45 Cheap Dinner Ideas for a Budget-Friendly Family Meal

For this crowd pleasing dish, just pile on saucy, spiced chicken and melty cheese atop plenty of tortilla chips. You can also choose to add a variety of toppings like pico de gallo, sour cream, jalepeños or guacamole.

Get Ree’s Chicken Nachos recipe.

Take old-fashioned mac and cheese and give it a big boost (while remaining under budget) by adding buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and shredded rotisserie chicken.

Get Ree’s Buffalo Mac and Cheese recipe.

A comfort meal that’s satisfying, simple, and will help you save? Count us in! Along with ground beef, you’ll use other hearty ingredients like beans, corn, and tomatoes.

Get the Taco Soup recipe.

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Here’s a pizza that’s both a great deal and filled with great dill! Seriously, it’s got dill pickle chips baked in cheese and ranch dip with fresh dill sprinkled on top.

Get Ree’s Dill Pickle Pizza recipe.

Everyone loves a crispy, melt-in-your-mouth grilled cheese! For this recipe, you’ll enhance the sandwich by using both smoked gouda and sharp cheddar cheeses. And instead of cooking it on the stove, you’ll plop it in your air fryer!

Get the Air Fryer Grilled Cheese recipe.

Taco night doesn’t have to be pricey! Make a batch of pulled pork for these tacos (topped with sweet pineapple, pickled onions, cilantro, and lime), then keep using it through the week for other meals like nachos or sandwiches.

Get Ree’s Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos recipe.

With a beloved tomato-based cream sauce, vodka pasta is one of the best around—and so easy to make. When you’re finished, sprinkle on some parmesan, then serve it with bread or a salad.

Get Ree’s Pasta alla Vodka recipe.

It hardly gets more classic than a scrumptious sandwich! But this one takes up the flavor a notch with white sandwich bread, juicy heirloom tomatoes, and a tasty garlic aioli.

Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.

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Hot dogs are a go-to for inexpensive dinners. And with this method for air frying them, they’re even easier to make! You’ll have dinner on the table in 20 minutes or less.

Get the Air Fryer Hot Dogs recipe.

You’ll feel like your in an elegant Italian restaurant with this cheesy, saucy eggplant dish. But since there’s no meat involved, it’s actually relatively inexpensive!

Get the Eggplant Rollatini recipe.

Ground beef, onions, and a cheesy crust make this dish an all-time family favorite. Serve it up with ketchup, some pickles, or even burger sauce on the side.

Get the Cheeseburger Pie recipe.

It might look like a fancy steak, but this dish is actually made with affordable ground beef! The creamy mushroom sauce makes it feel even more elegant.

Get the Salisbury Steak recipe.

You can feel good about eating this hearty salad in more ways than one. Not only is is healthy, but it’s also easy on the wallet and so delicious.

Get the Taco Salad recipe.

A stuffed baked potato is always a good idea when you’re trying to save money. And this one filled with comforting curried chickpeas is sure to put a smile on your face.

Get Ree’s Curried Chickpea Loaded Potatoes recipe.

This dish is a vibrant display of colorful veggies paired with fluffy gnocchi and plenty of cheese. The best part? It’s all made on one sheet pan so clean up is easy!

Get the Sheet Pan Gnocchi recipe.

Skip the meat without sacrificing flavor in this homemade chili made with beans, warm spices, veggies, and sweet potatoes. You can let your family build their own bowl by setting out an array of chili toppings.

Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.

This ever-popular takeout dish is so easy to make at home. You can even customize to your liking by adding shredded rotisserie chicken for a heartier meal.

Get the Peanut Noodles recipe.

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