51 Cheap Meals to Survive Tough Times

Are you looking for some delicious cheap meals to feed your family? You are not alone. With current food prices soaring, many people are looking for inexpensive meal ideas to reduce their grocery bills.    

Saving money on your food bill isn’t only crucial during tough times. You see, spending less on groceries for the long term will help you live below your means to reach your financial goals more quickly.  

So here is an extensive list of budget meals to help you reduce your grocery bill. You will find plenty of healthy recipes and easy recipes for the picky eaters in your family. In addition, many of these dinner ideas cost around $2 per person. Enjoy!

Tips to Reduce Food Costs to Prepare Cheap Meals

Once you figure out how to save money on food to make cheap meals for your family, you will be on your way to staying under your food budget. So let’s first discuss some ways you can reduce your monthly food costs.

Meal Plan

The number one way to save money on food and prepare cheap meals for your family is to meal plan. When you make and stick to a meal plan, you avoid eating out, but you can also be strategic with the food you buy at the store. Need help getting started? Check out my guide on how to make a weekly meal plan with grocery list. And if you’re shopping for one person, here’s my complete grocery list on a budget for 1 with real Aldi prices. Plus, I’ve created a $57/week meal plan for singles using actual 2026 USDA prices - no more fantasy $20/week plans.  

Planning meals that use some of the same ingredients will help keep your grocery bill down and help you to keep the total cost of each meal down. When you have to buy completely different ingredients for each meal, your grocery bill increases, as does the total cost of each meal.   

It takes practice to be strategic with your meal plan. But once you know your family’s favorite meals that use similar ingredients, planning them for the same week will be easy.  

If you need help with meal planning, you can download this free meal planner to get started. Here’s a preview:

This free Meal Planning Guide includes everything you need to make your meal plan.

Helpful Tip: If you hate meal planning or have tried it and can’t figure out a system that works for you, you should look at $5 Meal Plan.

$5 Meal Plan is a meal plan service that sends you weekly meal plans right to your inbox and the grocery list for the meal plan already done for you!  

All you have to do is check off what you already have and head to the grocery store to get the rest.

Most of the meals work out to be around $2 per person. And it’s only $5 a month!  

So if you would like to check it out, they have a free 14-day trial you can sign up for here.

Use Ibotta

Ibotta is a cash-back app for groceries that is free to download and use. You can use it at many different stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Whole Foods, Kroger, and more. Ibotta is amazing for saving money on food so you can prepare cheap meals for your family.

You add the grocery offer to your account in the Ibotta app, take a picture of your receipt, and they deposit the money into your Ibotta account.  

Ibotta can also be used with Walmart Grocery Pickup, even though you don’t get a receipt with Grocery Pickup. That’s how we use it the most.  

Before starting your grocery order on Walmart, you click on Walmart through the Ibotta app. Then, it redirects you, and you start your shopping.  

Once you pick up your groceries, the money gets deposited into your Ibotta account.  

If you don’t have Ibotta yet, you can sign up here.

By signing up through my link, you can receive up to $20 in welcome bonuses!  

Also, if you use your laptop or desktop, Ibotta has a browser extension you can use instead of an app on your phone.  

Buy Groceries Online

Buying groceries online is a great way to control your food costs. You can quickly and easily compare prices when shopping online. In addition, you can add or remove items from your cart and know precisely what your total will be to ensure your grocery bill is within your budget.

Shop at Discount Grocery Stores

You will find many items at rock-bottom prices at discount grocery stores like Aldi or Lidl. And what can you make with cheap food? Cheap meals, of course! If you have not tried shopping at a discount grocery store, it’s worth a try if you want to save money on food.  

Buy in Bulk

Look for sales on bulk food to reduce your food costs. But be sure you check the unit price to ensure the bulk price is lower than it would be individually. Look for sales on large quantities of meat to divide up into family-sized portions and freeze for future use. Consider joining a wholesale club, like Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s, to stock up on the bulk food items you need.  

Avoid Food Waste

Americans throw away about one-third of the food they purchase every year. So a family that spends $500 a month on food wastes around $165. Here are several ways to avoid wasting your money on food:

• Use up or freeze leftover food
• Only buy what you will use
• Store food appropriately
• Check for “Use by” dates before you purchase the food
• Meal plan
• Only purchase the items on your list

Let’s get started with 51 cheap dinner ideas for your family.

Photo Credit: Spend With Pennies (Chili Mac Skillet)

Cheap Meals for a Family

Weeknight meals can be challenging, especially if you have a busy, active family. So here are dinner ideas that use many family favorites, like chicken, beef, pasta, and rice.

1. Turkey and Black Bean Tacos

This quick and easy taco recipe is perfect for busy weeknights! Ideal for those who love to meal prep for work too.

2. Chili Mac Skillet

Supper never fails to satisfy when you serve this Chili Mac Skillet. This cheesy, meaty meal combines ground beef, macaroni, and cheddar cheese in a thick tomato sauce enriched with beef broth.

3. Veggie Fried Rice

Veggie fried rice uses rice, eggs, and any leftover vegetables you have, making it affordable and efficient. It’s an excellent way of getting children to enjoy vegetables and isn’t hard to prepare.

4. 15 Bean Soup

15 Bean Soup is a budget-friendly recipe everyone will love! It’s high in protein, delicious, & easily made in the slow cooker, instant pot, or stove for under $1 per serving.

5. Cheese Ramen

This cheese ramen is ready in just 5 minutes, perfect for a quick and easy meal. It uses four simple ingredients and is hearty, filling, and delicious. Both adults and kids will enjoy this.

6. Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Shells

These Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Shells are a delicious meatless dinner the entire family will love. This cheesy but low-calorie pasta dish freezes beautifully for an easy make-ahead meal.

7. Cheez-It Crusted Chicken Tenders

Cheez-It Crusted Chicken Tenders are full of easy, cheesy goodness! This recipe has few ingredients and is easy to make in the air fryer!

8. Leftover Rice Casserole

This leftover rice casserole is perfect for saving you money and time. It’s creamy, cheesy, and so delicious!

9. Orange Ginger Chicken

This Orange Ginger Chicken recipe takes a whole chicken and some oranges and, with a few simple steps, transforms it into a lovely roast dinner, complete with the most flavorful sauce. Sweet and savory with a little bit of ginger spice!

10. 20-Minute Homemade Hamburger Helper

This healthier take on the American classic boxed favorite has less sodium and preservatives than the traditional boxed version. Ground beef, American cheese, and seasonings add flavor to this recipe.

11. Simple Chicken Parm Stuffed Peppers

These Chicken Parm Stuffed Peppers will make a filling weeknight dinner for your family with only five ingredients. Full of orzo, ground chicken, and topped with mozzarella, these stuffed peppers are sure to please!

12. Homemade Vegetable Soup

Parents and kids both love this family dinner. You can use your favorite combo of canned and fresh veggies or whatever you have on hand. It’s an inexpensive way to make a big hearty, nutritious dinner too!

13. Hamburger Stew with Rice

This Hamburger Stew with Rice is an easy, budget-friendly dinner option with simple ingredients. A wholesome, family-friendly meal that is guaranteed to satisfy!

14. Sausage and Cajun Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner

This sausage and cajun sweet potato sheet pan recipe is easy and on the table in 25 minutes. It’s delicious as a weeknight dinner, or you can do your lunch prep for an entire week. You can customize the cajun spice to mild or spicy.

15. Dutch Oven Chicken Breast and Vegetables

This dutch oven chicken breast recipe is juicy, simple, and creamy. So grab some boneless chicken breast and make this one-pot dinner!

16. Pasta e Fagioli aka Pasta and Beans

This pasta and beans meal ticks all the boxes! It’s delicious, quick, easy to make, nutritious, and inexpensive! Kids love it, too!

17. Garlic Chili Oil Noodles with Cilantro

These Garlic Chili Oil Noodles come together in just 15 minutes and are easy, simple, and delicious! Top the noodles with a generous amount of chopped cilantro for a fresh and tasty meal!

18. Baked Walking Taco Recipe with Enchilada Sauce

This Baked Walking Taco Casserole is a straightforward one-pot Mexican dinner idea. The casserole is loaded with flavor from the taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. And the best part is all of the Fritos and melted cheese on top. So good!

19. 5 Ingredient Easy Chicken Curry Without Coconut Milk

This chicken curry is the best Indian curry without coconut milk, cream, or even tomatoes. This low-calorie curry is made with just five simple ingredients and cooked within 30 minutes. An easy healthy chicken gravy that even beginners can cook!

20. Simple Potato Soup with Chicken Broth

This Potato Soup with chicken broth can be your go-to dish when you need a low-budget comfort meal. It’s creamy, savory, and better than any lavish meal around!

21. Weeknight Easy Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs

This chicken thigh recipe for perfectly pan-seared, bone-in, skin-on thighs is always a hit for inexpensive and delicious meals.

22. Rosemary Chicken and White Bean Soup

Why not combine both when you can’t decide between garlic rosemary white bean soup and classic chicken soup? Rosemary Chicken & White Bean Soup is the perfect comfort food on a chilly spring day.

23. Pumpkin Curry

Warm yourself up with this delicious pumpkin curry! You’ll love how this recipe combines veggies, coconut milk, and curry spices into a hearty meal.

24. Mushroom Aglio Olio

This mushroom Aglio olio is a quick, easy, and budget-friendly dinner. With just six ingredients, it’s on the table in twenty minutes.

25. Super Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet

This easy skillet ground beef and rice recipe is simple but delicious! It’s a weeknight meal the whole family will love!

26. Fasolakia (Greek Green Beans and Potatoes)

Hearty and healthy Fasolakia is a Greek green bean and potato dish that is easy to make and served hot or cold.

27. Butter Spaghetti

This quick and easy Butter Spaghetti recipe is deliciously addicting yet made with only four simple, inexpensive ingredients- noodles, butter, parmesan cheese, and pepper. Ready to serve in under 20 minutes!

28. Tuna Noodle Casserole

This delicious recipe for tuna noodle casserole is a cheap and easy dinner for a frugal family on a budget. It’s a quick, affordable meal when you live on a tight budget and tastes great! It also makes an excellent make-ahead freezer meal recipe for a new mom or busy weeknights.

29. Keto Meatloaf Recipe Without Bread Crumbs

This delicious low-carb, keto meatloaf recipe is the perfect comfort food and it is easy to make! It’s tender, juicy, and delicious, and it only takes eight ingredients and 5 minutes to prep!

30. Million Dollar Meatball Casserole

This easy million-dollar meatball casserole recipe tastes like a million dollars but costs less than $12. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

31. Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

This slow cooker recipe is delicious. It’s not only wholesome but easy to prepare. A vegan twist on this classic comfort food makes a healthy dinner loaded with nutrients and bursting with flavor!

32. Crockpot Chicken Potato Chowder

This cheesy chicken soup leans on leftover rotisserie chicken and inexpensive vegetables like potatoes, onions, and carrots for a budget soup your whole family will love. Plus, if you have leftovers, no one will complain about them!

33. Slow Cooker Corned Beef HotPot

Take a trip to Northumberland, England, with this delicious corned beef hotpot cooked in the slow cooker. Loaded with tinned corned beef, baked beans, potatoes, carrots, and onion, then topped with sliced potatoes.

34. Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

This instant pot vegetable beef soup is a delicious healthy soup recipe. This one-pot meal is packed with savory flavor and is ready in 30 minutes!

Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon (Asian Garlic Noodles)

Cheap Vegan Meals

35. 20-Minute Easy Vegan Chili

An inexpensive, delicious & healthy one-pot vegan recipe that will be ready to eat in less than 20 minutes! This flavorful hearty chili is the perfect meal for a camp-out or when you’re hungry & need something quick to fill your belly and warm your soul.

36. Black Beans Recipe

This easy, from-scratch and economical Black Beans recipe combines bold flavors like onion, garlic, and cumin with beans and transforms them into something special. Two pantry-staple SECRET ingredients are added at the end to create a wonderfully balanced flavor profile!

37. Black Bean Lentil Burger

This carnivore-approved black bean lentil burger recipe is hearty, crowd-pleasing, and easy to make in under 30 minutes. Try them for a budget-friendly family meal!

38. Dal Palak (Spinach Dal)

Dal Palak (or Spinach Dal) is a comforting and delicious Indian curry made with red lentils, spinach, and spices. This super healthy & nutritious dish is the perfect weekday meal and the perfect comfort food for cold winter nights. 

39. Creamy Tahini Pasta

This creamy tahini pasta is full of flavor and an easy weeknight dinner for kids and adults alike. A budget-friendly meal with minimal ingredients, and many of them pantry staples.

40. Dry Moong Dal

This dry moong dal recipe is nutritious, flavorful, and easy on the stomach. It is made with a few readily available ingredients and comes together very quickly.

41. Healthy Cauliflower Fried Rice

Cauliflower Fried Rice is a tasty low-carb stir fry your kids will think is authentic fried rice. So skip the Chinese takeout and have a healthy dinner in 15 minutes!

42. Asian Garlic Noodles

Asian Garlic Noodles are a quick and easy 20-minute noodle stir-fry using noodles in a delicious sauce made with garlic, butter, soy sauce, and parmesan cheese. Perfect for anyone who loves garlic!

43. Air Fryer Veggie Chickpea Burger

These super easy and flavourful chickpea burgers will be your go-to weeknight meal. They take less than 30 minutes to prepare.

44. Easy Eggplant Penne

This eggplant penne is the winner if you’re hunting for some easy vegan, family-friendly meals! It’s a super easy eggplant penne recipe that ticks all the boxes!

45. Black Bean Veggie Enchilada Rotini One-Pot Pasta

With a hearty, robust sauce, lots of veggies, and black beans, Black Bean Veggie Enchilada Rotini One-Pot Pasta is a delightful recipe for sharing.

46. Cabbage Soup

This Cabbage Soup is the perfect hearty meal for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays. It’s easy to make, budget-friendly, and so tasty!

47. Black Bean Curry

Here’s a recipe for a delicious black bean curry simmered in coconut milk and spices that will make your dinner time enjoyable!

48. Easy Stir Fry Bok Choy

Easy stir fry bok choy with mushroom oyster sauce is a delicious yet straightforward recipe to prepare. It’s rich in nutrients, high in fiber, and loaded with vitamins.

49. Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipes

Generally speaking, crockpot cooking is cheap, convenient, and easy to do for large families and crowds. And among the variety of creations you can make in them, crockpots are also great for vegetarian recipes, which are very budget-friendly! Check out these 6 vegan recipes.

50. Instant Pot Lentils and Rice

Lentils & Rice (Mujadara) is a healthy vegan meal. Lentils and rice cooked with fragrant spices and topped with caramelized onions. You will love this one-pot version, where you don’t have to cook lentils and rice separately. This vegan, gluten-free dish is also budget-friendly and nutritious.

51. Savory Lentil Soup (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Recipe)

This lentil soup is simple to cook in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. It’s a perfect clean-out-the-fridge meal and costs only 50 cents a bowl.

Final Thoughts on Cheap Meals for Your Family

Even with a growing family, controlling your grocery bill is doable. Keep a list of your family’s favorite budget recipes handy to refer to when filling in your meal plan for the week. Use easy recipes to help you stick to your meal plan. Remember, good food doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. Keep your recipes wholesome and simple to feed your family healthy meals they will love.