These budget friendly dinner ideas are designed to help provide you with delicious inspiration when planning your weekly grocery shop so that you can try and keep costs down without compromising on flavour. Find your new weeknight favourite!
With the cost of a weekly grocery shop for families getting more and more expensive I realised it was more important than ever to be sharing recipes that were not only affordable, but delicious enough that you actually wanted to be cooking them!
I’ve now done 2 seasons of my budget-friendly meal series over on Instagram, and through developing these recipes I’ve learnt that cheap definitely doesn’t have to mean boring!
All of the recipes you’ll find in this collection have been created with a conscious effort to be not only low cost, but easy enough that you’ll actually want to cook them on a weeknight. These recipes are under $3 AUD per serve, with most recipes serving 4. That’s $12 per meal time!
Now I do disclaim that grocery prices fluctuate and may be different wherever you live, but these recipes aim to provide you with inspiration and a guide to show you that you can still use budget ingredients to create exciting and delicious meals.
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28 Budget Friendly Weeknight Dinner Ideas
1. Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs
These pork meatballs are a fun and easy twist on a classic takeaway favourite that the whole family will love! Juicy pork meatballs are simmered in a sweet and tangy homemade sauce with capsicum and pineapple, then served over rice for a super satisfying, and full of flavour, weeknight dinner in around 40 minutes.
2. Chicken Teriyaki Burgers
If you’re looking to switch things up for burger night, then try these simple chicken teriyaki burgers that come together in just 30 minutes! They are made with juicy grilled chicken patties coated in a sweet and sticky teriyaki glaze and served on a toasted bun with lettuce, mayo and the easiest pickled cucumbers.
3. Easy Pea and Bacon Risotto
Risotto shouldn’t be hard or complicated! This easy pea and bacon risotto uses simple, everyday ingredients to create a delicious and creamy risotto at home that is perfect for a cosy weeknight meal. This dairy free and gluten free recipe is sure to be a go-to for busy nights, no matter the season.
4. Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks
Turn budget-friendly chicken drumsticks into the perfect dinner to feed a crowd. With a sweet, salty and sticky marinade made from just 4 ingredients, these drumsticks are so full of flavour, and can be served on their own at a party or over rice for a delicious weeknight meal.
5. Satay Chicken Skewers
These satay chicken skewers are tender, marinated pieces of chicken grilled and served with a simple and creamy homemade satay sauce. They are quick to prepare with simple and flavourful ingredients. These skewers can be served on their own with extra sauce, or over rice for a full weeknight meal the whole family can enjoy!
6. Korean Beef Bowls
Looking for a way to use beef mince that isn’t bolognese or cottage pie? Then you need to try these Korean beef bowls. They are inspired by the flavour of classic bulgogi but can be on the dinner table in just 20 minutes! Made with an easy and flavourful sauce, this recipe is perfect for weeknights.
7. Lemon Garlic Chicken Tray Bake
When you’re looking for a simple, stress free dinner then you can’t go wrong with a tray bake! This garlic and lemon chicken tray bake is the perfect weeknight one pan meal with just 10 minutes hands on prep time. Made with just a few everyday ingredients, everyone is going to love this recipe.
8. Baked Potato Soup
The ultimate in comfort food, this potato soup is thick, creamy and comforting, loaded with crispy bacon, dairy free cheese, and spring onions. It’s everything you love about a baked potato made into an easy and deliciously cosy soup!
9. Budget Fried Rice
Throughout my uni days, I would make this recipe at least once a week. This fried rice comes together in under 20 minutes and costs just $1.84 per serve! It is made with simple ingredients that you may already have in your fridge and pantry and is easily adaptable, making it a go-to recipe for busy weeknights.
10. Spinach Pesto Pasta with Grilled Chicken
This spinach pesto pasta with chicken is a healthy and budget-friendly recipe that you’ll want to make again and again. A bright and vibrant pesto made with baby spinach and almonds, served with a perfectly grilled chicken breast.
11. Savoury Mince
An absolute classic Australian dish that is perfect for weeknight cooking or for meal prep. This simple mince recipe is so easy to make, and tastes even better reheated! It’s also really versatile, being served over toast, mashed potato, rice or wrapped in puff pastry for an easy pie or pastie.
12. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
This slow cooker honey garlic chicken takes budget-friendly chicken drumsticks and cooks them in a sweet, salty, and savoury sauce until tender and juicy. This chicken is perfect served over rice for an easy and delicious dinner.
13. Chilli Beef Noodles
These 20 minute chilli beef noodles are the best way to use inexpensive ingredients like mince and instant noodles to create a delicious and flavourful meal, perfect for busy weeknights or late night dinners.
14. Ham and Pineapple Pizza
Love it or hate it, this classic, family favourite ham and pineapple pizza is so easy to make and is perfect for homemade pizza night. Made using my easy pizza dough recipe, this pizza is not only delicious but budget friendly as well. Skip the delivery and make this instead!
15. Creamy Lemon Risoni with Grilled Chicken
This creamy lemon risoni with grilled chicken is a simple and delicious dairy free weeknight dinner. Made with just a few ingredients, you’ll love the contrast of the creamy pasta with the perfectly grilled pieces of chicken breast.
16. Sausage and Spinach Orecchiette
This recipe was created out of the ingredients I had on hand one day and needed a simple and delicious dinner. This pasta combines beef sausage with garlic, herbs, baby spinach, peas and fresh lemon to create a delicious and easy dinner in just 20 minutes!
17. Taco Bowls
These taco bowls are easy, versatile and so delicious! With a base of rice and shredded lettuce, topped with a flavourful beef mince, corn and avocado, this is the ultimate weeknight dinner recipe that is super flexible and therefore great for fussy easters!
Vegetarian Budget Friendly Dinners
18. Crispy Black Bean Tacos
Once of my favourite cheap meals, these crispy black bean tacos are the ultimate easy and delicious weeknight recipe. With a spicy, vegetarian black bean filling these tacos are oven baked to get super crispy and then served with your favourite toppings to create a satisfying and easy dinner.
19. 5 Minute Sweet and Spicy Noodles
One of my most popular recipes and it’s easy to understand why! These noodles come together in just 5 minutes making it the perfect quick and easy vegetarian. Made using just a few ingredients and a healthy serving of vegetables for good measure, this is sure to be a recipe you’ll make over and over again!
20. Pumpkin and Chickpea Curry
This pumpkin and chickpea curry is a delicious and easy vegan weeknight dinner idea, served with rice and roti. It’s budget friendly, comes together in just 30 minutes, plus tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or freezing.
21. Vegetable Minestrone Soup
This easy vegetable minestrone soup is hearty, budget-friendly, and packed with flavour. With loads of vegetables, cannellini beans and pasta in a rich tomato broth, it’s a wholesome and satisfying dairy free meal, made with simple pantry staples.
22. Easy Peanut Butter Noodles
Every time I make these noodles, I am blown away by how much flavour they have for a dish that takes just 10 minutes! They are a great option for a quick lunch or dinner when you don’t really feel like cooking.
23. Teriyaki Tofu
This easy teriyaki tofu is a delicious weeknight meal that takes just 15 minutes to make! Crispy, golden pieces of tofu are cooked with a sticky and savoury homemade teriyaki sauce that is packed with so much flavour, it’s better than anything store-bought. Serve it with rice and broccoli for an easy weeknight dinner that will satisfy that craving for takeaway.
24. Dairy Free Tomato Soup
AS soon as the weather gets cold, I make this soup! It is packed full of flavour with a smooth and creamy texture while still being dairy free. Made using basic pantry ingredients including canned tomatoes, this recipe is easy enough for a weeknight and tastes so delicious!
25. Vegan Cauliflower Alfredo
A rich and creamy vegan cauliflower alfredo sauce made without cream or cheese. This creamy dairy free pasta sauce is so indulgent, you’d never know it’s made with hidden vegetables.
26. Kale Salad with Air Fried Tofu
This is one of my favourite recipes to meal prep for weekly lunches or an easy dinner. The secret is the super creamy and simple avocado yoghurt dressing combined with the crispy texture of my favourite tofu nuggets made in the air fryer.
27. Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
This Thai red curry noodle soup is packed with so much flavour. With tender pieces of tofu, broccoli, vermicelli noodles and fresh lime, this soup is quick and easy making it perfect for busy weeknights.
28. Vegetable Fritters
A classic simple recipe that you can make when you don’t have much in the house. They are packed with carrot, corn and peas but can easily be adapted to use whatever vegetables you have on hand making it perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
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