28 Dinners Below $3 Per Serving

Time for dinner doesn’t must break the bank to style superb. Right here at The Keep At Dwelling Chef, we’re all about restaurant-quality recipes you may simply make at residence. With a number of pantry staples and a bit creativity, you may put a hearty meal on the desk with out spending greater than $3 per serving. These recipes are proof that inexpensive can nonetheless imply flavorful, filling, and family-approved.

We’re speaking consolation meals classics, one-pan wonders, and comfortable soups that make the entire home scent unimaginable, with out stretching the grocery finances too far. Whether or not you’re feeding choosy eaters, cooking for 2, or attempting to maintain prices down for an enormous household, these meals will maintain everybody full and pleased with out breaking the financial institution.

A closeup view of a ladle of chicken and dumplings being scooped from the pot.

1. Hen and Dumplings

This one’s all about cozy vibes. It is obtained tender rooster, fluffy dumplings, and a wealthy broth that simply seems like residence.Cash-saving tip: Stretch the meal through the use of shredded rotisserie rooster. It is typically cheaper per pound than any minimize.

Snag the Recipe

Closeup of Chicken Pot Pie Casserole plated.

3. Hen Pot Pie Casserole

All of the goodness of pot pie, however manner simpler. It is a creamy rooster filling topped with buttery biscuitsCash-saving tip: Use frozen veggies and leftover rooster to maintain prices low and dinner stress-free.

Take a Peek at the Recipe

4. Hen Noodle Soup

Nothing beats an enormous pot of rooster noodle soup, particularly when it tastes like consolation in a bowl.Cash-saving tip: Frozen blended veggies work simply in addition to contemporary, they usually’re cheaper too.

Snatch the Recipe

Closeup of cheeseburger casserole on a plate with a fork.

5. Loaded Cheeseburger Casserole

Assume cheeseburger night time, however in casserole type, and no drive-thru. It is beefy, tacky, and complete weeknight consolation meals.Cash-saving tip: Swap in some mushrooms or bell peppers for a part of the meat to stretch your greenback and sneak in veggies.

Drive-Thru to the Recipe

Low-cost Eats Meal Plan

If planning dinner each night time seems like a full-time job, we’ve obtained you lined. Our Cheap Eats Meal Plan takes out all of the guesswork. We’re speaking ready-to-go grocery lists and done-for-you menus so that you don’t must assume twice about what’s for dinner. It’s budget-friendly, stress-free, and makes weeknights a lot simpler.

12. One Pot Queso Hen and Rice

Tacky, creamy, and filled with taste, this one pot dinner is a complete crowd pleaser.Cash-saving tip: Use store-brand shredded cheese to maintain the flavour huge and the price small.

Scoop up the Recipe

13. Sloppy Joes

Candy, tangy, and messy in the easiest way, these Sloppy Joes are at all times successful.Cash-saving tip: Skip the buns and serve over rice for a less expensive twist.

Grab the Recipe

I understand how powerful it may be to provide you with dinner concepts night time after night time, particularly whenever you’re attempting to maintain prices down. That’s why I really like meals like these. They’re comforting, budget-friendly, and no one on the desk seems like they’re “low cost eats.” You get full bellies, pleased faces, and extra room in your grocery finances for enjoyable extras like dessert or a elaborate espresso.

Creamy potato soup served into a white bowl.

14. Creamy Potato Soup

Wealthy and velvety potato soup that tastes like pure consolation in a bowl.Cash-saving tip: Depart the skins on the potatoes to save lots of time and get extra vitamins.

Warm Up with the Recipe

Wooden spoon filled with goulash being held over a stockpot.

15. American Goulash

This nostalgic pasta dish is hearty, saucy, and ideal for feeding a hungry household.Cash-saving tip: Purchase pasta in bulk for one of the best value and retailer it in hermetic containers.

Dish Up the Recipe

A plate filled with cooked and seasoned sausage and vegetables.

16. Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies

A simple all-in-one dinner with roasted sausage and colourful veggies that makes cleanup easy.Cash-saving tip: Use no matter veggies are on sale or in season to maintain prices low.

Slide Into the Recipe

17. Pasta e Fagioli

Hearty pasta and beans in a flavorful broth that seems like an Italian hug in a bowl.Cash-saving tip: Dried beans are cheaper than canned and make an enormous batch you probably have time to soak them.

Stir Into the Recipe

24. Straightforward Fried Cabbage

Easy, buttery, and surprisingly hearty, fried cabbage is fast to make and stuffed with taste.Cash-saving tip: Purchase a complete head of cabbage as a substitute of pre-shredded baggage for main financial savings.

Sizzle into the Recipe

Shot of Creamy Vegetable Soup in large pot.

25. Creamy Vegetable Soup

A comfy bowl of creamy veggie soup that’s each filling and simple on the pockets.Cash-saving tip: Frozen blended greens make this budget-friendly and a breeze to throw collectively.

Ladle Up the Recipe

A close up view of a plate of hobo casserole.

26. Hobo Casserole

Layers of beef, potatoes, and veggies baked right into a hearty, no-frills dinner that feeds a crowd.Cash-saving tip: Swap contemporary potatoes for frozen diced hash browns to save lots of prep time and a bit money.

Dig Into the Recipe

A plate filled with Slovak Haluski, with a fork set on the plate.

27. Haluski

Buttery noodles tossed with sautéed cabbage make this easy, filling Jap European traditional.Cash-saving tip: Cabbage is likely one of the least expensive greens year-round, so refill when it’s on sale.

Head Over to the Recipe

A hand holding chopsticks scooping out some chicken fried rice from a bowl.

28. Hen Fried Rice

Higher than takeout and an ideal manner to make use of up leftover rice, this fried rice is quick, filling, and budget-friendly.Cash-saving tip: Make further rice earlier within the week so you may flip the leftovers into this simple dinner.

Wok Over to the Recipe

Cooking on a finances doesn’t must really feel limiting. With these 28 dinners, you’ve obtained consolation meals, fast weeknight favorites, and loads of cozy meals that maintain each your loved ones and your pockets pleased. Every recipe proves you may serve up one thing hearty and flavorful with out spending greater than $3 per serving.

And if you wish to make life even simpler, don’t overlook to take a look at our Cheap Eats Meal Plan. We’ve finished all of the considering for you. Every week is full with grocery lists and ready-to-go menus so dinner feels much less like a chore and extra like a win. Save this roundup to Pinterest or bookmark it for later, as a result of these are recipes you’ll come again to repeatedly.

Trending Merchandise

Add to compare