These days, most of us are looking for smart ways to save money – and this is especially true with grocery shopping. These 9 budget-friendly dinner recipes are all healthy, well-balanced, and cost less than $13 total to make (with at least 4 servings). Estimated cost breakdown included!
My focus was on flavorful, well-balanced meals that won’t break the bank. Plus, I list some tips to building more affordable meals.
As a busy mom and dietitian, I know firsthand how important it is to find meals that check all the boxes: affordable, healthy, easy, and kid-approved.
My Top Tips for Success
This post was inspired by my popular article: High Protein Meal Prep on a Budget. Check it out for meal prep specific ideas + more recipes!
This post does include Amazon affiliate links – at no additional cost to you, I receive a small compensation if a purchase is made!
If you have been trying to budget your grocery bill, you might have better tips than I do. However, here are my top ones to easy, healthy, affordable meals!
- Buy your expensive proteins in bulk! My goodness, chicken is ridiculous these days – and that is what I eat the most of. If I take the time to buy chicken, beef, steak, and so on from the local meat market, I save so much money. Shop around and it will make a big difference.
- Add in or rely on cheap plant-based proteins. If you want a high protein and filling dinner, beans, lentils, nutritional yeast, tofu are all super affordable and increase the protein content of any meal. For example, even if you are not a vegetarian, you can still consume a high protein meal but use 1/2 the amount of chicken by adding beans.
- Batch cook your grains, beans and legumes! Buy your grains in bulk as they are often much cheaper in larger quanities. I also like to cook grains + beans in bulk so they’re conveniently ready for me to use (can be frozen for 3 months). Interestingly, cooking and cooling rice increases the resistant starch content – which is a type of carbohydrate that is resistant to digestion. Resistant starch can support weight loss, gut health, and blood sugar.
- If fresh produce is not in season, frozen is often a more affordable alternative (and just as healthy). Canned works, too!
- Shop the sales + opt for store brand or generic.
- Plan meals around what you already have in your fridge or pantry to reduce food waste.
Cheap Dinner Recipes
These dinners were calculated based on grocery prices in September 2025 and at Kroger in Michigan. Therefore, price estimates may be higher or lower depending on where you shop or where you’re located! The prices do not include most spices.
1. Customizable Chicken Fajita Bowl
This is a customizable Mexican-inspired bowl that can be switched up with different sauces and add-ins to change up the flavor profile or to even make it more affordable. It relies on a lot of pantry staples / canned items, too!
I honestly make some kind of variation of this recipe every single week! It’s an easy way to prioritize a high protein and fiber meal (plus leftovers / meal prep). My unique spin on a pretty “basic” bowl: the rice is pre-cooked, cooled, and higher in resistant starch!
This recipe makes about 5 servings. Total cost is $13.00 and $2.78 per serving.
- Chicken breast (1 lb) → $4.99; buy a rotisserie chicken on sale or try chicken thighs for a cheaper option. This recipe specifically
- Shredded Mexican cheese (1 cup) → $1.50
- Black beans, canned (1 can) → $1.00
- Corn, canned (1 can) → $1.00
- Bell peppers (2 total) → $1.50
- Onion (1 medium) → $0.60
- Cooked rice (2 cups) → $0.40
- Olive oil (1 tbsp) → $0.10
- Fajita seasoning (~½–¾ packet) → $0.20
- Avocado (1) → $1.25
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder → $0.10
- Salsa or sauce (optional) → $0.50
This is the most expensive meal on this list. However, if you buy the chicken in bulk, you will save substantially on this recipe! Since it provides 35 grams of protein per serving, you could also get away with using 1/2 pound of chicken, too!
You can make this bowl every week and flavor it with your favorite store-bought sauce or different sauces if there is a sale!
2. Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chili (The Oregon Dietitian)
A vegetarian, nutrient-dense and hearty chili that is packed with veggies. It can be ready in less than 40 minutes or cooked in a slow cooker all day long so you can come home to an easy, family-friendly meal.
This recipe makes 6 servings! The total comes out to be around $10.45 or roughly $1.74 per serving! If you have batch cooked beans in your freezer, total cost would be less (versus canned).
- 2 tbsp avocado oil: $0.38
- 1 medium red onion: $0.60
- Bell peppers: $2.40
- 2 medium sweet potatoes: $1.30
- 2 medium carrots: $0.30
- 3 garlic cloves: $0.20
- 1 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes: $1.89
- 1 15 oz can black beans: $1.00; or sub with 1 3/4 cups of cooked (from the bag) black beans.
- 1 15 oz can kidney beans: $1.00
- 2 cups vegetable broth: $1.00
- 2 tsp lime juice: $0.38
3. Hearty Italian White Bean Soup (Haute and Healthy Living)
This is another hearty, slow cooker dinner with warm and cozy flavors. It has a super creamy sun-dried tomato and coconut milk base. The beans provide protein and fiber – if you want to increase the content further, use my favorite Barilla Protein Plus Pasta.
Total cost is about $10, with 6-8 servings.
- Olive oil (1 tsp), ~$0.05
- Onion (1 medium), ~$0.60
- Can of coconut milk (14 oz), ~$1.80
- Garlic (3 cloves), ~$0.15
- Sun-dried tomatoes (¼ cup), ~$0.75
- Can diced tomatoes (28 oz), ~$1.20
- Two cans white beans (2 × 19 oz), ~$2.00
- Vegetable broth (3 cups), ~$1.20
- Fresh spinach (2 cups), ~$1.00
- Pasta (1 cup dry). ~$0.30
4. Poor Man’s Stew (Joy Filled Eats)
This recipe is literally called “poor man’s stew” as it is basically cheap comfort food. I am writing this in the fall so what is better than a cozy soup or stew? This is your typical meat and potatoes in soup form with a flavorful broth! Easy, delicious and cheap!
This recipe makes 8 servings and the total cost is about $10.50 or $1.31 per serving.
- Ground beef (1 lb), about $4.00
- Potatoes, $1.58 (Russet potatoes ~$0.79 / lb at Kroger)
- Carrots $0.80
- Onion, 1 medium, $0.60
- Garlic, $0.15
- Beef broth / stock ~$1.49
- Diced tomatoes (canned), $1.00
- Tomato sauce, $0.70
5. Asian Rice Salad with Shrimp (Craving Something Healthy)
This is another recipe which utilizes the magical resistant starch (in the form of cooked rice).
Instead of being digested, resistant starch is fermented in your large intestine, where it helps to feed your gut cells and the bacteria that live there. The shrimp adds protein for a well-rounded, filling meal. Plus, frozen edamame is one of my favorite budget-friendly protein sources and high in fiber, too!
This recipe makes 4 servings with a total cost of $9.95! I swapped fresh shrimp for frozen which reduces the overall price.
- Frozen shrimp, $3.50
- Brown basmati rice, $1.00
- Red cabbage, $0.50
- Carrots, $0.20
- Radishes, $0.30
- Cucumber, $0.40
- Green onions, $0.30
- Mushrooms (white or shiitake), $1.00
- Edamame (frozen), $1.00
- Fresh basil, $0.10
- Fresh cilantro, $0.20
- Rice vinegar, $0.10
- Soy sauce $0.10
- Toasted sesame oil, $0.30
- Maple syrup, $0.10
- Lime juice, $0.20
- Sriracha, $0.05
- Garlic, $0.10
6. Sausage Broccoli Pasta (Get Inspired Everyday!)
The perfect 30-minute dinner when you just don’t know what to make on a busy night. It’s simple yet so satisfying. Whole wheat pasta with Italian sausage and broccoli in a simple garlic and oil sauce!
Total cost for this recipe is about $7 and $1.75 per serving.
- Whole wheat penne pasta, $1.00
- Italian sausage, $4.00
- Broccoli florets (1 head), $1.50, could sub with frozen broccoli
- Olive oil (1 tbsp), $0.10
- Garlic (1 tbsp minced), $0.10
7. Tuna Pesto Pasta (The Healthy Epicurean)
Here we have another super simple pasta dish featuring spaghetti, canned tuna, pesto, garlic and oil. Serve with a side of frozen veggies for a quick and extremely affordable dinner!
Total cost $5.20 and about $0.87 per serving.
- Spaghetti (12 oz), $1.00. If you have some money to splurge, select Barilla Protein Plus or a noodle with more protein and fiber.
- Olive oil (1 tbsp), $0.10
- Garlic (2 cloves), $0.10
- Pesto (⅓ cup), $1.50
- Tuna (2 pouches or 2 cans), $2.00
- Parmesan cheese (¼ cup), $0.50
8. Crispy Tofu with Vegetables (Chef Ani)
Tofu is an affordable plant-based protein source and when baked in the oven until crispy, it can closely resemble chicken. You’ll be so glad once your master the art of cooking and seasoning tofu. The crispy tofu is paired with vegetables and a simple yet flavorful sauce.
Similar to a stir-fry, frozen vegetables could be substituted to save some money, too.
Total cost $6.65 and about $1.66 per serving.
- Firm tofu (14 oz block), $2.00
- Cornstarch (1 tbsp), $0.05
- Sesame oil (1 tbsp), $0.25
- Garlic (2 cloves), $0.10
- Soy sauce (¼ cup), $0.25
- Maple syrup (1 tbsp), $0.10
- Rice vinegar (1 tbsp), $0.10
- Vegetable oil (for sautéing), $0.10
- Broccoli florets (2 cups), $1.50
- Red bell pepper (1 medium), $1.00
- Carrot (1 medium), $0.30
- Cooked rice (3 cups), $1.00
9. Egg Roll Ground Turkey Bowl (PCOS Nutritionist Alyssa)
What’s better than a one pan meal? This low effort dinner combines ground turkey, fresh vegetables and my personal favorite addition: shelled edamame. It’s lower in carbohydrates and meal prep friendly – leftovers store well in the fridge!
Total cost $8.10 and about $2.03 per serving.
- Ground turkey (1 lb), $4.00
- Olive oil, $0.10
- Coleslaw mix (bag), $1.50
- Matchstick carrots, $0.50
- Edamame (shelled, frozen), $1.00
- Low-sodium soy sauce / tamari, $0.30
- Rice vinegar, $0.10
- Sesame oil, $0.20
- Garlic (3 cloves), $0.15
- Sriracha, $0.05
Simple Ideas
When you need to come up with more ideas, below are some that are as simple as it gets! Customize easily, if needed.
- Frozen veggie stir-fry. Jasmine rice + frozen vegetable medley + frozen edamame. Add some frozen shrimp or chicken for additional protein. Flavor with a drizzle of sriracha or soy sauce. Or, egg fried rice.
- Greek yogurt parfait. 1 cup of Greek yogurt + frozen berries + chopped nuts.
- Tuna wrap. Canned tuna + Greek yogurt for extra protein + whole wheat wrap with cucumber slices.
- Beans + rice + canned veggies. Like the fajita bowl, just pair beans, rice and whatever Mexican-inspired veggies you like. Examples include corn, tomatoes, chilies.
- Baked potato bar. Top with cheese, Greek yogurt for protein, and steamed broccoli.