Eat well on a budget with these cheap and healthy dinner recipes.
These simple meals feature everyday, cost effective ingredients that will help you stay on a budget while eating healthy. From quick chicken dinners to healthy vegetarian meals, there are plenty of cheap and healthy meals to choose from.
Whether you are looking for cheap dinner ideas for one or for your family, there are affordable and healthy options for everyone. There are easy skillet meals, healthy soups, delicious vegetarian casseroles, and much more. These cheap and healthy dinners will help you plan your meals for the week without breaking the bank. You can even cook and meal prep your healthy meals ahead of time for the whole week.
Chicken Cheap and Healthy Dinner Recipes
American Chicken Recipes
- Baked Chicken Breasts from Savory Tooth
- 2 Ingredient Crispy BBQ Chicken from Bowl of Delicious
- Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets from Skinnytaste
- Chicken, Sweet Potato and Asparagus Skillet from Primavera Kitchen
- Baked Honey Mustard Chicken from Allrecipes
- Lemon Chicken with Asparagus from Pinch of Yum
- Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes from Eating Well
- Baked Chicken Breasts from Gimme Some Oven
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken from Shaken Together
- Healthier Cajun Chicken Pasta from Today
- Chicken Sausage and Vegetable Skillet from Peace Love and Low Carbs
- Pan-Roasted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Apples from Better Homes and Gardens
- Roast Chicken with Caramelized Potatoes, Carrots and Onions from Woman’s Day
Mexican Chicken Recipes
- Chili Lime Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas from Call Me PMC
- Healthy Chicken Fajitas from Greatist
- Baked Southwest Chicken from The Pinning Mama
- Smoked Paprika Chicken from Tori Avey
- Chicken Fiesta Salad from Allrecipes
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Drumsticks from Budget Bytes
- Cheap and Healthy DIY Chicken Burrito Bowls from The Ambitious Kitchen
- Slow Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja from Budget Bytes
- Healthy Chicken Enchilada Casserole from The Seasoned Mom
Italian Chicken Recipes
- Tomato Spinach Chicken Spaghetti from Julia’s Album
- Chicken Spinach Alfredo from Life as a Strawberry
- Skinny Creamy Garlic Noodles and Chicken from Favorite Family Recipes
- One Pan Pesto Chicken and Veggies from Julia’s Album
- Balsamic Chicken and Green Beans from Creme de la Crumb
- Pesto Chicken Stuffed Peppers from Layers of Happines
- Lemon-Rosemary Chicken Thighs from MyRecipes
Other Chicken Cheap and Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Slow Cooker Honey Chicken from I Heart Nap Time
- Citrus-Garlic Roasted Chicken from Food Network
- Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Curry from MyRecipes
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken from Yummy Healthy Easy
- Curried Chicken Legs with Carrots, Rice, and Lime from Martha Stewart
- Mushroom-Herb Chicken from MyRecipes
- Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs from The Kitchn
- Chicken with Cauliflower and Parsley from Martha Stewart
- Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Butternut Squash from MyRecipes
- Braised Chicken with Red Onion and Carrots from Martha Stewart
- Chicken Thighs with Mustard-Citrus Sauce from MyRecipes
Beef, Turkey & Pork Cheap and Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet from Budget Bytes
- Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet from Primavera Kitchen
- Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers from Skinny Mom
- Instant Pot Egg Roll Bowls from I Don’t Have Time for That
- Healthy Baked Turkey Enchiladas from Recipes Diaries
- Lettuce Wrapped Turkey Tacos from Skinny Ms.
- Beef Cabbage Skillet from Budget Bytes
- Turkey Taco Skillet from Yummy, Healthy, Easy
- Sausages with Kale and White Beans from Martha Stewart
- Maple-Chili Glazed Pork Medallions from Everyday Health
- Ground Beef and Wild Rice Alfredo Skillet from Hot Eats and Cool Reads
- Italian Turkey Burger from Delish
- Zucchini Pizza Boats from Food Hero
- Italian Stuffed Peppers from Jelly Toast
Meatless and Vegetarian Cheap and Healthy Dinner Recipes
Mexican
- Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas from Dashing Dish
- Baked Spinach Mushroom Quesadillas from Dizzy, Busy & Hungry
- Mexican Stuffed Peppers from Eat Drink Love
- 5 Ingredient Mexican Brown Rice from Kim’s Cravings
- Poor Man’s Burrito Bowl from Budget Bytes
- Oven Baked Tostadas from Yellow Bliss Road
Asian
- Crispy Baked Tofu from Cookie and Kate
- Veggie Fried Rice from Pinch of Yum
- Sugar Snap Pea and Mushroom Sauté from MyRecipes
- Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles from The Salty Marshmallow
- Easy Vegan Pad Thai from PETA
Italian
- 5 Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Pasta from Two Peas and Their Pod
- 10 Minute Margherita Pita Bread Pizzas from Jar of Lemons
- Parmesan Garlic Spaghetti from Damn Delicious
- 20 Minute Cherry Tomato and Basil Angel Hair Pasta from Oh Sweet Basil
- Pasta With Herb Roasted Grape Tomatoes from See Mom Click
- Summer Spaghetti with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil from Turntable Kitchen
- Avocado Alfredo Pasta from Chocolate Covered Katie
- Healthy Spinach Lasagna Rolls from The Girl Who Ate Everything
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust from Our Best Bites
- Vegetarian Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna from Simply Recipes
- Roasted Vegetable Pizza from Greatist
- Eggplant Meatballs from Skinny Taste
- Creamy Mushroom Fettucini from SheKnows
Other Vegetarian Cheap and Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Roast Vegetables Over Rice from Chocolate Covered Katie
- Veggie Mac and Cheese from Better Homes and Gardens
- Curried Chickpeas with Spinach from Budget Bytes
- Homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers from Allrecipes
- Quinoa and Spinach Stuffed Acorn Squash from Greatist
- Spaghetti Squash and Tomato Casserole from The Greatist
- Potato, Kale, and White Bean Hash from Beard and Bonnet
- Chickpea Curry from OverSixty
Seafood Cheap and Healthy Dinners
- Baked Lemon Butter Tilapia from Damn Delicious
- Baked Tilapia with Tomatoes from Budget Bytes
- Healthy Tuna Stuffed Avocado from The Stay at Home Chef
- Southwestern Baked Tilapia from Whole Foods Market
- Honey Lime Tilapia from One Lovely Life
- 5 Ingredient Parmesan Garlic Tilapia from The Seasoned Mom
- Broiled Tilapia Parmesan from Yellow Bliss Road
- Healthy Tuna Cakes from Healthy Recipes
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp with Asparagus from With Peanut Butter On Top
- Roasted Zucchini Tuna Melts from The Honor System
- White Bean and Tuna Salad from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
- Honey Garlic Shrimp from Sally’s Baking Addiction
- Breadless Tuna Melt in a Tomato from Pescetarian and the Pig
- Fish Tacos from Simply Recipes
- Chopped Salad with Tuna from Martha Stewart
- Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowl from Budget Bytes
Soup Cheap and Healthy Meals
- Winter Vegetable Minestrone Soup from Peas and Crayons
- Easy Vegetarian Chili from Greatist
- Avocado-Spinach Soup from My Gourmet Connections
- Hearty Chicken and Vegetable Soup from the Greatist
- Potato, Leek, and Barley Soup from Delish
- Mushroom Barley Soup from Real Simple
- Curried Chicken and Chickpea Stew from MyRecipes
- Healthy Turkey Chili from Greatist
- Vegan Red Lentil Stew from Budget Bytes
- Spinach-Pesto Meatball Soup from Fitness Magazine
- Chicken & Spinach Tortellini Soup from Taste of Home
- Asparagus Couscous Soup from Food.com
- Pesto Bean Soup from Everyday Dishes
- Lentil Soup with Beef and Red Pepper from Better Homes and Gardens
- Chickpea, Vegetable, and Pesto Soup from Real Simple
- Winter Vegetable Soup from Epicurious
- Chicken and Lime Soup from Budget Bytes
- Beef & Barley Soup from Natalie Hodson
Related Post
60 Cheap and Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
Calgirl says
Holy Moses, this is a lot of recipes! I am constantly “on the prowl” for healthy, low-salt recipes. I am restricted, but it has helped my husband, too…. I’ve struggled to stay on a 1500 mg per day limit and he has 2500mg per day limit. Both of us have lost weight just from this (besides other health gains 🙂 Me at 20 lb and he at 10. Anytime you can cook from home and not use canned soups or similar, to achieve a dish…..you are going to “win ” the evil salt game. This compendium of recipes has many useful low salt home-cooked recipes…as well as many that can be easily modified to low-salt. Thank You.
Mary says
Thank you for this list! I am a college student and this has given me some great inspiration on healthy meals to cook and save money. 🙂
Rebecca Bryant says
These are some really good recipes! I would love to see more!