55 Cheap Summer Meals for Families on a Budget

Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pulled Pork is easy, tender, delicious and everyone always loves it!

With just 5 minutes of prep, this pulled pork crockpot recipe is ready to go before heading off for the day.

Serve it as sandwiches, nachos, or over rice!

This Easy Taco Pasta Salad is a kid-friendly summer meal that's loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors, perfect for Taco Tuesdays.

Quick to make, and always a crowd-pleaser, it’s also perfect for the next potluck or BBQ.

This tasty and juicy burger has a savory, sweet and smoky flavor that is sure to please, thanks to the cola and french dressing.

It’s a wildly addicting twist on the regular ol’ burger.

Save money and try an Arby's Market Fresh Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich right at home!

This recipe is very flexible, so you could add a little more or a little less of any of these ingredients, and you will come up with a great-tasting sandwich or wrap.

These budget-friendly Sausage Broccoli Foil Packets make a great dinner and only take 30 minutes to cook in the oven or the grill.

You’ll love that there’s only a few ingredients!

Fresh Tomato Bruschetta Pasta is a quick and easy no-cook sauce that’s perfect for summertime.

Fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and balsamic vinegar add so much flavor and texture to the summer tomatoes.

Pinwheels are the best type of recipe for the summer because you don’t have to heat anything up.

Totally customizable for your tastes, these are also fun to make ahead and take on a picnic, or to the ballpark, beach, or pool.

One of our favorite family dinners is this Dorito Taco Salad recipe with Nacho Cheese Doritos, hamburger, beans, tomatoes and lettuce!

So easy to make (or make ahead), it’s a delicious way to eat tacos in a cold, refreshing salad.

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.

Everyone will love customizing their chili cheese dogs with their own favorite toppings, and you’ll love how easy it was to put it together.

This delicious Tuna Pasta Salad is the perfect 15 minute meal for warm summer evenings.

It’s filling, inexpensive, and a great balance of flavors and textures.

Quick and Easy Chicken Caesar Wraps are light, healthy and delicious!

They are made in about 10 minutes and are perfect for a summertime lunch or simple dinner.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs are perfectly sweet and smoky and are the ultimate budget-friendly way to enjoy chicken during grilling season!

Marinated and glazed in a simple BBQ marinade, this sticky grilled chicken makes for such a quick, easy and delicious meal.

Cheeseburger Sliders with caramelized onions and melty cheese atop a toasty bun are the epitome of deliciousness.

They're perfect if you don't have a grill or you just want to enjoy burgers but cook indoors.

Believe it or not, a handful of ingredients tossed into the slow cooker makes the most tender flavorful chicken for tacos.

We do love a dinner that cooks itself while we're off enjoying a summer day!

If your family loves tacos and pizza, try this easy Mexican fiestada pizza recipe for a match made in heaven!

It’s easy to customize with your favorite taco-style fixings for an easy weeknight meal the whole family will devour.

Colorful and packed with flavor, Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad only takes 30 minutes to make.

Not only is it the perfect addition to a potluck or BBQ, but it makes great meal prep for weekday summer lunches or dinners.

A Classic Club Sandwich is hard to beat - filling and tasty, with the feeling of eating at your favorite diner.

These classic double decker sandwiches are some of the best: toasted bread piled high with plenty of meats, juicy tomatoes, and crisp lettuce.

The delicious quesadilla taste the whole family loves, made in baked form right in the oven.

Everyone will get such a kick out of this giant quesadilla concept!

Hobo Foil Packet Dinners have a whole burger covered in cheese and bacon on top of thinly sliced vegetables.

Warm and savory, they’re folded up in aluminum foil and are then cooked on the grill, campfire or in the oven for a hearty meal outside or in.

A fresh take on a salad classic! Grilling the romaine lettuce, bread, AND chicken totally enhances the salad's flavor beautifully.

The smokiness from the grill, alongside the easy tangy homemade dressing is truly a winning combo.

Keep your kitchen cool and use your slow cooker instead of the oven!

Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti is definitely a family favorite dinner that everyone will devour.

These viral Tik Tok Italian grinder sandwiches are made with crusty bread and packed with deli meat, cheese, and other delicious ingredients for a truly delicious sandwich.

Much cheap than buying everyone food from the deli!

This Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe promises a deliciously satisfying meal and is ready in under 30 minutes.

It combines juicy, seasoned chicken breast and fresh vegetables, all cooked together in one pan for restaurant quality flavor without the dining out price tag.

Crisp lettuce, sweet honey ham, and creamy pimento cheese, these Ham and Pimento Cheese Wraps are such a delicious quick and easy summer lunch or dinner.

Super delicious Taco Stuffed Shells are a great twist on classic Italian stuffed shells.

Jumbo pasta shells are filled with a creamy taco-flavored ground beef & vegetable mixture, topped with cheese, and baked.

Let the crockpot do the work with this creamy, cheesy Slow Cooker Crack Chicken and effortlessly create a simple, addictive, and flavor-packed meal!

A flavorful blend of shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and bacon, it tastes amazing on slider buns or as a dip.

If you need a quick and easy recipe that feeds a crowd, look no further than these Shrimp Fajitas!

With juicy shrimp and a flavorful fajita filling, you can also add more or different proteins to change it up for everyone's tastes.

This Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken kebab recipe features chunks of chicken marinated in a sweet and tangy huli huli sauce with peppers, onion, and pineapple.

It's an easy flavorful dish that's perfect for summer grilling.

Freezer friendly Cheesy Bean Burritos are the perfect way to fill up your family using budget-friendly pantry staples.

Soft flour tortillas filled with seasoned rice, veggies, beans and cheese are full of protein for a tasty and quick meatless main dish.

Say goodbye to boring and bland! These Turkey Burgers are thick, juicy, and packed with flavor.

Add your favorite toppings for a delicious burger that rivals any restaurant!

Easy, high-protein Mexican Tuna Salad is filled with canned tuna, black beans, veggies, cilantro, lime juice, spices, and a Greek yogurt and mayo mixture.

All your favorite southwest flavors are made in a chilled summer salad that can be served a million different ways!

Fire up the grill, because it’s time to make Basil Pesto Grilled Chicken Thighs!

Tender, juicy chicken thighs are made flavorful with bright basil pesto, zesty lemon, and just a touch of salt and pepper. This is the summertime entree of your dreams!

Elevate your sandwich routine with a new fun take on a classic - Cajun Egg Salad!

This recipe features the creamy egg salad you know and love, with the flavorful addition of bold Cajun spices.

Put it on a sandwich, in a wrap, or eat it with crackers or on a salad.

One Pot Taco Spaghetti is an easy and fun 30-minute recipe that combines the delicious flavors of tacos and spaghetti.

The perfect way to feed kids AND adults!

Slow cooker BBQ Hawaiian Roll Chicken Sliders are the ultimate delicious bite!

Perfect for a crowd, the combination of sweet BBQ sauce mixed with pineapple on a sweet Hawaiian roll makes these sliders the perfect vacation meal.

The perfect marriage of cheeseburgers and tater tot casserole, this dish is perfect for feeding kids and adults alike.

It’s savory and comforting, and uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients.

This Souvlaki Chicken Kebab recipe uses a simple marinade that is bright and tangy from the lemon juice and savory from the garlic and herbs.

It packs a ton of flavor and it's super easy to prepare.

Yep, ground beef can be transformed into a quick and delicious stir fry!

This easy Ground Beef Stir Fry recipe is made with seasoned ground beef and fresh vegetables in a quick sesame sauce that tastes better than takeout.

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. The best of both worlds!

These juicy Mediterranean Beef Kebabs are packed with flavor and one of our favorite dinners during grilling season.

Serve them with a big salad, rice, or Naan bread for a satisfying meal you’ll make again and again.

Grilled Chicken Wraps are perfect for a quick and light summer meal.

They’re so easy and inexpensive to make, and the flavors are incredible! Plus, who doesn’t love a ranch chicken combination?

Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks are the main entree you need in your life.

Not only does it pack a flavorful punch, but it’s very simple and easy to make a little or a lot.

The crisp yet tender chicken marinated in a sweet tangy sauce will quickly become a favorite for any occasion.

Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps are ready in minutes thanks to a rotisserie chicken and a quick Greek yogurt dressing.

Fresh, diced apples are the secret weapon. They lend a bit of sweetness and crunch to this simple chicken salad. Ready in less than 20 minutes!

This recipe takes everything you love about tacos and combines it into a classic grilled cheese.

Use classic taco ingredients like seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce and of course, a lot of cheddar cheese, or swap in your personal favorites!

This Crock Pot Spaghetti is perfect for those hot 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!

This 30 minute Loaded Potato Naan Pizza recipe has it all - creamy garlic herb spread and tender potatoes, plus cheddar, bacon bits, & green onions.

It’s a loaded potato; it’s a pizza; it’s the best of both worlds!

Homemade Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are easy to make and quick to throw together.

The sauce and the meat slow cook to become a wonderful sweet and tangy mixture that can make delicious sandwiches for a crowd.

Oven-Baked Sheet Pan Nachos have layers of tortilla chips, cheese, and ground beef and are loaded with your favorite nacho toppings!

This easy appetizer meal or appetizer is sure to be a crowd favorite!

Crockpot Mac and Cheese comes together beautifully in your slow cooker!

Not your ordinary macaroni and cheese though, because it’s extra creamy and full of flavor thanks to an amazing combo of milk, seasonings, plus cheddar and Velveeta cheese.

Homemade or frozen meatballs get simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce, then placed in a roll and topped with cheese.

The sandwiches are broiled until golden and the cheese is bubbly for a truly perfect bite.

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken is a delicious, healthy meal that packs big flavor.

With fresh tomatoes, garlic, balsamic, and Italian Seasoning, this will be your new go-to grill dinner for company or any weeknight.

Packed with shredded chicken drenched in spicy buffalo sauce and topped with a mix of Mozzarella and Blue Cheese, these Buffalo Chicken Sliders are crowd-pleasing and full of flavor.

If your family loves tacos or quesadillas, they’re really going to love the Taco Bell dupe.

A soft tortilla packed with layers of beef & cheese and a crispy tostada shell is folded and pan-fried until crisp.

It’s so fun to recreate your favorite fast food and skip the pricey drive-thru!

Shrimp Foil Packets are a delicious healthy-ish meal with all your favorite summer veggies.

Ready in just 12 minutes on your grill, campfire or even in the oven, this is great meal prep for all your future campouts, Sunday cookouts, or simply great weeknight dinners.

This delicious Chicken Enchilada recipe has flavorful shredded chicken rolled up in a soft, flour tortilla with cheese and all of your favorite fillings and toppings and smothered with enchilada sauce!