13 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Great Flavor on a Budget
It’s hard to stick to your grocery budget without cheap dinner ideas, and that’s where this list of hearty, flavorful meals from our Dinner and Change series comes in. We went through each ingredient list to calculate the total based on prices at the biggest grocery store chain in the country; all of these dinners clock in around $10 or less for four people. Your total cost may vary a bit depending on your location and shopping preferences. No matter where you shop, though, these Epicurious staff favorites are worth bookmarking; they’re crowd-pleasing cheap meals that go way beyond another box of pasta with jarred sauce.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich1/13Lentil-Smothered Greens on Fried Bread
Epi’s former digital director David Tamarkin declared this lentil-and-greens combo one of the greatest cheap dinner ideas of all time. He loves to serve it at a casual dinner party. The key to bold flavor here: 10 smashed cloves of garlic, plus an extra clove to rub on the toast. No bread on hand? You could substitute tortillas, farro, quinoa, rice…whatever you have around.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson2/13Salmon Burgers with Red Pepper Mayo
Canned tuna is a budget staple, but this Epi favorite starts instead with canned salmon, mixed with mayo that’s flavored with sweet roasted red peppers, capers, lemon juice, and salt. For tips on what to do with any leftover capers (and salmon), check out this story from Joe Sevier.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton3/13Creamy Vegan Red Pepper Pasta With Garlic Bread Breadcrumbs
One of the secrets of great budget cooking is knowing how to lean on shelf-stable pantry staples. Jarred red peppers, for example, can add sweetness and tang to a wide variety of dishes. Epi’s Kendra Vaculin recommends including them in a niçoise salad, using them to sweeten a pot of stewy black beans, stirring them into a flavorful tuna noodle casserole, or blitzing them together to make romesco. Or make this fantastic pasta, topped with garlicky bread crumbs.
Photo & Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin4/13Grilling Cheese With Sweet Peppers and Black Lentils
Looking for easy and cheap meals to make on your grill? In this simple, hearty salad, black beluga lentils and summery produce play important supporting roles. But crispy cheese is the star. The recipe calls for bread cheese, but Halloumi or paneer would work as well. Looking for ways to use up the rest of your lentils? We have a few lentil recipes to help with that.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Heather Greene, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou6/13Chicken Piccata
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell7/13Potatoes With Roasted Poblano Chiles and Mexican Sour Cream (Papas con Rajas y Crema Ácida)
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson8/13White Bean Salad With Lemon and Cumin
We love a cozy pantry pasta or bean stew, but if you’re looking for a little more brightness out of your white beans, this recipe is just the ticket. Toss the cooked beans with red onion and a lemony cumin dressing, then wrap in lettuce and eat with your hands.
Photo and Styling by Joseph De Leo10/13Sinangag (Garlic Fried Rice)
“Sinangag was my mom’s go-to breakfast, but it’s my go-to dinner,” writes Epi’s Tiffany Hopkins in her story about this garlicky fried rice dinner. The rice and garlic both get crispy and aromatic. Top with an egg to round out the meal.
Photo by Kristin Teig11/13Melted Broccoli Pasta With Capers and Anchovies
The nutty flavor of whole wheat pasta pairs well with bold ingredients like capers and anchovies. Here, they’re tossed with broccoli that’s cooked down and transformed into an extra-savory pasta sauce. Breadcrumbs are a budget-friendly topping that adds crunch and personality—no expensive wedge of Parm required.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton13/13Charred-Peach Panzanella With Pickled Pepper Vinaigrette
