10 Easy Cheap Dinners for Busy Families

These cheap and easy dinner recipes are perfect for busy weeknights when you need to feed the family without breaking the bank. Below you’ll find everything you need to get dinner on the table fast—no guesswork, just simple ingredients and great flavor.

1. Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

Ingredients

• 14 oz smoked sausage (sliced)

• 2 bell peppers (chopped)

• 1 red onion (chopped)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Place sliced sausage and chopped veggies on a large baking sheet.

3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings.

4. Toss everything together until evenly coated.

5. Bake for 20–25 minutes until veggies are tender and sausage is browned.

Serving Tips

• Serve over white rice or quinoa

• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving

Storage

• Refrigerate up to 4 days

• Reheat in the microwave or a skillet

FAQs

• Can I use turkey sausage? Yes

• Can I add potatoes? Yes, just dice them small so they cook quickly

2. One-Pot Chili Mac

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 box (16 oz) macaroni noodles

• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans (drained)

• 2 cups beef broth

• 1 packet chili seasoning

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot and drain excess grease.

2. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, broth, chili seasoning, and uncooked macaroni.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

4. Cover and simmer for 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.

5. Stir in the cheddar cheese until melted.

Serving Tips

• Top with sour cream and green onions

• Serve with cornbread

Storage

• Refrigerate up to 3 days

• Add a splash of broth when reheating

FAQs

• Can I use ground turkey? Yes

• Can I make it spicy? Add diced jalapeños or hot sauce

3. French Bread Pizzas

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread (cut in half lengthwise)

• 1 jar (14 oz) pizza sauce

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 package sliced pepperoni

• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Place French bread halves on a baking sheet.

3. Sprinkle garlic powder over the bread.

4. Spread pizza sauce evenly across both halves.

5. Top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.

6. Bake for 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and edges are toasted.

Serving Tips

• Let sit for 2 minutes before slicing

• Serve with a side salad

Storage

• Refrigerate up to 3 days

• Reheat in the oven or toaster oven to keep it crispy

FAQs

• Can I freeze these? Yes, freeze before baking and bake from frozen

• Can I add veggies? Yes, finely chopped peppers or onions work great

4. 20-Minute Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked white rice (cold)

• 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)

• 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables

• 3 eggs (beaten)

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp butter or oil

Instructions

1. Heat butter or oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.

2. Scramble the eggs, then push them to the side of the pan.

3. Add the frozen vegetables and cook until warmed through.

4. Stir in the cold rice, chicken, and soy sauce.

5. Fry everything together for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Serving Tips

• Drizzle with yum yum sauce or sriracha

• Garnish with sesame seeds

Storage

• Refrigerate up to 4 days

• Reheat in the microwave or a pan

FAQs

• Why use cold rice? It prevents the fried rice from getting mushy

• Can I use leftover rotisserie chicken? Yes

5. Easy Black Bean Quesadillas

Ingredients

• 8 flour tortillas

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans (rinsed and drained)

• 2 cups Mexican blend cheese

• ½ cup salsa

• 1 tbsp taco seasoning

• Butter or oil for the pan

Instructions

1. Mash the black beans slightly in a bowl and mix with taco seasoning and salsa.

2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a little butter or oil.

3. Place one tortilla in the skillet.

4. Spread the bean mixture on half the tortilla, and top with cheese.

5. Fold the tortilla in half and cook for 2–3 minutes per side until golden.

6. Repeat for remaining tortillas.

Serving Tips

• Cut into wedges

• Serve with guacamole and sour cream

Storage

• Refrigerate for 2 days

• Reheat in a skillet to keep them crispy

FAQs

• Can I add corn? Yes, canned or frozen corn mixes in perfectly

• Make it meaty? Add leftover shredded chicken or beef

6. Baked Ziti Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb ziti pasta

• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

• 1 cup ricotta cheese

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Boil pasta according to package directions, then drain.

3. In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta with marinara sauce and ricotta.

4. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish.

5. Top evenly with mozzarella and parmesan.

6. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serving Tips

• Serve with garlic bread

• Garnish with fresh parsley

Storage

• Refrigerate up to 4 days

• Can be frozen for up to 2 months

FAQs

• Can I add meat? Yes, brown 1 lb of ground beef or sausage and mix it in

• Can I use penne instead? Yes

7. Classic Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• ½ onion (diced)

• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tbsp yellow mustard

• 6 hamburger buns

Instructions

1. Cook the ground beef and diced onion in a skillet until browned. Drain grease.

2. Stir in the tomato sauce, brown sugar, and mustard.

3. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let it thicken for 10 minutes.

4. Spoon the meat mixture generously onto hamburger buns.

Serving Tips

• Toast the buns so they don’t get soggy

• Serve with potato chips or potato salad

Storage

• Store the meat mixture separately from the buns

• Refrigerate up to 4 days

FAQs

• Can I use a canned Sloppy Joe sauce? Yes, for an even faster meal

• Is this freezer-friendly? The meat mixture freezes perfectly

8. Creamy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 large can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes

• 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 8 slices sandwich bread

• 8 slices cheddar or American cheese

• 4 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. In a pot, combine crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, and basil. Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Reduce heat and stir in the heavy cream. Keep warm.

3. Butter one side of each bread slice.

4. Place cheese between two slices of bread (butter side out).

5. Grill sandwiches in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown and cheese is melted.

Serving Tips

• Cut sandwiches diagonally for dipping

• Top soup with croutons

Storage

• Refrigerate soup up to 4 days

• Sandwiches are best eaten fresh

FAQs

• Can I make the soup dairy-free? Skip the cream or use coconut milk

• Can I use fresh tomatoes? Yes, but canned is faster and cheaper

9. Ground Beef Taco Bowls

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 packet taco seasoning

• 3 cups cooked rice

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans (warmed)

• 1 cup shredded lettuce

• 1 cup diced tomatoes

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the grease.

2. Add the taco seasoning and water according to the packet directions. Simmer until thickened.

3. Divide the cooked rice among bowls.

4. Top with the seasoned beef, warm black beans, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Serving Tips

• Let everyone build their own bowl

• Top with crushed tortilla chips for crunch

Storage

• Store ingredients in separate containers

• Refrigerate up to 4 days

FAQs

• Can I use ground chicken? Yes

• Is this good for meal prep? Yes, it holds up great for weekday lunches

10. Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb spaghetti or linguine

• ½ cup butter

• 4 cloves garlic (minced)

• 1 lemon (juiced and zested)

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.

2. In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat.

3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Toss the cooked pasta back into the pot with the lemon juice, lemon zest, and reserved pasta water.

5. Stir in the parmesan cheese until a light sauce forms. Season with salt and pepper.

Serving Tips

• Add red pepper flakes for a kick

• Serve with a side of steamed broccoli or asparagus

Storage

• Refrigerate up to 3 days

• Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of water

FAQs

• Can I add protein? Yes, grilled chicken or shrimp goes perfectly with this

• Can I use bottled lemon juice? Fresh is highly recommended for the best flavor

Final Tip

All these easy family dinners rely on pantry staples and simple cooking methods. To save even more time and money, check your fridge and cabinets before heading to the store—you can easily swap vegetables, cheeses, and meats in almost all of these recipes based on what you already have!