Here are 10 cheap dinner recipes to get dinner on the table fast! Grocery prices are on the rise but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have have an inexpensive but nutritious and tasty home cooked dinner in just minutes! All of these recipes cost less than $5.00 for the entire thing! Yep, I do feed my entire family of 7 using these recipes for less than $5.00 with these recipes from volume 1 of our cookbook.
10 Dinners For $5 – Cheap Dinner Recipes And Ideas
These cheap dinner recipes make it easy to feed your family without spending too much! You can make each recipe for under $5.00, some for significantly under $5.00. Of course, if you want to feed a lot of people or if your family are big eaters, you might want to double or triple these recipes.
One easy way to save money on your food bill is to have a small collection of meals your family likes that you can make over and over again and then occasionally add in something different if you feel extra adventurous. Families actually like the same predictable recipes most of the time so save yourself the trouble and keep a list of your family’s favorites so you don’t have to give it too much thought before getting dinner on the table.
These cheap dinner recipes are family favorites that most families love, so if you’re not sure what your family likes the best, try these out on them and make note of which ones they seem to like best!
You can make this Honey Baked Chicken Recipe in less than 5 minutes for less than $3 for the entire family!This is our family’s favorite and it’s easy to make!It is also one of our readers’ favorite recipes and viewers of our YouTube show are constantly raving about how good it is!
Honey-Baked Chicken Recipe
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No reviews
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
Units
6 chicken fryer pieces
1/3 cup margarine, melted
1/3 cup honey
2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Arrange chicken in a baking dish with the skin side up.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients.
- Pour over chicken.
- Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting every 15 minutes (until chicken is tender and brown).
- Serve with rice. Serves 4-6.
Oven Fried Chicken Recipe with Biscuits
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No reviews
This easy oven fried chicken recipe with biscuits is a super easy way to make yummy fried chicken your family will love! It’s a cheap and easy meal and my teenagers love it so much, they always ask for more!
This recipe is from our Dining On A Dime Cookbook, Volume 2.
- Author: Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
Units
4 –5 Tbsp. margarine (not butter)
1/2 cup baking mix
4–6 pieces of chicken
Salt and pepper
1 can refrigerator biscuits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Melt margarine in a 9×13 inch pan.
- Pour baking mix on a plate or in a plastic bag.
- Roll chicken in the margarine, then into the baking mix.
- Place back into the pan.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, until the juices run clear.
- About 5-10 minutes before the chicken is done, push the pieces of chicken tightly against one side of the pan and lay biscuits into the pan on the opposite side.
- Finish baking until the biscuits are brown.
Notes
It’s okay to lay the biscuits in the margarine and all in the bottom of the pan. That makes the biscuits margarine soaked and crispy. Oh, yum!
Homemade Pizza Recipe
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No reviews
Why spend too much buying pizza out when you can make easy and delicious pizza at home? This homemade pizza recipe is an easy recipe you can make with 5-10 minutes work that your family will love!
- Yield: 2 medium pizzas
Ingredients
Units
1 cup warm water (about 120°)
1 pkg. or 1 Tbsp. yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. oil (olive oil is best, but you can use vegetable oil)
2 1/2 – 3 cups flour
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in a bowl with warm water.
- Add sugar, salt, oil and spices (see below).
- Mix well.
- Gradually add flour to form stiff dough.
- Knead on a floured surface until smooth.
- Place in a greased bowl.
- Turn dough over to grease both sides.
- Cover and let rise until doubled. Makes 2 medium pizzas.
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Add desired toppings to the pizza crust.
- Top with mozzarella cheese or the cheese of your choice.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is brown.
Optional Spices to add to dough:
2 tsp. garlic, crushed
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
For more easy pizza ideas, including ways to make the dough faster, lists of suggested toppings and delicious recipe variations, check out our Homemade Pizza recipe post here.
For more cheap dinner recipes your family is sure to love, check out our cookbooks!
You can make EASY and delicious meals at home in less time than eating out! You’ll save a ton of money on food and your family will thank you!
Click here to get our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks 25% Off NOW! They’re filled with tasty recipes and tips to make your life easier!
Maple Glazed Chicken Recipe
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5 from 1 review
Ingredients
1/4 cup maple syrup
4 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine
Salt and pepper (to taste)
4 pieces chicken
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°.
- Mix maple syrup, lemon juice and butter together in a small saucepan.
- Simmer 5 minutes.
- Spray a baking dish.
- Place chicken in the dish.
- Add salt and pepper to the chicken.
- Bake 10 minutes.
- Remove chicken from oven and pour on glaze.
- Bake 15 minutes more or until juices run clear.
Sour Cream Enchiladas Recipe
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No reviews
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
Units
1 can enchilada sauce
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
12 corn tortillas
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 pan (or one slightly smaller) with cooking spray.
- Place a tablespoon of sour cream and a tablespoon of cheese in the center of each tortilla.
- Roll up each one and place in the pan.
- Pour enchilada sauce over it all.
- Spread remaining sour cream and cheese on top.
- Cover and bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes or 250° for 45-60 minutes.
This recipe serves about 4. If you have hearty eaters, you may want to double it.
Notes
You can make this in the morning and let it sit until you are ready to cook it. Some people like to include cooked hamburger, onions, chicken or green chiles along with the sour cream and cheese.
Easy Beef Stroganoff Recipe
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4.3 from 3 reviews
- Author: Tawra Kellam
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
1/2–1 lb. round steak or leftover roast chopped
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 cup sour cream or yogurt
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
2–3 cups rice or egg noodles, cooked
1 Tbsp. catsup
1 tsp. onion salt
1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Cut round steak into small bite-sized pieces.
- Brown on medium-high in a large skillet for 5-10 minutes (until cooked through).
- Add the rest of the ingredients.
- Blend well.
- Cook only until heated through.
- Serve over rice or egg noodles.
If you are a chili connoisseur this quick and easy chili recipe may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this chili recipe may be be a life saver. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.
Quick And Easy Chili Recipe
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4.5 from 2 reviews
Ingredients
Units
3 small cans tomato soup*
3 soup cans of water
1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger
Chili powder, to taste
Garlic powder and onion powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Put everything into a large pan.
- Simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible.
I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions.
You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.
*I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!
Chicken Supreme Casserole Recipe
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No reviews
This easy chicken supreme casserole recipe is a super delicious casserole your family will love! It only takes 5 minutes to prepare and is perfect for families and get-togethers. It’s a perfect way to use leftover chicken or turkey!
Ingredients
Units
Casserole Ingredients
1 cup boxed stuffing (uncooked)
1 (16 oz.) pkg. frozen green beans, thawed
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 cups chicken or turkey, cooked and cubed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
Topping Ingredients
1 cup stuffing mix (uncooked)
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- In a greased 2 quart baking dish, layer all of the casserole ingredients in the order given.
- Mix the topping ingredients and pour over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
Sheala’s Easy Ham and Noodles Recipe
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No reviews
This easy ham and noodles casserole recipe is quick and easy and kids love it! Just 5 minutes preparation to a tasty meal without a lot of work!
- Author: Sheala Cooper
Ingredients
Units
1 (8 oz.) pkg. egg noodles or pasta, cooked
1/2 lb. ham, chopped
1(10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix the first three ingredients together in a casserole dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until warmed.
- Top with cheese.
- Bake an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
You may add 1 package of any vegetable.
Hamburger Casserole Recipe
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No reviews
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
Units
1/2 lb. ground beef, browned
6 cups macaroni, cooked
2 cups American cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
Instructions
- In a casserole dish, mix browned ground beef with macaroni, tomato sauce and seasonings.
- Add cheese.
- Stir.
- Heat in oven* at 350° for 20 minutes. Serves 4.
Notes
*When I am in a hurry, I drain the macaroni. Then I add the rest of the ingredients and cheese into the same pan I cooked the macaroni in. I then stir until the cheese is melted.
From A Reader:
Here is an easy adaptation of your Hamburger Casserole recipe:
Brown 1 lb. hamburger, drain grease
Prepare 1 box mac n’ cheese
When mac n’ cheese is done, add the browned hamburger, a can of drained corn, and a can of tomato sauce. Yummy, kids LOVE it, and so do husbands!! :)
Enjoy your day, Jen V. in Wisconsin
For more easy and cheap dinner recipes, check out some of these favorite posts:
7 Dinners That Take 10 Minutes – Easy Dinner Recipes For Family Meals
5 Easy Chicken Recipes And Meal Plans For $5 Or LESS!
Hamburger Casserole Recipes For Quick And Easy Meals!
10 Easy Crockpot Recipes and Tips
Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Recipes – 4 Meals From 1 Chicken!
