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  6. Quick Weeknight Dinners for $3 or Less

Quick Weeknight Dinners for $3 or Less

Updated September 22, 2022
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When you're busy and trying to stick to a budget, dinner needs to be quick and cheap. But there's no need to skimp on delicious! Save money and time with these cheap and easy weeknight dinners your family will love, such as our cheap chicken recipes or budget-friendly fish dinners.

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Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons & Parsley Brown Butter

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For this recipe, convenient store-bought potato gnocchi are tossed with delicate ribbons of zucchini, shallots and cherry tomatoes that have all been sautƩed in nutty browned butter.

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Pork Chop Suey

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Make this chop suey recipe as written or feel free to swap other veggies you have on hand—it's an adaptable recipe that lends itself well to a fridge clean-out meal. Serve over rice or noodles.

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Inside-Out Lasagna

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Here we take basic lasagna ingredients—ricotta cheese, pasta and tomatoes—and skip the layering and long baking time to make a super-quick and satisfying meal for the whole family. To cut down on prep time, look for presliced mushrooms. For meat lovers, brown some crumbled turkey sausage along with the onions and garlic. Serve with: Steamed broccoli and whole-grain baguette.

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EatingWell Fish Sticks

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You can make these homemade fish sticks in about the same amount of time it takes to bake a box of the frozen kind--with a fraction of the fat.

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Turkey & Balsamic Onion Quesadillas

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Not your traditional quesadilla, these feature deli turkey and Cheddar cheese, along with onions quickly marinated in balsamic vinegar. Serve with sauteed vegetables or a tossed salad for a quick meal.

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BBQ Tofu Sandwich

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Though vegetarian BBQ may be an oxymoron, once you take a bite of this delicious tofu sandwich topped with coleslaw and dill pickles you won't mind the contradiction. Serve with: Baked beans and corn on the cob.

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Black Bean & Salmon Tostadas

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Pickled jalapeƱos, cilantro and avocado perk up convenient canned salmon for a quick tostada topping. Skip store-bought and make your own crispy shells in the oven. Serve with: Brown rice cooked with diced tomatoes and onions or salsa.

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Turkey & Tomato Panini

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A creamy spread full of Parmesan and fresh basil cozies up to turkey and summer-ripe tomato slices for a savory hot sandwich that will quickly become a go-to mealtime solution.

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Moo Shu Vegetables

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This vegetarian version of the classic Chinese stir-fry, Moo Shu, uses already-shredded vegetables to cut down on the prep time. Serve with warm whole-wheat tortillas, Asian hot sauce and extra hoisin if desired.

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Black Bean-Avocado Torta

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A Mexican-style torta is just like a burrito, except the "wrapper" is a hollowed-out roll instead of a tortilla. Here it's filled with mashed spiced black beans and a quick guacamole. Take this vegetarian version to another level (and add calcium) by melting Monterey Jack cheese onto the bean side of the sandwich. Serve with: Grilled corn on the cob or Spanish rice.

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No-Bake Macaroni & Cheese

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Not only is this ultra-creamy version of mac-and-cheese nearly as fast as the boxed variety, but your family will be able to pronounce every ingredient. If they aren't broccoli fans, substitute a frozen vegetable of your choice.

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Loaded Twice-Baked Potatoes

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Potatoes are one of the great comfort foods, especially when stuffed with a satisfying mixture of lean ground beef and broccoli florets plus reduced-fat sour cream and Cheddar cheese. Add a tossed salad and you have a healthy and hearty meal that will leave you feeling good.

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Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

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This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.

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    1 of 13 Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons & Parsley Brown Butter
    2 of 13 Pork Chop Suey
    3 of 13 Inside-Out Lasagna
    4 of 13 EatingWell Fish Sticks
    5 of 13 Turkey & Balsamic Onion Quesadillas
    6 of 13 BBQ Tofu Sandwich
    7 of 13 Black Bean & Salmon Tostadas
    8 of 13 Turkey & Tomato Panini
    9 of 13 Moo Shu Vegetables
    10 of 13 Black Bean-Avocado Torta
    11 of 13 No-Bake Macaroni & Cheese
    12 of 13 Loaded Twice-Baked Potatoes
    13 of 13 Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

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