Skip to content

Top Navigation

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Special Diets
  • Diabetes
  • Healthy Meal Plans
  • Healthy Eating
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Healthy Cooking
  • Shop
  • News
  • Videos
Log In Account Details

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore EatingWell

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Explore

    Explore

    • What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Avocado Every Day

      What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Avocado Every Day

      Can an avocado a day keep your health at bay? What does the research have to say? Read More
    • 7-Day No-Sugar High-Protein Meal Plan

      7-Day No-Sugar High-Protein Meal Plan

      Skip the added sugar and bump up the protein to keep yourself full on this 7-day meal plan. Read More
    • 20 Low-Carb, High-Protein Dinners Ready in 3 Steps or Less

      Ā If you're looking for low-carb, high-protein dinners that don't require cooking for hours, these recipes got you covered. These dinner options are ready to serve in 3 steps or less so you can meet your nutrition goals easily. Each recipe l meets our nutrition parameters, with less than 14 grams of carbs and more than 15 grams of protein, without wasting on flavor. Recipes like 20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Cheesy Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole are delicious options for you to get a healthy meal on your table in no time.Ā  Read More
  • Healthy Recipes

    Healthy Recipes

    See All Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Healthy Lunch Recipes
    • Healthy Dinner Recipes
    • Healthy Snack Recipes
    • Healthy Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Salad Recipes
    • Healthy Smoothie Recipes
    • Healthy Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Healthy Slow-Cooker & Crockpot Recipes
    • Healthy Kids Recipes
    • Healthy Holiday Recipes
    • Healthy Vegan Recipes
    • Healthy Vegetarian Recipes
    • Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes
    • Healthy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Healthy Low-Calorie Recipes
    • Healthy Weight Loss & Diet Recipes
    • More Lifestyle Diet Recipes
    • More Health Condition Recipes
    • More Dietary Restriction Recipes
    • More Nutrient Focused Recipes
  • Special Diets

    Special Diets

    See All Special Diets
    • Clean Eating Diet Center
    • Mediterranean Diet Center
    • Low-Carb Diet Center
    • Weight Loss Center
    • Dairy-Free Diet Center
    • Gluten-Free Diet Center
    • High-Fiber Diet Center
    • Vegan Diet Center
    • Vegetarian Diet Center
    • Heart-Healthy Diet Center
    • Cholesterol Diet Center
    • Diabetes Diet Center
    • High Blood Pressure Diet Center
    • Low Sodium Diet Center
    • Healthy Aging Diet Center
    • Pregnancy Diet Center
  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    See All Diabetes
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Diabetes Diet Center
  • Healthy Meal Plans

    Healthy Meal Plans

    See All Healthy Meal Plans
    • Meal Planning 101
    • Dinner Plans
    • Clean Eating Meal Plans
    • Mediterranean Diet Meal Plans
    • Low-Carb Meal Plans
    • Weight-Loss Meal Plans
    • Dairy-Free Meal Plans
    • Gluten-Free Meal Plans
    • High-Fiber Meal Plans
    • Vegan Meal Plans
    • Vegetarian Meal Plans
    • Heart-Healthy Meal Plans
    • Low Cholesterol Meal Plans
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Blood Pressure Meal Plans
    • Low Sodium Meal Plans
    • Anti-Aging Meal Plans
    • Pregnancy Meal Plans
    • Healthy Kids Meal Plans
    • ThePrep
  • Healthy Eating

    Healthy Eating

    See All Healthy Eating
    • Healthy Eating 101
    • Eat More Vegetables
    • 30-Day Challenges
    • Good Food Fast
    • Healthy Eating for Kids
    • Best Healthy Foods
    • Green and Sustainable Eating
    • The Beet
    • Transformed
  • Healthy Lifestyle

    Healthy Lifestyle

    See All Healthy Lifestyle
    • Wine, Beer & Spirits Guide
    • Entertaining
    • EatingWell in Real Life
    • Plant Your Plate
    • Healthy Pets
    • American Food Heroes
    • Future of Food
    • Food with Purpose
    • Obsessed
  • Healthy Cooking

    Healthy Cooking

    See All Healthy Cooking
    • Healthy Cooking How-To's
    • Ask the Test Kitchen
    • Budget Cooking Guide
    • Thrifty
    • Heritage Cooking
  • Shop

    Shop

    See All Shop
    • EatingWell Cookbooks & More
    • EatingWell Frozen Meals
  • News
  • Videos

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Healthy Recipes
  3. Healthy Mealtime Recipes
  4. Healthy Dinner Recipes
  5. Healthy Budget Dinner Recipes
  6. 22 Budget-Friendly One-Pot Dinner Recipes

22 Budget-Friendly One-Pot Dinner Recipes

Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD April 26, 2020
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Skip gallery slides
Pin
6417947.jpg

These one-pot dinner recipes are easy to make and budget-friendly. These recipes feature affordable ingredients like pasta, ground beef and beans to create a balanced and delicious meal. Recipes like One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta and Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes are tasty, filling and you'll only have one dish to clean up!

Start Slideshow

1 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

6417947.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This one-pot pasta with tangy tomato-basil sauce is a simple, fast and easy weeknight dinner. All of your ingredients go into one pot, and with a bit of stirring and about 25 minutes of cook time, you'll have a healthy dinner the whole family will enjoy.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

1 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl

77013.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings! Source: EatingWell.com, October 2017

2 of 22

3 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tofu & Vegetable Scramble

4565087.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Feel free to customize this speedy tofu and vegetable scramble with your favorite combination of vegetables and spice. Try to use veggies that will all cook at the same rate, like peppers, green beans and sugar snap peas.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, October 2017

3 of 22

Advertisement

4 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

6176575.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2019

4 of 22

5 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

5 of 22

6 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Mexican Skillet Lasagna

<p>This easy Mexican-inspired lasagna recipe replaces the noodles with tortilla strips that become like tender ribbons in the cayenne- and cumin-spiked tomato sauce. Topped with Cheddar and cream cheese, the lasagna is just as soulful as its Italian cousin and can be made on a busy weeknight in about 30 minutes using a single skillet. Excerpted from The Dinner Plan by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion, published by ABRAMS Ā© 2017.Ā Source: The Dinner Plan</p>
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy Mexican-inspired lasagna recipe replaces the noodles with tortilla strips that become like tender ribbons in the cayenne- and cumin-spiked tomato sauce. Topped with Cheddar and cream cheese, the lasagna is just as soulful as its Italian cousin and can be made on a busy weeknight in about 30 minutes using a single skillet. Excerpted from The Dinner Plan by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion, published by ABRAMS Ā© 2017.Ā Source: The Dinner Plan

6 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chickpea & Potato Hash

4304967.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The eggs cook right on top of this chickpea and potato hash--cook them a few extra minutes if you prefer hard-set eggs. Serve with warm pita bread and a cucumber salad with mint and yogurt.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2012

7 of 22

8 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Pasta with Tuna

78303.jpg
Credit: Joy Howard
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Use the one-pot pasta cooking method to make this tuna pasta recipe that calls for just 5 ingredients and is ready in just over half an hour. For extra crunch and a tuna noodle casserole feel, sprinkle this speedy pasta dish with toasted whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

8 of 22

9 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sweet & Sour Chicken

6183603.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This 20-minute meal delivers a faster, lighter and more flavorful takeout alternative. It's chock-full of fresh, crispy veggies and juicy chicken pieces, and it reheats well for meal-prep lunches. If you like heat, sub Sriracha for some of the ketchup.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, December 2018

9 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Vegetarian Chili

4293499.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit--sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2017

10 of 22

11 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

11 of 22

12 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

American Goulash

5238089.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, March 2018

12 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smoked Turkey, Kale & Rice Bake

4096528.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This hearty one-skillet dinner is loaded with celery, kale, tomatoes and quick-cooking brown rice. It's easy to make the recipe vegetarian by substituting smoked tofu for the turkey.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2012

13 of 22

14 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Shrimp Stir-Fry with Green Pepper, Pineapple & Bacon

6433781.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This sweet, spicy and super-easy shrimp-and-vegetable stir-fry starts with a very small amount of bacon in the wok, which creates drippings that add tons of smoky flavor to the vegetables and shrimp that go in next. Keep the salt in check by using reduced-sodium tamari sauce. To complete this easy healthy dinner, add cooked brown rice.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019

14 of 22

15 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Baked Beans with Ground Beef
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Upgrade baked beans from classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a superfast hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option. Ground turkey or even sausage would work nicely in this dish. Just watch the sodium.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, May 2018

15 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Green Curry Vegetable Soup

<p>In this very easy Thai noodle soup recipe, just pour hot curry-flavored broth over pasta and veggies. The vegetables keep their crunch and you get a quick, satisfying soup. Feel free to add chicken, shrimp or tofu for an extra bit of protein, if desired.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2017</p>
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this very easy Thai noodle soup recipe, just pour hot curry-flavored broth over pasta and veggies. The vegetables keep their crunch and you get a quick, satisfying soup. Feel free to add chicken, shrimp or tofu for an extra bit of protein, if desired.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2017

16 of 22

17 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Italian Sausage & Kale Pasta

4337863.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For a fast weeknight pasta dinner, why not cook your sauce and pasta all at once? By using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta--no colanders here--the starch that cooks off into your pasta water, which you usually drain away, stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2016

17 of 22

18 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble

6599213.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Don't toss out those almost-past-their-prime vegetables and fresh herbs. Toss them into this skillet egg scramble for a quick vegetarian meal. Nearly any vegetable will work in this easy skillet recipe, so choose your favorites or use what you have on hand.Ā Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

18 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice

5487424.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This vegetarian faux fried rice uses riced cauliflower in place of white or brown rice to pack in extra veggies and cut down on carbs. Chile-garlic sauce pumps up the heat, and fresh ginger adds a bright, warm bite. If you don't like the heat of the chile-garlic sauce, leave it out and add a bit more tamari or soy sauce for a rich, fermented tang.Ā Source: EatingWell.com, June 2018

19 of 22

20 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Chicken Alfredo

6937041.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This better-for-you creamy, cheesy chicken fettuccine Alfredo isn't all that fancy, but it's incredibly comforting. You'll taste a nice pop of pepper and nutty notes from the whole-wheat pasta. Best part about this recipe? It's a one-pot meal, which means fewer dishes for you!Ā Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

20 of 22

21 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Skillet Gnocchi with Chard & White Beans

Skillet Gnocchi with Chard & White Beans
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this one-skillet supper, we toss dark leafy greens, diced tomatoes and white beans with gnocchi and top it all with gooey mozzarella. Serve with a mixed green salad with vinaigrette.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2009

21 of 22

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 22

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Szechuan Tofu & Green Bean Stir-Fry

3757288.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This spicy vegetarian stir-fry is a great way to use green beans when they're bountiful and inexpensive at the supermarket. You can also try it with other vegetables, such as broccoli or peppers, just make sure to cut them into small pieces so that they cook quickly. Coating the tofu in cornstarch before you cook it gives it a light crust.Ā Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2010

22 of 22

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Alex Loh

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 22 One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
    2 of 22 Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl
    3 of 22 Tofu & Vegetable Scramble
    4 of 22 Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes
    5 of 22 One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta
    6 of 22 Mexican Skillet Lasagna
    7 of 22 Chickpea & Potato Hash
    8 of 22 One-Pot Pasta with Tuna
    9 of 22 Sweet & Sour Chicken
    10 of 22 Easy Vegetarian Chili
    11 of 22 Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale
    12 of 22 American Goulash
    13 of 22 Smoked Turkey, Kale & Rice Bake
    14 of 22 Easy Shrimp Stir-Fry with Green Pepper, Pineapple & Bacon
    15 of 22 Baked Beans with Ground Beef
    16 of 22 Green Curry Vegetable Soup
    17 of 22 One-Pot Italian Sausage & Kale Pasta
    18 of 22 Summer Skillet Vegetable & Egg Scramble
    19 of 22 Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice
    20 of 22 One-Pot Chicken Alfredo
    21 of 22 Skillet Gnocchi with Chard & White Beans
    22 of 22 Szechuan Tofu & Green Bean Stir-Fry

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    EatingWell

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Recipe Index
    • Jobs
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    Sign Up
    Meredith© 2023 EatingWell.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. EatingWell may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. All Right Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EatingWell. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com

    Sign in

    View image

    22 Budget-Friendly One-Pot Dinner Recipes
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.