Sticking to a budget doesn’t have to mean bland, boring meals. These five-star recipes lean on flavor-boosting pantry staples, like peanut butter and enchilada sauce , to keep costs low. Kids will love the tacos, burgers, and chicken fingers, and parents will appreciate the remixed classics made with affordable protein, like ground turkey and black beans.
Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
Get dinner on the table in a snap with this colorful, crunchy salad that’s ready in under 15 minutes. Broccoli, edamame, and ramen noodles cook in one pot, to streamline cooking and minimize cleanup. Top it off with a salty-sweet peanut butter dressing that turns this plant-powered plate into a substantial side or a satisfying meal.
Get the recipe: Cold Ramen Noodle Soup
Creamy Corn and Bacon Chowder
Take a trip to Massachusetts with this comforting bowl of creamy chowder. Frozen corn and potatoes are the base of this hearty, nourishing soup. Smoky bacon and sweet corn add smoky-sweet flavor to a luscious bowl rounded out with budget-friendly russet potatoes.
Get the recipe: Creamy Corn and Bacon Chowder
Thai Chicken Soup with Gnocchi Dumplings
Turn up the flavor on classic, comforting chicken soup in this version with an international twist. Shelf-stable gnocchi serves as the dumplings in this Thai-inspired recipe with coconut milk and red curry paste. For an even faster version, use rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts.
Get the recipe: Thai Chicken Soup with Gnocchi Dumplings
Crunchy Turkey Tacos with Avocado Salsa
Skip the drive-through; these tasty tacos are ready in under 20 minutes! This better-for-you take on tacos uses smoked paprika and minced garlic to add a kick of flavor to affordable ground turkey topped with creamy avocado salsa.
Get the recipe: Crunchy Turkey Tacos with Avocado Salsa
Chilaquiles Skillet Casserole
Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner? Budget-friendly eggs and black beans are topped with gooey cheddar cheese and crunchy tortillas chips in this crave-worthy weeknight winner. The Mexican-inspired casserole bakes in a single cast iron skillet for easy prep and cleanup.
Get the recipe: Chilaquiles Skillet Casserole
Pepperoni and Spinach Stromboli
Put a new spin on pizza night with this hearty, stuffed stromboli. Marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, frozen spinach, and pepperoni spiraled inside refrigerated pizza dough is a weeknight winner the whole family will love.
Get the recipe: Pepperoni and Spinach Stromboli
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Busy weeknights call for low-maintenance meals, like this sheet pan version of a Tex-Mex favorite. Chicken breasts, green peppers, and red onion cook together in less than 30 minutes in this version of sizzling fajitas that’s a breeze from prep through cleanup.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Whole-Grain Penne with Tuna
Pantry staples like whole wheat noodles, diced tomatoes, and canned tuna make this pasta salad affordable and quick to prepare. Bell peppers and spinach add color and crunch to a protein and fiber-rich dish that comes together in 20 minutes.
Get the recipe: Whole-Grain Penne with Tuna
One-Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon
Five ingredients and one pot are all you need to cook up this drool-worthy vegetarian meal. Ricotta and parmesan cheese coat radiatore noodles with a creamy sauce that gets a punch of nutrients from fresh spinach.
Get the recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon
Grilled Beef Patties with Orzo Salad
Budget-friendly ground beef gets a Mediterranean twist in this speedy main. A dollop of cool tzatziki tops slider-sized grilled beef patties served with a refreshing salad of orzo, tomatoes, and mint.
Get the recipe: Grilled Beef Patties with Orzo Salad
Thai Turkey Burgers
Take your burgers on a trip to Thailand with this one-of-a-kind recipe. Lean turkey burgers get a dose of flavor and crunch from crunchy cucumber salad tossed with umami-rich peanut sauce.
Get the recipe: Thai Turkey Burgers
Ground Beef Stroganoff
While traditional beef stroganoff uses sirloin or chuck roast, we’ve swapped in affordable ground beef for a budget-friendly version that the family will love. White mushrooms, beef broth, and sour cream create a rich sauce for this freezer-friendly meal you can make ahead and reheat in minutes.
Get the recipe: Ground Beef Stroganoff
French Canadian Shepherd’s Pie
Lean on pantry staples for this straightforward Shepherd’s pie with a French-Canadian accent. Creamed corn and premade mashed potatoes help keep prep time to 10 minutes for this comforting casserole made with seasoned ground beef. Ground beef cooked with paprika and thyme is the base of this affordable and comforting casserole.
Get the recipe: French Canadian Shepherd’s Pie
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
We took the fuss out of the classic Swiss recipe, chicken cordon bleu, by turning it into an easy-to-assemble casserole. Nutty Swiss cheese, salty ham, and affordable chicken thighs make the protein-rich base topped with flaky crescent rolls.
Get the recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Sheet Pan Turkey Meatloaf with Roasted Carrots
Take a bite of nostalgia with this budget-friendly riff on meatloaf. Ground turkey stays tender and flavorful with the help of pantry staples like soup mix, breadcrumbs, and ketchup. Sliced carrots cook alongside the meatloaf for a one-pan supper.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Turkey Meatloaf with Roasted Carrots
Plantain-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Tropical Dipping Sauce
Travel to the tropics with these salty-sweet chicken fingers. Sure to satisfy kids (and parents), sliced chicken thighs get coated in crushed plantain chips and baked for an upgraded take on a family favorite classic.
Get the recipe: Plantain-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Tropical Dipping Sauce
Skillet Tamale Pie
We found a way to make time-consuming but oh-so-tasty tamales into an easy weeknight meal. Quick-cooking ground beef combined with kidney beans and frozen corn gets topped with cornbread mix and cheddar cheese for a one-pan wonderful dinner.
Get the recipe: Skillet Tamale Pie
Grilled Sausages with Cabbage Slaw
Sweet and citrusy cabbage slaw pairs with savory pork sausages for this speedy supper. Equally delicious cooked on the grill or in a sauté pan, this low carb dish is ready to satisfy in just 20 minutes.
Get the recipe: Grilled Sausages with Cabbage Slaw
Black Bean and Corn Enchilada Stuffed Shells
Two comfort foods collide in this hearty vegetarian main. Traditional enchilada filling, black beans, corn, and cheddar cheese, get stuffed into jumbo pasta shells and doused in creamy enchilada sauce for a speedier and simpler take on the classic.
Get the recipe: Black Bean and Corn Enchilada Stuffed Shells
Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna
Believe it or not, you can use your slow cooker to make lasagna. Layers of creamy ricotta and cheesy mozzarella combine with ruffly noodles and two kinds of summer squash for extra nutrients.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna
