I was looking for cute room ideas on Pinterest last month when I saw these cheap dinner ideas. At first, I wasn’t sure about them and they looked too simple. But I tried them anyway because I needed to save money on groceries.
After cooking these meals a few times, I started adding my touches. As for the curry, I now add a squeeze of lemon at the end. It makes such a big difference.
Now these aren’t just cheap meals anymore, they’re my family’s favorites. My kids ask for them all the time, and my partner always takes leftovers to work.
1. Lentil and Vegetable Curry with Rice
A vibrant orange-red curry packed with tender lentils and colorful veggies, swimming in creamy coconut sauce over fluffy white rice
Ingredients (serves 6):
- Red lentils ($2.50/1 cup)
- Coconut milk ($2.00/can)
- Yellow onion ($0.50)
- Carrots ($1.00/3 medium)
- Potatoes ($1.50/2 medium)
- Curry powder ($0.50/2 tbsp)
- Rice ($1.50/2 cups)
- Garlic ($0.30/4 cloves)
- Ginger ($0.50/2-inch piece)
Total cost: ~$10.30 ($1.72 per serving)
Cook time: 45 minutes
Instructions;
- Rinse 1 cup of lentils until water runs clear
- Dice one onion, three carrots, two potatoes into 1-inch chunks
- Sauté onion in a large pot with oil until translucent (5 mins)
- Add minced garlic, grated ginger, curry powder, stir for 1 minute
- Pour in coconut milk and 2 cups water, and bring to a boil
- Add lentils and veggies, simmer 20-25 mins until tender
- Meanwhile, cook 2 cups of rice according to the package
- Season curry with salt and pepper to taste
- Serve hot curry over rice
2. Sheet Pan Chicken Legs with Roasted Veggies
Golden-brown, crispy-skinned chicken legs nestled among caramelized rainbow vegetables
Ingredients (serves 6):
- Chicken legs ($8.00/6 pieces)
- Potatoes ($2.00/4 medium)
- Carrots ($1.00/6 medium)
- Onions ($1.00/2 large)
- Olive oil ($0.50/3 tbsp)
- Herbs/seasonings ($0.50)
Total cost: ~$13.00 ($2.17 per serving)
Cook time: 50 minutes
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- Pat chicken legs dry with paper towels
- Cut potatoes and carrots into 1-inch pieces
- Slice onions into thick wedges
- Toss veggies with 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper
- Rub chicken with 1 tbsp oil and seasonings
- Arrange on the large sheet pan, chicken skin-side up
- Roast 45-50 mins until chicken is 165°F internal
- Flip veggies halfway through cooking
- Let rest 5-10 mins before serving
3. Bean and Cheese Burritos
Soft tortillas wrapped around creamy beans and melty cheese, with fresh toppings create the perfect comfort food vibe
Ingredients (serves 6):
- Large flour tortillas ($3.00/8 count)
- Black or pinto beans ($1.50/2 cans)
- Shredded cheese ($2.50/8 oz)
- Rice ($1.00/1.5 cups)
- Lettuce ($1.00/head)
- Tomatoes ($1.50/3 medium)
- Sour cream ($1.00/8 oz)
- Seasonings ($0.50)
Total cost: ~$12.00 ($2.00 per serving)
Cook time: 30 minutes
Instructions;
- Cook 1.5 cups of rice with water and a pinch of salt
- Drain and rinse beans, mash slightly with a fork
- Season beans with cumin, garlic powder, salt
- Warm beans in a pan, stirring occasionally
- Heat tortillas until pliable (30 secs each)
- Layer each tortilla: rice, beans, cheese (2 tbsp each)
- Add shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes to taste
- Roll tight, tucking ends in first
- Optional: grill seam-side down until golden
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream
4. Homemade Tomato Pasta
Al dente spaghetti coated in a rich, garlicky tomato sauce with tender veggies peeking through
Ingredients (serves 6):
- Spaghetti ($2.00/1 lb)
- Canned tomatoes ($2.50/28 oz)
- Garlic ($0.50/whole head)
- Frozen mixed veggies ($2.00/1 lb)
- Olive oil ($0.50/3 tbsp)
- Italian herbs ($0.50)
- Parmesan ($1.50/4 oz)
Total cost: ~$9.50 ($1.58 per serving)
Cook time: 35 minutes
Instructions;
- Boil a large pot of salted water for pasta
- Mince 6 cloves garlic
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat
- Sauté garlic until fragrant (2 mins)
- Add tomatoes, herbs, salt, pepper
- Simmer sauce for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Cook pasta according to the package
- Add frozen veggies to sauce last 5 mins
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining
- Toss pasta with sauce, add pasta water if needed
- Top with grated parmesan
5. Breakfast For Dinner (Fluffy Pancakes & Eggs)
Golden-brown, cloud-like pancakes with perfectly set sunny-side-up eggs and a drizzle of amber maple syrup
Ingredients (serves 6):
- All-purpose flour ($1.00/2 cups)
- Eggs ($2.50/dozen)
- Milk ($1.00/2 cups)
- Butter ($1.00/stick)
- Baking powder ($0.25)
- Sugar ($0.25/3 tbsp)
- Maple syrup ($2.50/8 oz)
- Salt ($0.10)
Total cost: ~$8.60 ($1.43 per serving)
Cook time: 30 minutes
Instructions;
- Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in the bowl
- In a separate bowl, beat 2 eggs with milk
- Melt 4 tbsp butter, let cool slightly
- Mix wet ingredients into dry, don’t overmix
- Heat griddle/pan over medium heat
- Pour 1/4 cup batter per pancake
- Flip when bubbles form (2-3 mins each side)
- For eggs: heat pan on medium-low
- Crack 6-8 eggs into a pan with butter
- Cook until whites set but yolks runny
- Serve 2-3 pancakes + 1-2 eggs per person
6. Potato and Ham Soup
Creamy, velvety soup studded with tender potato chunks and smoky ham bits, sprinkled with fresh herbs
Ingredients (serves 6):
- Potatoes ($2.00/6 medium)
- Ham ($3.50/1 lb cubed)
- Carrots ($1.00/4 medium)
- Onion ($0.50/1 large)
- Milk ($1.50/2 cups)
- Chicken broth ($2.00/32 oz)
- Flour ($0.25/1/4 cup)
- Butter ($0.50/4 tbsp)
- Herbs ($0.30)
Total cost: ~$11.55 ($1.93 per serving)
Cook time: 45 minutes
Instructions;
- Dice potatoes, and carrots into 1/2-inch pieces
- Chop onion and ham into small cubes
- Melt butter in a large pot, sauté onions
- Add flour, and cook for 2 mins stirring constantly
- Gradually whisk in broth and milk
- Add potatoes, carrots, ham
- Simmer for 30-35 mins until potatoes tender
- Season with salt, pepper, dried thyme
- Add more milk if too thick
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired
7. Tuna Noodle Casserole
Creamy pasta bake topped with golden, crunchy cracker crumbs and loaded with tender tuna and sweet peas
Ingredients (serves 6):
- Egg noodles ($2.00/12 oz)
- Canned tuna ($3.00/3 cans)
- Cream of mushroom soup ($1.50/can)
- Frozen peas ($1.00/10 oz)
- Crackers ($1.00/sleeve)
- Milk ($0.50/1 cup)
- Butter ($0.50/4 tbsp)
- Cheese ($1.00/4 oz)
Total cost: ~$10.50 ($1.75 per serving)
Cook time: 40 minutes
Instructions;
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Cook noodles until just al dente
- Drain tuna well, flake with a fork
- Mix soup with 1 cup milk until smooth
- Combine noodles, tuna, soup mixture
- Fold in thawed peas and 1/2 cup cheese
- Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish
- Crush crackers, mix with melted butter
- Sprinkle crumb topping evenly
- Bake 25-30 mins until bubbly and golden
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving
Conclusion
These seven budget-friendly meals have become more than just recipes I found by chance, they’re now part of our weekly menu.
