Quick & Cheap Kid-Friendly Family Dinners
Cheap family dinners for busy moms with picky eaters. These quick and easy homemade dinner recipes make frugal meal planning easy!
The struggle is real.
Inexpensive dinners that are easy to make AND the kids will actually eat?
They do exist!
With busy schedules, grocery prices through the roof, and little time or energy for cooking, we need some quick and easy meals.
I put together a list of quick and cheap family dinners that even picky eaters will like.
These budget-friendly dinner recipes include simple dump-and-go crockpot meals, easy skillet pasta dishes, and much more, with all the flavors kids love.
Between after school activities, packing lunches for picky kids, homework, and regular daily life, we all want to avoid the cranky chaos of dinnertime.
These easy dinners make it simple, because they:
- Are easy to prepare
- Use simple, affordable ingredients
- Will actually get eaten by your family
Let’s check ‘em out!
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Cheap Family Dinners
Bubble Up Pizza Casserole
Bubble Up Pizza Casserole only needs 6 ingredients! The biscuits ‘bubble up’ while baking to make a perfectly fluffy, soft, and pizza flavored filled casserole with cheese, pizza sauce, and pepperoni.
One Pot Taco Spaghetti
One Pot Taco Spaghetti is an easy 30-minute dinner recipe that combines the delicious flavors of tacos and spaghetti.
Baked Chili Cheese Dogs
Baked chili cheese dogs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! When you bake chili dogs in the oven, magic happens—they taste warm, fresh, and extra delicious.
Asian Steak Bites and Potatoes
Asian Steak Bites and Potatoes comes together in under 30 minutes, with everything cooked in just one pan for easy cleanup.
No-Boil Lasagna
Easy no-boil lasagna made with beef, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and super convenient oven-ready noodles.
Pepperoni Pizza Pockets (Mini Calzones)
If your family loves pizza, these are for you! Handheld foods are just so fun, and you can even make these ahead and to take on the go.
Easy Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Made with bone-in or boneless pork chops, Easy Honey Garlic Pork Chops get seared until golden, then simmered in the most delicious 5-ingredient honey garlic sauce.
Chicken Tortellini Alfredo (Panera Copycat)
Rich and creamy Chicken Alfredo Tortellini is made with a homemade alfredo sauce, this easy weeknight Panera copycat recipe is kid-friendly comfort food done right.
Tortilla Pizza
All you need to make this budget-friendly dinner are tortillas, shredded cheese, pizza sauce, and your favorite toppings.
Crock Pot Spaghetti
Crock pot Spaghetti is perfect for busy days when you know you aren’t going to have time to prepare dinner. Put everything in the slow cooker and leave it simmering all day.
Pizza Grilled Cheese
Gooey cheese and pizza toppings make Pizza Grilled Cheese a super fun twist on the classic sandwich.
Chicken Rigatoni
Easy Chicken Rigatoni serves up tender, bite sized chicken in a rich and creamy tomato sauce loaded with Italian flavors.
American Goulash
American Goulash is an easy, one-pot, classic comfort food made with ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles.
Pizza Sliders
Pizza Sliders are a great way to enjoy everybody’s favorite food in a new and delicious way. Mini buns are piled with rich pizza sauce, spicy pepperoni, and melted cheese.
Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas
You can put together Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas in no time. They’re fun to make and much easier than making individual quesadillas for your family.
Taco Grilled Cheese
With classic taco ingredients like seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce and of course, a lot of cheddar cheese, this recipe takes everything you love about tacos and grilled cheese.
Easy Pepperoni Rolls
Made with pizza dough, mozzarella, and pepperoni, then baked to bubbling, ooey-gooey perfection, these Easy Pepperoni Rolls taste just like something you’d order at a restaurant.
Spaghetti Pie
An amazingly tasty casserole of spaghetti, cheese and meaty goodness Spaghetti Pie is an easy weeknight dinner recipes that you’ll fall back on time and again.
Baked Ranch Chicken
Baked Ranch Chicken is so easy to make and packed with flavor. The shredded Italian cheese gives it a delicious cheesy taste, and the cornflakes add a nice crunch.
Chicken Taco Pizza
When you can’t decide between tacos or pizza, make Chicken Taco Pizza! It’s assembled and served like a pizza topped with everything you love about tacos.
Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Crock Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta has tender shredded chicken in a flavorful garlic parmesan sauce, for a vonvenient, versatile, and family-friendly meal that cooks itself.
Texas Toast Pizza
Texas toast pizzas use frozen garlic bread to make pizza night at home easy! Loved by kids and adults alike, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Make better-than-restaurant chicken tenders right in your air fryer. Kids will gobble these down, with their favorite dipping sauce of course.
Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna
With just 3 ingredients, this “lazy lasagna” is made using frozen ravioli for an incredibly easy hands-off dinner in the slow cooker!
Honey Chicken
Honey Chicken is tossed in a skillet with butter, honey, garlic, fresh lemon juice, spices, and soy sauce, and makes for a quick and easy 15-minute dish.
Easy Pepperoni Pasta Bake
Cheesy, gooey, and easy Pepperoni Pasta Bake is such a great twist for pizza night, and you can’t argue with only 4 ingredients!
Baked Chicken Parm Sliders
Chicken topped with a fresh marinara sauce topped with fresh mozzarella cheese and baked on Hawaiian sweet rolls and slathered with garlic butter.
Chili Mac
Chili Mac is made with elbow macaroni, ground beef, tomatoes, and topped with cheese for all those comfort food vibes we need during the week.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
Quick and simple Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas are made with fewer than 10 ingredients and just a few minutes of active prep time.
Taco Gnocchi Skillet
Taco-seasoned ground beef, plenty of vegetables, tender bites of gnocchi, melty cheese, and crushed tortilla chips.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Just like Mom used to make, this chicken and rice dish is easy enough for beginners because it’s a dump and bake casserole.
Easy Skillet Lasagna
Skillet lasagna with cottage cheese is a game changer if you're a fan of lasagna but dread the tedious process of putting it together.
Mexican Fiestada Pizza
If your family loves tacos and pizza, try this easy Mexican fiestada pizza recipe for a match made in heaven!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole combines juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and golden tater tots, all smothered in a rich and creamy ranch sauce.
Beef Pasta Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ditch the box and learn how to make meaty, creamy homemade hamburger helper completely from scratch for a healthy dinner any night of the week.
Shredded Mexican Chicken Casserole
Crazy easy Mexican Chicken Casserole is made with tender shredded chicken, salsa, black beans, corn, and a special blend of spices in an easy one-dish dinner.
Mini Meatloaves
A fun spin on the classic dinner dish, these Mini Meatloaves with a sweet, tangy glaze are as tasty as they are adorable!
Cheesy Dorito Chicken Casserole
Cheesy Dorito Chicken Casserole is full of chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, and Doritos. Kids and picky husbands alike gobble this down!
Chicken Taco Rice
Made with delicious Mexican flavors, Chicken Taco Rice is easy to make and eat, and packed full of delicious veggies.
Easy Stovetop Chili
Easy Stovetop Chili is healthy and hearty, with simple prep work. Everything cooks in one big pot on the stove in less than an hour.
Ground Beef Burrito Skillet
Ground beef burrito skillet has all of the flavors of a ground beef burrito in an easy, one-skillet dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
A classic, simple, and budget-friendly recipe, these Baked Chicken Drumsticks come out perfectly every time.
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Made with ground beef, sweet onion, green bell pepper, Bisquick and lots of melty cheese, you can have all the delicious flavors of a Philly cheesesteak, in a casserole!
Meatball Subs
Juicy, tender homemade (or frozen) meatballs are simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce, then placed in a roll and topped with cheese.
Easy Cheesy Cornbread Taco Casserole
Hearty and flavorful, Cheesy Cornbread Taco Casserole has layers of cornbread, taco seasoned ground beef, cheese, and your favorite toppings for a budget friendly dinner.
Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Tender chicken thighs, coated in a sweet and salty sauce is so good with just a simple bowl of plain white rice or other easy side.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Million Dollar Chicken casserole is topped with a creamy mixture of cheese, and crispy bacon, then baked until juicy and creamy.
Walking Tacos
Walking Tacos are a creative take on traditional tacos using seasoned ground beef mixed into bags of Fritos or Doritos, with all the taco fixings.
Pepperoni Pizza Chicken
Enjoy all the flavors of pizza, but on a chicken breast! It’s protein-packed, lower carb, and heartier for big eaters.
Beef Sheet Pan Quesadillas
The delicious quesadilla taste the whole family loves, made in baked form right in the oven. Your family will get such a kick out of this giant quesadilla concept!
Pantry Chicken Taco Soup
Made with canned pantry ingredients, this is the perfect dinner to make when you can’t get to the store. And it only takes 20 minutes to make!
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
The perfect marriage of cheeseburgers and tater tot casserole, this dish might make you nostalgic for childhood. It’s savory and comforting, and uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Homemade Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are quick to throw together, and the sauce and the meat slow cook to become a wonderful sweet and tangy mixture.
Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme
Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme includes a soft tortilla packed with layers of beef & cheese and a crispy tostada shell is folded and pan-fried until crisp.
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Layers of savory meat sauce, spaghetti, ricotta, and both mozzarella and parmesan cheese come together to make this bubbly, Million dollar Spaghetti Casserole.
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Believe it or not, a handful of ingredients tossed into the slow cooker makes the most tender flavorful chicken for tacos.
15-Minute Pizza Sloppy Joes
Pizza Sloppy Joes are filled with classic pizza flavors and layers of melty cheese, and they’re ready in just 15 minutes!
Cheesy Bean Burritos
Freezer-friendly Cheesy Bean Burritos will fill your family up using budget-friendly pantry staples. Soft flour tortillas get filled with seasoned rice, veggies, beans and cheese.
Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells
Taco Stuffed Shells feature jumbo pasta shells are filled with a creamy taco-flavored ground beef & vegetable mixture, topped with cheese, and baked.
One Pot Sloppy Joe Pasta
Simple one pot Sloppy Joe Pasta is just like the classic sandwich except instead of using hamburger buns, pasta gets stirred into a tangy tomato meat sauce.
Juicy Stovetop Turkey Burgers
Easy and juicy Turkey Burgers on the stove are made without egg or breadcrumbs, they’re deliciously flavored with simple seasoning, and come together in less than 30 minutes.
Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash
Easy, budget-friendly slow cooker Hamburger Hash is a decadent mash-up of ground beef and shredded potatoes covered in cheesy goodness.
Tender Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Hearty and flavorful Slow Cooker Rump Roast is full of tender, juicy meat and savory root veggies for a super easy meal that cooks itself.
Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti is made with chicken breasts cooked in a cream soup and cream cheese sauce, and loaded with cheddar cheese.
One Pot Pork and Veggie Rice
Pork, Veggie, and Rice bowl has a balance of flavors and textures just might get your kids to eat more vegetables. Best of all, it cooks in just one pot!
Ready to try some quick and easy family dinners?
I hope this list of cheap family dinners has given you tons of new recipes to add to your frugal meal plan.
From pasta dishes and chicken dinners, to sandwiches, casseroles, easy crock pot meals, there’s something for everyone!
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