Cheap Dinner Ideas
If you’re looking to stretch your hard-earned pennies a little further, then you’re in the right place. These cheap dinner ideas are super easy to make and won’t have you dreading checking your bank balance. Cheap doesn’t mean you have to skimp out on taste though! All these cheap dinner ideas are definitive proof that you don’t have to sacrifice flavour for frugality. I have compiled a list of the best cheap dinner ideas that will keep your family well-fed and your wallets happy.
1. Sloppy Joes
A classic American-style dish that the whole family can get behind. For bonus points, add a splash of spicy chipotle or smoky barbecue sauce to the minced beef filling!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 small red peppers or yellow peppers, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
400g minced beef
2 x 400ml cans chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp chipotle or smoky barbecue sauce
4 cheese slices
6 burger buns
crispy onions, to serve
iceberg lettuce, to serve
Method:
Start by heating the oil in a deep frying pan. Toss in the onion, pepper, and garlic, and fry for 8-10 minutes or until softened. Add in the mince, making sure to break it up with a wooden spoon as you go. Stir until it browns all over. Pour in the tomatoes, sauce of your choice, and some seasoning. Allow to simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is nice and thick.
Place the slices of cheese on top of the mince and cover with a lid for about 2 minutes to allow it to melt into the sauce. Pile this mixture into the buns with the crispy onions, and lettuce on the side for scooping up the extra sauce Enjoy!
2. Peanut Butter Chicken
Your whole family is sure to love this chicken dish which more than deserves a place on this cheap dinner ideas list! Any leftovers freeze well and make a handy lunch!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4
Cheap Dinner Ideas Ingredients:
2 tbsp vegetable oil
8 skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 red chillies, finely sliced (deseeded if you don't like it too hot)
2tsp fresh ginger, grated
2tbsp garam masala
100g smooth peanut butter
400ml coconut milk
400g can chopped tomatoes
coriander, ½ roughly chopped, ½ leaves picked
roasted peanuts, to serve
cooked basmati rice, to serve
Method:
Start by heating up 1 tbsp of oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Chuck in the chicken in batches and cook until golden. Set aside. Add in the onion and cook for 8 minutes until soft and translucent. Then toss in the chilli, garlic, and ginger and fry in 1 tbsp of oil for a further minute. Add the garam masala and fry for 1 more minute.
Next up, mix the peanut butter, coconut milk, and tomatoes together and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pan and add the chopped coriander. Cook for about 30 minutes until the sauce is nice and thick and the chicken is cooked all the way through.
Serve with the remaining coriander, roasted peanuts and rice!
3. Chestnut mushroom, fennel and bacon fusilli
Pasta is the go-to budget-friendly meal option which is what makes it great for cheap dinner ideas. This particular recipe is a tasty way to some of your five-a-day in and it uses ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Cheap Dinner Ideas Ingredients:
50ml olive oil, plus 1 tbsp
2 fennel bulbs, finely sliced
2 onions, finely sliced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced
4 tbsp tomato purée
250g pack streaky bacon, diced
350g fusilli
280g baby chestnut mushrooms, sliced
small pack parsley, roughly chopped, to serve
parmesan, grated, to serve
Method:
Start by adding some salted water to a large saucepan and let it boil. Heat up 1 tbsp of oil in a large pan over medium heat and fry the onion and fennel for about 15 minutes, or until soft. toss in the garlic and chilli, and fry for 1 minute, then add in the tomato purée and stir for a further minute. Throw in the bacon and fry for 5-6 minutes.
In the meantime, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Add in the mushrooms to the frying pan and stir, then cover about 8 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened.
Drain the pasta, adding a ladle of the cooking water to the sauce. Tip in the pasta and stir till fully coated. Add the rest of the oil and sprinkle over the parsley and Parmesan cheese.
4. Spicy sausage & bean one-pot
Cheap dinner ideas don’t get better than this one! With only six ingredients, this saucy, warming casserole is sure to be a hit with the whole family and your bank balance!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Cheap Dinner Ideas Ingredients:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, thickly sliced
8 Cumberland sausages
1 fat garlic clove, crushed
2 x 400g cans kidney beans in chilli sauce
2-3 sprigs curly parsley, chopped
Method:
Begin by heating the vegetable oil in a large frying pan. On medium-high heat, cook the sausages and the onions for 8-10 minutes, making sure to turn the sausages often so they brown on all sides.
Toss in the garlic to the pan along with the kidney beans and their sauce. Fill half of a can with water, give it a quick swirl, then pour this into the pan as well. Stir this all together and bring to a boil. Turn it down slightly until simmering then leave to cook for 10 minutes, or until the sausages are fully cooked. Season and sprinkle with the parsley.
5. Mixed-bean chilli with wedges
To finish off this cheap dinner ideas list, here is a warming bowl of meat-free comfort food. It’s super easy to make and more importantly filling so lots of happy tummies!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4
Cheap Dinner Ideas Ingredients:
4 medium baking potatoes, unpeeled, each cut into 8 wedges
4 tsp olive oil
1 red onion, roughly chopped
1 yellow pepper
1 tbsp Cajun spice mix
2 x 410g/14oz cans mixed pulses in water, rinsed and drained
400g can chopped tomatoes
150ml vegetable stock
1 tbsp dark chocolate, chopped
4 tbsp reduced-fat soured cream
Method:
Start by preheating your oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Throw in the potato wedges in 2 tsp olive oil and spread this out so it forms a single layer on a large baking tray. Cook for about 30-35 minutes, making sure to turn halfway so they are tender and golden brown all over.
In the meantime, put the rest of the oil into the casserole dish and fry the pepper and the onion for around 5 minutes. Toss in the pules, tomatoes, cajun spice, and stock and cover and leave to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Take the casserole off the heat and stir in the chocolate until melted, then ladle the chilli into bowls, topping each one with 1 tbsp of soured cream. Serve with the wedges!
