40 Delicious Dinner Recipes That Won't Break the Bank

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Repeat after me, everyone: A tight budget does not mean you have to sacrifice flavor or satisfaction. We all know that cooking at home saves money, but with rising grocery prices, a supermarket run can turn depressing if you don't pay attention to what's in your cart. Enter protein-packed beans, nutrient-dense cabbage, and underrated cuts of meat like flat iron steak and chicken thighs—if you're looking to save money, then add these star players to your meal regimen. With these recipes, you'll shave off excess cost without sacrifice.

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Cube Steak Bulgogi

Photo: Gina DeSimone; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Ivy Odom

Cube Steak Bulgogi Recipe

If you thought cube steak was made for chicken frying, end of story… well, welcome to a new, flavor packed chapter. This approachable twist on traditional bulgogi swaps the budget-friendly cut in for skirt steak, resulting in an incredibly tender and flavorful beef dish—perfect for piling over white rice or into lettuce cups with kimchi. Because of its being pounded into a thin steak, cube steak absorbs the marinade incredibly quickly; while this makes for great flavor, you don’t want to leave the meat in your marinade for too long as the beef will begin to break down. We found 2 hours to be plenty of marinating time, but if this doesn’t work in your schedule, do your best to avoid letting the beef marinate for more than 6 hours. We also found that reserving part of the marinade for a finishing sauce ties the dish together beautifully. Pro tip: Do not fear a screaming-hot skillet; your pan needs to be hot in order to achieve a nice char on the beef, which will help give the dish that “barbecued” flavor that bulgogi is known for.

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe

This slow cooker pork carnitas recipe is a perfectly simple and inexpensive way to feed a crowd. Set out a stack of warm corn tortillas along, with a few simple toppings, and allow everyone to pile on the unbelievably rich and tender pork as they please.

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Cacio e Pepe

Photo: Gina Desimone; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Adam Dolge

Cacio e Pepe Recipe

This foolproof method delivers the classic, crave worthy flavors and textures of cacio e pepe—strong peppery backbone (without verging towards too “hot”), earthy saltiness from the Pecorino cheese, and a luscious sauciness that will have you ready to lick the bowl. That said, while our method largely stays true to the iconic dish, one element might catch a traditionalist’s eye: olive oil. Though not exactly typical in cacio e pepe, we found that incorporating olive oil makes emulsifying the delicate cheese sauce a far less finicky process. Grating the cheese (as opposed to shredding) or using a Microplane is also key, as this allows the cheese to melt quickly. And finally, remember that pasta water is your best friend when it comes to making a silky smooth sauce. We developed this recipe for two as it makes for a incredibly impressive—yet budget-friendly—date night dinner when served with a simple green salad and a dry white wine. However, you can easily double the recipe to serve more. We love bucatini for this recipe because the hollow noodle is perfect for capturing the rich sauce, but you can use whatever noodle shape you like; linguine, spaghetti,or fettuccine are all great options.

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Instant Pot Black Beans

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Instant Pot Black Beans Recipe

Replace canned black beans (and the preservatives) easily with some help from your Instant Pot, no soaking required.

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Pork with Chunky Applesauce

Photo: Tara Donne; Styling: Alistair Turnbull

Pork with Chunky Applesauce Recipe

The fall family favorite goes lighter with barely sweetened apples. And instead of the typical pork chops, we go for lean, inexpensive pork tenderloin. Complete the meal with a side of Broccolini or broccoli.

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Slow Cooker Creamy Lentil Soup

Greg DuPree

Slow Cooker Creamy Lentil Soup Recipe

Simple flavors and a rustic touch will make this soup an instant home-cooked favorite, especially on chilly, wintry days. Inexpensive dried lentils make up the bulk of the soup, helping fill in your fiber gaps and keep you full longer. Chickpeas are the secret ingredient to achieve supreme creaminess, which become delightfully smooth when blended, and sneak in an extra 3g fiber per serving.

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"New School" Chicken Cacciatore

Photo: Oxmoor House

"New School" Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
"A tomato base is what most of us think of when it comes to cacciatore. I prefer whole cut-up chicken for this dish, as it is incredibly inexpensive and gives everyone at the table a favored piece. Make this for company—do the braise ahead, and reheat it the next day; it will taste even better." —Todd English

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Pork Posole

Photo: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Pork Posole Recipe

Comfort food, Mexican-style.

It's amazing how much flavor there is in such a humble (and, by the way, inexpensive) dish. The star of the soup is hominy, with its chewy texture and toasty-corn character; you'll find it with the Latin foods in the supermarket. Updates were minor: We simply omitted some oil and meat drippings for a cleaner broth.

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Best Damn Chicken Pot Pie

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Best Damn Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

The name says it all—this pot pie is damn delicious! This crowd-winning chicken pot pie recipe comes from Julie Grimes’s $10 Dinners: Delicious Meals for a Family of 4 that Don't Break the Bank; grab a copy today for more budget-friendly recipes that taste like a million bucks.

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Pan Seared Chuck-Eye Steaks

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Robby Melvin

Pan Seared Chuck-Eye Steaks Recipe

Known among chefs as “the poor man’s ribeye,” chuck-eye steak is a common and incredibly inexpensive (our recipe developer purchased two organic chuck eye steaks for less than $8) cut of beef readily available at most supermarkets. While chuck-eye is often purchased as a roast—destined to cook for hours in a slow cooker in order to become tender enough to enjoy—what many home cooks don’t know is that in steak form, chuck-eye holds the potential to be one of the most succulent cuts you’ll ever cook. In other words, you can serve what tastes like a luxurious steak dinner at a fraction of the cost if you opt for chuck-eye. There are a few details of this recipe that are key to your steak success; for one, salting the beef and letting it rest uncovered in the fridge draws moisture from the surface of the meat, which is what will allow you to achieve an incredible crispy sear. Your next essential step is basting. This technique is one often overlooked by home cooks; however, continually spooning that rich mixture of the steak’s drippings, melted butter, and aromatics over the beef is crucial to yielding a tender, juicy steak. Finally, be sure to allow your steaks a full 5 minutes to rest (yes, this will test the boundaries of your self control) before thinly slicing against the grain.

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Instant Pot Beef Stew

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Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

This recipe was adapted from Cooking Light's wildly popular Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew to create a simple, speedy version of a comfort food favorite. As the original recipe notes, a nutty dark beer adds richness and depth to the stew, but be careful not to choose a beer that's super-hoppy; it will taste too bitter.

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Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Golden Potatoes And Herb Dressing

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Gordon Sawyer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Golden Potatoes And Herb Dressing Recipe

Some nights, all you want is a simple, satisfying meat-and-potatoes meal you know the whole family will love—that’s where this easy one-dish dinner comes in. A cast-iron skillet is ideal for preparing this budget-friendly, weeknight supper, as it will provide the best caramelization on the pork and potatoes.

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Zucchini Fried Rice

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Adam Dolge

Zucchini Fried Rice Recipe

This single skillet dinner is a weeknight-friendly meal the whole family can get behind, not to mention—it’s a genius way to put a bulk of summer zucchini to good use. The grated zucchini helps to lighten and brighten this take-out favorite, and stealthily bulks up the nutritional value of pickier eaters’ plates. Plus, this budget-friendly dish is actually best made using day-old rice, so it’s a great meal to plan on for utilizing leftovers later in the week. You can definitely use whatever you have on hand, but smaller-sized zucchini tend to work best in this recipe, as you want to minimize the number of seeds. Feel free to eliminate the pork or replace it with tofu to make this meal vegetarian.

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin

Extra-Easy Lasagna Recipe

When we say easy, we mean easy. You don't even have to cook the noodles for this speedy yet impressive lasagna that always gets rave reviews. Lasagna is a family favorite, but this version is extra-special because it only requires 5 quick ingredients: ground beef, pasta sauce, lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, and shredded mozzarella (we don’t count the water!). It’s rated 5 stars for a reason. Pro tip: Make a double batch: Enjoy one now and freeze one for a quick meal on a busy weeknight.

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Mongolian Beef and Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Mongolian Beef and Vegetables Recipe

This takeout favorite is typically laden with beef and coated with a sticky-sweet sauce. Our makeover makes crisp-tender snow peas, broccoli, and carrots the star, with seared flank steak as the supporting player. We also balanced the blend of brown sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil in the sauce. Add a sliced red chile or a good pinch of crushed red pepper for a spicy sauce. We recommend serving with Sesame Soba Noodles.

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Turkey-Bacon-Cheddar Meatloaf

Photographer: Stephen Devries; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

Turkey-Bacon-Cheddar Meatloaf Recipe

Why settle for regular meatloaf when you could be having meatloaf studded with bacon and cheddar cheese? These additions, along with White BBQ Sauce, guarantees a deliciously moist turkey meatloaf. This budget- and family-friendly comes from $10 Dinners: Delicious Recipes for a Family of 4 that Don’t Break the Bank, available on shelves (and Amazon) now. You can find cookbook author Julie Grimes’ simple recipe for White BBQ Sauce there (on page 222), or substitute bottled white barbecue sauce from the supermarket.

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Acorn Squash and Kale Over Penne

Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Sara Slavin

Acorn Squash and Kale Over Penne Recipe
Serve nutrient-rich acorn squash and kale over budget-friendly penne pasta for a quick, easy, and healthy supper that won't break the bank.

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Sausage and Spinach Spaghetti Pie

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Sausage and Spinach Spaghetti Pie Recipe

This budget-friendly dish (costing under $10) allows you to stretch a small amount of meat over several servings.

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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Recipe

With only 3 simple ingredients, this truly is the ultimate grilled cheese. Perfect for a tight budget or someone who's short on time, this uncomplicated comfort food sandwich is the perfect any-time meal. Use mayonnaise instead of butter for added flavor and to keep the bread from burning.

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White Bean and Vegetable Bowls with Frizzled Eggs

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Claire Spollen

White Bean and Vegetable Bowls with Frizzled Eggs Recipe

This easy bowl of brothy goodness is loaded with both veggies and umami depth--it's comfort food you can feel good about. It's also great for times when the food budget is tight, as it costs only about $11 for 4 servings.

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Pasta with Shaved Asparagus and Pea Pesto

Jennifer Causey

Pasta with Shaved Asparagus and Pea Pesto Recipe

Thick asparagus stalks are best for this dish because they’re easier to shave. The trick to this recipe? We cook the pasta in as little water as possible so the resulting pasta water becomes viscous with starch. Adding a little of the water to the sauce makes it extra creamy and helps it cling to the noodles. Pine nuts can be expensive—a good budget substitute is unsalted sunflower seed kernels.

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Cajun Red Beans and Brown Rice with Andouille

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Cajun Red Beans and Brown Rice with Andouille Recipe

This easy, budget-friendly dish delivers classic Cajun flavor with a modern whole-grain (brown rice) twist. We find that soaking the beans overnight yields the best texture, but if you forget, the quick-soak method will work: Bring beans and water to cover by 3 inches to a boil; remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 1 hour. Drain and proceed with step 2. To complete the meal, serve either braised collard greens or a vinaigrette-dressed green salad on the side. The dish holds up well and can be made a day or two ahead.

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Cheese Ravioli with Pesto

Photo: Randy Majoyr; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Recipe
Fresh herbs are premium ingredients that can easily break a budget. Stretch the pesto by adding a little fresh baby spinach.

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Classic Minestrone

Photo: Caleb Zorn; Styling: Nicole McLaughlin

Classic Minestrone Recipe

This thick, classic Italian soup is packed with healthy veggies like fresh carrots, onion, garlic, and kale. And at only 219 calories, you can afford to have seconds.

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Briana Riddock

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon Recipe

If you thought you loved your Instant Pot, just wait until you make a rich and gooey bowl of macaroni and cheese within minutes. The Instant Pot’s pressure function allows you to skip the entire process of boiling water, cooking, and draining the pasta saving valuable time over a traditional stovetop mac and cheese recipe. And we keep the cheese sauce quick and convenient, as well as decadently creamy, by utilizing canned evaporated milk—an affordable staple that you may already have in your pantry. Plus, evaporated milk packs less fat than using heavy cream, which means you can feel a little better about all the cheese you’re pouring in to make a beautiful melty finish. We opted for a blend of cheddar and Gouda cheeses, but feel free to go all-cheddar or try adding another favorite cheese to the mix.

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Braised Cabbage with Apple and Bacon

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Braised Cabbage with Apple and Bacon Recipe

Humble cabbage is an affordable and easy holiday side. Make it more elegant by braising red cabbage with apple slices. Adding bacon makes it delicious.

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Mojo Flat Iron Steak

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Thom Driver

Mojo Flat Iron Steak Recipe

The ultratender flat iron is an affordable alternative to rib-eye. Look for (or request) flat, rectangular steaks--butchered specifically to eliminate the line of tough connective tissue that runs down the middle of the entire cut.

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Lentil Bolognese

Photo: Travis Rathbone

Lentil Bolognese Recipe

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Pork Chops with Herbed Goat Cheese Butter and Green Beans

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Pork Chops with Herbed Goat Cheese Butter and Green Beans Recipe

This speedy main feels restaurant-worthy, but it couldn’t be easier or more affordable (just $2.70 a serving). Stirring fresh herbs, garlic, or lemon rind into softened butter, called compound butter, is a brilliant topper for simply cooked meats or fish, a pile of steamed vegetables, or as a spread for crostini. We stretch the butter with softened goat cheese to lower the saturated fat and add a tangy, luxuriously creamy finish. Dollop the goat cheese mixture over the pork chops and cover the plate with foil so it will melt slightly while you cook the green beans. You'll most likely have leftover goat cheese.

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Lentil and Chickpea Salad

Photo: Quentin Bacon

Lentil and Chickpea Salad Recipe

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Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup with Lemon

Photo: John Kernick

Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup with Lemon Recipe

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Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro Recipe
Look for packaged precooked lentils without salt or fat added. We like Target's Archer Farms brand beluga lentils.

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Chicken and White Bean Soup with Greens

Yunhee Kim

Chicken and White Bean Soup with Greens Recipe

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Creamy Tuna-and-Mushroom Linguine

Photo: Kate Sears, Food Styling: Paul Grimes

Creamy Tuna-and-Mushroom Linguine Recipe
Canned tuna gets a facelift in easy Creamy Tuna-and-Mushroom Linguine.

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Slow-Cooker Green Chile Pork

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: P.J. Mehaffey

Slow-Cooker Green Chile Pork Recipe
"I buy chiles in season when they're cheap, then roast and freeze them so I can make this year-round."

Angela Maddox, 36, Scottsdale, Ariz.

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Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Arugula

Randy Mayor

Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Arugula Recipe
As they mature in the summer's heat, arugula leaves get hot and spicy as well as plentiful and cheap. Even when cooked, they have an assertive personality, a good match for the whole-wheat spaghetti.

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40 Delicious Dinner Recipes That Won't Break the Bank

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Cube Steak Bulgogi

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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Cacio e Pepe

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Instant Pot Black Beans

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Pork with Chunky Applesauce

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Slow Cooker Creamy Lentil Soup

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"New School" Chicken Cacciatore

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Pork Posole

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Best Damn Chicken Pot Pie

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Pan Seared Chuck-Eye Steaks

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Instant Pot Beef Stew

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Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Golden Potatoes And Herb Dressing

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Zucchini Fried Rice

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

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Mongolian Beef and Vegetables

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Turkey-Bacon-Cheddar Meatloaf

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Acorn Squash and Kale Over Penne

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Sausage and Spinach Spaghetti Pie

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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

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White Bean and Vegetable Bowls with Frizzled Eggs

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Pasta with Shaved Asparagus and Pea Pesto

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Cajun Red Beans and Brown Rice with Andouille

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Cheese Ravioli with Pesto

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Classic Minestrone

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Bacon

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Braised Cabbage with Apple and Bacon

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