizing waste. It's a wholesome, satisfying soup that's as nourishing as it is delicious.​

This Baked Ziti recipe offers a comforting Italian-American dish that's both easy to prepare and satisfying. It's a perfect meal for weeknights, potlucks, or make-ahead dinners.

This 30-Minute Shepherd's Pie is a quick and hearty twist on the classic comfort food. It features a savory filling of ground beef, carrots, onions, and peas in a rich gravy, all topped with creamy mashed potatoes. The dish is then broiled to golden perfection, making it a perfect weeknight dinner option.

This Crockpot Lasagna Soup combines seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, and a medley of vegetables delivering all the comforting flavors of traditional lasagna in a cozy soup form. It's an easy, hands-off meal that's perfect for busy weeknights and freezes beautifully for future meals.

This Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole combines the comforting flavors of classic chicken noodle soup with the heartiness of a baked casserole. It's a perfect make-ahead meal for busy weeknights.

This Beef Stroganoff Casserole transforms the classic dish into a comforting, family-friendly meal. Perfect for weeknight dinners, this casserole offers the rich flavors of traditional stroganoff in a convenient, easy-to-prepare form.

This Easy Meatloaf recipe is a flavorful and straightforward dish that's both juicy and firm. It's praised for its simplicity and taste, with the creator's husband declaring it the best meatloaf ever.

This Sour Cream Rice Bake is a comforting, creamy casserole that's both easy to prepare and satisfying. With just six ingredients—it comes together in about 40 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight meal for the whole family.

This Hamburger Potato Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish that combines ground beef, cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced potatoes in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It's a family-friendly meal that's easy to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights.

​This 5-Ingredient Easy Chili is a quick and flavorful dish that comes together in just 30 minutes. Made with ground beef or turkey, diced tomatoes with green chiles, beans, onions, and chili powder, it's a satisfying meal with minimal ingredients.​

This Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting, family-friendly dish that combines seasoned ground beef, creamy soup, and crispy tater tots, all topped with melted cheddar cheese. It's an easy-to-make meal that's perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks.

This Cilantro Lime Chicken Freezer Meal is a flavorful and convenient slow cooker recipe that's perfect for busy nights. It's a healthy, gluten-free, and clean-eating-friendly meal that's both delicious and easy to prepare.

​These Taco Cups are a quick and budget-friendly meal that the whole family will love. Made by baking flattened biscuits in a muffin tin, they're filled with seasoned ground beef and topped with your favorite taco toppings.

This hearty Loaded Vegetable Soup is a comforting, meatless dish brimming with fresh vegetables. Simmered slowly with aromatic herbs, it’s perfect for cozy nights and even better the next day, making it ideal for meal prep or freezing for later.

These Sloppy Joe Sliders are a quick and budget-friendly meal that's perfect for busy weeknights or game day gatherings. They're served on lightly toasted Hawaiian rolls for a satisfying bite.

This Crunchy Chicken Ramen Salad is a flavorful, budget-friendly dish. It's perfect for warm-weather meals and can be customized with optional add-ins like green onions, nuts, or sesame seeds.

A comforting classic, simmered with garlic, crushed and whole tomatoes, and finished with heavy cream and fresh basil. Paired with her Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich—made with a trio of sharp cheddar, provolone, and Swiss cheeses on buttery Italian bread—this duo offers a satisfying, nostalgic meal perfect for cozy evenings.
These Creamy Chicken Enchiladas are a comforting and easy-to-make dish. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner and can be customized with your favorite cheese or spice level.

This Easy Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a comforting, one-pan meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. It's a family-friendly dish that's as simple to prepare as it is satisfying.
A no-fuss, family-friendly dinner that combines frozen ravioli, your favorite spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella cheese—all cooked together in a slow cooker. A comforting meal that's ready with minimal effort.

Delightful twist on traditional pizza by combining tender chicken, juicy tomatoes, and briny artichokes atop a crispy crust. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a casual weekend gathering.

A quick and flavorful meal that comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and topped with your favorite fixings, this salad offers a satisfying twist on traditional tacos.

This customizable meal features a creamy chicken gravy served over steamed rice, accompanied by a variety of toppings such as crispy noodles, pineapple, green onions, and shredded cheese, allowing everyone to build their perfect plate.

A quick and customizable skillet meal that’s perfect for busy evenings. With tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a savory sauce, it’s a flavorful dinner that can be made in just 30 minutes.​

A quick, flavorful meal that combines shredded chicken, pasta, and a blend of Italian cheeses. Ready in just 20 minutes, it's a perfect option for busy weeknights.

A vibrant, 30-minute meal that combines seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese. Topped with salsa, sour cream, avocado, and crunchy tortilla chips, it's a customizable dish perfect for busy weeknights.​

A hearty, hands-off comfort food that combines tender chicken, creamy soup, and egg noodles. Simply set it in the slow cooker and enjoy a warm, satisfying meal with minimal effort.

This comforting recipe offers a hearty twist on classic bean and cheese burritos, featuring spicy pinto beans, melted cheese, and a touch of sour cream. Perfect for a cozy meal, it's a flavorful vegetarian option that's both satisfying and simple to prepare.

A creamy, savory dish made with just a few simple ingredients: dry ranch seasoning, boneless skinless chicken breasts, bacon, and cream cheese. This easy-to-make meal is perfect for busy weeknights, offering minimal prep and maximum flavor that the whole family will enjoy.
What easy meals are you preparing for dinner? Share your thrifty ideas!




I need to try the Crockpot Ravioli! It sounds so good and anything made in the slow cooker is my kind of meal 🙂
It is amazing. I’ve been making it for years now and we love it!
What a great roundup! Who doesn’t need to budget from time to time? Saving this! Thanks for joining the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Lots of great ideas on here, I need to get busy in my kitchen!
Oh my! Great ideas! Pinned and tweeted. We love partying with you and we appreciate you stopping by! Please take a minute to stop by next week, so we can pin and tweet your new creation. The party starts on Monday at 7 pm! Have a great Sunday! Lou Lou Girls
Meal planning can be so hard. Thank you for sharing this great recipe round-up and for linking up at the #HomeMattersParty!
Very awesome list. I need!! 🙂 Best wishes for the weekend. Linda @Crafts a la mode