Everyone is looking for cheap and easy weeknight dinners, so we rounded up some recipes that are very easy to cook. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters.
1. Fresh Vegetable Lasagna
$3 per serving
There’s a reason moms love Italian night: Pasta is fast, easy, and cheap. This cheesy, veggie-packed lasagna is no exception. What makes this dish even better is that it cuts costs without cutting taste. You’ll love the flavors of the fresh zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers, and the no-boil lasagna noodles help to keep preparation simple. It’s also reduced-fat, so you can savor every mouthful. Topped with two types of cheeses—freshly grated Parmesan, and part-skim mozzarella—this lasagna emerges from the oven melted, golden-brown, and delicious, and only tasting like it came from a white-tablecloth restaurant: not costing like it did.
Get the recipe here.
2. Stovetop Chicken Pie
$3 per serving
Simple and delicious truly mean the same thing when it comes to preparing this Stovetop Chicken Pie. A family-size rotisserie chicken yields the perfect amount of chopped cooked chicken for this quick twist on traditional chicken pot pie. The recipe calls for buttermilk biscuits, but they’re just to have something to serve this delicious pot pie over, so be prepared to drench your biscuits in this then use every bite of buttermilk goodness to sop up every bit of chicken filling richness. Be honest—you’ll wipe your plate clean. This recipe keeps its ingredients simple, but on the plate it looks fantastic, and in every bite it tastes great.
Get the recipe here.
3. Hearty Veggie Chili
$1.25 per serving
This chili is a vegetable delight. Packed with carrots, onions, and beans, a simple chili seasoning kit brings just the right amounts of spice and heat. Black beans and great Northern beans are our choices for this chili, but we’ve also added in zucchini, squash, and corn. Once everything is stirred in, this can be ready in under 40 minutes. You will love this savory vegetable chili. Enjoy a bowl on a cold winter evening. It is simple to get together after a day at work, and tastes even more incredible topped with cilantro, sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, and green onions.
Get the recipe here.
4. Baked Macaroni and Cheese
$2.25 per serving
Macaroni and cheese is a great, filling, low-cost dinner, and this Baked Smokin’ Macaroni and Cheese takes it to the next level with some chopped smoked ham mixed in. You can even mix it up a little by substituting Pepper Jack cheese for the gouda and cheddar cheeses, and adding in a can of chopped green chiles. Or, sauté some prosciutto and mix in some frozen green peas. This macaroni and cheese recipe is the perfect base for making great dinners in the kitchen. Follow these family friendly and budget-friendly recipes and everyone around your table will savor every bite.
Get the recipe here.
5. Kentucky Hot Browns
$3 per serving
Now a Kentucky Hot Brown isn’t your run-of-the-mill sandwich. You’ll be preparing this sandwich in the broiler which means it will be coming out hot and fast. What’s even better about this sandwich is that it is served open-faced. This sandwich is piled high with turkey, bacon, and a rich Mornay sauce. You’d better be ready for a bubbly, cheesy delight thanks to the Parmesan cheese. When it comes out of the oven, top it with thick slices of fresh tomato, and toss on some slices of crunchy, smoky bacon. Get it on the table immediately and have a bite. You’ll love the taste of a Kentucky Hot Brown. This is a sandwich.
Get the recipe here.
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