Feeding a family every single night can feel like a never-ending challenge, can’t it? Between school runs, work, laundry piles, and trying to keep little ones entertained, the last thing you want is to spend hours in the kitchen — or blow half your weekly budget on one meal.
The good news? Dinner doesn’t have to be stressful, expensive, or complicated. With a few simple recipes up your sleeve, you can get tasty, filling meals on the table quickly without overspending. These are the kinds of dinners that don’t require fancy ingredients or a lot of effort — just practical, affordable, family-friendly ideas you can rely on.
Here, I’m sharing 15 quick and cheap family meals that will save you both time and money. Whether you’re cooking for picky eaters, rushing through a busy weeknight, or just looking to stretch your food shop a little further, there’s something here you’ll love.
1. One-Pot Spaghetti Bolognese
A family classic that never fails. Mince, pasta, and a simple tomato sauce — all in one pot for easy clean-up.
💡 Budget tip: Bulk it out with grated carrots, courgettes, or lentils to stretch the meat further.
2. Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry
Takes less than 20 minutes and is packed with flavour. A little chicken goes a long way when paired with loads of veg.
💡 Budget tip: Use frozen stir-fry veg bags — cheaper, less waste, and just as tasty.
3. Sausage Traybake
Throw sausages, potatoes, and veg onto a tray and let the oven do the work.
💡 Budget tip: Buy supermarket value packs of sausages and add extra veg to make it go further.
4. Homemade Pizza Night
Kids love making their own toppings, and it’s so much cheaper than takeaway.
💡 Budget tip: Use flatbreads or wraps instead of dough for a super-fast base.
5. Slow Cooker Chilli
Minimal prep, and it makes enough for dinner plus lunches.
💡 Budget tip: Stretch the mince with kidney beans or lentils — no one will notice!
6. Mini Toad in the Hole
Budget-friendly sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter = filling and comforting.
💡 Budget tip: Double the batter and serve with frozen peas or carrots for a hearty meal.
7. Veggie Fried Rice
Perfect for using up leftovers — just add egg, rice, and veg.
💡 Budget tip: Freeze leftover rice in portions and reheat safely to save even more time.
8. Mac & Cheese with Hidden Veg
Creamy, comforting, and kid-approved. Stir in frozen peas or blitzed cauliflower for extra nutrition.
💡 Budget tip: Make a big batch and freeze portions for emergency dinners.
9. Jacket Potatoes with Toppings
Cheap, filling, and versatile. Try beans, cheese, tuna mayo, or coleslaw.
💡 Budget tip: Bake a trayful at once and reheat during the week to save oven costs.
10. Homemade Soup & Bread
Perfect for chilly evenings — tomato, veg, or lentil soup works brilliantly.
💡 Budget tip: Save leftover veg scraps in the freezer to boil into homemade stock.
11. Chicken Fajitas
Quick, colourful, and fun to eat. Use peppers, onions, and a sprinkle of spice.
💡 Budget tip: Stretch chicken with extra veggies and bulk it with rice or wraps.
12. Fish Finger Sandwiches & Chips
Fast, easy, and guaranteed to please the kids on a busy night.
💡 Budget tip: Serve with homemade potato wedges instead of oven chips to save money.
13. Shepherd’s Pie
Hearty comfort food that fills everyone up. Mince, frozen veg, and mash — simple and cheap.
💡 Budget tip: Swap half the mince for lentils to cut costs and add fibre.
14. Quesadillas
Tortillas filled with cheese, beans, or leftover chicken — cooked in minutes.
💡 Budget tip: Great way to use up fridge odds and ends before they go off.
15. Omelette Night
Eggs + whatever veg or cheese you have lying around = dinner in 10 minutes.
💡 Budget tip: Eggs are one of the cheapest proteins — keep them on hand for no-fuss meals.
💡 Extra Tips to Stretch These Meals Even Further
- Batch Cook & Freeze: Double up on chilli, shepherd’s pie, or soup, and freeze half. Future-you will thank you on a busy night.
- Buy in Bulk: Staples like pasta, rice, and frozen veg are always cheaper in bigger packs — and they never go to waste.
- Swap Proteins: Try replacing half the mince in recipes with lentils or beans. You’ll save money and boost the nutrition.
- Plan Around Similar Ingredients: Use the same bag of peppers for stir-fry, fajitas, and pizza toppings so nothing gets wasted.
- Keep a “Fallback Dinner”: Have one or two go-to cheap meals (like omelettes or jacket potatoes) always stocked in your kitchen for those nights when you just can’t deal.
What will you make?
Feeding your family on a budget doesn’t mean boring dinners or endless stress in the kitchen. With a handful of cheap, quick recipes up your sleeve, you can keep everyone fed, save money, and actually enjoy mealtimes again.
Which of these meals will you try first? I’d love to hear what works for your family — share in the comments below!
