60+ Super Cheap and Fast Dinners for Any Night of the Week
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60+ Super Cheap and Fast Dinners for Any Night of the Week
Shopping for a week's worth of fresh ingredients for tasty weeknight dinners can seem like a major strain on your wallet. But smart home cooks can serve up all kinds of creative family dinner ideas on a budget — the trick is knowing how to maximize every ingredient in your fridge and pantry. For example, using one package of ground beef for two different meals, transforming chicken thighs into multiple dinners, or dressing up canned beans for a yummy vegetarian recipe. Our favorite homemade dinners are budget-friendly and surprisingly delightful to put together, and the best part is that most of these easy, cheap dinners come together in 30 minutes or less.
An organized shopping list is key to putting together a menu of delicious weeknight dinners that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds. We have tips for super-fast dinners all your favorite proteins, including beef, chicken breasts, pork, salmon and tilapia, not to mention a variety of healthy vegetables, too. Prepping your meals in advance helps you cut down on time spent in the kitchen at the end of the day, too.
Our collection of the best cheap and easy weeknight dinners can be made using kitchen gadgets and tools you probably already own, including Instant Pot recipes, sheet pan recipes and grilling recipes. You'll spend less time fidgeting over fussy directions and get right to the good stuff with pastas, salads, roasts, and stews that are sure to make you, your family and your credit card very, very happy.
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Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Pizza
A ball of store-bought dough is the easiest way to experience freshly made pizza without calling delivery. This pie layers in fontina cheese and Shiitake mushrooms amid bright balsamic glaze and crunchy sprouts. It's a rustic 25-minute dinner you'll simply love.
- 3/65
Salmon With Skyr and Sauteed Kale
Broiling salmon in the oven cuts cooking time down to just eight minutes. Budget tip: A family-sized fillet packet at your local fishmonger should save you from paying the packing upcharge on individual pieces.
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- 4/65
Crispy Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
Chicken thighs are often left behind in favor of breasts; but these cheaper cuts can be quite flavorful in a bath of stock, creating a pan sauce you'll swear is ultra fancy (it's actually just wine!).
Get the recipe for Crispy Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce »
RELATED: 60+ Healthy Chicken Recipes for the Best Dinner Ever
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Steak With Grilled Green Beans, Fennel & Farro
Lucky enough to have access to a grill all year long? Perfectly charred steak is ready in just 12 minutes, just enough time for you to boil farro for the whole fam.
Get the recipe for Steak With Grilled Green Beans, Fennel & Farro »
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Good Housekeeping 30-Minute Dinners: 85 Delicious Recipes
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Loving these dinner ideas? Our newest expert-backed cookbook is available now as the new kitchen companion you never knew you needed. Easy 30-Minute Dinners is filled with 85+ easy, budget-friendly recipes for busy cooks, including special chapters dedicated to air-fried treats and one sheet pan dinners. Any home cook will be ready to pull off stress-free weeknights.
Pick up your copy now to discover even more affordable and super simple dinner recipes!
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- 7/65
Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
You just need 30 minutes to make this pasta dinner made with fresh peas and noodles. Skillet chicken joins the fun for a super zesty, creamy meal everyone will love.
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Mediterranean Baked Cod
How in the world can you turn freshly baked cod into a full meal in just 15 minutes? Easy: Pack a skillet full of roasted veg and a bit of water, and you have a perfect steamy situation.
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Pan-Fried Chicken With Lemony Roasted Broccoli
There's a good chance you already have all the ingredients you need for this easy weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe for Pan-Fried Chicken with Lemony Roasted Broccoli »
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- 10/65
Steak and Fingerling Frites
Steak and potatoes are a classic combo, but we love to dress up our favorites every once in a while. Pesto and butter come together to make a steak dressing you can't resist.
- 11/65
Chicken Parmesan
It's a weeknight classic for a reason: Ready in 30 minutes, insanely flavorful, and minimal work required! Armed with just six ingredients, you've got a classic Italian favorite.
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Chicken Marsala
Creating a savory sauce using the drippings in your frying pan is key to a delicious chicken dinner on the fly. This marsala sauce is made better thanks to velvety mushrooms and a side of greens.
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- 13/65
Seared Chicken With Pesto Zucchini Orzo
It's definitely an al fresco meal designed for summer nights. Orzo and zucchini (plus squash!) make for a delicious sidekick to chicken — in less than 10, no less!
Get the recipe for Seared Chicken With Pesto Zucchini Orzo »
- 14/65
Veggie Medley on Sweet Potatoes
A delicious fall-time vegetarian dinner, this bright bowl of sweet spuds is blended into a silky bed for fresh veggies thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt and (plenty of) butter. It's all ready in just under 25 mins!
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Mustard Glazed Pork Chops
Apple cider vinegar, mustard, olive oil and fresh parsley are whipped into a silky glaze for bone-in chops.
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- 16/65
Zucchini and Cheese Quesadillas
Upgrade your classic cheese 'dilla with a healthy dose of fresh zucchini, which only adds to its super luxe creamy profile.
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Vegetarian Chili Macaroni
A dream Meatless Monday meal that comes together in 20 minutes, flat. (Of course, it's really designed to be delicious on any day of the week that ends in y.)
- 18/65
Grilled Moroccan Steak and Carrots
Rather than a bottled marinade, you'll use a few aromatic spices to dress these steaks up a few days beforehand. It'll burst with flavor alongside seasonal veggies.
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- 19/65
Miso Spinach Noodles
This umami-packed soup is so good, you'll have to lick the bowl (sorry, Mom).
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100+ Healthy Dinners to Make All Year Long
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Crispy Sesame Pork
Because pork chops are delicate and thin, they become crispy in a hot pan of oil in just a few minutes — making this dinner a breeze to whip up.
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- 22/65
Zesty Shrimp Tacos
Frozen or fresh, shrimp cooks up in just a few minutes (even less on the grill!). Store-bought tortillas come to life thanks to fresh cilantro, sliced radish, salsa and Cotija cheese.
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Tomato-Quinoa Soup
Who needs the canned stuff when this heavenly bowl of zesty purée is ready in just 30 minutes? Top it with crunchy quinoa for a flavor-packed bite.
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Shrimp and Zucchini Scampi
Sautéing fresh shrimp and a medley of vegetables to buttery perfection can be done in just five minutes.
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- 25/65
Seared Steak With Blistered Tomatoes
A 20-minute steak-and-salad meal is one of the easiest dinners you'll ever make. The velvety tomatoes are just an added bonus.
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Veggie Skillet Lasagna
This veggie-packed lasagna is a great way to clear the fridge of your leftover haul from the farmer's market. Plus, you can prep the dish on Sunday and simply fire it up on the stove on Monday.
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Mozzarella-Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
Alright, alright — this one takes 45 minutes to perfect, we'll admit. But the extra 15 minutes of prep time ensures your meatballs feel more like a special night out than a routine dine-and-dash at home.
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- 28/65
Thai Beef and Veggie Stir-Fry
While a packet of instant rice is both fast and budget friendly, the umami blend of veggies and beef can also be served over noodles, too.
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Beef Stroganoff
Another one-pan weeknight hero that is insanely flavorful, white wine and beef broth deglaze the umami bits of sirloin in the pan.
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Roasted Salmon with Tomatoes and Green Beans
Turn five ingredients into a shockingly mouthwatering Mediterranean plate.
Get the recipe for Roasted Salmon with Tomatoes and Green Beans »
RELATED: 30+ Easy Salmon Recipes You'll Love
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- 31/65
Korean Pork Lettuce Wraps
Slowly stewed pork in a Instant Pot makes these fresh lettuce wraps feel much more luxurious.
- 32/65
Skillet Lemon Chicken With Artichokes
Six ingredients into the skillet (including a generous splash of white wine) makes for a deliciously zesty and bright chicken dinner.
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Spicy Italian Mussels and "Frites"
Please the kids when they ask for French fries for dinner — but give them an adult spin with a jus made from fresh mussels.
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- 34/65
Creamy Corn Pasta with Bacon and Scallions
Fresh corn, basil and scallions are only brightened by a healthy dose of salty bacon in a creamy pan sauce.
Get the recipe for Creamy Corn Pasta With Bacon and Scallions »
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Dijon Pork & Asparagus Sauté
Tarragon and salt spice up this bed of asparagus that sits atop olive oil. You'll sear pork chops and brown each side.
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Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad
Consider serving hard-cooked eggs with a side of fiery buffalo chicken salad.
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- 37/65
Almond-Crusted Creole Salmon
A hack for a delicious glaze in record time? Dipping into creamy, fresh Greek yogurt and a dusting of almonds, all brightened by a pop of lemon zest.
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100+ Healthy Dinners to Make All Year Long
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Chickpea and Kale Rigatoni With Smoky Bread Crumbs
An updated take on classic bolognese, this rigatoni pairs chorizo and breadcrumbs with shards of creamy manchego cheese.
Get the recipe for Chickpea and Kale Rigatoni With Smoky Bread Crumbs »
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- 40/65
Instant Pot Risotto With Parmesan
Stop fretting over a hot stove and trying to avoid messing up a creamy base; simply tap your Instant Pot to do the heavy lifting. This luxe risotto is ready in 30 minutes flat.
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Sweet and Sticky Tofu With Baby Bok Choy
Crispy tofu and udon noodles are tossed together in a sticky sweet sauce with soy sauce, sugar, pepper and cornstarch.
Get the recipe for Sweet and Sticky Tofu with Baby Bok Choy »
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- 43/65
Pork Chops With Balsamic-Braised Cabbage and Apples
You'll love how sliced apples seemingly melt into this bed of massaged cabbage, all dressed in a delicious pan sauce.
Get the recipe for Pork Chops with Balsamic-Braised Cabbage and Apples »
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Mac 'n' Cheese With Crispy Bacon and Sweet Potatoes
Savory bacon and sticky sweet potatoes come together as a creamy duo in this uber satisfying macaroni and cheese recipe.
Get the recipe for Shortcut Mac 'n' Cheese with Crispy Bacon and Sweet Potatoes »
- 45/65
Tuscan Veggie Stew
Can't bear to part with a loaf of stale bread? This stew breathes new life into bread as well as hearty beans.
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- 47/65
Quick Pork Ragu with Ravioli
Dress up store-bought cheese ravioli with a quick-fire ragu that's ready in just 15 minutes.
- 48/65
Crispy Tofu Bowl
There are so many crunchy layers to this dish, including nutty quinoa and cashews and water-packed cucumbers. The crispy crunch of fried tofu is just an added bonus.
Get the recipe for Crispy Tofu Bowl »
RELATED: 38 Easy Tofu Recipes That Vegetarians and Meat Eaters Can Both Love
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- 49/65
White Bean and Tuna Salad With Basil Vinaigrette
Parlay a can of tuna into a super zesty bean salad with plenty of green beans and toothy white beans.
Get the recipe for White Bean and Tuna Salad With Basil Vinaigrette »
- 50/65
Quick Sautéed Cuban Beef
The secret to getting big flavor into another 20-minute dish? A good helping of nice, briny olives.
- 51/65
Spring Chicken and Biscuits
This flavorful stew-like dish is a low-effort interpretation of a pot pie thanks to the sub of a pie crust with hearty biscuits instead.
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- 52/65
Soy-Glazed Cod and Bok Choy
Tender cod fillets can be broiled to perfection in just seven minutes. But you'll be amazed by this sweet glaze that comes together in 60 seconds (thanks to your microwave!).
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Grilled Chicken With Coconut-Lime Slaw
Coconut milk, freshly squeezed lime juice and sugar come together to make a superfast base for a light slaw you'll love year round.
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Lemony Salmon Piccata
You may fall even more in love with this Italian classic when you swap chicken for tender salmon fillets.
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- 55/65
Bacon Chicken Cutlets With Sweet Potato Mash
Shake things up by reimagining a classic chicken breast dinner with a flavorful side of sweet potatoes in place of regular spuds.
Get the recipe for Bacon Chicken Cutlets with Sweet Potato Mash »
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Philly Cheesesteak
Who said sandwiches are only good for lunch? This stuffed sub feels like the best of both worlds; a medley of flavors and something fast you can eat with your hands!
- 57/65
Grilled Chicken Wings
Ditching a fryer for the grill can make whipping up a batch of finger-licking-good chicken wings less of a mess — and saves you time, too!
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- 58/65
Roasted Salmon With Crispy Potatoes and Broccoli
A bed of broccoli and potatoes allows the oven's hot air to evenly roast all sides of your salmon fillets (translation: So much faster!).
Get the recipe for Roasted Salmon With Crispy Potatoes and Broccoli »
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Sausage and Broccoli Quinoa Bowl
Who said pasta is the only sidekick for hearty Italian sausage? Try a base of quinoa and crunchy broccoli instead.
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Greek Salad
It's one of the only salads that feel like a complete meal on it's own: A medley of tomatoes and fresh cucumbers alongside creamy feta cheese make this Greek salad feel simply bountiful.
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- 61/65
Fish Packets With Caper Butter and Snap Peas
We love a simple "assembly" dinner: This fish plate comes together by simply throwing in a handful of ingredients into a packet and then into the oven. Voila!
Get the recipe for Fish Packets with Caper Butter and Snap Peas »
- 62/65
Ginger Pork and Cucumber Salad
Picked up a pound of ground pork on sale, but don't want to do meatballs? Grab a few fresh herbs and give this bowl a whirl.
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Pork Chops with Rosemary Truffle Sauce
Pork chops can taste just as decadent as lamb or the finest cut of steak; a 5-minute homemade truffle butter will see to that.
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- 64/65
Swordfish With Summer Salad
Chicken and steak get all of the grilling attention. Change that and give another protein a chance. You won't regret it.
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Grilled Steak Tortilla Salad
Hello, upgraded taco salad! It's all of your favorite bits and pieces of a great taco rolled into a rustic salad plate.
Say hello to your new weeknight heroes. 😍
