Even though the cost of groceries is rising and we are cutting costs where we can, we still need to put dinner on the table. Making a delicious, budget-friendly meal is possible by shopping smart, and a little planning. Chicken, ground beef, and pork freezes wonderfully. So when they are on sale at the market, stock up and stick it in the freezer. Then, you’ve saved a few dollars on the main ingredient and can round out the recipe with pantry ingredients. Stretch your grocery budget with these cost-effective dinner ideas.
Ham Delights
“These are always a huge hit! You could add some chopped onion if you wanted.” – Stefanie
Hearty Potato Soup
“Make some fresh garlic bread and a salad – perfect fall dinner! My friends love it when I show up with this creamy soup.” – Brenda
Baked Chicken and Rice Dinner
“I have been making this dish for my family for many years. The best thing about it is the rice and chicken are baked at the same time. You put it in the oven and find something else to do for the next hour and a half.” – Diane
Orecchiette With Sausage and Broccoli
“Orecchiette are little bowl-shaped pasta ears that hold creamy sauces very well. For this, I used a chicken-garlic-spinach sausage. You can use any kind, really.” – Jennifer
Baked Boneless Pork Chops
“This recipe makes the most tender pork chops! You will not need a knife to cut the pork chops… fork tender. My husband loves this recipe.” – Darla
Hamburger Rice Cheese Casserole
“This was one of the most popular lunches our school cooks made for us. My family also loves it. It’s an easy weeknight dinner and also freezes well. I often make a double batch and freeze one pan for later.” – Aurora
Crock Pot Chicken and Gravy
“This is our ultimate comfort food. It’s so easy and delicious. Serve it over mashed potatoes, biscuits, or whatever you like. So good, this stuff would taste great on a flip-flop.” – Carol
Easy Beef Empanadas
“I love inventing recipes where I can throw together a few ingredients in a few minutes and end up with something amazing. These are so easy and so good! My husband and teenage son can eat two, so they are very satisfying for big appetites.” – Silka
Creamy Crock Pot Chicken with Pasta
“An easy and flavorful pasta dish. I love cooking in the Crock Pot and coming home to the smell of dinner when I’ve been gone all day.” – Jenni
Chili Cheese Burritos
“A dish my mom taught me. It’s really quick and easy, and my family loves it.” – Jamie
French Bread Pizza
“This French Bread Pizza is an easy and budget-friendly meal the whole family will love. It is easily customized with your favorite toppings. ” – Debbie
Easy Chicken and Biscuit Dinner
“Something I just threw together on a whim. It turned out pretty great, so I thought I’d share.” – Tawnis
Corn Dogs on a Stick
“A favorite from the county fair, sizzling and hot. Oh, what memories of that American goodness!” – Cherie
My Mother’s One-Pan Cheesy Beef Dinner
“My mom told me to always have ground beef, cheese, and onion around in my kitchen. Here is something she made pretty often.” – Terri
Slow Cooker Cola Chicken
“Definitely kid-approved. I usually serve it over rice or egg noodles. I have also used a whole chicken, bone-in chicken legs, or chicken breast; but the boneless skinless chicken thighs work out better for my family’s tastes.” – donna
Italian Meatball Subs or Sliders
“These meatballs require no bread crumbs, yet they are still firm and full of meaty flavor. Cut the subs into three sections and you’ve got sliders.” – Tiphane
Mom’s Impossible Cheeseburger Pie
“My mom found this recipe when I was a kid and I loved it. What is great about this dish is that you can get creative. Add to this wonderful basic recipe (i.e. vegetables and other seasonings) and make it yours.” – Tiffany
Cheesy Chicken Crescent Roll
“I had this at a church dinner. It’s very easy and very good.” – April
Parmesan Baked Pork Chops
“These were the best pork chops I have eaten in a long time. So moist and tender, and the flavors were amazing!” – Janet
Taco Casserole Ole
“Unbelievably easy to make and unbelievably delicious to eat. You won’t have leftovers when you serve this dish to family and friends.” – Debbie
Monterey Jack Cheese Soup
“This soup has the best taste and won’t last long in the pot!” – Polly
Easy Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole
“I came up with this recipe because I needed something quick for friends who dropped by. It’s very easy and takes only 35 minutes to bake.” – Cheri
Sunday Roast Chicken Dinner
“In Grandma’s house, Sunday dinner meant roast chicken. She’d put it in the oven and slow-roast it before church. By the time we got home, dinner was ready to eat!” – Sharon
Oven-Fried Chicken
“This recipe is so quick and easy anybody can do it. I like oven-fried chicken because it is delicious, and you are not sweating over a hot pot of oil to get a good fried chicken.” – Christine
Crispy Cheddar Chicken
“Crispy baked cheddar and cracker crusted chicken!” – Kevin