22 Budget Dinner Recipes That Taste Like a Million Bucks

Stick to your budget with ease while still enjoying a delicious meal.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published April 19, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
One-Pot Spaghetti with Kale in a pot with tongs

Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

If there's one thing I've learned over the years as a food writer and recipe developer, it's that budget-friendly recipes don't have a season—they're always popular. So breathe a sigh of relief as you browse through this collection of budget-friendly favorites to get you (and your family) through the month. These recipes are proof that just because a dish is light on the wallet doesn't mean it has to sacrifice on flavor.

If you're looking for more budget-friendly recipes that keep things affordable, check out our round-ups of summer grilling recipes, cheap and easy dinner recipes, and cheap meals for feeding a large family, too.

  • Spaghetti with Tuna and White Beans

    Pasta with tuna, white beans, herbs, and breadcrumbs in a bowl, fork resting on the side.

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This is the quintessential affordable pantry dinner, made exclusively with staples I keep stocked at all times: pasta, canned tuna, and canned white beans. It’s delicious with just those simple ingredients, but I also love adding a few extra garnishes to make it even more satisfying." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "While beef and broccoli is not an especially difficult dish to make at home, steak isn’t the most affordable ingredient. This smart beef and broccoli recipe calls for ground beef—not only is it a more affordable cut of meat, but it also absorbs the sauce’s flavors as it cooks." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 5-Ingredient Pasta Bake

    My family's 5-ingredient pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "The ingredients—pasta, sauce, ground beef, cheese, and cottage cheese—were readily available at any grocery store and the bill was substantially lower than going to an Italian restaurant." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pot Spaghetti with Kale

    One-Pot Spaghetti with Kale in a pot with tongs

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "One aspect of this recipe that I love is how budget-friendly it is...for around $6 total I’ve got a big pot of pasta and veggies ready to go." —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 23 below

  • Homemade Hamburger Helper

    homemade hamburger helper in a skillet at a table setting with two glasses of soda and a side salad

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Add some vegetables to up the nutritional value. Add diced bell peppers or tomatoes along with the onion, or toss in handfuls of fresh spinach or frozen peas at the end." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Daal Palak (Lentil & Spinach Curry)

    Daal Palak in a Dutch Oven on the Counter Next to a Bowl of Yogurt and a Bowl of Pickled Onions

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    "Make sure to start cooking the daal in room temperature water, without salt. This allows the lentils to cook until soft without having any graininess." —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

    Copycat Olive Garden alfredo in a bowl with a fork, and in the surroundings, a white table napkin, a block of parmesan on a wooden board, and a glass with a drink

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    "If you don't have Parmesan cheese, use your favorite grated cheese instead (though it will taste less like the restaurant version)." —Sara Bir, Contributor

  • Black Bean Toasts

    Black bean toast on a platter with lots more

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "A can of beans costs less than $1 and let's say the loaf of bread is around $5 and the cheese is $2. The rest of the ingredients are staples, so we won’t count them. That means that each serving of this black bean toast is less than $1.50. Add on another 50 cents or so for toppings and you’re at $2 per serving. See why this is such an awesome meal?" —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 23 below

  • Hot Dog Stroganoff

    A plate of hot dog stroganoff

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Serve with cooked egg noodles, elbow macaroni, or your favorite pasta." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry

    a plate of Chinese tomato egg

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "By starting the process with a cold pan, the eggs will cook over slow and gradual heat, creating the softest scrambled eggs. It will also prevent them from browning. Overcooked eggs can taste coarse and rough, which makes it harder for them to absorb all the delicious tomato juices." —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

  • Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

    unstuffed cabbage rolls in a large pan at a table setting with a stack of plates, a small bowl of minced herbs, glasses of water, and a pepper cracker

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Feel free to swap the green cabbage for savoy cabbage. Avoid red cabbage since it takes too long to cook and will turn the dish an odd color." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Roasted Chickpeas and Artichokes with Lemon, Parsley, and Feta

    roasted chickpeas, artichokes, and feta

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "For enough to serve four adults with leftovers—I can stretch it out and enjoy it for lunch the next day (win!)— the ingredients add up to less than $15. It has for all the years I’ve been making it." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 23 below

  • Skillet Chicken and Rice

    stovetop chicken and rice recipe made in a skillet

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "The important tip for this recipe is to make sure to rinse your rice really well with cold water before adding it to the skillet. If you don’t rinse it well, the starch from the rice will make the dish gummy." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Sesame Peanut Noodles

    Bowl of Quick and Easy Sesame Peanut Noodles

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    "My version of sesame peanut noodles comes together in just 20 minutes—perfect for a weeknight dinner—and requires minimal pantry ingredients. The sauce bursts with nutty, sweet, and salty flavor. It makes a great side dish, but you can also add any protein and serve it as a main course!" —Hannah Zimmerman, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy White Beans and Greens

    Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "You can use any canned white bean for this dish, but I prefer cannellini or butter beans as they tend to have a softer texture that works really well here. Make sure to drain the beans in a sieve set over a bowl as you’ll need the aquafaba." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Potato Leek Soup

    Leek and Potato Soup on marble counter

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "No need for cream to make this soup creamy! Just blend the cooked soup with an immersion blender or standing blender until thick and smooth. Yukon gold potatoes will produce an especially creamy texture. If you would like your soup to be a little chunky, only purée half of it." —Elise Bauer, Founder

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  • 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Dinner

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    "I keep whole ginger in the freezer and grate just what I need for cooking. Frozen ginger is easier and safer to grate than fresh because the fibers don't get stuck on the blades. You don't need to peel the ginger and can grate it right over the wok." —Myo Quinn, Contributor

  • Mom's Ground Turkey and Peppers

    A serving bowl of cooked ground turkey and peppers with white rice on the side

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "If you want to increase this ground turkey recipe to serve more people, you may want to remove the vegetables after they've cooked and set them aside as you cook the turkey meat, or cook the meat and the vegetables in two separate skillets." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Cheesy Baked Tacos

    Bowl of cheesy baked tacos on a plate topped with sour cream and cilantro at a table setting with a bowl of lime wedges and shredded lettuce, bowl of sour cream, bowl of salsa, bowl of salsa, and a bunch of cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This recipe makes six small tacos, perfect for a meal for two or three with sides. If you need more, it’s easy to make two pans at once so you have 12 tacos, feeding four to six people. Just swap the pans on the oven racks once or twice so they all brown evenly." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

    plate of 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas with rice and greek yogurt

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 21 of 23 below

  • Greek-Style Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

    Greek-Style Lemon Chicken and Potatoes on a platter garnished with lemon slices

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you prefer, you can use bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, but it will take slightly longer to roast; about 10 to 15 additional minutes." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • Mercimek Çorbası (Turkish Lentil Soup)

    Bowls of Mercimek Corbasi (Turkish Lentil Soup) Topped with Greek Yogurt, Croutons, Pul Bibir Butter, and Parsley, and Next to It, a Small Bowl of Parsley, Slices of Bread, and Two Spoons

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "This recipe includes a few Turkish ingredients which can be substituted if they are difficult to find." —Mersedeh Prewer, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pan Paprika Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes

    Paprika Chicken and Potatoes with Tomatoes horizontal in a baking dish

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "Add any veggies you have on hand! Green beans, Brussels sprouts, or zucchini would all be good additions." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

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