5 Budget-Friendly Dinner Menus for Busy Weeks

By Carl Hanson
Updated October 14, 2020

Meal planning is always time consuming. But when you're planning complete meals that are healthy, fuss-free, and also budget friendly, the degree of difficulty goes off the charts. We can simplify things for you. Here are five simple, budget-friendly meals that will help get you through even the busiest weeks. 

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Budget Pasta Night – Italian Style!

Credit: FoodFan

Less costly than spaghetti and meatballs, Spaghetti Carbonara calls on eggs, a little bacon, and Parmesan cheese to add big flavor to simple spaghetti noodles. Pair it up with a healthy mixed green salad with artichokes. 

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Cheaper Chinese Menu

Credit: OkinawanPrincess

Restaurant-style egg drop soup and a quick veggie-rich stir-fry are so easy on the budget, you'll have money left over to add in a few extras. Enjoy the stir-fry over cooked rice.  

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Budget-Friendly Authentic Greek Menu

Credit: Diana Moutsopoulos

Our resident expert Diana Moutsopoulos describes authentic Greek cooking as "rustic, unfussy, and astonishingly simple, with most dishes relying on just a handful of ingredients." This menu is a great example, featuring fasolatha, the national Greek dish; a simple baked zucchini and potato dish, and Greek-style green beans. You might also like the best budget-friendly recipes for the Mediterranean diet. 

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Chili Night Menu

Here's an inexpensive and fast weeknight menu. If you like, garnish the turkey chili with shredded Cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, and sour cream, and serve with a side of baked cornbread. If you're in a time crunch, it's also delicious with crackers.

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Budget-Minded Roast Chicken Feast

To save money on roast chicken, choose smaller broiler/fryers. Roast the red potatoes along with the bird. Baby carrots gussied up with butter and dill make an inexpensive side.

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By Carl Hanson