Quick, Easy, and Cheap Family Dinners That Cost Less Than $10
Unfortunately for you and me, the economy is unlikely to improve anytime soon, which is why we must make the most of what we have. You’d be surprised at how far you can stretch some of the simple ingredients you likely have sitting in your pantry already - skip the grocery run and try out these affordable family dinners you can make for under $10 instead.
Spaghetti With Marinara Sauce
A classic pasta dish that packs in a ton of flavor, you can’t go wrong with spaghetti and marinara sauce. Both key ingredients - namely, well, spaghetti and tomatoes - are always cheap and easy to prepare. For some extra flavor, prepare the dish with some Parmesan cheese or maybe a few niche herbs and spices.
Chili And Beans
Chili is a low-key staple dish in many homes all over the country, even if it’s not as ubiquitous as - say - mac ’n cheese. This dish gains extra bulk with the addition of ground beef, which shouldn’t cost you much extra, and pairs well with rice or cornbread.
Macaroni and Cheese
Speaking of that old dinner staple, you can’t go wrong with a simple serving of macaroni and cheese. It’s one of the dishes on this list that we can guarantee you already know how to make - but you can take it that extra step further by using sharp cheddar, which gives the dish more flavor while using less cheese overall.
Tacos
You don’t need to visit Taco Bell to get your taco on. Tacos are pretty easy to prepare once you’ve got some pre-made shells (which are normally very cheap). You can top them off with any number of ingredients, from beef and beans to tomatoes and cheese.
Chicken And Rice Bake (Casserole)
Casseroles are grandma’s favorite dish. It’s a one-pan, one-dish meal that requires almost zero effort on behalf of the chef - just throw some chicken and rice into the dish, mix it with your choice of chicken broth, cream soups, or butter, and voila!
Vegetable Stir-Fry With Rice
Your kids may not be too keen on this one at first, but a simple veggie stir-fry is a tasty way to get them to eat their greens! Your choice of veggies is completely up to you, but frozen bags are generally cheapest. You can even throw in some scrambled eggs or tofu for even more protein.
Homemade Pizza
If the last one wasn’t a hit with the kids, we know they’ll love some pizza! Homemade dough is the way to go here if you’re looking to keep costs down, although it does require a bit of extra prep time. Once it’s ready, however, you can quite literally go ham with your toppings.
Lentil Soup
Here’s a hint: most soup dishes are cheap to make and easy to prepare. Lentil soup is no different; a simple combination of, well, lentils, carrots, onion, and celery, all simmered into a tasty broth that also freezes well.
Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is another pasta dish that uses tomato sauce and melted cheese. It’s super easy to prepare and could make for a welcome change of pace from the regular old spag-bol and mac ‘n cheese.
Hot Dogs With Baked Beans
This one’s a two-fer. Hot dogs are pretty cheap and easy to make by themselves, but a side of baked beans turns them into a filling dish. If that’s not to your liking, coleslaw or potato salad can make for viable substitutes.
Pancakes & Eggs
Another two-fer, this time with a breakfast twist! Though pancakes and eggs typically fall under the domain of breakfast, who’s to say you can’t have them for dinner, too? After all, milk, eggs, and flour are all regular budget staples, anyway, and it’s an excuse to eat more bacon!
Loaded Baked Potatoes
Potatoes are maybe one of the most versatile dinner ingredients you can use. They’re usually served as sides, but we’re advocating this dish, which makes them its primary ingredient. It’s really as simple as loading up some potatoes with cheese, sour cream, and any other topping that strikes your fancy.
Sloppy Joes
A school cafeteria staple that can also be served at home, Sloppy Joes are one of the most low-cost meals you can prepare. All you need is some cheap ground beef, buns, and tomato sauce, and you’re good to go.
Curry With Chickpeas
A curry dish can be a welcome break from the occasionally monotonous routine of potatoes and pasta. This particular dish uses chickpeas as its primary ingredient, served over rice and prepared with curry powder, garlic, and canned coconut milk if you’ve got a bit of extra cash to spare.
Ramen Noodle Upgrade
Those packs of two-minute Ramen noodles make for decent snacks, but they’re not exactly fulfilling meals… are they? They can be if you’re willing to experiment a little. Try adding some egg, veggies, and tofu to yours and watch as your family looks at you in awe as though you were some sort of kitchen wizard.
Fried Rice
Fried rice is typically served at Chinese restaurants, but there’s no reason you can’t prepare it yourself. You can put that leftover rice to good use by stir-frying it and adding some egg, soy sauce, and veggies to the mix.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Picture your average casserole dish with a distinctly fishy twist, and you’ve pretty much got the basics of tuna noodle casserole. Really, the method of preparation remains the same, even though the ingredients change.
Quesadillas
Like tacos, quesadillas are actually really easy to make, and seem almost too simple when you really break it down. All you need are some tortillas, cheese, and beans to create a simple quesadilla, but you can also throw in some leftover cold meats as well for extra flavor.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Remember what we said about soup earlier? Tomato soup isn’t exactly the most exciting thing by itself, but it goes well with grilled cheese sandwiches, a classic, toasty meal. Because you’re toasting the bread, there’s no need to buy a fresh loaf either (provided yours isn’t too stale by now).
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Whoever thought to combine hard-boiled eggs and mayo in the first place was a genius. This dish throws bread into the mix, too, creating a surprisingly gourmet-style sandwich. If you’ve got a few extra ingredients, throw on some carrots or chips to give it some extra crunch.
Creamy Potato Soup
Soup! Again! Also: potatoes! Do you really need more than that to convince you? It’s a simple dish that makes use of cheap pantry ingredients (potatoes, onions, and milk) that you can also enhance with some bacon bits or cheese if you’ve got them on hand.
White Bean and Kale Soup
Behold: more soup! Honestly, you could very easily fill a list like this with only soup dishes - they’re that cheap and simple. This one’s no different, using your garden-variety canned beans and greens to great effect. Serve with bread or rice for some extra substance.
Pasta Primavera
If you’re in the mood for something more “refined”, some pasta primavera may be the dish you’re looking for. It’s a simple pasta dish that uses seasonal veggies and olive oil, no meat required. Some Parmesan also goes a long way to enhancing the flavor even further.
Black Bean Tacos
We’ve already established that tacos are both extremely simple and versatile. This taco dish uses spiced black beans to create a meal with a little more bite to it. Try it with some garlic and cumin.
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Peppers normally go on top of over ingredients, but what if those ingredients instead went inside the peppers? With a few bell peppers to hand and some cheese, rice, beans, and meat, you can make a deliciously simple dish that should be a welcome change of pace from all those pastas and soups.
Hamburger Patties With Sides
No buns? No problem. Hamburger patties taste good whether they’re in between two buns or not. Pair them with some starch (rice or potatoes), and you’ve got a perfectly good meal on your hands already.
Sweet Potato And Black Bean Bowls
Sweet potatoes may be slightly pricier than the average sack of potatoes, but you don’t need a whole lot more to make a dish with them. A bit of rice and some black beans served in a bowl with some avo or cheese, and you’re good to go.
Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is probably a familiar comfort food already, and while it takes a little longer to prepare than some of the other dishes listed here, we think you’ll agree the results are worth it. There’s no need to go overboard with your ingredients, either: frozen veggies and instant potatoes will do.
Shakshuka
Shaksuka may be an unfamiliar term to you, but the ingredients definitely aren’t. It’s essentially poached eggs served in a spicy tomato sauce, and it’s delicious.
French Toast With Fruit
Who says you can’t have French toast for dinner? It’s a perfect excuse to make use of some leftover stale bread and any fruit preserves you may have in the fridge.
Pasta Salad With Tuna Or Beans
Pasta salad can be easily made with any extra pasta, veggies, beans, or tuna you may have. It’s served cold, which means you can also eat it for lunch the next day!
Jambalaya-Inspired Rice Skillet
A meal with some kick, this Jambalaya-inspired rice skillet makes good use of staple ingredients like rice, tomatoes, and peppers, along with any meat you may have leftover. A bit of Cajun seasoning gives it even more of a kick, too.
Cabbage and Noodles
This delicious dish makes use of simple ingredients, namely cabbage and onions, sauteed and subsequently tossed with noodles. With your leftover cash, you can even add some bacon or sausage, too.
Omelets
Omelets are another breakfast dish that can also be easily made for a good dinner. All you need is a bit of cheese, veggies, and ham to serve as the fillings. It’s delicious enough as it is, but you can add some toast or hash browns for something a little more substantial.
Meatball Subs
Meatballs are easy to make, and you don’t need a lot of meat to prepare them. Make yours extra small, serve them on a sub roll with sauce, and add salad or fries as a side for a perfectly economical and filling meal.
