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Putting a wholesome, flavorful, and family-friendly dinner on the table each night doesn’t have to break the bank! This collection of 25 of our favorite cheap dinners includes a variety of easy options for every day of the week, and for every budget.
Some of the most budget-friendly dinner ingredients include beans, large cuts of meat (like pork shoulder or chuck roast) that you can cook once and enjoy in a variety of ways, chicken thighs and drumsticks, ground beef, ground turkey, bone-in pork chops, potatoes, rice, pasta, and cabbage.
Casseroles are great options for feeding a family on a budget, because they can stretch a small amount of meat to feed a big group. Similarly, soup recipes are also affordable ways to use up leftovers in new, satisfying meals. Add a warm skillet of buttermilk cornbread on the side and nobody will miss the filet mignon!
Cheap Family Dinners
This convenient recipe roundup includes some of our favorite cheap easy dinners to feed a family. From soups and stews to pulled pork, hearty casseroles, and big pots of beans, there’s something here for everyone at the table. Leave a comment below and let me know which one you will try first!
Hamburger Casserole {Sour Cream Noodle Bake}
This Amish hamburger casserole is a comforting dinner that’s full of ground beef, pasta, vegetables, and three different types of cheese. My mom served the layered sour cream noodle bake when I was growing up, and my own kids now love the easy meal, too. Pair it with a simple green salad, broccoli, cornbread, or a crusty loaf of bread!
Bean Soup {Stovetop + Slow Cooker}
Thick, smoky and satisfying, this healthy ham and bean soup recipe is the perfect meal for a chilly day! The easy dinner can be prepared on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in an Instant Pot for a convenient option that suits your schedule. 15 bean soup is also a great way to use up that leftover ham from Christmas or Easter!
Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Crock Pot Pulled Pork is one of the easiest and most affordable slow cooker dinners you’ll ever make! With just a few minutes of prep, you can have a big batch of tender, juicy meat to use in tacos, sandwiches, wraps, or salads all week long. A flavorful bbq dry rub seasons the pulled pork, which is perfect when tossed with bbq sauce and piled high on buns! Serve it alongside coleslaw, pickles, collard greens, potato wedges, or cornbread!
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Make this cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole from scratch with simple, wholesome ingredients. The egg noodles, vegetables and tender chicken come together in a creamy sauce with a buttery Ritz cracker topping. Add a salad and corn muffins or biscuits for an easy dinner any night of the week!
Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
This simple, flavorful, and easy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole is an old-fashioned classic! You just can’t beat the convenience of a make-ahead one dish meal, complete with tender chicken, fresh broccoli, white rice, and cheddar cheese in a creamy sauce made from cream of mushroom soup. Top it off with Ritz crackers and serve it alongside a simple green salad or a basket of buttermilk biscuits!
Hoppin’ John
A classic Southern dish! Hoppin’ John, or “Carolina Peas and Rice,” is a simple, flavorful combination of black-eyed peas, rice, bacon, smoked ham hock, onion, celery, garlic, and herbs. Often served on New Year’s Day, the delicious field peas pair nicely with other lucky foods like cornbread and collard greens. Don’t wait for a New Year’s tradition, though — this humble dish deserves an appearance on the table more than once a year!
Crockpot Cabbage Soup with Hamburger
It doesn’t get much easier than a healthy, nourishing pot of Grandma’s Crockpot Cabbage Soup with hamburger, beans, and loads of veggies. Prep a big batch in advance and stash it in the fridge or freezer for easy lunches and satisfying dinners on chilly days. Serve each comforting bowl with a loaf of crusty bread, a skillet of cornbread, or a basket of flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Pan Fried Pork Chops
Simple is best! These 5-ingredient pan fried pork chops come together with about 5 minutes of prep for an easy weeknight dinner that your family will love. Tender and juicy, the crisp, golden brown chops are delicious alongside buttermilk biscuits, grits, rice, Southern-style green beans, or a skillet of cornbread.
Cabbage Roll Casserole
Total comfort food! This cabbage roll casserole is a nutritious dinner that’s full of flavor. With ground beef, tomato soup, veggies, rice, bacon, and cheese, the dish includes all of the ingredients from my great grandmother’s Polish stuffed cabbage rolls — with none of the rolling and stuffing required! Pair the cozy unstuffed cabbage roll casserole with a side of cornbread, 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits, or a basket of blueberry muffins.
Hamburger Steak {Poor Man’s Steak}
Total comfort food! This easy hamburger steak with mushroom gravy (also known as “poor man’s steak”) is an affordable, easy dinner recipe that the whole family can enjoy! Serve the ground beef patties with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits, or a loaf of crusty bread to soak up any extra sauce.
Stuffed Peppers with Rice
Classic stuffed peppers with rice, ground beef, two different types of cheese, and Italian herbs are baked in tomato sauce until tender and flavorful. This easy dinner recipe appeals to both kids and adults, is a cozy and satisfying meal, and even looks elegant enough for entertaining! Pair the stuffed peppers with a side salad, crusty bread, or fluffy buttermilk biscuits.
Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes {5 Ingredients!}
Pasta with cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil is an easy 5-ingredient vegetarian dinner that’s ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes! It’s the perfect summer meal when you don’t feel like cooking, as the simple recipe let’s summer’s produce shine. Garnish the pasta and burst cherry tomato sauce with Parmesan cheese, and serve each bowl with a crisp green salad and a loaf of crusty bread.
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken {5 Ingredients}
With just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, this sticky and crispy honey garlic chicken is an easy weeknight dinner recipe for stress-free evenings! Use white meat chicken breasts, thighs, wings, or drumsticks — or a combination of parts. The tender, juicy, and flavorful meat is delicious served with rice, sesame noodles, steamed broccoli, or ramen noodle salad, and can easily be adjusted to feed only 2 people.
One-Pot Easy Chicken Bog
A quick and simplified version of this Southern classic is perfect for your busy weeknight meals! Easy chicken bog is a one-pot dinner that includes chicken, smoked sausage, rice, and vegetables in a single Dutch oven. Pair it with a side salad, corn muffins, or buttermilk biscuits for the ultimate comfort food supper!
Farmhouse Chicken and Noodles
A simple farmhouse classic, these old-fashioned Chicken and Noodles are total comfort food! The affordable, easy dinner recipe is perfect for busy families — prepare a big batch in advance and serve a warm bowl whenever you need a quick and hearty meal. Everyone loves the homemade chicken broth, fluffy noodles, and tender, shredded chicken. Don’t forget the cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, or side salad, too!
Grandmother’s Hamburger Soup
This simple, healthy, and easy hamburger soup recipe is pure comfort in a bowl, and it has stood the test of time for generations! Loaded with ground beef, vegetables, and potatoes, the one pot meal can be made on the stovetop or in the slow cooker for a simple weeknight dinner. Serve each bowl with buttermilk biscuits, a skillet of cornbread, or a simple green salad.
Appalachian Beans and Greens
Hearty and humble, beans and greens with a side of cornbread has been a staple dish in Appalachia for generations. Use collards, turnip greens, kale, or spinach — whatever you have on hand. Simmered in broth with herbs, garlic, onions, and bacon, these Southern beans and greens make a simple, flavorful, and affordable meal in about 30 minutes!
Appalachian Soup Beans {Pinto Bean Soup}
Simple, hearty, and flavorful, soup beans is a traditional Appalachian meal that’s been enjoyed for generations. The cozy pinto bean soup is delicious topped with bacon, chow chow, onions or ramps, and served alongside cornbread, potatoes, and greens. Prepare the classic dish in a Dutch oven or in a Crock Pot, and savor a taste of the mountain South!
Southern Lima Beans with Ham {Butter Beans}
This classic Southern Lima Bean recipe is a delicious side dish or budget-friendly entrée. The rich, smoky butter beans are flavored with a ham hock and slowly simmered until tender. Serve a bowl of the thick, creamy lima beans with a side of sweet honey cornbread for the ultimate comfort food supper!
Crock Pot Beans and Cornbread
Simple, hearty, and flavorful, Crock Pot beans and cornbread is a traditional meal that’s been enjoyed throughout the south, southwest, and Appalachia for generations. The cozy pinto beans are delicious alongside a simple skillet of cornbread, and paired with greens or a crisp salad. It’s an affordable, satisfying, and easy dinner!
Creamed Chicken and Biscuits
Serve this old fashioned creamed chicken on biscuits, with toast, or over rice for easy, Southern comfort food! The simple weeknight dinner is ready in just 20 minutes, and is delicious alongside a crisp green salad, Arkansas green beans with bacon, or oven-roasted Brussels sprouts.
Roasted Buttermilk Marinated Chicken
Crispy roasted buttermilk marinated chicken comes together with just 15 minutes of prep and a handful of pantry staples. The juicy, golden brown chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or other chicken parts are flavored with garlic and herbs for a simple, delicious, and easy dinner recipe. Serve the meat with a tray of your favorite roasted vegetables, a bowl of buttermilk mashed potatoes, a pan of fluffy buttermilk biscuits, or a skillet of Southern cornbread.
Crock Pot Pot Roast
This easy Crock Pot pot roast recipe comes from our neighbors, who make it a regular post-church meal on Sunday afternoons. The unique combination of Coca Cola, onion soup seasoning mix, potatoes, carrots, onions, and herbs results in tender, flavorful, and succulent shredded beef. Serve the meat and veggies with a skillet of cornbread, a pan of buttermilk biscuits, or a basket of old-fashioned cranberry muffins.
Pork Ragu {Crock Pot or Stovetop}
Total comfort food — with just 10 minutes of prep! Prepare this pork ragu recipe in the slow cooker or on the stovetop for an Italian-inspired, easy dinner that your family will adore! Serve the hearty meat sauce over pappardelle (or other pasta), and pair it with a simple green salad and garlic bread for a cozy supper any night of the week.
Easy Ground Turkey Chili
Your search for the best turkey chili recipe stops here! With just the right amount of zesty seasoning, this simple and easy ground turkey chili is thick, rich, and incredibly flavorful. Serve it with a side of cornbread, pumpkin bread, or corn muffins for the ultimate family-friendly dinner!
