Home Recipes 13 Easy Dinners You Can Make for Less Than $15 By Anna DooganSeptember 8, 2021 Search more like this slow-cookerhow-tocrowd-pleasergluten-freereadingready-to-gostir-fryrecipecrock-potchickensouppastagravydinner Read next Recipes The Best Organic Clothes for Babies & Toddlers Recipes 45 Pumpkin Carving Designs That’ll Wow the Neighborhood Recipes Target’s Best Holiday Deals Start Sooner Than You Think Recipes This Larger Than Life Mister Rogers Monument is Exactly What the World Needs Recipes Want a Free Donut on Halloween? Here’s How to Get One from Krispy Kreme 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. photo: Freeli Foods Heat & Eat Freeli Meals Whether you have an athlete, busy schedule or just too dang tired to make dinner, Freeli Foods is here to save the day. The heat and eat meals are made with antibiotic-free meats, real cheese, veggies and whole grains and have no or low added sugar, no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and are low in saturated fat and sodium. All it takes is 45 seconds to a minute to heat flavors like Mac and Cheese, Burrito Bowl and Chicken Teriyaki, then enjoy straight from the pouch or poured into a bowl. Each one is just $5!Available at freelifoods.com photo: View from Great Island 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. photo: GI 365 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. photo: On Sugar Mountain 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. Find the ingredients right here. photo: The Magical Slow Cooker: Recipes for Busy Moms Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy 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. Get the recipe here. photo: Sharon Mollerus via Flickr 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. photo: Homemade Food Junkie 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. Click here to try the recipe. photo: Tzejen via Flickr 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. Find the recipe right here. photo: Sundays with Jennie 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. Grab the recipe here. 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. photo: Jen at How To: Simplify 10. 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. Find the recipe right here. —Anna Doogan RELATED STORIES: A Week’s Worth of Crock Pot Recipes You Haven’t Tried Yet 10 Delish Recipes to Make in Your Instant Pot 30-Minute Dinners That Are Insanely Easy 10 Super Simple Sheet Pan Dinners