78 Easy Dinners That Won't Break the Bank

The act of cooking dinner from scratch rather than turning to takeout or microwave meals is a money-saving strategy in itself, so if you're reading this, you're already off to a great start! Beyond that, consider making vegetarian meals out of staples like beans and other legumes, rice, quinoa, pasta, and eggs. (While less meat-centric recipes are typically more affordable, inexpensive cuts like ground beef and turkey, chicken thighs, and bacon have a place in budget-friendly meal planning, especially when they're not the main event.) To make things easier, we curated more than 75 recipes that won't break the bank; keep reading for inspiration.

Vegan Pumpkin-Chickpea Soup
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Vegan Pumpkin-Chickpea Soup

Ginger Fried Rice With Poached Egg
Alexandra's Kitchen

Ginger Fried Rice With Poached Egg

Roasted Italian Sausage, Peppers, Potatoes, and Onion
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Roasted Italian Sausage, Peppers, Potatoes, and Onion

Five-Alarm Chili
Cook's Country

Five-Alarm Chili

Get the recipe: five-alarm chili

Cheddar, Bacon, and Leek Frittata
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Cheddar, Bacon, and Leek Frittata

Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies
Damn Delicious

Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies

Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers
Cooking Classy

Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers

Pasta Carbonara With Leeks and Sundried Tomatoes
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Pasta Carbonara With Leeks and Sundried Tomatoes

Balsamic Mushrooms, Chickpeas, and Kale With Caramelized Onions
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Balsamic Mushrooms, Chickpeas, and Kale With Caramelized Onions

Creamy Skillet Mac and Cheese
Recipe Tin Eats

Creamy Skillet Mac and Cheese

Black Pepper Stir-Fried Noodles With Spinach and Tofu
Pinch of Yum

Black Pepper Stir-Fried Noodles With Spinach and Tofu

Chicken Parmesan and Roasted Zucchini
Cooking Classy

Chicken Parmesan and Roasted Zucchini

Eggy Pasta With Spinach and Bacon
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Eggy Pasta With Spinach and Bacon

Korean Tofu With Spicy Garlic Sauce
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Korean Tofu With Spicy Garlic Sauce

Chicken and Rice
Alexandra's Kitchen

Chicken and Rice

Get the recipe: chicken and rice

Tex-Mex Ground Beef Tacos
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Tex-Mex Ground Beef Tacos

Vegan Chickpea Soup
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Vegan Chickpea Soup

Very Veggie Fried Rice
Cooking Classy

Very Veggie Fried Rice

Get the recipe: very veggie fried rice

Vietnamese Lemongrass Tofu
40 Aprons

Vietnamese Lemongrass Tofu

Creamy Cauliflower Fettucine Alfredo With Bacon
Heather Christo

Creamy Cauliflower Fettucine Alfredo With Bacon

Kale, White Bean, and Meatball Soup
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Kale, White Bean, and Meatball Soup

Greek Chicken With Green Beans and Potatoes
Damn Delicious

Greek Chicken With Green Beans and Potatoes

Baked Sweet Potatoes With Cannellini Beans and Spinach
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Baked Sweet Potatoes With Cannellini Beans and Spinach

Lemony Lentil Soup With Swiss Chard
Port and Fin

Lemony Lentil Soup With Swiss Chard

Pasta With Vegan Pink Sauce
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Pasta With Vegan Pink Sauce

Kimchi Fried Rice
POPSUGAR Photography | Sara Yoo

Kimchi Fried Rice

Get the recipe: kimchi fried rice

Chicken Enchilada Skillet
Damn Delicious

Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Vegan Burrito Bowl
The Kitchy Kitchen

Vegan Burrito Bowl

Get the recipe: vegan burrito bowl

Loaded French Bread Pizza
Budget Bytes

Loaded French Bread Pizza

Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad
Cookie + Kate

Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs With Spaghetti
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs With Spaghetti

Chili Cheese Dogs
A Cozy Kitchen

Chili Cheese Dogs

Get the recipe: chili cheese dogs

Spicy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
Love & Olive Oil

Spicy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken and Broccoli Shells and Cheese
Love Grows Wild

Chicken and Broccoli Shells and Cheese

Sautéed Mushrooms With Poached Egg
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Sautéed Mushrooms With Poached Egg

Cream of Tomato Soup With Crunchy Lemon Chickpeas
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Cream of Tomato Soup With Crunchy Lemon Chickpeas

Black Bean and Butternut Squash Quesadilla
Girl Versus Dough

Black Bean and Butternut Squash Quesadilla

Garlic Ranch Chicken and Veggies
Damn Delicious

Garlic Ranch Chicken and Veggies

Vegan Korean Nourish Bowl With Barley
MJ and Hungry Man

Vegan Korean Nourish Bowl With Barley

Cilantro-Lime Chicken With Rice and Black Beans
Cooking Classy

Cilantro-Lime Chicken With Rice and Black Beans

Vegetable Medley Pasta
POPSUGAR Photography | Camilla Salem

Vegetable Medley Pasta

Get the recipe: vegetable medley pasta

Cheesy Taco Skillet
Homemade Hooplah

Cheesy Taco Skillet

Get the recipe: cheesy taco skillet

Chicken Lo Mein
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Chicken Lo Mein

Get the recipe: chicken lo mein

Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpea, and Quinoa Salad With Jalapeño Lime Dressing
My Darling Lemon Thyme

Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpea, and Quinoa Salad With Jalapeño Lime Dressing

Vegetarian Carbonara
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Vegetarian Carbonara

Grain Bowl With Teriyaki Sauce, Greens, and Soft-Boiled Egg
Alexandra's Kitchen

Grain Bowl With Teriyaki Sauce, Greens, and Soft-Boiled Egg

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Damn Delicious

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Get the recipe: lemon chicken orzo soup

Spicy Tahini Soba Noodle Salad
A Cozy Kitchen

Spicy Tahini Soba Noodle Salad

Rotini With Butternut-Sage Sauce
Alexandra Cooks

Rotini With Butternut-Sage Sauce

Vegan Miso Soup With Soba and Mushrooms
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Vegan Miso Soup With Soba and Mushrooms

Homemade Hamburger Helper
Alexandra's Kitchen

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Black Bean, Corn, and Radish Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Black Bean, Corn, and Radish Salad

Chicken Fried Rice
Cooking Classy

Chicken Fried Rice

Get the recipe: chicken fried rice

Lemon and Dill Chickpea Salad
My Name Is Yeh

Lemon and Dill Chickpea Salad

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

Get the recipe: bacon-wrapped hot dogs

Shells With Red Pepper Tomato Sauce
Alexandra Cooks

Shells With Red Pepper Tomato Sauce

Vegetarian Bibimbap
The Kitchy Kitchen

Vegetarian Bibimbap

Get the recipe: vegetarian bibimbap

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino
POPSUGAR Photography | Camilla Salem

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino

Chickpea Soup With Kale and Bacon
Cooking for Keeps

Chickpea Soup With Kale and Bacon

Lebanese Lemon-Parsley Bean Salad
Cookie + Kate

Lebanese Lemon-Parsley Bean Salad

Pasta Carbonara
Cooking For Keeps

Pasta Carbonara

Get the recipe: pasta carbonara

Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad
Foxes Love Lemons

Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad

Ginger Fried Cauliflower Rice
A Cozy Kitchen

Ginger Fried Cauliflower Rice

Microwave Chicken Noodle Soup
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Microwave Chicken Noodle Soup

Black Bean Quinoa Salad With Orange Vinaigrette
Damn Delicious

Black Bean Quinoa Salad With Orange Vinaigrette

Linguine With Kale and Chickpeas
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Linguine With Kale and Chickpeas

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