28 Dinners Beneath $3 Per Serving

Meal time doesn’t should break the bank to style wonderful. Right here at The Keep At Dwelling Chef, we’re all about restaurant-quality recipes you may simply make at residence. With just a few pantry staples and a bit of creativity, you may put a hearty meal on the desk with out spending greater than $3 per serving. These recipes are proof that inexpensive can nonetheless imply flavorful, filling, and family-approved.

We’re speaking consolation meals classics, one-pan wonders, and comfy soups that make the entire home odor unbelievable, with out stretching the grocery funds too far. Whether or not you’re feeding choosy eaters, cooking for 2, or attempting to maintain prices down for an enormous household, these meals will hold everybody full and comfortable with out breaking the financial institution.

1. Hen and Dumplings

This one’s all about cozy vibes. It is obtained tender hen, fluffy dumplings, and a wealthy broth that simply seems like residence.Cash-saving tip: Stretch the meal by utilizing shredded rotisserie hen. It is typically cheaper per pound than any reduce.

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Two Slices of Momma's Meatloaf on a plate with mashed potatoes and green peas.

2. Momma’s Meatloaf

Juicy, flavorful, and topped with that candy glaze. That is the form of meatloaf everybody truly needs seconds of.Cash-saving tip: Stretch your floor beef with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers—you’ll save a couple of bucks with out anybody noticing.

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Closeup of Chicken Pot Pie Casserole plated.

3. Hen Pot Pie Casserole

All of the goodness of pot pie, however manner simpler. It is a creamy hen filling topped with buttery biscuitsCash-saving tip: Use frozen veggies and leftover hen to maintain prices low and dinner stress-free.

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4. Hen Noodle Soup

Nothing beats an enormous pot of hen noodle soup, particularly when it tastes like consolation in a bowl.Cash-saving tip: Frozen blended veggies work simply in addition to contemporary, they usually’re cheaper too.

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Closeup of cheeseburger casserole on a plate with a fork.

5. Loaded Cheeseburger Casserole

Assume cheeseburger night time, however in casserole kind, and no drive-thru. It is beefy, tacky, and whole weeknight consolation meals.Cash-saving tip: Swap in some mushrooms or bell peppers for a part of the meat to stretch your greenback and sneak in veggies.

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Low cost Eats Meal Plan

If planning dinner each night time seems like a full-time job, we’ve obtained you lined. Our Cheap Eats Meal Plan takes out all of the guesswork. We’re speaking ready-to-go grocery lists and done-for-you menus so that you don’t should assume twice about what’s for dinner. It’s budget-friendly, stress-free, and makes weeknights a lot simpler.

12. One Pot Queso Hen and Rice

Tacky, creamy, and filled with taste, this one pot dinner is a complete crowd pleaser.Cash-saving tip: Use store-brand shredded cheese to maintain the flavour huge and the price small.

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13. Sloppy Joes

Candy, tangy, and messy in one of the best ways, these Sloppy Joes are at all times successful.Cash-saving tip: Skip the buns and serve over rice for a less expensive twist.

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I understand how powerful it may be to give you dinner concepts night time after night time, particularly whenever you’re attempting to maintain prices down. That’s why I like meals like these. They’re comforting, budget-friendly, and no one on the desk seems like they’re “low cost eats.” You get full bellies, comfortable faces, and extra room in your grocery funds for enjoyable extras like dessert or a flowery espresso.

Creamy potato soup served into a white bowl.

14. Creamy Potato Soup

Wealthy and velvety potato soup that tastes like pure consolation in a bowl.Cash-saving tip: Depart the skins on the potatoes to save lots of time and get extra vitamins.

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Wooden spoon filled with goulash being held over a stockpot.

15. American Goulash

This nostalgic pasta dish is hearty, saucy, and excellent for feeding a hungry household.Cash-saving tip: Purchase pasta in bulk for the most effective value and retailer it in hermetic containers.

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A plate filled with cooked and seasoned sausage and vegetables.

16. Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies

A simple all-in-one dinner with roasted sausage and colourful veggies that makes cleanup easy.Cash-saving tip: Use no matter veggies are on sale or in season to maintain prices low.

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17. Pasta e Fagioli

Hearty pasta and beans in a flavorful broth that seems like an Italian hug in a bowl.Cash-saving tip: Dried beans are cheaper than canned and make an enormous batch when you have time to soak them.

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24. Simple Fried Cabbage

Easy, buttery, and surprisingly hearty, fried cabbage is fast to make and stuffed with taste.Cash-saving tip: Purchase an entire head of cabbage as an alternative of pre-shredded baggage for main financial savings.

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Shot of Creamy Vegetable Soup in large pot.

25. Creamy Vegetable Soup

A comfortable bowl of creamy veggie soup that’s each filling and straightforward on the pockets.Cash-saving tip: Frozen blended greens make this budget-friendly and a breeze to throw collectively.

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A close up view of a plate of hobo casserole.

26. Hobo Casserole

Layers of beef, potatoes, and veggies baked right into a hearty, no-frills dinner that feeds a crowd.Cash-saving tip: Swap contemporary potatoes for frozen diced hash browns to save lots of prep time and a bit of money.

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A plate filled with Slovak Haluski, with a fork set on the plate.

27. Haluski

Buttery noodles tossed with sautéed cabbage make this easy, filling Japanese European basic.Cash-saving tip: Cabbage is among the most cost-effective greens year-round, so top off when it’s on sale.

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A hand holding chopsticks scooping out some chicken fried rice from a bowl.

28. Hen Fried Rice

Higher than takeout and an ideal manner to make use of up leftover rice, this fried rice is quick, filling, and budget-friendly.Cash-saving tip: Make further rice earlier within the week so you may flip the leftovers into this simple dinner.

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Cooking on a funds doesn’t should really feel limiting. With these 28 dinners, you’ve obtained consolation meals, fast weeknight favorites, and loads of cozy meals that hold each your loved ones and your pockets comfortable. Every recipe proves you may serve up one thing hearty and flavorful with out spending greater than $3 per serving.

And if you wish to make life even simpler, don’t neglect to take a look at our Cheap Eats Meal Plan. We’ve executed all of the pondering for you. Every week is full with grocery lists and ready-to-go menus so dinner feels much less like a chore and extra like a win. Save this roundup to Pinterest or bookmark it for later, as a result of these are recipes you’ll come again to time and again.

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