40 Super Cheap Dinner Recipes When You Have a Tight Budget

Some days you open the fridge and think, “Alright… what can I actually make for dinner with this?”

I’ve had plenty of those weeks where groceries felt like the last thing my bank account wanted to deal with.

You start getting creative, mixing random things together, hoping it turns into something decent.

It’s a weird mix of trying to save money while still wanting meals that feel like real meals.

The nice part is you don’t need fancy ingredients or long prep to keep everyone fed.

A few cheap staples and some simple dinner recipes can stretch things a lot further than you’d think!

1. Cheesy Beef Ramen Skillet

This is one of those toss-it-in-the-pan dinners that works when you’re down to the last few ingredients.

The ramen turns creamy and cheesy, and the beef makes it feel like a real meal.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 packs ramen noodles (discard seasoning)
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet.
2. Add water, ramen noodles, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook until noodles soften.
4. Stir in salsa and cheese until melted.

2. One-Pot Taco Rice

Everything cooks in one pot, and it basically tastes like taco night without all the extras you don’t have. It’s cheap, filling, and reheats pretty well too.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Steps

1. Cook beef in a pot until browned.
2. Add rice, water, tomatoes, and taco seasoning.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover.
4. Cook until rice is tender.
5. Stir in cheese.

3. Creamy Tomato Pasta

All you need to do mix tomato sauce with a little creaminess and it turns into a simple, warm bowl of pasta.

It’s great for nights when you don’t want to think too hard about dinner.

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup pasta water
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Cook pasta and reserve pasta water.
2. Add tomato sauce, cream cheese, pasta water, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a pot.
3. Stir until smooth.
4. Toss pasta in the sauce.

4. Peanut Butter Stir Fry Noodles

It’s basically a quick peanut sauce tossed with noodles, and you can throw in any veggies you’ve got lying around.

It tastes like takeout but on the cheapest budget ever.

Ingredients

• 12 oz noodles
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 cup water
• Optional: frozen veggies

Steps

1. Cook noodles according to package.
2. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and water in a pan.
3. Add cooked noodles and veggies.
4. Toss to coat.

5. Lentil and Veggie Soup

This one stretches a tiny amount of ingredients into a whole pot of food.

The lentils cook down soft and make the soup hearty without costing much.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry lentils
• 5 cups water or broth
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Steps

1. Add all ingredients to a pot.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are soft.
4. Adjust seasoning.

6. Crispy Potato and Egg Hash

It’s just potatoes and eggs fried up in a pan, but you can also throw in some leftover ham or bacon if you have it.

Perfect for breakfast-for-dinner nights!

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes, diced
• 4 eggs
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Heat oil and fry potatoes until crispy.
2. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Crack eggs over the potatoes.
4. Cover and cook until eggs set.

7. Garlic Butter Noodles

This is as basic as it gets, and somehow it always hits the spot!

Butter, garlic, noodles, done.

Ingredients

• 12 oz noodles
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Cook noodles according to package.
2. Melt butter in a pan.
3. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Toss noodles in the butter.

8. Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas

You just mix beans and corn, add cheese, and toast it up in a pan.

It’s cheap, filling, and good for using up tortillas.

Ingredients

• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 6 tortillas

Steps

1. Mix beans, corn, and cheese.
2. Spread mixture on half of each tortilla.
3. Fold and toast in a pan.
4. Flip until both sides are golden.

9. Simple Veggie Fried Rice

Great for extra rice you forgot about in the fridge.

Frozen veggies make it even easier!

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup frozen veggies
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oil

Steps

1. Heat oil and cook veggies.
2. Push aside and scramble eggs.
3. Add rice and soy sauce.
4. Stir until heated through.

10. Savory Oatmeal with Egg

If you’ve never tried savory oats, it’s cheap, quick, and way more filling than it looks.

The egg on top makes it feel like real comfort food.

Ingredients

• 1 cup oats
• 2 cups water
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Steps

1. Cook oats with water, salt, and pepper.
2. Fry or poach an egg.
3. Spoon oats into a bowl.
4. Top with the egg.

11. Tuna and Pea Pasta

It’s canned tuna mixed with pasta and peas, and it comes together fast without costing much.

The sauce gets a little creamy when everything warms up in the pan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta
• 1 can tuna, drained
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup pasta water
• 1/3 cup mayo
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Cook pasta and reserve pasta water.
2. Add tuna, peas, mayo, salt, pepper, and pasta water to a pan.
3. Stir until warm.
4. Toss with pasta.

12. Bean and Cheese Burritos

These are simple, cheap, and good for days when you need something fast.

You can roll up a whole batch and stash them in the fridge too.

Ingredients

• 1 can refried beans
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 6 tortillas
• 1/2 tsp chili powder

Steps

1. Warm refried beans in a pan with chili powder.
2. Spread beans on tortillas.
3. Add cheese.
4. Roll and heat in a pan or microwave.

13. Chickpea Curry with Rice

Canned chickpeas make this super quick, and the sauce is mild but cozy. I

t’s great when you want something warm without buying a ton of ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 can chickpeas, drained
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Cooked rice for serving

Steps

1. Add chickpeas, tomato sauce, coconut milk, curry powder, and salt to a pot.
2. Simmer until thickened.
3. Serve over rice.

14. Budget Chili with Canned Beans

You just throw everything in the pot and let it bubble for a bit.

It’s not fancy chili, but it’s cheap and makes a lot.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 cans mixed beans, drained
• 1 packet chili seasoning
• 1 cup water

Steps

1. Brown the beef in a pot.
2. Add tomatoes, beans, seasoning, and water.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer.

15. Cheesy Broccoli Rice Bake

This is the classic cheap comfort dish with rice, broccoli, and a quick cheese sauce.

It’s filling and stretches across a couple meals if you need it to.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 cups broccoli (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Mix rice, broccoli, cheese, soup, and garlic powder.
2. Spread in a baking dish.
3. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.

16. Egg Drop Ramen

This is a fast way to bulk up a cheap pack of ramen.

The egg makes the broth a little richer without any extra effort.

Ingredients

• 1 pack ramen
• 2 cups water
• 1 egg
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Bring water and seasoning packet to a boil.
2. Add ramen noodles.
3. Stir in beaten egg slowly.
4. Add garlic powder and serve.

17. Chicken Drumstick Sheet Pan Dinner

Drumsticks are usually the cheapest cut, and they roast well with whatever veggies you’ve got.

Everything goes on one pan and cooks at the same time.

Ingredients

• 6 chicken drumsticks
• 3 potatoes, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. Toss drumsticks and veggies with oil, paprika, and salt.
2. Spread on a sheet pan.
3. Bake at 400°F for 40 to 45 minutes.

18. Sausage and Cabbage Skillet

This is super cheap and surprisingly good!

The cabbage softens and soaks up the flavor from the sausage.

Ingredients

• 1 lb sausage
• 1/2 head cabbage, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Cook sausage in a skillet.
2. Add cabbage, onion, oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Stir and cook until cabbage softens.

19. Veggie-Packed Marinara Pasta

You can toss any leftover veggies in a jar of marinara and it works.

It’s cheap, flexible, and good for using stuff before it goes bad.

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta
• 1 jar marinara
• 2 cups chopped veggies
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Cook pasta.
2. Heat marinara with veggies, salt, and garlic powder.
3. Combine sauce and pasta.

20. Potato and Carrot Soup

This soup costs almost nothing and feels comforting on cold nights.

The potatoes blend into a smooth base without needing cream.

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 5 cups water or broth
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. Add all ingredients to a pot.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until veggies are soft.
4. Blend or mash to desired texture.

21. BBQ Bean Sandwiches

This is just canned beans doctored up a bit and piled on bread or buns, but it tastes way better than it sounds!

I like to throw some coleslaw on mine too to give it some crunch.

Ingredients

• 1 can baked beans
• 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 4 hamburger buns

Steps

1. Warm beans, BBQ sauce, and onion powder in a pot.
2. Stir until combined.
3. Spoon onto buns.

22. Spicy Bean Nachos

You spread everything on a pan, melt the cheese, and it’s done.

Or add some chopped tomato and onion to bulk it up and make it healthier.

Ingredients

• 1 bag tortilla chips
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 cup salsa

Steps

1. Spread chips on a baking sheet.
2. Sprinkle beans, cheese, and chili powder.
3. Bake at 375°F until melted.
4. Serve with salsa.

23. Baked Chicken Thighs and Rice

Chicken thighs stay juicy and bake right on top of the rice.

It’s simple and fills the kitchen with that cozy dinner smell.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups broth
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. Add rice and broth to a baking dish.
2. Place chicken thighs on top.
3. Season with paprika and salt.
4. Cover and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.

24. Simple Egg Salad Sandwiches

A few boiled eggs and some mayo go a long way here.

It’s cheap, easy, and works for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, boiled
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1 tsp mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Bread for serving

Steps

1. Mash eggs with mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper.
2. Spread on bread.

25. Ham and Potato Casserole

This is a great way to use leftover ham or the cheap diced kind.

Potatoes and cheese turn it into something warm and filling.

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup diced ham
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Mix potatoes, ham, cheese, soup, and garlic powder.
2. Spread in a baking dish.
3. Bake at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes.

26. Black Bean Tacos

These come together fast and taste great even with just a few ingredients.

Add in some lettuce and chopped tomato for the full taco experience.

Ingredients

• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 tsp taco seasoning
• 6 tortillas
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Steps

1. Warm beans with taco seasoning in a pan.
2. Spoon into tortillas.
3. Add cheese.

27. Canned Salmon Patties

These fry up crispy on the outside and stay soft in the middle.

They taste good with rice or tucked into a bun.

Ingredients

• 1 can salmon, drained
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• Oil for frying

Steps

1. Mix salmon, egg, breadcrumbs, and garlic powder.
2. Form patties.
3. Fry in oil until browned on both sides.

28. Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Peas

This is super cheap and surprisingly satisfying.

The peas add a little sweetness and make it more of a full meal.

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Boil potatoes until soft.
2. Mash with butter, milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Stir in peas.

29. One-Pan Chicken and Penne

The pasta cooks right in the broth with the chicken, so it’s all done together.

It turns into a simple, creamy skillet dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast, diced
• 12 oz penne
• 3 cups broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Steps

1. Cook chicken in a skillet.
2. Add penne, broth, milk, and seasoning.
3. Cover and simmer until pasta is tender.

30. Slow Cooker Bean Soup

This is basically a dump-and-go recipe and works with any kind of beans.

It cooks down into something warm and hearty by dinner.

Add some leftover ham if you have it!

Ingredients

• 3 cans mixed beans, drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 5 cups broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

31. Rice and Veggie Stir Fry

This is great for leftover rice and whatever veggies you’ve got sitting around.

It comes together fast and doesn’t need any special ingredients.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 2 cups mixed veggies
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Heat oil in a pan.
2. Add veggies and cook until warm.
3. Add rice, soy sauce, and garlic powder.
4. Stir until heated through.

32. Loaded Baked Potatoes

Potatoes are cheap and you can pile anything on top to make it a full meal.

Cheese and sour cream work, but beans or leftover veggies work too.

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup cooked veggies or beans
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Bake potatoes at 400°F for 45 to 60 minutes.
2. Cut open and fluff the insides.
3. Add toppings.

33. Tuna Melt Grilled Sandwiches

It’s just tuna salad grilled with cheese, but it hits the spot every time.

They’re cheap, warm, and good for quick lunches or dinners.

Ingredients

• 1 can tuna, drained
• 2 tbsp mayo
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 4 slices bread
• Butter for grilling

Steps

1. Mix tuna, mayo, and cheese.
2. Spread on bread and close sandwiches.
3. Butter the outside.
4. Grill until golden.

34. Creamy Spinach Pasta

Frozen spinach makes this meal super cheap and easy.

The sauce gets creamy without needing anything fancy.

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta
• 1 cup frozen spinach
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 cup pasta water
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Cook pasta and reserve pasta water.
2. Add spinach, cream cheese, pasta water, and garlic powder to a pan.
3. Stir until smooth.
4. Toss with pasta.

35. Buttered Herb Rice with Eggs

It’s rice, butter, and herbs topped with a couple eggs.

It’s simple but feels filling when you don’t have many groceries left.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp dried herbs
• 2 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Warm rice with butter, herbs, salt, and pepper.
2. Fry eggs.
3. Serve eggs over the rice.

36. Chicken and Dumplings (Biscuit Hack)

Using canned biscuits makes this super quick and budget-friendly.

It still tastes like comfort food without all the work!

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken
• 4 cups broth
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can refrigerated biscuits
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Steps

1. Add chicken, broth, soup, and pepper to a pot and bring to a simmer.
2. Cut biscuits into small pieces.
3. Drop biscuit pieces into the pot.
4. Simmer until biscuits are cooked through.

37. Mushroom Gravy Over Rice

This is a cheap way to make rice feel like a full meal.

The mushrooms cook down into a simple, savory gravy.

Ingredients

• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooked rice for serving

Steps

1. Cook mushrooms in butter.
2. Stir in flour.
3. Add broth, salt, and pepper.
4. Simmer until thickened.
5. Serve over rice.

38. Baked Sausage and Potatoes

Everything roasts together on one pan and turns crispy around the edges.

It’s cheap and doesn’t need much seasoning.

Ingredients

• 1 lb sausage, sliced
• 4 potatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. Toss sausage and potatoes with oil, paprika, and salt.
2. Spread on a sheet pan.
3. Bake at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes.

39. Tortilla Pizza

It’s basically a super thin, crispy pizza made from a tortilla.

Perfect when you want something fun without spending money.

Ingredients

• 4 tortillas
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• Any toppings you have

Steps

1. Spread sauce on tortillas.
2. Add cheese and toppings.
3. Bake at 400°F until crispy.

40. Cottage Pie with Ground Beef and Veggies

This is a cheap version of the classic and stretches a small amount of beef really far.

The mashed potato topping makes it feel hearty.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 cups mixed veggies
• 2 cups mashed potatoes
• 1 cup broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Steps

1. Brown beef in a skillet.
2. Add veggies, broth, and garlic powder.
3. Simmer until thickened.
4. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
5. Bake at 375°F until lightly browned.

Feeding Your Family on a Tight Budget Can Be Simple

Feeding your family on a tight budget can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to take a ton of time or money.

Once you’ve got a few cheap staples and some easy recipes to fall back on, dinner starts to feel a lot more manageable!