<p>When it comes to <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3338/best-weeknight-dinners/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:weeknight dinner" class="link ">weeknight dinner</a>, we’re all looking for something affordable, quick and easy, <em>and</em> satisfying (we’ve got to look forward to them all day, after all). These recipes hit all three criteria, with ease. You don’t have to drop major dough to make something delicious that can be on your table in an hour or less—save money by choosing cheaper proteins (we’re talking <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g2972/chicken-weeknight-dinners/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:chicken" class="link ">chicken</a>, ground proteins, or <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g1486/healthy-vegetarian-dinner-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:vegetarian" class="link ">vegetarian</a> options) and time by making these dishes all in <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/menus/g1467/one-skillet-dinners/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:one pan" class="link ">one pan</a>, in your fave kitchen appliance, or via some of our top kitchen shortcuts. Whatever your style, these 70 cheap and easy meals will please your entire family without breaking the bank.</p><p>One of the easiest ways to cut down on dinner costs is to go for cheaper cuts of meat, or utilizing more expensive ones in creative ways. Try adding <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g1703/ground-beef-dishes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:ground beef" class="link ">ground beef</a>, <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g2144/ground-turkey-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:turkey" class="link ">turkey</a>, or <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3472/ground-chicken-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:chicken" class="link ">chicken</a> to help bulk out old standbys, on the cheap. Try roasting a <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a22813471/classic-roast-chicken-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:whole chicken" class="link ">whole chicken</a> (or buying a <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g577/recipes-with-rotisserie-chicken/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:rotisserie chicken" class="link ">rotisserie chicken</a>), then utilizing it for everything from <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a26553728/best-buffalo-chicken-pizza-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:pizza" class="link ">pizza</a> to <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a38804544/shredded-chicken-tacos-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:tacos" class="link ">tacos</a> all week long. Try adding more expensive <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g2992/weeknight-seafood-dinners/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:seafood" class="link ">seafood</a> or steak to <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3176/weeknight-pasta-dinners/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:pasta" class="link ">pasta</a> or <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g129/rice-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:rice" class="link ">rice</a> to help make smaller, more affordable portions go further, like in our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a53820/easy-homemade-cajun-jambalaya-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Creole jambalaya" class="link ">Creole jambalaya</a>, our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a24856400/smoked-salmon-pasta-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:smoked salmon pasta" class="link ">smoked salmon pasta</a>, or our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19867560/creamy-steak-fettuccine-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:creamy steak fettuccine" class="link ">creamy steak fettuccine</a>. It’s all about the way you use the protein that matters, not avoiding them altogether.</p><p>If you’ve been on the fence about certain kitchen appliances, like <a href="https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/g4818/best-slow-cooker/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:slow-cookers" class="link ">slow-cookers</a>, <a href="https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/g4785/best-air-fryer/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:air fryers" class="link ">air fryers</a>, and <a href="https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/g40107996/best-instant-pots/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Instant Pots" class="link ">Instant Pots</a>, consider this your sign to take the plunge and get one. They help dinners come together SO fast, and truly, even we’re impressed with how often we use ours. We’ve got a number of creative recipes for them here, like our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25648007/crockpot-white-chicken-chili-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Crockpot white chicken chili" class="link ">Crockpot white chicken chili</a>, our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a36267482/air-fryer-chimichanga-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:air fryer chimichangas" class="link ">air fryer chimichangas</a>, or our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25137312/instant-pot-chicken-soup-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Instant Pot chicken noodle soup" class="link ">Instant Pot chicken noodle soup</a>, but check out our more in-depth lists for the <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g4711/air-fryer-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:air fryer" class="link ">air fryer</a> (over 100 recipes!), <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3951/instant-pot-recipes/?slide=9" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Instant Pot" class="link ">Instant Pot</a>, and <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g3849/best-slow-cooker-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Crockpot" class="link ">Crockpot</a> too.</p><p>Even if you’re not ready for another appliance, we bet you have some things in your kitchen already that’ll help you get dinner on the table fast, like <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g4267/sheet-pan-dinners/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:sheet pans" class="link ">sheet pans</a>, a <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g41030847/dutch-oven-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Dutch oven" class="link ">Dutch oven</a>, and <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g1702/casserole-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:casserole" class="link ">casserole</a> dishes. We’ve included a number of our favorite recipes here, like our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a37532321/chicken-pot-pie-casserole-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:chicken pot pie casserole" class="link ">chicken pot pie casserole</a>, our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a36828012/vegetarian-chili-mac-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:one-pot vegetarian chili mac" class="link ">one-pot vegetarian chili mac</a>, or our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25564755/sheet-pan-chicken-fajitas-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:sheet pan chicken fajitas" class="link ">sheet pan chicken fajitas</a>, but once you’ve got the basics down, feel free to get creative.</p><p>One of the best ways to save some money is to go meatless (and not just on Mondays). And we don’t mean by replacing proteins with all those high-priced meat substitutes (though we’re all about those sometimes)—no, instead we’re talking about making vegetarian meals out of cheap beans, <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g26001696/tofu-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:tofu" class="link ">tofu</a>, and plants. Try our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a58469/best-vegan-lasagna-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:vegan lasagna" class="link ">vegan lasagna</a>, our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a37269452/creamy-mushroom-pasta-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:creamy mushroom pasta" class="link ">creamy mushroom pasta</a>, our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a36973267/tofu-katsu-curry-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:tofu katsu curry" class="link ">tofu katsu curry</a>, or our <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a37051780/vegan-crunchwraps-recipe/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:vegan crunchwrap" class="link ">vegan crunchwrap</a> to see how versatile and filling these meals can be.</p><p>Want more cheap and easy meals? Check out our favorite <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g2134/five-ingredient-recipes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:5-ingredient meals" class="link ">5-ingredient meals</a>, our top <a href="https://www.delish.com/content/30-minute-meals/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:30-minute meals" class="link ">30-minute meals</a>, and food editor June’s entire <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAPH8D2AL8c&list=PLQGGrzFoybiODbgicKUBebtlgZDklbh81" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Budget Eats" class="link ">Budget Eats</a> series. You won’t believe what she comes up with for under $25!</p>