25 Cheap Easy Dinner Ideas

25 Cheap Easy Dinner Ideas – Quick and super simple recipes for family dinners and meals on a budget – with video.

Cheap Easy Dinner Ideas

These cheap easy dinner ideas are simple meals that the whole family will enjoy, without blowing the budget.

All of the easy meals consist of simple ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store.

You can choose from easy chicken recipes, vegetarian recipes and a range of delicious recipes with all kinds of cheap ingredients that are all approved by my house of picky eaters.

1. Best Ever Chicken Bake

I’m starting with the recipe that my entire family requests most often – my best ever chicken bake which is an easy meal of chicken drumsticks cooked in a tasty sauce made of just tomato sauce or marinara sauce, garlic, salt, pepper and topped with grated cheese or parmesan cheese for a crisp topping.

You can swap the chicken for chicken breast or your favorite chicken piece or pieces of choice.

2. Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs

This honey roasted chicken thighs recipe is full of comfort foods with chicken thighs cooked in a flavorful sauce of honey, garlic, ginger and tamari or soy sauce.

3. Smoky Paprika Chicken Tray Bake

This smoky paprika chicken tray bake is an easy recipe that combines together chicken, paprika and a selection of vegetables. I chose onion, garlic, radish and bell peppers.

The quick dinner is baked in one tray or roasting dish to make washing up a breeze.

4. Yogurt Roasted Chicken

Another firm family favorite for easy weeknight dinners is this tasty yogurt roasted chicken.

A whole chicken is simply marinated in salt and yogurt then roasted to become crisp on the outside and perfectly tender within.

5. Chicken Soup

You can use leftover chicken from any of the above meals, buy chicken especially for use in soup or use leftover rotisserie chicken to make a nourishing meal of chicken soup or chicken broth.

I particularly like to make chicken soup with drumsticks for the flavor and how budget friendly the meal is.

You can cook the soup over the weekend when you have time, then reheat the soup the next day or through the week when you want a speedy, warming comfort food meal.

6. Egg Roll In A Bowl

When you’re looking for cheap dinner ideas you can’t go past egg roll in a bowl which is always welcome on the dinner table.

Ground Beef Mince is browned in sesame oil, then shredded cabbage is added, along with garlic and tamari or soy sauce and cooked until reduced and sublimely flavorful.

7. Easy Moussaka Recipe

This easy moussaka recipe comes together in just one pan and is an easy way to enjoy the flavors of a moussaka with very little effort.

Ground beef is cooked in a tomato sauce, along with chopped eggplant and then topped with plenty of crumbled feta cheese.

8. Spaghetti Bolognese

This easy spaghetti bolognese has just 3 ingredients and is quick to prepare. (And enjoy!)

The three ingredient, basic recipe includes only ground beef, pasta sauce and spaghetti. You could use zucchini noodles or cabbage noodles for a low carb friendly comfort food meal.

You can go beyond the three ingredients if you want to and include as many of the following keto friendly foods in your dish as you’d like:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Grated cheese
• Parmesan

9. Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage

The recipe for this Authentic Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage was given to me by a local butcher shortly after I moved to Ireland. (A little over 4 years ago – time has flown by scarily fast!)

The tender beef is perfectly balanced by the buttery cabbage and the warming dish is a winter staple for us.

10. Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie are tasty options for easy dinners. There are plenty of variations, with beef mince, lamb mince or even ground chicken cooked into the base and potatoes or sweet potatoes as the creamy topping.

My go to version is this easy sweet potato shepherd’s pie that consists of lamb mince cooked with onion, garlic, leeks and carrots in a flavorful broth and topped with a creamy sweet potato topping.

11. Irish Lamb Stew

Irish Lamb Stew is another traditional favorite Irish meal that we’ve enjoyed time and time again since moving here.

It’s the perfect meal to keep your grocery bill down because only budget friendly ingredients are used to create a hearty, tasty meal.

12. Easy Sausage Casserole

There are only 4 ingredients in this easily adaptable sausage casserole that’s full of so much flavor while being frugal friendly.

You can include any sausages and vegetables you like in this good option that’s perfect for busy families.

You get to enjoy the flavors of a casserole that’s ready in a short time rather than having to wait hours for a traditional stew or casserole to cook.

13. Tuna Noodle Casserole

Cans of tuna come in handy for a variety of cheap easy dinner ideas, in this case mixed with cabbage noodles to create a cheesy low carb version of tuna noodle casserole.

14. 2 Minute Zoodles

A quick, budget friendly meal is 2 minute zoodles, which combines together zucchini noodles in a creamy, cheesy tuna infused sauce which takes mere minutes to prepare.

You could of course swap the zucchini noodles for ramen noodles, rice noodles or any other noodles or pasta you usually include in your diet.

15. Tuna Cauliflower Casserole

Another quick, easy and great meal with tuna is a cheesy tuna cauliflower casserole that has only 5 ingredients – cauliflower, tuna, cream, sour cream and grated cheese.

16. Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

This cheesy green bean casserole is full of flavor and makes a simple meal without meat.

17. Risotto

You can enjoy a traditional risotto with mushrooms or pumpkin, Mexican rice or a low carb friendly, super speedy cauliflower rice risotto as a tasty dish that’s cheap to make.

18. Broccoli Cheese Soup

This is the best broccoli cheese soup, it’s loaded with nutritious broccoli and flavorful ingredients to create a creamy, cheesy soup meal that you can prepare over the weekend to heat through the week when you need a speedy meal.

19. Oxtail Soup

This hearty oxtail soup makes a meaty, comfort food meal that’s budget friendly while being full of rich flavor and is always a favorite with my whole family.

20. 7 Layer Salad

A make ahead salad, like this 7 layer salad, is the easiest way to eat a healthy dinner on busy weeknights, because you can prep your meal whenever you have the time and then dinner will be ready and waiting in the fridge for you.

21. Broccoli Salad

This cheesy broccoli salad is low carb, keto friendly and a great way to enjoy budget friendly broccoli in a no cook dinner.

22. Broccoli Quiche

Another brilliant broccoli dinner is this broccoli quiche that you can enjoy warmed from the oven or make ahead and enjoy chilled from the fridge.

23. Breakfast Casserole

We love having breakfast for dinner and this breakfast casserole is the perfect example of breakfast foods that make a perfectly balanced dinner.

This meal bakes together protein rich eggs with nutritious spinach, onion and garlic, along with plenty of flavorful feta.

24. Omelette

A pizza omelette makes another breakfast for dinner option that you can fill with your favorite fillings to enjoy a tasty pizza experience with very little effort.

You could of course make an omelette and fill it with only plenty of grated cheddar cheese or even make a three cheese omelette and have a side salad for an easy clean up, quick dinner meal.

25. Cheesy Fried Eggs

And yet another breakfast for dinner cheap meals is cheesy fried eggs which you make by cooking grated cheese in a frying pan, cracking a couple of eggs over and cooking until you have the crispiest, cheesiest eggs imaginable.

Serve with a side of nutritious spinach and you have a balanced, almost instant breakfast for dinner meal.

Easy Dinner Recipes Video

Here’s the video where you can watch some of the cheap dinners being prepared, step by step. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.

More Budget Meal Prep Inspiration

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The post 25 Cheap Easy Dinner Ideas appeared first on Yummy Inspirations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main Flavours of Thai Cooking?

Thai cuisine includes several distinct regional cuisines. These include Northern Thai food, Central Thai food, Southern Thai food, Eastern Thai food, Western Thai food, and Northeastern Thai. Each region is unique in its flavour profiles.

Thai food has many common flavors, including sweet, salty.

Thais appreciate sweetness. It makes Thai food taste better. Thai cuisine has a lot of sweet ingredients such as coconut milk and palm sugar (gula Melaka).

Thailand is also known for its sourness. Sour foods are often served alongside hot dishes. This combination helps balance out the heat.

Thai food also includes spicy food. Thai cuisine is rich in spices like galangal, ginger root and chilli pepper.

Is garlic used in Thai cooking?

Garlic is an ingredient used in Thai cuisine. Garlic is used in Thai cuisine as an ingredient in salads, soups and stir-fries.

Thai garlic is chopped and fried together with ginger, shallots and other spices. Additionally, garlic is often eaten with sticky Rice.

Garlic is best chopped finely and mixed with oil, chilli paste, fish sauce, lime juice and oil. This mixture is called Nam Phrik (namphrik). Nam phrik often comes with grilled chicken breast or beef.

What is the importance of spices?

A spice is a seasoning that is used to enhance the flavor of food. There are many types of spices, including powders, liquids and oils. They are also known for their versatility and ability to be used as flavours and condiments.

A great way to spice up your meals is to add some variety. You can spice up dishes with many different spices for more flavor and excitement.

It may be that adding a few drops to your bowl of soup makes it more flavorful. You could also add a few cayenne peppers to a cup of rice.

Fresh ingredients are the best option to spice up your recipes. Organic herbs are better than dried herbs. Fresh herbs can last for longer than dried.

There are certain spices that are essential for cooking. But there are also some you might want to avoid. Cinnamon sticks have high levels of coumarin. They should not be consumed if you have had liver disease in the past. Ginger also has coumarin, although it's less concentrated. It's safe for those without any history of liver problems.

What are the ten best-loved spices?

Spices are used in flavoring food and drinks. Some spices are more well-known than others. There are hundreds more varieties of spices. Let's examine the ten most famous spices and learn why they're so beloved.

Spice is essential in cooking because it adds flavour and aroma without adding calories. Many spices also contain essential vitamins and minerals, which help keep our bodies healthy.

Here are the top ten most-loved spices.

1. Cinnamon – This spice is well-known for its ability to improve digestion and lower cholesterol. It prevents the flu and colds.
2. Garlic - This spice is known to boost immunity and fight infections. It helps lower blood pressure and aids digestion.
3. Oregano is a spice that boosts energy and increases athletic performance. It fights infection and improves memory.
4. Black pepper - This spice is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to reduce stress and heart diseases.
5. Basil-Basil is rich in vitamin K, calcium and iron. It also helps fight cancer cells and boosts metabolism.
6. Vinegar and Salt - These two ingredients create a delicious mixture. Both vinegar and salt can be used to fight viruses and bacteria.
7. Cloves- Clove oil - This natural remedy is great for sore throats, toothaches, and even sore throats. It also helps with muscle spasms.
8. Ginger – Ginger has been shown during pregnancy to alleviate nausea and morning sickiness. It is also known to clear congestion.
9. Curry Powder - Curries have been around since ancient times. They were made originally with coconut milk. We now use other oils or base oils like ghee.
10. Turmeric is one of the oldest and most important medicinal herbs.

So next time you want to add flavour to your meals, try using one of these ten popular spices instead of salt. You may be amazed at the results!

What Thai spice is needed to make Thai food at my home?

You will need to know five key spices in order to make authentic Thai food at your home: cayenne pepper, coriander seeds and turmeric. Each ingredient is unique and plays an integral role in the creation of delicious dishes.

Black pepper enhances the savoury flavors of curry powder, while cinnamon gives it sweetness. Coriander seeds add a spicy kick, while turmeric gives curry powder its signature yellow colour. Cayenne peppers provide heat and cilantro provides freshness. The final touch is cinnamon which gives depth and complexity to any dish.

You can find each of these spices at your local grocery store, but if you'd instead buy them online, here are our recommendations for where to shop.

Statistics

• Their 14 to 20 percent essential oil content means that cloves have the highest concentration of aroma compounds of any spice. (masterclass.com)
• According to Healthline, pink Himalayan salt is estimated to contain up to 84 minerals and trace elements, which gives the salt its special pink color. (spicecravings.com)
• It has been estimated that around 1,000 tons of pepper and 1,000 tons of other common spices were imported into Western Europe each year during the Late Middle Ages. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Validation and Development of Novel Lifestyle and Dietary Inflammation Scores – PMC


• Molecular mechanisms of curcumins suppressing tumourigenesis, metastasis and angiogenesis - PubMed

penzeys.com

• HomePage

en.wikipedia.org

• Cumin - Wikipedia


• Charlemagne - Wikipedia

healthline.com

• Is Pink Himalayan Salt Better Than Regular Salt?


• 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

How To

How to choose which spices to buy

Knowing how to choose the best herbs and spices for your dishes is essential to being a good cook. There are many options available, so how do you choose which ones to add in your pantry?

When selecting spices, you need to be aware of three key factors: cost, shelf life, flavour, and cost. Depending on whether you are cooking meat, fish, vegetables or pasta, the flavour profiles of spices will vary. Once you have decided on a category you will need to narrow your options based on the differences.

There are many factors that affect shelf life. Some spices can last forever while others go bad quickly. Cayenne pepper, for example, can last years while oregano, on the other hand, loses its potency within two months. Also, the price. Spices are available in a range of prices, from $1 per tablespoon to more expensive than $100 per an ounce. This means you'll need to find a balance between value and quality.

Also, you will need to choose whether organic or non-organic ingredients are more appealing. Organic products use fewer pesticides, chemicals, and other harmful substances than traditional alternatives. This makes them safer for you and the environment. You'll have to balance the benefits and costs of organic products.

Online shopping is the best method to ensure that you get the right spices for the kitchen. Online retailers provide extensive information about each product including reviews, prices, ratings and ratings.

Once you have narrowed your selection, you are able to place an order directly at the retailer. After you have received your items, keep them safe in an airtight container away from heat or light.