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  6. 20 Easy Budget-Friendly Dinners the Whole Family Will Love

20 Easy Budget-Friendly Dinners the Whole Family Will Love

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins April 12, 2022
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Cheesy Marinara Beans
Credit: Photography / Nico Schinco, Food Styling / Frances Boswell, Prop Stylist / Paige Hicks

Gather everyone together for one of these flavorful, affordable meals that rely on pantry staples to cut down on cost. With just 30 minutes of active time in the kitchen, you can pull together a pan of creamy bean enchiladas, a protein-packed skillet pasta or even a steamy bowl of lentil soup that everyone can enjoy. Recipes like our White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi and Cheesy Marinara Beans serve at least four, so everyone can dig in.

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One-Skillet Cheesy Ground Chicken Pasta

One-Skillet Cheesy Ground Chicken Pasta
Credit: Victor Protasio
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Make this cheesy ground chicken pasta recipe for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve with a simple side salad and a glass of red wine.

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One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan

One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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This lentil-vegetable soup is packed with kale and tomatoes for a filling, flavorful main dish. If you have it, the Parmesan cheese rind adds nuttiness and gives the broth some body.

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White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe— providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

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25-Minute Sweet Potato & Bean Enchiladas

25-Minute Sweet Potato & Bean Enchiladas
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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These quick sweet potato and bean enchiladas are diabetes-friendly thanks to egg wraps that are lower in carbs than traditional tortillas. The vegetarian filling is both sweet and savory, while the topping adds texture and freshness.

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Creamy One-Pot Orecchiette with Sausage & Peas

One-Pot Orecchiette with Sausage & Peas
Credit: Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst
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This easy one-pot pasta recipe earns the title "creamy" thanks to the addition of sour cream and Parmesan, which combine to create a savory cheese sauce that clings to the orecchiette, peas and sausage. The best part about this recipe is that it only requires one vessel to cook everything—pasta included. By using the exact amount of liquid you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, adding even more creaminess. If you like spicy but not too spicy, use a mix of sweet and hot Italian sausages.

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Cheesy Marinara Beans

Cheesy Marinara Beans
Credit: Photography / Nico Schinco, Food Styling / Frances Boswell, Prop Stylist / Paige Hicks
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This ooey-gooey dish has baked-pasta vibes but features protein-packed beans instead of noodles. Look for dried corona beans, a larger, creamy white bean, at natural-foods stores or online. Cannellini are a good substitute. Serve with a green salad and toasted baguette.

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Beef & Bulgur Sloppy Joes

Beef & Bulgur Sloppy Joes
Credit: Photographer / Jacob Fox, Food styling / Sue Mitchell, Food Styling / Kelsey Bulat
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This twist on the classic sandwich has all the sweet-and-savory flavors you crave in a sloppy Joe, but by swapping in some bulgur for half of the ground beef you cut some saturated fat and get an extra gram of fiber in each serving (the whole-wheat bun and veggies add 6g more). Serve these healthy sloppy Joes with a side of napkins—you'll need 'em!

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White Bean Soup with Pasta

Pasta & White Bean Soup
Credit: Jacob Fox
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We use mirepoix—a combination of onion, celery and carrots—to flavor this soup. Keep a store-bought bag of the mixture in your freezer to ensure you always have some on hand without worrying about it going bad.

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3-Ingredient One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Rotisserie Chicken

3-Ingredient One Pot Lemon Chicken Pasta
Credit: Carolyn Hodges
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This satisfying one-pot pasta cooks with just the right amount of water so you're left with perfectly cooked noodles and enough starchy liquid to act as a sauce. Stir in lemon juice and zest at the end for a bright finish.

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Sweet Potato-Black Bean Tacos

Sweet Potato-Black Bean Tacos
Credit: Will Dickey
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Tender, smoky sweet potato is the star of these vegetarian tacos. A mashed black bean spread with onion holds everything in place. Serve with your favorite taco toppings.

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Pantry Peanut Noodles

Pantry Peanut Noodles
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Choose your own adventure with these noodles! They're delicious with peanut butter and tahini alike. Plus, you can use whatever frozen vegetables you have on hand and finish the dish off with any herbs still thriving in your garden or hanging out in your crisper.

 

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3-Ingredient White Bean & Pesto Risotto

3-ingredient risotto
Credit: Sara Haas
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Amp up the protein and flavor of a box of risotto by adding some roasted white beans and prepared pesto. You'll be amazed how delicious it is when you combine these three easy ingredients!

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One-Pot Lentils & Rice with Spinach

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This hearty vegan dish gets its earthy flavor from cumin and brown rice. If you can handle extra heat, try doubling the crushed red pepper for a bigger punch of flavor.

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Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes

Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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This hearty vegetarian quinoa chili with sweet potatoes has mild spice from poblanos and green chiles. Chili powder, cumin and garlic provide classic chili flavor.

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Easy Tuna Cakes with Greens & Lemon Dressing

Easy Herby Tuna Cakes over Greens
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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Dried herbs, white beans and canned tuna come together in these easy tuna cakes served over greens. A lemony dressing ties this quick dinner together.

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Egg-in-a-Hole Fried Quinoa

Egg-in-a-Hole Fried Quinoa
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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We used quinoa to bump up the fiber and protein in this stir-fry-inspired dish. Rather than making an omelet or stirring in the eggs as you would for fried rice, we cook them in divots right in the veggie-filled quinoa for a fun presentation. Opt for a flat skillet over a wok so you have plenty of room to nestle in the eggs.

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3-Ingredient Cheese Tortellini with Tomatoes & Basil

3-ingredient tortellini
Credit: Sara Haas
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This Italian-inspired dish is made with just three ingredients—roasted tomatoes, tortellini and fresh basil—to create a delicious, easy dinner. Roasting the cherry tomatoes coaxes out their natural sweetness. It's worth the time—trust us!

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Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

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Use reduced fat soup and fat-free milk to make this favorite casserole lower in fat and calories. Adding a variety of vegetables makes it more nutritious than the traditional recipe.

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3-Ingredient Refried Bean & Pico de Gallo Tostadas

3-Ingredient Refried Bean & Pico de Gallo Tostadas
Credit: Sara Haas
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Making your own tostadas is easy. Use store-bought corn tortillas, brush them with olive oil and bake to crunchy perfection! Here we topped the tostada with refried beans and fresh pico de gallo for an easy 3-ingredient meal.

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15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning

15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Dinner is ready in only 15 minutes and cleanup is a breeze with these easy broiled chicken tenders coated in everything bagel seasoning with fresh broccoli on the side. The three-ingredient dipping sauce adds just a hint of sweet and spice.

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    1 of 20 One-Skillet Cheesy Ground Chicken Pasta
    2 of 20 One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan
    3 of 20 White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
    4 of 20 25-Minute Sweet Potato & Bean Enchiladas
    5 of 20 Creamy One-Pot Orecchiette with Sausage & Peas
    6 of 20 Cheesy Marinara Beans
    7 of 20 Beef & Bulgur Sloppy Joes
    8 of 20 White Bean Soup with Pasta
    9 of 20 3-Ingredient One-Pot Lemon Pasta with Rotisserie Chicken
    10 of 20 Sweet Potato-Black Bean Tacos
    11 of 20 Pantry Peanut Noodles
    12 of 20 3-Ingredient White Bean & Pesto Risotto
    13 of 20 One-Pot Lentils & Rice with Spinach
    14 of 20 Quinoa Chili with Sweet Potatoes
    15 of 20 Easy Tuna Cakes with Greens & Lemon Dressing
    16 of 20 Egg-in-a-Hole Fried Quinoa
    17 of 20 3-Ingredient Cheese Tortellini with Tomatoes & Basil
    18 of 20 Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
    19 of 20 3-Ingredient Refried Bean & Pico de Gallo Tostadas
    20 of 20 15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning

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    20 Easy Budget-Friendly Dinners the Whole Family Will Love
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