Do you struggle with finding ways to feed your family on a budget? I’ve put together a list of 20 of my favorite dirt-cheap meals for when money is tight. To make my list they must meet a few requirements. They must be a complete meal, or at least only require a simple and cheap side, and they must contain a protein and veg. And most importantly they must come in at under $3.00 a serving (ideally under $2.00). Here are my top 20 dirt-cheap meals that will feed a family.
This White Beans With Tomato, Spinach, and Sausage recipe is a delicious cheap meal. Beans help a meal go further and are a great source of protein so if you wanted to make this dish even cheaper (or vegetarian) you could leave out the sausage. And if you have leftovers they can be served on toasted bread and topped with an egg for lunch the next day. Check out the recipe here.
Who doesn’t love tacos and these Crock Pot Chicken Tacos are yummy! Because the chicken is done in the slow cooker this is a great make-ahead meal for those busy weeknights You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts to save even more money. Check out From Valerie’s Kitchen for the recipe.
For kid-friendly cheap meals, this Ground Beef and Rice Skillet from the Frugal Mom is sure to be a family pleaser. It uses just 7 basic ingredients and can be prepared in about 40 minutes. I like to add a veg like finely chopped spinach or kale. Get the recipe here.
I love eggs for dinner so this is perfect for me. Eggs are cheap and quick to prepare so great for quick, cheap meals when you get home late and need to get dinner on the table fast. And as a bonus frittatas are a perfect way to use up any leftovers you might have in your fridge. Almost any veggies will work. Just throw them in. Get the recipe here.
Another recipe using beans is this vegetarian chili from The Stingy Vegan. Coming in at around $2.00 per serving this makes a delicious meal for a family of 4-6. Or do as I do and double the recipe and freeze some for a busy weeknight.
Sheppard’s Pie is another great, inexpensive meal that is great for feeding a hungry family. I like to use a frozen vegetable mix and omit the cheese which makes it quicker and a little cheaper. Go to The Frugal Farm Wife for the recipe.
Chickpeas are a great way to add an inexpensive protein to pasta. Dried peas and legumes are always cheaper than canned and they’re easy to prepare so it’s more economical to cook them yourself. Get the recipe for this yummy Linguine with Kale and Chickpeas here.
Another kid-friendly cheap meal is this delicious Rigatoni with Italian Sausage. Just add a green salad and you’re done. Find the recipe from Urban Bliss Life here.
Again, eggs for dinner is a good thing. This Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs makes a quick and easy dinner that’s delicious too! And it comes in under $1.50 per serving. Get the recipe from Momables here.
Who doesn’t love an alfredo? This one with chicken and broccoli is easy to prepare and a little bit of chicken goes a long way. Per serving it costs under $2.00. Get the recipe for Laura Fuente’s Skillet Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo recipe here.
This One Pot Chicken and Dirty Rice from The Chunky Chef is right on the money. Less money to be exact. Again, just add a side salad or some greens to the dish. See the recipe here.
I love curries and this Green Bean and Potato Curry is as delicious as it is cheap to make. It only has 8 ingredients and doesn’t call for any fancy, hard-to-find spices. A Virtual Vegan has the recipe here.
Another delicious Indian dish is this Dal Makhani from Eating Well. Using a slow cooker ensures that the lentils are perfectly tender. You can put it on before you leave for work in the morning and it will be hot and ready when it’s time for dinner. Just serve alongside white rice and a veg.
Chicken Pot Pie is not only one of the most perfect comfort foods but it’s relatively inexpensive to make and will serve a lot of people. This recipe is extremely easy to make and if you use a store-bought rotisserie chicken and puff pastry it can be on the table in under an hour. Check out the recipe here.
Quinoa is relatively inexpensive and packs a great protein and nutrient punch. This quinoa taco bowl by Lemon Tree Dwelling is hearty and flavorful and can be prepared in under 20 minutes. Just prepare the topping ingredients while the quinoa is cooking and then assemble.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with soup and sandwiches for dinner. Especially if it’s this Tomato Basil Soup with The Best Grilled Cheese. Get the recipe for Jenny Steffans soup and sandwich here.
Not only are chicken thighs less expensive than chicken breasts but they have more flavour and don’t dry out the way breasts can. This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Glazed Chicken Thighs is delicious and comes in at around $1.21 a serving. Just add a salad or green beans and potatoes for an inexpensive, complete meal.
Pasta is a cheap ingredient that goes a long way and this Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe calls for only 1lb of beef and makes 6 servings. Just add a side salad. It fits the bill for the budget and is a family pleaser. I call that a win-win.
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I like fixing spaghetti when I need a cheap meal. My son also likes anything pasta based.
Love all the meals you’ve shared! They look amazing! So hard to choose a favorite!
I see here some awesome dinner ideas! They are tasty and cheap! Exactly what a family needs!
These all are indeed budget friendly. The best part is that it has something for eveyone, be it veg or non veg.
great meal ideas.. and love that you have included many vegetarian options.. many of the lentil rich Indian meals easily fit into this category and are delish too (and glad to see a few of them here)
These are all good, they are cheap or budget friendly, it also looks delicious.
Budget-friendly brilliance! Eating well without breaking the bank – now that’s a win!
Great list! There’s so many different recipes from various countries that do this. It’s all about what is available to you, and how much time you have on your hands.
Great meal ideas! I feel like I am at the grocery store all the time. We have so much food in the house and we could be saving a lot on our grocery bills.
You had me at Tacos. It that one thing that my picky eaters love. Your recipe is very easy to do. You cook the meat in crockpot you set it and go back when it is done.
A lot of great options here! I’m always looking for cheap meal options since groceries are outrages now.
Yum, this all looks amazing. I am all about cheap meals with the rising cost of groceries. I will be making some of these for sure.
So many good recipe ideas! I’m going to try the Alfredo with Chicken and broccoli first – I think it’ll be a hit with the family!
Great ideas, can’t wait to try some of the recipes!