When I wrote out my Dave Ramsey meal plan for a beans + rice budget, I had no idea how many of my readers were searching for cheap meals to feed their families.
In that post I also mentioned using a meal planning service like the one Dave mentions on his show,eMeals(this link takes you to a free 14-day trial). There’s a small fee for this service, but they save you money overall, so many people find that it’s worth it to give them a try. Plus, they offer a free for 14 days trial period. You can pick and choose your meals, and they’ll have everything waiting for you at your local WalMart store for pick-up. I like that option because then you can avoid impulse purchases or dragging the kids through the store, which makes my grocery bill skyrocket! You can learn more about eMeals here.
(*Note: Recently we’ve used the discount meal service EveryPlate, which has a promo for just $1.99 per meal. Try Everyplate at $1.99/meal + get an additional 20% off your next 2 boxes!
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When it comes to getting dinner on the table each night, finding a mix between cheap and easy can be a challenge. After a long day at work and school, your family is starving and ready for dinner. Finding something everyone will eat can be a challenge, but you don’t have to bust your budget in order to make this dream a reality! These cheap meals make easy budget dinners and will be something your whole family can enjoy! Here are 50 super cheap meals that appeal to the whole family, even the picky eaters!
50 Cheap Meals For Families
Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice
Delicious and super easy, with a little bit of sausage. It’s one of our family favorites! I serve crockpot corn casserole on the side with it.
Baked Tostadas
Ready in just 15 minutes! Easy to adapt for vegans and/or meat-eaters, and also one of our favorite meals for busy weeknights.
Carrot and Lentil Soup with Bacon
This easy soup makes a great one-pot meal, and the little bits of bacon make it super flavorful.
This classic spaghetti and meatballs recipe is perfect for picky eaters and italian themed dinner nights.
Using only five ingredients and a frozen chicken, this delicious italian baked chicken is ready to eat in just 20 minutes!
Peanut Butter Soup
This unique and delicious soup has a peanut butter flavored broth, and bits of chicken, corn, and sweet potato. So yummy served over rice!
Baked Chicken Wings with Balsamic Glaze
These baked chicken wings are so delicious! Plus, the glaze helps them crisp up for that crispy wing taste.
This chicken cacciatore is perfect for those days when you need to dump it in the crockpot and go. Who says you can’t have quick and easy?
Light Chicken and Pasta Dinner
This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights! All you need is a spot on the stove and six simple ingredients.
CrockPot Chicken Casserole with Tater Tots
With just five ingredients, this cheap meals is also sooo easy to put together!
These sloppy joes are so tasty and only use half the amount of beef as a regular recipe! Perfect for those meals that need to stretch your meat budget.
This tasty stir fry recipe is so easy to customize to meet your family’s needs. This is an easy meal that can be ready in under 30 minutes!
This crockpot lasagna is so easy to make, and you can even prepare it ahead of time! Just set it and forget it and you have dinner ready with no effort.
This sausage and rice bake is perfect when you need to throw a nutritious dinner together fast. It’s so easy to make and it’s also full of veggies!
Not only is this soup thick and creamy, but it’s heavy enough to be a full meal on it’s own.
This pork is so juicy and flavorful, and you can’t beat the opportunity to sneak in some vegetables.
A simple spice blend gives tons of flavor to the crispy skin and moist, juicy thigh meat. This is in the oven in just minutes for a delicious and budget-friendly main dish.
This is such a fun way to spice up your traditional pasta dish and encorporate pizza!
Only six ingredients and a few minutes of prep time and you have a delicious southern style meal that you can whip up in your slow cooker!
This Slow Cooker Orange Chicken recipe is perfect to throw in the crock pot for a busy weeknight meal!
Chicken Broccoli and Cheese Soup
The shells and cheese just make it taste very much like a comfort food.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
If you are looking for an easy crowd pleaser, grilled cheese won’t disappoint! Plus, you probably have all the ingredients you need right in your pantry!
This delicious pot roast is so simple to make, you just throw it in the slow cooker and you have dinner ready in a few hours!
This Ranch BBQ Cheesy Skillet Dinner is not only under $20, but I was able to put together a fresh salad AND dessert all for under $20!
This slow cooker shrimp scampi recipe can be made in the crock pot, so you can set it and forget it! Eat it alone, or make it with your favorite pasta.
This taco salad is an instant crowd pleaser, and you can’t beat having dinner ready in just 30 minutes!
This chicken fajita sheet pan dinner is a budget friendly crowd pleaser and is a quick and easy meal to add into your weekly rotation.
Loaded with delicious peppers, onion, beans and ground beef, this chili recipe is amazing! A fantastic dinner idea for any night of the week! Chili is one of our classic cheap meals that everyone loves!
Using just a few simple ingredients, you can have a great and easy dinner ready to go in just minutes! The best part is that the clean up will be a breeze.
Using only seven ingredients, you can throw together this tasty meal in just a few minutes for authentic asian cuisine.
This meal is easy to make and great to freeze.
Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
With just 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep, this Dump-and-Bake Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is an easy dinner that cooks in one dish! Another one of our classic cheap meals.
This creamy, cheesy comforting soup is perfect for a weeknight dinner. All the buffalo wing flavor you love in an easy 30 minute soup.
The flavor is incredible. Bold flavor but not spicy. Creamy comfort food, yet not too rich. These are a winner in all categories and will satisfy even the pickiest eater.
This chicken tikka masala is so simple to make, and the added beans make your budget stretch just a little further.
Budget slow cooker recipes like this Tangy Chicken help you get dinner on the table with little effort and keep money in your pocket.
It’s the easiest way to enjoy the chicken cordon bleu you love without all the work or cooking time. This is the perfect solution for that hectic weeknight meal! Give it a try and see just how simple it really is.
Dump your bag of frozen ravioli right into the crockpot, and you’re on your way to a simple and frugal meal for your family.
These easy to cook and prepare Crockpot Ranch Chicken Sliders are a great addition to the menu plan. You’ll want to save the recipe for busy Saturdays or even party food.
You only need four ingredients to whip up this delicious cream cheese chicken! Just throw it in your slow cooker and it’s ready to cook.
This recipe is only six ingredients but is full of flavor!
These haystacks are so easy to customize, so even picky eaters can enjoy them too!
A low carb, cheesy chicken bacon ranch casserole recipe that the whole family will love. Quick and easy with just 7 common ingredients, 5 minutes prep, and options for 2 ways to make it.
This taco soup is perfect for those cold nights when you are craving soup! Using only a few ingredients, you can create the perfect and filling meal for your family on those busy school nights.
Four ingredients and only thirty minutes will help you create these delicious lemon pepper pork chops.
From start to finish I can have these little guys on the table in less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for those busy nights.
Get all the delicious comforting flavor you love in classic stuffed peppers in just 30 minutes with this equally yummy but twice as easy Unstuffed Peppers recipe.
Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
This Easy Crock Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is so comforting and gets rave reviews from all who taste it!
Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki Drumsticks are the perfect solution for those nights you are craving take out but don’t have the time or budget!
This Chicken Meatballs recipe is one of the chicken recipes I have on high rotation for my family. My kids love meatballs and I love that this recipe uses fresh, healthy ingredients.
Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
These easy chicken alfredo stuffed shells are a great crowd pleaser, and are perfect for busy nights and picky eaters.
This Easy Crock pot baked ziti recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. The perfect easy slow cooker dinner recipe!
Hearty macaroni chili pasta dinner recipe is easy and cheap to prepare. So filling with beans, hamburger, noodles, everyone will love this flavorful one pot meal.
This taco meat is perfect for tacos, burritos, or anything else that calls for taco meat!
Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli and Rice
Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli and Rice is the perfect solution for a busy week night dinner! In only 5 minutes of your time you can have a delicious home cooked meal on your table! (The Instant Pot makes great cheap meals; here’s my list of yummy budget Instapot Recipes.)
What are your go-to cheap meals that the kids love, too? Share them with us!
Let’s chat soon,
