80 Cheap & Easy Dinner Recipes So You’ll Never Cook A Boring Meal Again


1

Chicken Stir-Fry

chicken stir fry with broccoli, cashews, and red pepper
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

A stir fry is our go-to weeknight dinner when we just don’t have the energy to spend a long time in the kitchen or hit the grocery store—this recipe is no exception. Make it as is for our best-ever version, then use it as a jumping-off point to create your perfect chicken stir-fry.

Get the Chicken Stir-Fry recipe.

2

Indian Butter Chickpeas

indian butter chickpeas and rice in a bowl with pita
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
3

Sheet-Pan Tikka Masala

chicken thighs covered in a tikka masala sauce with pickled red onions and jalapenos on a sheet pan
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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4

Classic Stuffed Peppers

colorful stuffed peppers with ground beef and tomato rice
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON
5

Sesame Tofu & Broccoli

crispy baked tofu tossed with a sweet and savory chili spiked sesame sauce and crisp tender broccoli
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.

6

Egg Roll Bowls

ground pork, cabbage and carrot in a bowl
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you’re a fan of crispy, savory egg rolls, then you might consider this unwrapped version your dream dinner. Without the need to wrap or fry, this veggie-packed meal comes together in well under an hour. Garnish with crispy raw scallions, toasted sesame seeds, and plenty of sriracha or chili oil.

Get the Egg Roll Bowls recipe.

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7

Creamy Corn Pasta

creamy corn pasta
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP

Don’t be fooled by the name—this pasta has no cream. Instead, you’ll puree fresh corn, sautéed garlic, and scallions into a luscious sauce that’s topped with Parmesan, basil, and even more corn. With just these few ingredients, you can have a crowd-pleasing pasta dish on the table in only about 30 minutes.

Get the Creamy Corn Pasta recipe.

8

Mexican Chicken Casserole

mexican chicken casserole topped with diced tomatoes, jalapenos and avocado
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
9

Mexican Beef ‘N Rice Skillet

mexican beef 'n rice skillet topped with melty cheese and cilantro
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER, FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

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10

Crispy Sheet-Pan Black Bean Tacos

crispy sheet pan black bean tacos on a sheet pan with a bowl of sour cream
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
11

Hamburger Casserole

a casserole dish filled with elbow macaroni, ground beef, and a creamy sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

A cheeseburger is one of the most perfect foods on Earth, but it can be hard to replicate the perfection of a restaurant-quality burger in the comfort of your own home. This hamburger casserole captures the same magic in the form of an easy weeknight meal.

Get the Hamburger Casserole recipe.

12

Chicken Tamale Pie

chicken tamale pie in a skillet with sour cream
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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13

Skillet Eggplant Parm

skillet eggplant parm
Andrew bui
14

Taco Spaghetti

taco spaghetti
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

One-pot taco spaghetti is a fast-as-can-be weeknight dinner that pairs all your favorite taco fixin’s with spaghetti rather than taco shells. Everything comes together in one pot—from browning the beef to simmering the sauce, even boiling the spaghetti!

Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe.

15

Creamy Tuscan Butter White Bean Skillet

cast iron skillet filled with creamy tuscan white beans topped with basil, with toast alongside
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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16

Sloppy Joes

sloppy joes served on a toasted bun with chips
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you’re craving a reliable, nostalgic, easy (and cheap) weeknight dinner, then there’s no debate: A sloppy Joes’ night is in order. The perfect answer to, “How far can I stretch this package of ground beef?” these only require a handful of simple ingredients (that you might already have!) to create a classic family dinner.

Get the Sloppy Joes recipe.

17

Chicken & Broccoli

stir fried pieces of chicken and broccoli
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
18

Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies

garlicky shrimp and veggies baked on a sheet pan
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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19

Shrimp Tacos

seasoned and seared shrimp topped with crisp cabbage slaw and creamy pickled jalapeno crema on a toasted corn tortilla
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Pan-seared shrimp get seasoned with homemade taco seasoning and drizzled with lime juice, then piled into a charred corn tortilla with crisp cabbage slaw and topped with jalapeno-garlic crema (a game changer). Whip these up for an easy weeknight dinner ready in under 45 minutes (!!) that is sure to impress.

Get the Shrimp Tacos recipe.

20

Peruvian-Style Chicken With Green Sauce

peruvian style chicken drizzled with green sauce and served with lime
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE
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