15 Recipes on a Budget for Weeknight Meals

Grocery store prices are soaring and we are reaching for budget-friendly recipes. With a few smart swaps and budget-friendly meal ideas, you can keep your family well-fed without breaking the bank.

15 recipes on a budget with a grocery cart.

5 Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget

Here are five ways to stretch your grocery budget this week:

🛒 Shop Smart: Stick to a list and buy store-brand staples like canned goods, dairy, and baking essentials—they’re often just as good as name brands. Aldi has come a long way!

🍽 Plan for Leftovers: Cook once, eat twice! Meals like pulled pork or roasted chicken can be repurposed into tacos, soups, or sandwiches.

check out: pulled pork wraps, pulled pork quesadillas, leftover pulled pork recipes
check out: poppyseed chicken casserole, keto chicken salad, recipes to make with leftover chicken

🥦 Use More Affordable Proteins: Ground turkey, beans, and eggs can stretch your meals further than pricier cuts of meat.

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📦 Stock Up on Freezer-Friendly Meals: Making an extra batch of soup or casserole? Freeze it for busy nights instead of ordering takeout.

check out: healthy crockpot freezer meals

🌱 DIY Convenience Foods: Skip the pre-chopped veggies and pre-made marinades—making your own can save big over time.

Budget Friendly Recipes

These recipes are easy on the wallet and big on flavor.

Lentil Vegetable Soup

Warm, filling, and budget-friendly! This hearty lentil vegetable soup is packed with nutritious veggies and protein-rich lentils—made with simple, affordable ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. A cozy, wholesome meal that won’t break the bank!

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Creamy Turkey & Rice Soup

Enjoy a warm and comforting bowl of hearty, creamy turkey rice soup. Packed with tender turkey, wholesome rice, and savory goodness, it’s the perfect meal for any time of year!

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Creamy soup with rice and turkey in a bowl.

Instant Pot Pasta Fagioli Soup

Instant Pot Pasta Fagioli Soup is a budget-friendly Italian classic that’s hearty, filling, and easy on the wallet! Made with simple pantry staples like pasta, beans, and veggies in a rich tomato broth, this one-pot meal stretches your grocery budget without sacrificing flavor. Just add some crusty bread for a cozy, satisfying dinner!

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Hamburger Baked Beans

This inexpensive recipe for baked hamburger beans is packed with rich flavors and hearty ingredients! Smoky bacon, savory ground beef, and the sweet tang of BBQ sauce come together for a comforting dish that won’t break the budget.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

Sloppy joe casserole has all the tastes of the meaty classic sandwich, made with a flavorful sauce, pasta, and cheese - baked into a one pan casserole. It's, meaty and oh-so cheesy!

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A plate of penne pasta sloppy joe casserole.

Baked Reuben Casserole

Say hello to this hearty and budget-friendly Reuben casserole! Layers of tangy sauerkraut, melty Swiss cheese, savory corned beef, and creamy Thousand Island dressing come together for an inexpensive recipe that’s big on flavor.

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Reuben casserole topped with rye bread croutons in a casserole dish.

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

If you're looking for an inexpensive and easy dinner, cornbread cowboy casserole is a hearty, budget-friendly meal that the whole family will love! Add a dollop of sour cream for a yummy midweek meal.

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Cheesy cowboy cornbread casserole topped with a dollop of sour cream.

Crockpot Shepherd's Pie

Get ready to enjoy some yummy comfort food with this Crock Pot Shepherds Pie! A classic with simple, wholesome ingredients just got even easier to make in the crock pot.

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Ground beef and mixed vegetables topped by mashed potatoes in a crock pot.

Oven Baked Pork Chops and Potatoes

Simple is best for weeknight dinners! Try this oven baked pork chops and potatoes bake for a family friendly, healthy meal any night of the week.

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Bone in pork chops on a plate with seasoned potato pieces.

Crock Pot Hamburger Helper

Why buy hamburger helper at the grocery store when you can easily make your own Crockpot Hamburger Helper in the slow cooker. With only 5 minutes of prep time, this is a recipe with delicious flavor, perfect for busy weeknights!"

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Slow cooker hamburger helper topped with chopped parsley.

Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup is a classic dish in Italian cuisine, but we’re taking minestrone soup mainstream in an Instant Pot. This minestrone soup recipe has all the flavors of your favorite minestrone dish, with the added convenience of using your Instant Pot!

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Swedish Meatball Casserole

This Swedish meatball casserole is a slight twist on the classic meatball recipe everyone knows and loves. Your family will enjoy the thick sauce in this delicious pasta bake…and they’ll adore that it’s all done in less than an hour!

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Swedish Meatball Casserole in a glass baking dish.

Dirty Rice with Sausage

Are you a fan of bold Cajun flavors? This recipe for dirty rice with sausage is a main dish that's right up your alley, then. It’s a fast and easy dinner that’ll keep the whole family satisfied, and it has loads of veggies in it, too.

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