10 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery

It’s often tempting to order unhealthy or expensive takeout for weeknight dinners. Cooking can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of quick, easy, and satisfying meals that won’t put a dent in your budget and still taste delicious. Additionally, utilizing hacks includes going meatless or opting for a slow cooker or instant pot, which does all the work for you. Don’t believe us? Check out these impressive, protein-packed recipes that can all be made in an hour or less.

1. Skillet Mexican Beef And Rice

This sizzling burrito bowl of a dish blends Mexican rice with beans, ground beef, cheese, veggies, and your other favorite toppings. With minimal preparation and minimal dishes, this family meal is hearty and makes for some delicious leftovers.

2. Stuffed Peppers

No matter your diet, pretty much anything can be stuffed in these succulent, edible bowls. Consider adding ground beef, rice and beans, topping it off with cheese before popping a batch in the oven for some melty, gooey goodness—a one-pan meal with easy, breezy cleanup.

3. Cabbage Schnitzel

Sometimes, you just need something fried! If you don’t want to go completely unhealthy, opt for a fried cabbage schnitzel, which allows you to get that juicy bite coated in crisp bread crumbs. Top it with a decadent mushroom gravy for an unexpected meal that will satisfy you and your guests.

4. Goulash

This dish is so easy because you can cook your macaroni directly in the goulash. Doing so means that your macaroni absorbs all the flavors of that beef and tomato. At the same time, it releases starch into the dish, which thickens the goulash and creates a stew texture. Why bother boiling water when you can make this one-pot weeknight dinner?

5. One-Pan Coconut Lime Chicken

Chicken cutlets cook fast in a sweet, spicy coconut sauce garnished with lime acidity. Tomato paste and tomatoes make this dish more grounded and help balance everything. Top with some shredded cilantro for an impressive last-minute dish that looks like it took hours to make.

6. Skillet Lasagna

As delicious as a traditional lasagna is, it can take a while to prep. Instead of confusing yourself with a layering routine, simply place cooked noodles in a marinara sauce with chopped onions and toss dollops of pesto, mozzarella slices, and grated parmesan over the skillet mixture.

7. Chicken Nugget Parmesan

A more affordable and less time-consuming alternative to chicken parmesan, you can make this version with chicken nuggets, which turns it into more of a casserole dish. It’s cheesy and comforting, and best of all, it doesn’t taste like a shortcut despite involving much less effort.

8. Potato And Salmon Skillet

Potatoes slowly roast in creamy goodness while salmon is soaked in a marinade that also works as a cooking fat in this skillet meal. In 45 minutes, you can have a restaurant-quality dish of salmon and roasted potatoes. If salmon is too expensive where you are, this can be done with a cheaper fish like cod or tilapia, or you can consider buying frozen salmon, which is often cheaper.

9. Spicy Chicken Taquitos

Jazz up Taco Tuesday with something a little more interesting. A taquito is a rolled taco with a crispy outside. First, place your fillings, like beans and meat, inside. Then, shallow fry them in oil to achieve crispness and finally, top with guacamole, sour cream and pico de Gallo. This can also be made in an air fryer.

10. Stuffed Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

You can add in BBQ chicken, shrimp, or even ground beef to this alternative to burrito bowls and salad. Cut the sweet potato open and toss in whatever cheese, veggies, and fixings your heart desires in this edible bowl. Sweet potatoes can be stuffed with store-bought rotisserie chicken to satisfy your BBQ cravings.