You Don’t Need To Make An Onion Boil—Our Most-Saved Budget Dinners Have You Covered
It’s no secret—groceries are expensive. I’m sure you’ve seen the viral onion boils on TikTok, and the reason for their popularity makes sense—people are turning to practically 1-ingredient, cheap meals to escape mounting grocery costs. Well, I’m here to tell you, you can make a cheap and easy meal at home that is more than just an onion (you deserve better!). We’re kind of known for our budget dinners here at Delish, but we have a few that are lifelong, forever favorites. To help you break out of your dinner rut without breaking the bank, I compiled our most-loved, top-saved budget dinners that readers—and our team—can’t get enough of.
Classics budget favorites like goulash and chicken spaghetti are represented here, along with some surprising new twists using our most reached-for ingredients. Sick of sloppy joes? Make a 1-ingredient swap for sloppy joe orzo. Red meat too expensive? Chicken & broccoli is just as satisfying (and so versatile). Love chicken pot pie, but can’t take the pie crust? Our chicken pot pie casserole uses one of our favorite hacks (store-bought biscuit dough) to make this comfort food a breeze. And of course we can't forget about Gen-Z’s favorite budget ingredient: beans! Using cheap ingredients or meal hacks, these dinners will have you putting the phone down and the onions away.
Chicken & Broccoli
This fast and easy one-pot chicken and broccoli recipe is coated in a sweet and savory sauce with plenty of ginger and garlic for a weeknight dinner that beats take-out. This dish comes together in 20 minutes with minimal prep work too. Win win!
Get the Chicken & Broccoli recipe.
Baked Spaghetti
While we could never get tired of classic spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, sometimes we're looking for the easiest route possible to a weeknight dinner. Enter: baked spaghetti. This casserole is what comfort food is all about—cheesy, hearty, and completely adaptable to whatever you have on hand.
Get the Baked Spaghetti recipe.
Sloppy Joe Orzo
Think beyond the bun! You don’t need to sandwich a sloppy Joe to enjoy it; transform the classic comfort food with this sloppy Joe orzo instead. It’s really the sauce and ground beef mixture that makes sloppy Joes so delicious, so we decided to take that and pair it with one of our favorite pasta shapes of all time: orzo.
Get the Sloppy Joe Orzo recipe.
Goulash
A classic nostalgic comfort dish, goulash is the hearty weeknight dinner we'll always crave. The best thing about it? Everything cooks together in one pot—even the pasta!
Get the Goulash recipe.
White Chicken Chili
We've created our fair share of variations on the classic here at Delish, but this white chicken chili is one of our all-time favorites. Adding white beans makes this heartier than your average chicken noodle soup, and the addition of green chiles, jalapeño, and sour cream add the perfect amount of heat and creaminess to switch up classic chili.
Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
If chicken pot pie excites you, but pie crust intimidates you, you’ve arrived at the perfect recipe. Classic chicken pot pie filling is baked into a stress-free casserole and, best of all, topped with biscuits for that tantalizing golden brown finish.
Get the Chicken Pot Pie Casserole recipe.
Amish Beef & Noodles
Chunks of juicy slow-cooked beef mingling with tender egg noodles in a rich broth? That's what I call pure comfort in a bowl.
Get the Amish Beef & Noodles recipe.
Stuffed Peppers
This versatile meal is not only simple to make, but feeds families big and small, making it a cheap & easy weeknight dinner legend. While I love to see all our experiments with countless variations, this classic, straight-forward recipe is hard to beat.
Get the Stuffed Peppers recipe.
Egg Roll Bowls
If you're a fan of crispy savory egg rolls, then you might consider this unwrapped version your dream healthy dinner. Without the need to wrap or fry, this veggie-packed meal comes together in well under an hour.
Get the Egg Roll Bowls recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
A nostalgic classic for many, cheesy chicken spaghetti is the staple weeknight dinner you can rely on. hicken, spaghetti, and veggies combine with a creamy, cheesy sauce for a baked and bubbling casserole that’s just as perfect for busy weeknights as it is for parties.
Get the Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken
We love BBQ chicken on pizza, on sliders, in dip, and, of course, on the grill. No matter the season, BBQ chicken is a clear #winner winner chicken dinner. Here's how we put together an easy sheet-pan dinner with juicy chicken, loads of sweet–smoky flavor, and plenty of vegetables to complete the meal.
Get the BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken recipe.
Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet
Butter-toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich Alfredo-style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and Parmesan to create this 35-minute skillet dinner. A pinch of lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes add much-needed brightness and heat to cut through the rich Alfredo sauce.
Get the Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet recipe.
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken
This simple method works so well because the creamy layer (garlicky sour cream and mayonnaise) locks moisture into the chicken for a truly melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s also so easy to make six chicken breasts all at once, great for your hungry family for weeknight dinner or meal prepping.
Get the Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken recipe.
Sticky Sesame Chickpeas & Broccoli
Looking for a cheap, easy dinner that takes under 30 minutes to cook? Sticky sesame chickpeas and broccoli are calling your name. Starring an absurdly delicious glaze made from staple condiments and a few humble cans from the pantry, this simple one-pan dinner will make even a Wednesday night feel special.
Get the Sticky Sesame Chickpeas & Broccoli recipe.
Mexican Beef 'N Rice Skillet
Is there anything better than a one-skillet meal? We don’t think so, particularly if it’s as family-friendly and quick as this one, featuring spiced ground beef, flavorful rice, hearty beans, and lots of cheese. It all comes together in just 40 minutes with minimal prep too!
Get the Mexican Beef 'N Rice Skillet recipe.
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