5 Budget-Friendly Family Dinners Using Pantry Staples

These budget-friendly family dinners are made with simple pantry staples and affordable ingredients that stretch grocery dollars further. Each recipe is easy to make, yummy and filling. From cozy casseroles to stovetop meals, these are practical dinners that work for busy weeknights.

Stovetop Shepherd’s Pie Bowls (Ground Turkey)

This stovetop shepherd’s pie bowl is a budget-friendly twist on a classic comfort food. Using ground turkey, simple vegetables, and mashed potatoes, this meal is hearty, filling, and easy to make never turning on the oven.

Yield: About 4 servings

Estimated Total Cost: ~$5.28

Ingredients:

• ½ onion, diced
• 2 to 3 ribs celery, diced
• ½ bag carrots, diced
• ½ lb ground turkey
• ½ bag frozen peas
• ½ packet beef stew seasoning
• ½ of a 5 lb bag of potatoes, peeled and chopped
• Water, as needed
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional: butter or milk for mashed potatoes

Instructions:

1. Place potatoes in a pot, cover with water, add salt, and boil until fork-tender.
2. Drain and mash potatoes, adding butter or milk if using. Season and keep warm.
3. Brown ground turkey in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened.
5. Stir in seasoning and ½ to 1 cup water to form a light gravy.
6. Simmer, then add peas and cook a few minutes more.
7. Serve turkey mixture over mashed potatoes.

Chicken & Rice Soup Using Rice-A-Roni

This easy chicken and rice soup uses Rice-A-Roni to create a flavorful broth without extra ingredients. It’s a simple, budget-conscious soup that feeds several people and stretches a small amount of chicken.

Yield: About 4 to 6 servings

Estimated Total Cost: ~$8.03

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (about ½ container)
• 2 to 4 carrots, diced
• 3 ribs celery, diced
• 1 box Rice-A-Roni (chicken-style)
• Water (box amount plus extra for soup)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Simmer chicken thighs in water until fully cooked.
2. Remove chicken, shred, and return to pot.
3. Add carrots, celery, Rice-A-Roni, seasoning packet, and water.
4. Simmer until rice is tender.
5. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

Spaghetti with Black Bean–Boosted Sauce

This spaghetti dinner stretches ground turkey and pasta sauce by blending black beans into the sauce. It’s a protein-packed, budget-friendly pasta meal that tastes hearty without extra cost.

Yield: About 4 servings

Estimated Total Cost: ~$4.41

Ingredients:

• 16 oz shell pasta
• ½ lb ground turkey
• 24 oz jar pasta sauce
• 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Brown ground turkey in a skillet and drain excess liquid.
3. Blend 1 cup pasta sauce with black beans until smooth.
4. Add blended sauce and remaining pasta sauce to turkey.
5. Simmer and serve over pasta.

Chicken Broccoli Rice-A-Roni Casserole

This chicken broccoli casserole uses Rice-A-Roni to keep things simple and affordable. Everything bakes together in one dish for an easy family dinner with minimal prep.

Yield: About 4 to 6 servings

Estimated Total Cost: ~$7.34

Ingredients:

• ½ package chicken thighs
• 1 box Rice-A-Roni (chicken flavor)
• 1 bag broccoli (fresh or frozen)
• Water (amount listed on box)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spread uncooked Rice-A-Roni and seasoning packet in a casserole dish.
3. Pour water evenly over rice.
4. Add chicken and broccoli.
5. Cover with foil and bake until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.

Potato Pork Chop Casserole

This potato pork chop casserole is a classic budget dinner made with pantry staples. Thinly sliced potatoes cook alongside pork chops in a creamy, savory sauce for a filling oven-baked meal.

Yield: About 4 to 6 servings

Estimated Total Cost: ~$7.09

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs pork chops
• ½ bag potatoes, thinly sliced
• ½ onion, thinly sliced
• ½ bag frozen peas
• 1 can cream of soup
• ½ packet beef stew seasoning
• ½ to 1 cup water
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Layer potatoes and onion in a greased casserole dish.
2. Place pork chops on top and season.
3. Spread cream of soup over pork.
4. Add peas and water around edges.
5. Cover and bake until potatoes are tender and pork is cooked.