Feed the Family on a Budget with These Cheap Dinner Ideas

1) Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup 

It's hard to beat a Crock Pot for turning inexpensive ingredients into a heavenly meal. Chicken thighs work best in this dish, dark meat especially, but nearly any chicken can work. 

2) Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata 

The basic veggie soup is surprisingly filling. Beans, broccolini, tomato, and quinoa make a full bowl that may fuel an afternoon or satisfy a dinner want.

3) Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese 

Nothing beats mac and cheese for filling bellies! What makes this extra easy is that the macaroni cooks right in the sauce. So you don't have to boil it ahead of time! 

4) Our Best-Ever Chicken Pot Pie 

Puff pastry makes this extra-yummy pot pie both simple and delicious! 

5) Slow Cooker Potato Soup 

Serve this staple-filled soup with good, crusty bread for a simple, effective, and delicious meal. 

6) Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings 

Perhaps the only thing more warming and delicious than chicken soup on a cold day is chicken and dumplings. 

7) One-Pot Butternut Squash Soup 

This fast stovetop recipe skips roasting, but is steeped in flavor. And with just a few ingredients (mostly squash), it's easy on the wallet! You can skip the brandy and use a little more cider to save some cost. 

8) Easy, Delicious Chicken Parmesan 

Some chicken cutlets and pantry staples — and plenty of Parmesan, of course — can quickly turn into this family favorite. 

9) Tuna Melt 

The underrated tuna melt, that staple of diners and lunch plates everywhere, deserves to be making a big time comeback. 

10) Tamale Pie 

If you're looking for a way to use ground beef in a spicy, simple dinner that'll make the whole family happy, then you've just found your recipe for tonight! 

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