Budget dinner recipes

• Turkey sausage and arugula pasta

  This tasty pasta is a complete meal in one dish. Hot Italian turkey sausage gives the pasta big flavour without having to add a ton of pricey spices.

  Get the recipe for turkey sausage and arugula pasta

• Chicken and dumplings

  If chicken soup seems too basic for a one-pot dinner, jazz it up with pillowy dumplings. Inexpensive chicken thighs not only taste better when slow-cooked, they have more flavor than chicken breasts. It’s thick and hearty bowl of happy!

  Get the recipe for chicken and dumplings

• Grilled courgette pizza

  This pizza is made with minimal ingredients to keep it budget friendly. Served with mixed greens and a simple vinaigrette of lemon juice, olive oil, a spoonful of mustard (any kind but 'French's'!), salt and pepper, and this is a satisfying meal.

  Get the recipe for grilled courgette pizza

• Flat roasted chicken

  By roasting it flat, the chicken will cook more evenly and in less time. This version is seasoned simply with lemon, garlic and red pepper flakes. The juicy meat pairs nicely with fresh green beans, dressed in a lemon- and dill-infused vinaigrette.

  Get the recipe for flat roasted chicken

• Savory bread pudding with bacon and greens

  Kids don’t like green vegetables? Bet they like bacon, bread, and creamy goodness -- and when you combine all of them in one luxurious baked dish, no one is going to offer a peep of complaint. Even top-dollar bacon goes a long way in this savory bread pudding. 

  Get the recipe for savory bread pudding with bacon and greens

• Pork chops with apples and baby onions

  Pork pairs perfectly with sweet, carmelised apples and onions for this cheap and tasty dish, add roasted sweet potatoes as the perfect accompaniment to this meal.

  Get the recipe for pork chops with apples and baby onions

• Bibimbap

  This traditional Korean one-pot meal has it all: crisp and cool veg, spicy sauce, a luxurious fried egg and just enough meat to fill you up without overdoing it. Kids and adults will have fun making their own personal bowls with all their favourite fixings.

  Get the recipe for Bibimbap

• Ratatouille pilaf

  Take a mental vacation to the French countryside with tender caramelised vegetables rich with garlic served with healthy brown rice. You’ll think it’s fancy; the rest of the family will be excited for a new kind of dinner.

  Get the recipe for ratatouille pilaf

• Chicken cutlets with spicy garlic kale

  Kale sauteed with a dash of olive oil, garlic and red chilli flakes makes a crispy but still-healthy side for this classic Italian dish. Even better, it’s a one-pan meal when you cook the kale first then pan-fry the chicken in the same pan.

  Get the recipe for chicken cutlets with spicy garlic kale

• Tuna noodle casserole

  Keep the can of tuna but ditch the boxed mix - it’s possible to make tuna casserole at home that brings back all those warm and fuzzy childhood memories without any of the processed preservatives. Start a new set of nostalgic traditions with your family!

  Get the recipe for tuna noodle casserole

• Ham and cheese frittata with green salad

  The ever-versatile frittata saves the day, any time of day: breakfast becomes lunch or dinner when eggs, ham, and cheese get a vegetable-packed green salad (try chickpeas, cucumber, and carrots with a simple vinaigrette) on the side. 

  Get the recipe for ham and cheese frittata with green salad

• Roasted mushroom and lentil soup with crusty bread

  Rich and meaty mushrooms bring a surprising level of depth to this rustic soup. Adding a hearty handful of protein-rich lentils makes it a complete meal without adding anything expensive from the butcher.

  Get the recipe for roasted mushroom and lentil soup with crusty bread

• Easy bistro chicken

  This French classic is perfect for an easy Sunday dinner. Serve the chicken and roasted vegetables with a hearty side of sauteed swiss chard. We like it best cooked quickly in a pan with a small pat of butter, salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon and a dash of red pepper flakes.

  Get the recipe for quick roast chicken and root vegetables served with swiss chard

• Spicy peanut noodles with green beans

  A takeaway is easy, but the price of convenience can be too high. Enter homemade cold peanut noodles, a decadent version of the Chinese food you crave - and it’s closer than a phone call away. Serve with a big bowl of green beans to make it even healthier.

  Get the recipe for spicy peanut noodles with green beans

• Paprika potato frittata

  Egg-based meals are high in protein, but relatively inexpensive. This recipe calls for paprika, which is probably lurking somewhere in your pantry, but you can really spice the egg-and-potato with any herbs or spices that you like. Best served alongside roasted vegetables with a dash of lemon juice and butter.

  Get the recipe for paprika potato frittata

• Florentine ravioli

  Store-bought ravioli becomes a satisfying meal when served on a bed of spinach, add herb-roasted cherry tomatoes for an extra kick. Roasting the tomatoes intensifies their flavour.

  Get the recipe for florentine ravioli

• Speedy 15-Minute beef stroganoff with wilted baby spinach

  Make the most of your money and use stew meat for this creamy favourite. As a side dish, lightly wilt a large bunch of baby spinach in a hot pan with a pat of butter, salt, pepper, a sprinkling of red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice.

  Get the recipe for speedy 15-minute beef stroganoff

• Veggie bean chilli over mashed potatoes

  Slow-simmered vegetables and spices make a simple stew seem complex. Pair the chili with a big bowl of your favourite mashed potatoes made with tangy buttermilk. It’s a filling meat-free dinner.

  Get the recipe for veggie bean Chilli over mashed potatoes

• Pot roast chicken and roasted acorn squash

  This dish is deceptively cheap and easy to make. Try it and it may quickly become a go-to dinner in your home. Acorn squash has a nice, nutty flavour that plays well off of the lemon and thyme-flavoured roast chicken.

  Get the recipe for pot roast chicken and roasted acorn squash

• Quick pork and chilli stew with corn tortillas

  The potatoes in this quick, Tex-Mex-style pork stew are cooked until they are falling apart to add body to the stew. Poblano peppers vary in heat: if you want a stew without any heat, use 2 small green bell peppers in place of the poblanos. Serve with warm corn tortillas.

  Get the recipe for quick pork and chilli stew with corn tortillas

• Next Up: Super-quick main meals

  We know you’ve got a busy schedule, so we’ve compiled this list of tasty, speedy dishes to serve up to friends and family.

See also:

• Super-quick main meals
• 20 delicious dip recipes: cheese, spinach, bean and more!
• 95 healthy snacks under 200 calories