12 Easy Dinners You Can Make for Less Than $15

Pasta is your best friend.

By Anna Doogan March 17, 2022

When you’re looking for easy dinner recipes, you want them to be tasty, budget-friendly and a hit with the kids. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some meals that check all three boxes. Keep reading to see 12 amazing cheap dinner recipes that are big on flavor, but easy on your wallet.

Cacio e Pepe Pasta

This super simple but classic pasta recipe requires about three ingredients and comes together in just a few minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Get the recipe from The View from Great Island.

Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry

If you've already got soy sauce, honey and rice in your pantry, the only supplies you'll need to buy are the chicken thighs and the broccoli. This is an editor favorite, and it comes together in 30 minutes or less. Get the recipe here.

Spinach & Bacon Stuffed Shells

Stuffed shells are always a simple and versatile kid-pleaser. Now try upping the wow factor with the addition of spinach and crumbled bacon. On Sugar Mountain created this recipe that will definitely take your shells up a notch.

Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy

The Magical Slow Cooker: Recipes for Busy Moms

Gravy. Need we say more? Let your slow cooker do the work for you on this weeknight (or any night!) chicken and gravy recipe courtesy of Sarah Olson’s cookbook, The Magical Slow Cooker: Recipes for Busy Moms. Serve it over mashed potatoes or as an open-faced sandwich for the ultimate comfort meal.

Crock Pot Pizza

Kids love pizza. You love your Crock Pot. Mix them together and you’ve got … Crock Pot Pizza. This fun recipe takes the favorite flavors of pizza and puts them over pasta, all with the convenience of tossing everything into a Crock Pot. The next time you want to change up the recipe routine, give this one a try! Click here to get the recipe.

Slow Cooker Lentil Sausage Soup

You’ll love all the color in this flavorful lentil and sausage soup, packed with fiber and veggies. Diane and Dave of Homemade Food Junkie created this easy recipe that’s also dairy- and gluten-free.

Mustard & Maple Syrup Glazed Chicken

If you’ve got maple syrup and mustard in your kitchen, you’re already halfway to making this sweet and tangy chicken recipe. Ridiculously quick, inexpensive and a definite crowd-pleaser, this is one dinner recipe that you’ll return to over and over. Grab the recipe right here.

Sweet Pepper Linguine

Pasta is a great low-cost dinner option, and we love this simple version with just five ingredients. Sweet red pepper gives Vitamin C, as well as a nice pop of color on the plate. Click here to get the recipe.

Bacon, Corn & Potato Chowder

Make it a soup night with this creamy, smoky chowder from The Soupmaker’s Kitchen. Add a loaf of warm, crusty bread and a fresh salad, and you’ve got a cheap, easy meal for any night of the week.

Turkey Bolognese

Make a big batch of this easy turkey Bolognese, and you’ll have leftovers that you can stretch throughout the week. Courtesy of Sundays with Jennie, this is the perfect winter weather meal to have up your sleeve.

Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken & Beans

A Crock Pot is a must-have item for those chilly winter nights. Use yours to make this delicious and inexpensive five-ingredient recipe that couldn’t be easier. Toss the ingredients in your slow cooker in the morning, and dinner is ready to go. Add some brown rice, and you’ve got a complete meal to keep everyone warm and satisfied. Click here for the recipe.

Tortellini, Spinach & Black Bean Soup

Warm up with this hearty soup chock full of beans, pasta and a good dose of greens. Jen of How To: Simplify has the recipe that whips up in a snap and makes dinner easy. Want to make it vegetarian? Sub in veggie broth and use cheese-stuffed tortellini instead of sausage.