With grocery prices going up every day, it is natural that your monthly budget will exceed what you have thought. After figuring out a monthly budget, it is necessary that you make a list of cheap family meals and easy dinner ideas under $10 to get you through the month. 

Your dinner ideas can be cheap, but they do not have to be boring. These easy dinner ideas under $10 are quite budget-friendly and flavorful. These are some of the top 10 affordable meals that can feed a family of four. Here are some of those meals listed. 

18 Easy Dinner Ideas Under $10

It doesn’t matter if you are preparing a regular or celebratory meal. These easy dinner ideas will be your savior when you are running low on cash. These are going to get you an amazing meal without breaking the bank.  

1. Spanish Rice Soup

This delectable Spanish Rice Soup is one of the most affordable recipes, costing just over three dollars. You can get some toppings like fresh herbs, sour cream, lime, cheese, and avocado with a little extra dollar. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Peppers and Frozen Onions: $1.38 

Canned Corn: $0.50 

Black Beans: $0.78 

Spanish Rice: $1.26 

Total: $3.92 

2. Ramen Noodle Stir Fry With Vegetables

It is common for us to grab ramen when we are running low on budget. However, this noodle recipe is something that you have never prepared before. Ramen noodles stir fry is a delicious and flavorful meal and it is nothing like your college meals. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Stir-Fry Vegetables: $2.48 

3 Packages of Noodles (Ramen): $1.08 each 

Total: $3.56 

3. Crescent Roll Sausage Egg Casserole

This budget-friendly recipe is a popular choice. Even though it is cheap, it tastes like a gourmet recipe. This is one of those easy dinner ideas for family members who love simple yet hearty meals with a lot of nutrition. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Crescent Rolls: $1.98 

1/2 Package Sausage: $1.38 

6 Eggs: $2.44 

Total: $5.80 

4. Chicken And Rice Casserole With Broccoli

While on a budget, you might think of cutting meat completely. However, you can have meat while saving money as well. You can prepare chicken casserole with canned chicken. Prepare a high-value meal on a low-cost budget. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Chicken Soup: $0.68 

Mushroom Soup: $0.68 

Wild Rice Mix: $1.22 

Canned Chicken: $1.26 

Frozen Broccoli: $0.98 

Total: $4.82 

5. Creamy Tomato Bacon Pasta 

Pasta is everyone’s favorite. Moreover, this creamy tomato bacon pasta is cheap, but it tastes like something you would get in a high-end restaurant. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Pasta: $0.98 

Diced Tomatoes: $0.88 

Alfredo Sauce: $1.74 

Bacon Bits: $1.70 

Total: $5.30 

6. Cheese Manicotti

Manicotti looks like a costly meal, but this easy cheese manicotti will be your favorite once you make it. You will not find a more delectable or budget-friendly meal. To keep the cost down, you can keep it vegetarian. And if you have the budget for adding meat to it, you can always make it innovative. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Manicotti Pasta: $1.68 

Mozzarella Cheese: 1.00 

Ricotta Cheese $2.48 

Pasta Sauce: $1.18 

Total: $6.34 

7. White Bean And Spinach Soup 

Eating cheap does not mean that you must make your meals poor. You can make sure that all your meals are filled with nutrients, including ingredients like spinach soup and white beans. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Onion: $0.55 

Cannellini Beans: $0.78 

Diced Tomatoes: $1.36 

Frozen Spinach: $1.12 

Total: $3.81 

8. Black Bean Enchilada Casserole 

If you want a nutritious meal for your family, this is your choice. This is the meal that is going to be easy on your pocket and would be a good source of fiber and protein. You can feed your whole family a fulfilling meal without costing a lot. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Pinto Beans: $0.78 

Enchilada Sauce $1.54 

Black Beans: $0.78 

Corn Tortillas: $1.98 

Canned Corn: $0.50 

Total: $5.58 

9. Lentil Spaghetti

Lentils are an easy and cheap way to innovate and add nutrition to any dish. You can just throw them in your spaghetti sauce. There is not much difference in the taste; it’s just that the meal becomes more nutritious and heartier. It is an amazing idea to feed your kid if they refuse proteins. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Lentils: $1.34 

Spaghetti: $0.98 

Pasta Sauce: $1.18 

Squash and frozen Zucchini: $1.92 

Total: $5.42 

10. Rice And Red Beans 

Red beans and rice are one of the easy dinner ideas you can prepare at a meager cost. This one is specifically prepared with rice mix and red beans, and you end up with a hearty, wholesome meal. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Kielbasa Sausage: $3.46 

Rice mix and Zatarain’s red beans: $2.52 

Total: $5.98 

11. Sweet Corn Risotto 

This is a meal best consumed fresh. However, if you want to store it, you can also do that in an airtight container. You can store it in a freezer for 4 days. But the texture does not hold well when you store it. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Corn cobs: $0.99 

Small, sweet onion: $0.94 

Salted butter: $0.42 

Arborio rice: $2.28 

White wine: $0.58 

Vegetable broth: $1.45 

Shredded parmesan cheese: $2.71 

Total: $9.37 

12. Grilled Vegetables 

It’s summertime, and you are thinking about what to eat. Well, there is nothing better than a bowl of grilled vegetables. It might take some time to prepare, but nothing is lighter and more nutritious than grilled vegetables. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Mini bell peppers: $1.44 

Red onion: $1.23 

Zucchini: $0.93 

Mushrooms: $1.04 

Cherry tomatoes: $1.66 

Sugar: $0.01 

Steak seasoning: $0.12 

Minced garlic: $0.05 

Yellow squash: $0.89 

Olive oil: $0.27 

Total: $7.64 

13. Grilled BBQ Chicken

There is nothing unlikable about a scrumptious portion of grilled BBQ chicken. If you are looking for easy dinner ideas for two, this serves the purpose. This sizzling, saucy chicken meal is an amazing, cheap dinner idea. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Chicken breasts: $8.03 

Sea salt: $0.01 

Smoked paprika: $016 

Olive oil: $0.36 

Black pepper: $0.11 

BBQ sauce: $0.25 

Brown sugar: $0.03 

Total: 8.95 

14. Grilled Salmon

This is a real treat, but you can also have it as a budget-friendly meal. You can prepare this meal and surprise your partner even when you want to save money. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Atlantic Salmon: $8.61 

Lemon: $0.50 

Vegetable Oil: $0.04 

Sea Salt: $0.02 

Black Pepper: $0.10 

Total: $9.27 

15. Watermelon Gazpacho 

Chilled soup might not sound appealing. But this sweet and savory Watermelon Gazpacho  will change your mind forever. Try this one, and your mind will be blown. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Sherry Vinegar: $0.69 

Olive oil: $0.57 

Salt: $0.01  

Black pepper: $0.03 

Watermelon: $2.34 

Cucumber: $0.64 

Bell pepper: $1.48 

Roma tomatoes: $0.63 

Red onion: $0.30 

Jalapeno: $0.40 

Basil: $0.89 

Parsley: $0.12 

Total: $8.10 

16. Watermelon And Feta Salad

A tasty fruit salad with an amazing vinegar dressing is one of the best options for any summer meal. And that too at a meager cost. The sweet taste of watermelon combined with the saltiness of feta cheese is going to tease your tastebuds subtly. 

Ingredients and Cost 

White vinegar: $0.02 

Olive oil: $0.34 

Salt: $0.01 

Black pepper: $0.08 

Homemade balsamic glaze: $0.58 

Watermelon: $1.98 

Feta cheese: $2.88 

Cucumber: $0.64 

Red onion: $0.46 

Fresh mint: $0.89 

Fresh parsley: $0.16 

Total: $8.04 

17. Fried Green Tomatoes 

Fry the green tomatoes in a tangy buttermilk batter, and the end result will blow your mind. The crispy batter creates a crunchy crust over the green tomatoes and makes a wholesome meal.  

Ingredients and Cost 

Green tomatoes: $3.49 

All-purpose flour: $0.07 

Cornmeal: $0.38 

BBQ rub powder: $0.69 

Salt: $0.02 

Black pepper: $0.03 

Buttermilk: $0.32 

Eggs: $034 

Canola oil: $1.23 

Total: $6.57 

18. Turkey Burger

Making a flavorful turkey burger might sound like a whole lot, but it is easy to create one. The combination of parmesan, panko, and soy sauce might sound strange, but the outcome is magical. 

Ingredients and Cost 

Turkey: $3.64 

Soy sauce: $0.05 

Parmesan: $1.23 

Panko breadcrumbs: $0.42 

Hamburger buns: $1.81 

Total: $7.15 

Wrapping Up!

Cooking on a shoestring budget might seem difficult, but it is not. You can prepare an amazing meal for your partner, your family, or just for yourself, and that can be exciting as well. 

You can draw inspiration from these easy dinner ideas, or you can cook something on and maintain a budget. These meals are hearty, nutritious, and go easy on your pocket. You can prepare a gourmet meal for just a couple of dollars. 

Read Also:

• What Time Does McDonalds Serve Lunch? – Read Here
• 5 Crucial Tips For Starting An Organic Food Delivery Business
• 3 Ways In Which School Canteens Can Promote Food Safety And Health