You don’t have to spend a lot to eat delicious dinners every night.

Some of the cheapest recipes are often the ones most requested in my house.  The old favourites are the ones we love to eat in our family… Think Shepherds Pie, Spaghetti and Chicken Pot Pie.  If you are looking for some cheap recipe ideas to cook for your family – here is your go-to guide!

Why Go For Cheap Recipe Ideas?

Because most of us spend more time at home, home-cooked meals are becoming increasingly popular with families. If you’re anything like us, this may lead to insanely high food costs. There are solutions to keep your expenditures in line while still putting food on the table, so no worries!

So, are you looking for more quick and simple supper ideas? Read more of our 105 Cheap Recipe Ideas Perfect for Busy Families!

Mealtime may be a lot less hectic with these simple dishes. There’s something for every finicky eater in here, from meats to pasta to super-easy sheet pan meals, and there’s not a single complex dish in sight!

Table of Contents:

1. Cheap Mince and Sausage Recipes

Mince and sausages are the staples of frugal food. Try to buy your sausages at your local butcher rather than the supermarket – they tend to be of better quality and lower in fat.

	Porcupine Mince Balls Porcupine Meatballs are a unique take on classic meatballs. Ground beef, rice, onion, and spices make these delicious meatballs cooked in a thick tomato sauce. It’s tangy and tasty, and it’s done in under an hour!
	Mince Wellington Instead of using a pricey steak cut like Gordon Ramsey’s version, this ground beef wellington dish uses affordable ground beef and puff pastry sheets!
	Slow Cooker Sausages in Onion Gravy With only a few common ingredients, you can prepare a tasty homemade gravy for these slow cooker sausages in onion gravy. Every leftover are worth saving since they reheat well the next day!
	Grilled Gooey and Cheesy Chicken Rissoles Easy to make, yet tasty!  When you’re starving, this is the way to go. The grilled chicken rissoles may be frozen for up to a month if you can resist the urge!
	Sausage Stroganoff This dish uses sausage rather than beef, making it a delicious and cost-effective dinner. This entre is a hit with my family when served with salad and warm buns straight from the oven!
	Curried Sausages Like bell-bottom trousers, curried sausages date back to the 1950s!  Flares are slowly making a comeback, as the fashion-savvy know . Curried links, on the other hand, have never gone out of style, in my opinion!!
	Beef Tortilla Stack Dinner is best served with beef Tortilla Stacks  similar to lasagna but made using tortillas instead of spaghetti sheets. Turn dull but inexpensive mince into a delicious supper for the whole family!
	Shepherds Pie Cupcakes Are you bored of making Shepherd’s Pie the old-fashioned way? The whole family will enjoy these Shepherd’s Pie Cupcakes with a delicious sweet potato topping! They resemble cupcakes but are savoury – a fantastic recipe for the kids to love!
	Frugal Sausage Casserole Frugal Sausage Casserole is a simple “all-in” dish that makes a delicious and filling meal for the whole family!
	Indian Rice Pilaf with Spiced Beef I know it appears to have a variety of ingredients, but do yourself a favour and give it a try so you can see that it isn’t as complicated as it appears! This is extremely simple and won’t take you more than an hour to complete!
	Savoury Mince Recipe savoury mince may be served as a main course or used as a filling for pastries, toast, or Shepherd’s Pie .the opportunities are limitless!
	Slow Cooker Devilled Sausages Make sure to combine it with cheesy mashed potatoes and salad leaves. The children will be waiting in line for more!
	Toad in the Hole Toad in the Hole is a classic English dish that’s warm, tasty, and kid-friendly. This is a fantastic way to repurpose grilled sausages from a barbeque!
	Sticky Sausages Sticky Sausages are simple to create and demand only a few cheap ingredients that you probably have on hand. This is a sweet and sticky twist on regular sausages that takes just a few minutes longer to prepare!
	Sausage Risotto This Sausage and Mushroom Risotto is simple to prepare, inexpensive, and freezer-friendly! It’s great for any season, but it’s most effective in the winter.

Cheap Beef Recipes

Up-level your beefy meals! Your family will surely thank you for it!

	Hot Dog Casserole Hot Dog Casserole is one of those grab-and-go go-to dishes that I like to cook for the kiddos since it takes only a few minutes to prepare. It’s undoubtedly a win! Kids may be picky eaters, but if mine enjoyed it, I’m sure yours would as well.
	Corned Beef Fritters Corned Beef Fritters are a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner party appetiser!
	Slow Cooker Corned Beef Trust the crockpot to make all of the efforts for you; toss everything in, and you’re done. It’s straightforward, delicate, and delicious!
	Frugal Old Fashioned Pastie Slab Easy to make and delightful to eat with a variety of winter veggies and sausage meat. Greatest of all, a family of four can generally be fed for around $10 with leftovers!
	Steak Normandy Beef Casserole It’s made with simple, everyday items that everyone has on hand, yet it’s so wonderful that you’ll be lapping up the leftovers with slices of fresh bread. This recipe’s meat is so tender that it practically melts in your mouth!
	Slow Cooker Beef Cheeks Beef Cheeks in a Slowcooker is a luscious and supple approach to prepare beef cheeks. Beef cheeks that melt in your mouth!
	Easy Beef Stroganoff It’s no surprise that Meat Stroganoff is so popular, with delicate pieces of beef covered in a delicious creamy sauce and tossed over a bed of buttered noodles!
	Country Beef Casserole with Herb Scones Another hearty winter dish is Country Beef Casserole with Herb Scones – excellent for both the heart and the hip pocket!
	Slow Cooker Lasagna Even classic Lasagna could be made in the slow cooker! You’re aware of our fondness for lasagna. Each bite is a forkful of flavour and warmth!
	Beef and Noodle Salad This Beef and Noodle Salad is a quick and simple dinner to make when you feel like cooking but want to feed your household something nutritious!

Cheap Fish Recipes

Here are fish recipes that don’t sound fishy! Go get ’em!

	Tuna Mornay or Tuna Casserole Tuna Mornay is a super cheap and delicious meal! The best part is that you can feed a family of four for less than $10!
	Frugal Salmon Patties These Salmon Patties are a quick and easy 15-minute dish full of nutritious ingredients. They’ll be a hit with the whole family mainly if you serve them with a cold, creamy lemon sauce!
	Tuna Melts Tuna Melts are a low-cost, quick-to-prepare dinner perfect for a budget! You’ll like it with soups, during lunch or dinner!
	Fish Parcels in Alfoil Making an Alfoil parcel makes it simple to prepare fish with a few additional flavours for an excellent supper! It’s a fantastic method to prepare fish!
	Creamy Garlic Prawn Fettuccine For those of you who adore prawns, this Creamy Garlic Prawn Fettuccine is a must-try! It’s a great way to use up any leftover fresh prawns after Christmas!
	Quick Tuna Salad Lunch When you want a tuna sandwich, you need a simple tuna salad recipe that will result in a crave-worthy tuna sandwich!  Only a few ingredients are required to make this simple tuna salad. It’s the most beautiful tuna salad I’ve ever had!
	Tuna Stuffed Avocado Boat Salad We aren’t obsessed with losing weight, but we feel a bit bad after a weekend of binge eating. Whenever that strikes, we create a salad, and this Tuna-Stuffed Avocado Boat Salad makes us feel good about eating better.

Cheap Chicken Recipes

Do your kiddos lurvvv chicken meals? Well, say no more!

	Yoghurt Baked Chicken Pieces Because baked chicken may be dry and tasteless, we’ve come up with a fantastic alternative. Yogurt Baked Chicken Pieces, which have been gently marinated in yogurt, are moist and flavorful.
	Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff Stroganoff with Chicken and Mushrooms in the Slow Cooker takes only minutes to prepare! It’s so creamy and delicious that it’ll quickly become a family favourite!
	Baked Sour Cream Chicken With its beautiful herbs, breadcrumbs, and sour cream topping, this dish takes a simple baked chicken foundation and adds loads of flavour!
	Chicken and Cauliflower Bake With a creamy cheese sauce and crunchy bacon, this chicken and cauliflower bake is indulgent. This is a terrific family-friendly evening supper served with a simple green salad!
	Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken is one of my favourite dishes as it cooks all day and leaves you hungry. And the smell? You’ll be wishing for supper to arrive as quickly as possible!
	Moist Low Fat Turkey Meatloaf Meatloaf is thought to taste like a shoe. It isn’t the case. It’s incredibly wonderful when cooked properly! Try the Low-Fat, Moist Turkey Meatloaf Recipe!
	Chicken and Mashed Potato Bake This Chicken and Mashed Potato Bake are towards the top of the comfort food list. This weekday supper for the whole family is made with cream, juicy chicken, and garlic and finished with a cheesy mashed potato!
	Chicken Pot Pie This Chicken Pot Pie dish is a go-to supper in my family. It’s a hit with both my spouse and my kids. It’s pleasant and delectable ideal for those chilly winter evenings!
	Honey Baked Chicken Pieces This tasty and straightforward Honey Baked Chicken Pieces meal is perfect for the whole family!
	Chicken and Vegetable Casserole Chicken and Vegetable Casserole is a tried-and-true recipe for keeping one’s stomach warm in the winter. This is a fantastic one for the kids and an excellent nutritious, easy meal for the whole family.
	Slow Cooker Creamy Salsa Chicken It’ll be one that the kids will ask for again and again since it’s tasty, moist, and flavourful. You may use chicken breasts or chicken on the bone it’s less expensive and has more extraordinary flavour when cooked on the bone.
	Slow Cooker Chicken Meatloaf This dish is easy to make and inexpensive. That’s exactly how we like it at Stay at Home Mum. If you’ve never cooked with chicken or turkey mince before, you’re in for a treat because it quickly absorbs the flavours!
	Fussy Eaters Easy Chicken Stir Fry It’s not only quick and easy to make, making it ideal for a last-minute meal, but it’s also healthful and filling!
	Mushroom Chicken Crepes Crepes are most thought of as a snack or dessert, but these Mushroom Chicken Crepes will completely change your mind. Crepes, it turns out, are the ideal savoury meal, and this exact recipe is creamy and tasty to the extreme!
	Low Fat Turkey Burgers Low-fat turkey burgers are a tasty and filling option; they’re lovely for lunches and dinners, and they’re effortless to make!
	Chicken Shepherd’s Pie This is an effortless dish that is great for using up a leftover rotisserie chicken. Of course, you could always make your chicken for this dish and then chop or shred it afterwards!

Cheap Pork and Bacon Recipes

These recipes will definitely win the heart of every adult and youngster!

	Slow Cooker Pea and Ham Soup The ham infuses this thick, meaty soup stock with great flavour! Use your leftover Christmas ham bone or a store-bought ham bone to make this dish. This may be made in the slow cooker or on the stove.
	Mushroom and Bacon Mini Quiches This Mushroom and Bacon Mini Quiche is a delicious breakfast or lunch snack that the whole family will enjoy.  This dish is versatile and delicious in a variety of ways!
	Hot Damn Bacon and Beans Casserole Nothing beats a Hot Damn Bacon and Beans Casserole when it comes to comfort food. These beans are excellent because they are filling, warm, and substantial, with many vibrant meat flavours.
	Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Sausages We make Slow Cooker Coconut Curry with Pork Sausages at least once a week during the colder months. It’s filling, hearty, and inexpensive! It can efficiently serve a family for less than $10 and freezes well!
	Sweet Chili Pork Chops These Sweet Chili Pork Chops are one of those quick weeknight dinners that provide a punch of flavour while only taking a few minutes in the kitchen.
	Juicy Pork Apple Meatball Juicy Pork Apple Meatballs are simple to create, and the ingredients are nearly always found in the kitchen. Plus, with the apple in the mix, it’s a step up from regular pork meatballs!
	Homemade Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls Sausage rolls are usually a favourite with the SAHM kids, but we like to change things up with this Homemade Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls. They’re savoury and packed with protein, but with a tangy edge that we adore.
	Bacon and Potato Soup Stay at Home Mum fans’ favourite winter warmer soup is Bacon and Potato Soup. We recommend making a large batch of bacon and potato soup so that you always have some on hand!
	Two-Ingredient Slow Cooker Sticky Ribs There are just two ingredients in this dish it’s effortless! You no longer have to toil hard in the kitchen to get a taste of pork spare ribs. Read on if you’re looking for ready-to-serve, two-ingredient slow cooker sticky ribs.
	Baked Ham, Cheese and Egg Toast Cups Breakfast should be a little more special. Baked Ham, Cheese, and Egg Toast Cups is a great dish to try! a delectable breakfast cooked in muffin tins!
	Pork Thai Omelette This is a beautiful variation on the conventional Omelette, and the rice noodles and egg mix will fill the whole family up! You can prepare this for one person for lunch or quadruple it in a large skillet for a family supper.
	Bacon and Zucchini Pasta I’m a big fan of recipes that don’t need a lot of cleanups. So this Pasta with Bacon and Zucchini is fantastic. One frying pan and one pasta pot That means a quick wash and a trip to the comfy chair!
	Salted Peanut Pork Larb This Salted Peanut Pork Larb is made with only a few ingredients and a lot of fresh herbs. A scoop of flavour and crunch that is well balanced. If you have a herb garden, this dish is even better!

Cheap Vegetarian Recipes

These dishes are those veggies that even picky eaters won’t get over with!

	San Choy Bow Rolls with Sauce San Choy Bow Rolls with Sauce is a lovely light summer meal that is highly satisfying. The only tricky part is detaching the rice paper rolls while they are still wet!
	Stuffed Capsicums An excellent brown rice and spice stuffing fill the capsicums! These are perfect for dinner parties or as a Christmas side dish!
	Loaded Sweet Potato Bake When it comes to filling up a child’s stomach, sweet potatoes are a great choice. You can make it in various ways, but this is one of my family’s favourites! Sweet potato bake well with almost any meal!
	Corn Fritters Are you looking for a simple side dish to go with your delicious steak or chook? Enjoy these Pea and Corn Fritters; they’re just as good cold the next day as they are hot off the grill.
	Scrambled Egg Muffins Scrambled Egg Muffins are filling and enjoyable to eat. Better than what you’d get in a restaurant or cafe!
	Spaghetti Omelettes The Spaghetti Omelette is a quick and simple breakfast or dinner option. It’s got your carbohydrates, protein, dairy, and veggies, so it’s good for you!
	Veggie Filled Bolognese Sauce Your kids don’t like veggies? Well, this recipe will be your hero!
	Broccoli Steaks A family-friendly dinner with plenty of veggies and protein! The roasted broccoli combination complements the steak’s flavours nicely!
	Frugal Vegetarian Lasagne A family-friendly dinner with plenty of veggies and protein. The roasted broccoli combination complements the steak’s flavours nicely!
	Vegan Lentil Bolognaise Lentil Bolognaise is a cheap and tasty meatless dinner that’s wonderful for the whole family and highly beneficial for you! Add a lot of spices if you’re on a weight-loss regimen, so your taste buds don’t grow bored!
	Roasted Vegetable Paella If you have some time on your hands, try the Roasted Vegetable Paella. It’s a tasty dish to try if you’re looking for something a bit different.
	Cabbage Pancakes Cabbage Pancakes are so delicious that your kids won’t even realise they’re veggies. And they’re delicious, so it’s a win-win!
	Red Lentil And Veggie Lasagne On Meatless Mondays, this Red Lentil And Veggie Lasagne is a sure bet. It is rich and filling, to the point that you won’t miss the mince at all!
	Broccoli and Garlic Quesadillas We usually strive to eat appropriately on a daily, but it’s a challenge! So we attempt to think of new and exciting ways to eat our meals that are both healthy and enjoyable. This Broccoli and Garlic Quesadillas is an excellent choice!
	Moroccan Mushrooms with Couscous Moroccan Mushrooms with Couscous is a delightful dish for a special occasion, and it’s also an excellent dish to have on hand from time to time. It’s simply fantastic!
	Lose a Kilo Soup This lose-a-kilo-soup is believed to promote weight loss by requiring more energy to process than it contains. It’s also incredibly filling, delicious, and keeps you full for a long time.
	Spinach Tomato and Ricotta Frittata Spinach Tomato and Ricotta Frittata is a lot to say, but it tastes incredible! It’s delectable at any time of day!
	Sweet Potato Impossible Pie When it’s done, it turns into a loaf that can be sliced into slices. It doesn’t require butter or even a side salad to be tasty it’s perfect on its own!
	Loaded Sweet Potato It’s full of flavour and could easily be made into a dinner or served as a side dish by adding chicken. You can even make fritters with the leftovers for breakfast!

Pizza, Pasta and Rice Recipes

Pizza…. oohhh! Just the thought of those luscious pizzas and pasta makes my heart drool!

	Faster Pasta This dish, which I dub “Faster Pasta,” is not only quick (it takes less than 12 minutes to prepare) but also inexpensive. This is a great way to use up leftovers!
	Impossible Pizza Impossible Pizza can be prepared in under 30 minutes, is extremely simple to prepare, and is ideal for times when you don’t feel like slaving in the kitchen!
	Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake When money gets tight, we need a few essential recipes up our sleeves to stretch the shopping budget, and one of them is this Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake what a delicious supper!
	Two Ingredient Greek Yoghurt Pizza Dough When you see how simple it is to create your own Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough, you’ll wonder why you ever bought it pre-made. This dough is straightforward to make and has a light tangy flavour that everyone will like!
	Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne With all the flavours and textures swirling around in just a mouthful, Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne is amazing! It’s not often that we get to eat something tasty while feeling slightly guilty.
	Chicken Rice Casserole Rice, chicken, and veggies layered in a soupy sauce with a crunchy topping a family favourite. It is a fantastic way to stretch any leftover chicken from the night before’s roast (or takeout).
	Greek Style Lamb Pizza Why pay for pizza when you can cook it yourself? This Greek-Style Lamb Pizza is the key!  This dish is a beautiful blend of Greek flavours and easy-to-find ingredients. It’s a must-have!
	Creamy Pasta Carbonara Creamy Pasta Carbonara is simple to prepare, and even the pickiest eaters will want more! Try using Skim Evaporated Milk for a lesser fat alternative – it has a wonderfully creamy texture without the high-fat level.
	Bacon Macaroni Casserole Having trouble getting your kids to eat home-cooked meals that don’t include chicken nuggets? Make this kid-friendly Bacon Macaroni Casserole and witness them lick their plates clean!
	Leftover Pasta Bake Pull all leftovers and odds and ends from the fridge and toss them into a pasta bake. Feel free to swap out any of the ingredients, depending on what you have on hand!
	Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Slow Cooker Beef Ragu is a tasty mince mixture that pairs well with pasta. It’s a touch heartier than our standard bolognese sauce, and it stores well!
	Fresh Fettuccine with Tomato and Basil Sauce Fresh tomatoes and basil are used to make this delectable sauce. The perfect late-summer treat!
	Very Veggie Fried Rice You could use any frozen or fresh vegetables from the back of the freezer or any vegetables from the fridge that you can shred and add to this beautiful and satisfying dinner.
	Simple Pad Thai Take a bite out of Thailand! This delicious Pad Thai dish is simple to prepare and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
	Home Made Fried Rice Fried rice is a superb side dish to serve with chicken, beef, or even an egg. It is a popular meal all over the world owing to its simplicity of preparation and flavour!
	Schmancy Macaroni Cheese If the grown-ups in the room grumble about the traditional macaroni and cheese, they won’t have anything to say about this one!
	Pasta Puttanesca This noodle is to die for with its very aromatic sauce. You’ll be desiring this pasta every week since it’s so flavorful and simple to make!
	Lemon Risotto Lemon Risotto is a light and satisfying dinner that is also inexpensive.  This is a fantastic dish for weeks when you’re on a budget, and it’ll satisfy any stomach!

Cheap Recipes for Pies, Slices and Pasties

We all want it! yummy slices that come at a cheap price!

	Bacon and Egg Pie It’s a classic dish that’s always a hit with the whole family, and it’s so simple to prepare!
	Easy Corn Quiche This Easy Corn Quiche is a quick and inexpensive meal that’s ideal for busy weeknights. The best part is that it can serve a family of four for less than $10! You may also include some other vegetables!
	Zucchini Slice It’s straightforward to make, delicious, and exceptionally adaptable. Since my youngest child was a few months old, this zucchini slice dish has been one of my favourites!
	Bacon and Veggie Slice There’s nothing better for lunchtime than a piece of bacon and a veggie slice; this is a simple dish that’s delicious and satisfying for the whole family!
	Pastry Free Beef Cheese Pie Without the crust, you may enjoy the deliciousness of beef pie. Everything you need for a great beef pie is right here!
	Sweet Potato and Lentil Sausage Rolls This delectable meatless Sweet Potato & Lentil Sausage Roll is one of the most sumptuous dishes we’ve ever had. Replace the egg with a spoonful of coconut oil and leave off the cheese!

Have you found any great cheap recipe ideas in this list? We hope so!!

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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