Cheap Dinner Ideas For Families On A Budget
Today’s Topic Is: 26 Fast and Frugal Family Dinners for Big Families On A Tight Budget – that’s right, we’re talking dirt cheap and easy “struggle” meals that are perfect for quick school night meals and busy weeknights when the picky eater family needs to be fed, but you’re short on time AND short on MONEY.
Whether you’re dealing with picky eaters or just need to stretch those grocery dollars, I’ve got you covered with delicious recipes featuring ground beef, chicken, pork chops, pasta, and more!
Cooking on a budget can be quite the challenge, especially with a big family. But fear not, I’ve discovered some amazing meals that not only save money but also ensure there’s a GOOD meal on the table every night.
I know we’re all feeling the pinch with rising grocery prices, so I had to come up with dinners that ease the strain on our wallets.
From quick One Pot Dump meals and affordable casseroles to super simple dinners with just a few inexpensive ingredients, these meals are not only comforting but also kid-approved (even my picky eaters dig in and ask for seconds!).
Let’s take a look at some of my favorite budget-friendly meals that I tend to make a LOT.
Go-To Budget-Friendly Meals:
Ravioli Casserole: A simple four-ingredient casserole dish that’s a BIG hit with the kiddos.
My Ravioli Casserole has only FOUR ingredients so it’s really simple to throw together and pop in the oven.
Just grab a bag of frozen Ravioli (I think it’s like a 25 ounce bag? I get the Great Value brand from Walmart – super cheap), a jar of marinara sauce or whatever pre-made spaghetti sauce you like, about 2 cups (a bags worth) of shredded mozzarella cheese and a shaker can of Parmesan.
Spread half the jar of sauce at the bottom of your casserole dish, layer with ravioli and mozzarella, top with some sauce, more ravioli and cheese, rest of the sauce – then sprinkle with Parmesan.
Cover with foil, then cook for about 30 minutes at 400. Then take it out, remove the foil and let it cook about another 10-15 minutes.
I usually can’t resist adding some more grated cheese on top for those last 15 minutes – there’s never too much cheese in this house haha!
One-Pot Dinners: Throw together pasta, a protein like chicken, ground beef or sausage, and some veggies in one pot with broth or sauce for a minimal cleanup, customizable dish.
Chicken Casserole with Potato Chip Topping: This is my go-to when money’s tight. Simple and super easy on the budget!
Taco Pasta: A family favorite that’s quick and satisfying.
Pasta Burger Bake: Thanks to my Uncle Bobby, a retired firefighter and cooking pro, I learned this 5-ingredient casserole that my kids renamed “Pasta Burger Bake.”
Sheet Pan Dinners: Toss veggies and a protein with olive oil and seasoning, and roast for an easy meal with minimal cleanup.
Canned Chicken Casseroles: With a trusty 9×13 casserole dish and some canned chicken, you can create amazing casseroles like Chicken Rice-A-Roni or Buffalo Chicken Casserole.
4-Ingredient Chili: Make a big batch with beans, ground meat (or go meatless), tomatoes, and spices. Perfect for leftovers.
Quesadillas: Make a large batch on a sheet pan for easy prep, great for dinner or parties.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops: Pork chops are often cheaper than ground beef, making them a staple in my house.
Crockpot Soups: I love making homemade soups in my crockpot and have LOTS of recipes with just a few simple (and cheap) ingredients.
Crockpot Pork Tenderloin Roast: Pork roasts are still cheap at my local grocery stores, that means I make a pork roast at LEAST once a week.
5-Ingredient Beef Tips and Gravy: A Sunday dinner favorite that’s SO easy to make.
If you love Easy Crockpot Dump Meals, you will LOVE how simple these beef tips and gravy are to make.
Just grab:
2 pounds cheap stew meat
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 packet brown gravy mix
1 small jar mushrooms (optional)
1 cup water
Dump your meat at the bottom of your crock, then mix all the other ingredients together and pour over the meat.
Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours (you *can* cook on High for 6 hours, but the meat is not NEARLY as tender)
Cheeseburger Sliders: Juicy, cheesy sliders that are perfect for meal prep or parties.
Crockpot Pork Chops: With just three ingredients, these are a breeze to make.
Chicken Alfredo Casserole: Easy to make ahead and freeze, perfect for busy nights.
Lazy Day Hamburger Noodles: Not fancy, but a no-fuss, affordable meal that’s ready fast.
One Pot Sausage Pasta: Quick to prepare and great for leftovers.
Honey Pepper Chicken: A delightful surprise that’s both simple and delicious and tastes just like Applebee’s Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken and Cheesy Macaroni!
One Pot Chicken Parmesan: Lightened-up comfort food that’s loved by all.
Crockpot Salisbury Steak Meatballs: Easy slow cooker meal with a rich YUMMY gravy.
One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice: Loaded with flavor and queso cheese, a family favorite!
Chicken Noodle Casserole: Simple casserole to make with leftover chicken or canned chicken and cheap pasta.
These meals are not only easy on the wallet but also easy to prepare, making them perfect for those hectic nights when time is short but the need for a good meal is high.
Enjoy these recipes and let me know which ones become your family’s new favorites!