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Cheap, easy meals that the whole family will love! These budget-friendly recipes help you save money without sacrificing flavor.
With food prices climbing, it’s tougher than ever to put tasty, home-cooked meals on the table without overspending.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly dinners that don’t skimp on flavor, you’re in the right spot.
These simple recipes are designed to save you money and time, while keeping your family happy and well-fed.
Here’s to proving delicious doesn’t have to mean expensive.
(Curious how I made my cost estimates? Scroll to the bottom of the post for the technical details.)
Ways to Save Money on Meals
We’re always looking for ways to save on meals and stretch our budget a little further. Here are a couple of our favorite ways.
Double Up on Ingredients
Some meals just need ingredients that cost a little extra, but when they don’t use the full amount I like to pair it with another recipe so I can double up. For example, heavy cream can be a more expensive ingredient, if I plan one or two meals in a week that use that ingredient, nothing goes to waste, and it brings down the cost per meal quite a bit.
Make a Big Batch and Freeze Leftovers
Leftovers don’t always get a lot of attention, but it’s a great way to make food stretch and reduce the amount of time you spend in the kitchen. Some of the meals on this list make generous portions. All of these meals feed my family of five with enough leftover for some lunches the next day.
Plan ahead with leftovers and make lunches the next day easy. I also love to freeze my leftovers in easy-to-use portions so we can have home cooked meals even when we’re pressed for time.
20 Dinners Under $20: Easy, Cheap Meals Your Family Will Love
Delicious meals that won’t break the bank—easy to make, family-approved, and full of flavor! Plus, there’s a good variety of meals with a mix of proteins, global flavors, and easy from-scratch or shortcut options the whole family will love!
1
Marry Me Pasta
$1.36 PER SERVING | $10.84 TOTALMarry Me Pasta is a budget-friendly twist on a TikTok favorite, bursting with garlicky cream sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach.
$1.51 PER SERVING | $9.06 TOTALThis super-fast Instant Pot Sloppy Joe recipe starts with frozen beef and adds a secret shortcut. Juicy, slightly spicy, and ready for a bun!
$1.54 PER SERVING | $12.30 TOTALThis Olive Garden Copycat 5 Cheese Baked Ziti starts with jarred marinara and alfredo and finishes with a crunchy breadcrumb topping for a family favorite that's on the table fast.
$1.60 PER SERVING | $12.80 TOTALHearty ground beef and frozen veggies combine for a quick soup that's packed with fresh flavor and perfect for low-energy nights!
$1.61 PER SERVING | $19.28 TOTALGot BBQ sauce and pork shoulder? Make this fall-apart tender pulled pork—smoky, sweet, and ready way quick! One of our most-loved recipes is also one of our cheapest per serving.
$1.73 PER SERVING | $10.38 TOTALBBQ Chicken Legs are a quick, flavorful family favorite with just seven ingredients. Pressure cook ahead, then finish on the grill for an easy, family-friendly meal!
$1.78 PER SERVING | $14.28 TOTALTry these easy lentil tacos—packed with hearty Tex Mex spices, they’re a perfect meatless meal that won’t skimp on flavor!
$1.91 PER SERVING | $15.26 TOTALInstant Pot Cheeseburger Soup is cheesy, hearty, and starts with frozen beef—no thawing needed! A kid-friendly, savory dinner made easy.
$2.20 PER SERVING | $13.19 TOTALCraving Ikea’s Swedish Meatballs? This easy Instant Pot version delivers juicy beef meatballs in a rich, creamy gravy—just like the original!
$2.23 PER SERVING | $17.82 TOTALStretch a pound of beef into a hearty burrito packed with rice, beans, and Mexican spices—easy, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!
$2.32 PER SERVING | $13.94 TOTALCreamy, cheesy Chicken Pesto Pasta features mushrooms, Roma tomatoes, and melty mozzarella—comfort food made easy and budget friendly!
$2.43 PER SERVING | $19.90 TOTALInstant Pot One-Pot Ravioli delivers lasagna-level cheesy goodness with zero prep. Frozen ravioli, pork sausage, spinach, and cottage cheese come together in a rich, homemade sauce—all cooked in just two minutes!
$2.49 PER SERVING | $19.96 TOTALClassic butter chicken gets a quick twist in the Instant Pot—tender, marinated chicken thighs simmered in a creamy, buttery tomato sauce, ready in about 30 minutes!
$2.71 PER SERVING | $16.28 TOTALChicken Scampi delivers tender chicken in a creamy, garlicky parmesan sauce—just like Olive Garden’s, but made in under 45 minutes in the Instant Pot!
$2.78 PER SERVING | $16.67 TOTALThese easy Taco Bell Copycat tacos pack big flavor with just ground beef and spices. A quick, one-pot, dump-and-go meal ready in under 30 minutes!
For this roundup, we’ve assumed you’re starting with a stocked pantry and spice cabinet that are full of basic ingredients like oils, flour, sugar, cornstarch, salt, pepper, dried parsley and other basic seasonings.
Any recipes with specialty spices are included in the price estimate.
I’m a big believer in taking advantage of sales and coupons; however, I draw the line at going to multiple stores.
All of the estimated prices are what I would pay at my local grocery store as of Saturday, July 25, 2026.
I also bought my usual mix of store-brand (Kroger dairy and frozen veggies) and brand-name items (Heinz ketchup and Artesano hamburger buns).
The exact cost for you to make these meals will vary based on your region, the sales at your local grocer, and the kinds of brands you buy.
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