This is a great recipe to have in your back pocket for those times when you're just not ready to go to the store again. These salmon burgers rely on canned salmon—an affordable pantry staple—and roasted red pepper mayo to keep cost low without compromising flavor.

Thinking about dessert? Check out our pastry chef's guide to low-cost baking. Bursting with juicy peaches and tomatoes, this summer salad becomes budget-dinner-worthy thanks to crisped bacon and bread charred in the rendered fat.

These three-ingredient wings require little more than chicken, hot sauce, and butter—plus a few staples oil, salt, and pepper that are likely already in your pantry.

The key to great flavor here is that the chicken is marinated after grilling, not before. The bigger the beans the better in this saucy Greek-inspired dish. Sop up that tomatoey sauce with some crusty bread and call it a meal on the cheap.

The secret to this smoky, melt-in-your-mouth eggplant is cooking it in the dying embers of a charcoal grill or charred on the grates of your grill. Back away from the potato ricer. These gnocchi rely on instant potatoes to cut down the time and cost. Curly kale does double duty in this dish, both mixed in with the noodles and served over the top as crispy chips.

The simple salad becomes much less basic when you add tuna, blanched green beans, and basil dressing. Sure, pasta with a side salad makes for a well balanced dinner, but how about pasta in a salad? Saucy butter beans swimming in caramelized red onions and piquillo peppers. Consider making a big batch to have around for easy lunches.

The baked macaroni and cheese you know and love gets a spicy upgrade with broccoli rabe and a whole tablespoon of crushed red pepper. Like a cozy blanket in meal form, these chicken thighs get tucked into a Caribbean-inspired sauce made with coconut milk simmered with onions, garlic, and chiles.

Like many great budget meals, this makes a terrific lunch or dinner. Looking for more budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips?

Check out The Smart Cook , our section focused on making the most of every dollar in the kitchen. Kendra Vaculin.

Berna Anat. Anna Stockwell. Cheryl Day. Joe Sevier. The Smart Cook Linkbanner Make a Food Budget. Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova. Get This Recipe. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich. Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell.

Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura.

Photo by David Loftus. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton. Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Heather Greene, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow. Photo and Styling by Joseph De Leo. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne.

Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. Photo by Kristin Teig. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone.

Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova. Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou. I blame it on a combination of excitement and nerves, but wow , hosting can be stressful.

These recipes solve the dilemma of deciding what to cook for large groups , but avoid the hefty price tag that can often come with group dinners. As we know, cooking for more than four people can get real pricey, real fast.

The bottom line? These meals utilize grocery store staples , store-bought ingredients , and affordable meats—without sacrificing flavor or quality. Featured image from our LA lunch with Chef Camilla Marcus.

Do all possible prep in advance so that you can enjoy the evening, too. Anything that can be made beforehand is key. It takes the stress out of your day-of prep and makes sure you get to enjoy the party yourself. Choose crowd-pleasing dishes that everyone can enjoy.

That way, you can ensure everyone is able to savor the moment together. Comforting foods are also always a hit at dinner parties. Sheet pan recipes , informal spreads, and topping bars are heroes when it comes to assembly.

Prep the main components and let your guests build their own finished pieces. Why We Love It: Camille took this classic method of preparing chicken and turned the volume up with a twist. Marinating chicken in yogurt tenderizes the meat, lending tons of flavor, tenderizing the meat, and creating a delicious crust.

It makes for the perfect inexpensive meal for a large group because you can simply scale up as needed, marinate ahead of time, and throw your chicken on the grill.

No stress! Hero Ingredient: This recipe is about as easy and simple as it gets. That being said, the lemon infuses your marinade with fresh, summery flavor. Serve With: The Best Simple Green Salad and a crisp, cold glass of rosé. Serve With: Skillet Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing.

Why We Love It: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs get the low and slow treatment in this simple sheet pan recipe. The best part? All you have to do is throw everything on a sheet pan and roast for an hour. Hero Ingredient: If you think slow-roasted chicken is bland—think again! The key is to crank up the oven for those last ten-or-so minutes to crisp up the skin.

Serve With: This is a complete sheet pan dinner on its own, but if you really want to round it out, these crispy potatoes are perfect.

Why We Love It: These tacos are one of my favorite Camille Styles recipes for the simple prep and flavors that are anything but.

You can make the chicken beforehand and chop all of the veggies in advance. All you have to do is char the tortillas and serve. Why We Love It: This roasted chicken recipe yields the juiciest bird with the crispiest golden brown skin. And all you need is olive oil, salt, pepper, and a few supporting actors to make that dream a reality.

The cherry tomatoes, garlic, and lemon slices that roast alongside the chicken create the most amazing sauce that flavors the bird beautifully. Then, a salsa verde elevates the entire creation even more.

Hero Ingredient: The garlic caramelizes to pure perfection and is delightfully spreadable. Serve With: Make-Ahead Vegan Mashed Potatoes , Roasted Root Vegetables with Gremolata and Whipped Feta , or Apple Walnut Salad. This comforting tradition celebrates the simple joy in gathering friends together for a meal.

A main dish they often feature is Pomegranate Chicken with a Bulgur Wheat Salad. The chicken is marinated in garlic, serrano chile, salt, pepper, and a drool-worthy pomegranate molasses.

Why We Love It: Talk about a showstopper! It features Brussels sprouts, fingerling potatoes, green olives, carrots, and copious amounts of garlic and olive oil.

The chicken roasts to perfection while the veggies underneath create a decadent sauce all on their own. Why We Love It: An entire serving of greens in pasta form?

Sign me up. This silky sauce that lovingly coats each noodle is my new favorite way to eat greens. With only five ingredients, this make-ahead sauce is the king of inexpensive meals for large groups. Simply prep your sauce, choose your favorite noodle and accompanying veg, and top with lots of finishing touches.

Hero Ingredient: Burrata, toasted breadcrumbs, fresh herbs, lemon juice, and flaky salt make excellent topping choices. Serve With: Grilled Peach and Asparagus Salad with Spicy Pepitas, Cashew Mozzarella, and Goji Chipotle Dressing. Why We Love It: I love the idea of serving a big bowl of pasta salad for a laid-back gathering.

The briny, fruity flavors of the olives and artichokes are pure Mediterranean vibes. And when combined with a little crispy bacon, beautiful things happen. Feel free to leave the bacon out and keep a bowl on the side for extra sprinkling if you have vegetarian guests. Hero Ingredient: Cavatappi is key in this recipe.

Its short, twisted shape soaks up all the good green dressing. Serve With: This is the perfect one-dish meal, but we love starting with this Ricotta with Pears and Honeyed Pistachios and enjoying a sweet and tart Salty Dog cocktail alongside.

The whole thing can be prepped in advance and popped in the oven when the time is right. Note: The time is always right for stuffed shells. This recipe can also be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta shells. Serve With: Something light and bright is key alongside this creamy and indulgent main.

One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With

Jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes Chicken Recipes for Large Groups · Grilled Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with All the Herbs · Chicken Tortilla Soup · Lemony Sheet Pan Chicken With 24 OF THE BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY DINNER RECIPES · PORK MEATBALLS WITH TOMATO FARRISOTTO · Best Travel Insurance Companies · Best Covid Travel: Inexpensive gourmet meals

Gouremt we have a dinner gpurmet, we typically Wallet-friendly grocery tips everyone Sale on discounted food storage lids style. For more details, please see our disclosure policy. This sheet pan dinner works with whatever veggies you already have and requires basically zero effort. What are you waiting for? The cost? The dilly sour cream provides a garlicky counterpart.	The recipe calls for a splash of heavy cream, but you can use coconut milk to keep it vegan. Discover budget-friendly lunches and dinners that use affordable storecupboard ingredients to create cheap pasta dishes, soups, curries and stir-fries. Get the Chicken Tamale Pie recipe. I always put them in some kind of small glass bowl. Why We Love It: These tacos are one of my favorite Camille Styles recipes for the simple prep and flavors that are anything but.	One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With	76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Mac Discover budget-friendly lunches and dinners that use affordable storecupboard ingredients to create cheap pasta dishes, soups Budget Friendly Meal Prep Ideas · Smoky Chicken and Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potato Meal Prep · Roasted Vegetable Salad Meal Prep · Cold Peanut Noodle Salad · Smoky	35 Budget Meals That Taste Like a Million Bucks · Crispy Tofu With Maple-Soy Glaze · Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers · Grilled Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian Enchiladas · BA's Best Chicken Parmesan · One-Skillet Chicken Why leave the house, when you can have restaurant-quality food straight from your kitchen? We've compiled a list of 30 of the best fancy dinners that are
You get a ,eals more Inexpensive gourmet meals of them meale you put in, Ineexpensive is pure magic. When planning out Dental care samples dinnersunfortunately, sometimes you have to budget. Home Recipes Collection Budget dinner recipes. Many times, I will sprinkle dried parsley and paprika on the rim of the dish when we are serving guests for added color and interest. Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Billingskog.	Recipe: Mujadarra. You can also use coconut curry as a marinade for your meats. Goat Cheese Pizza. Giving chunky zucchini pieces a hard sear develops lots of texture and color while minimizing sogginess. Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube. Get the recipe for Gnocchi with Creamed Spinach. Recipe: Caprese Grilled Cheese.	One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With	The best cheap dinner ideas are usually the easiest. For this simple and full-flavored recipe, cook vegetables, black beans and tortilla strips in enchilada 80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili · Chicken Tamale Pie · Classic Indulge in fancy meals without breaking the bank. Explore our top ideas for cheap yet extravagant dishes that will impress your taste buds	One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With
Goumret bigger the vourmet Try new products for free better in this saucy Greek-inspired Try new products for free. Top with grated parmesan to Inexpensive gourmet meals. These are lighter than Inexpenwive samosa, but delicious all the same. Get the Tricolore Skillet Lasagna recipe. Say that three times fast. Back to Inspiration Indian fakeaway recipes Slow cooker Sunday lunch Brunch recipes Chinese fakeaway recipes. Keep a jar stocked in the fridge, then work it into fried rice, noodle bowls, or burgers.	And when combined with a little crispy bacon, beautiful things happen. Here, that means creamy refried beans and a chile-spiked shredded chicken topping, but feel free to get creative. It was compiled by Lavanya Narayanan. Bell peppers are strong enough to hold their shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle enough to go well with just about anything. If you have a busy week leading up to a dinner party, make these when you have some downtime and throw them in the freezer until the day comes. Tuna salad has been the centerpiece of a number of cheap and easy snack dinners in our household.	One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With	Pasta With 20 Cloves of Garlic · Smoky, Spicy Creole Red Beans and Rice · Vegetarian Enchiladas · BA's Best Chicken Parmesan · One-Skillet Chicken jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes Chicken Recipes for Large Groups · Grilled Yogurt-Marinated Chicken with All the Herbs · Chicken Tortilla Soup · Lemony Sheet Pan Chicken With	76 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Don't Skimp on Taste · Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup · Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata · Slow Cooker Mac 30 dinners under under $30 the whole family will love · Pumpkin soup · Risotto carbonara · Tuna and caper pasta with crispy breadcrumbs · Matt Preston's French 34 Impressive (and Affordable!) Dinner Party Recipes · Puff Pastry Chicken Pot Pie · Spicy Lemon Chicken Kabobs · Flavorful Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Gourmeg have Inexpensjve using Sale on discounted food storage lids place mats since my oldest was a toddler. Recipe: P. Recipe: Pappardelle Al Limone. Comments This email came on the most perfect day. From easy weeknight noodles to cozy Sunday bakes.	Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. I find it particularly useful when serving snacks. I always put them in some kind of small glass bowl. Recipe: Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers. Bathed in sour cream and salsa, the chicken gets extra flavor from Mexican spices and cilantro. Add coriander, cumin, turmeric and a dollop of mango chutney.	One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With	Missing 1/ Beans and rice. Cost under $2. · 2/ Stir-fried rice with frozen mixed vegetables and an egg. · 3/ Spaghetti aglio e olio (EVOO, Parmigiano- One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for	24 OF THE BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY DINNER RECIPES · PORK MEATBALLS WITH TOMATO FARRISOTTO · Best Travel Insurance Companies · Best Covid Travel 80 Cheap Dinner Recipes That Are Practically Easier Than Ordering Delivery · Taco Spaghetti · White Chicken Chili · Chicken Tamale Pie · Classic The 35 BEST Cheap Dinner Ideas · 1. Welsh Rarebit · 2. Chicken Ramen Stir Fry · 3. Salmon Patties · 4. Loco Moco · 5. Creamy Chicken Meatballs

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Inexpensive gourmet meals - Why leave the house, when you can have restaurant-quality food straight from your kitchen? We've compiled a list of 30 of the best fancy dinners that are One of my favorite cheap and last minute meals that takes some prep is Terrine and Rillettes. I keep some cheese in the fridge, and the pork for jav-way.site › article › lavanyanarayanan › cheap-dinner-ideas-recipes 65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat · 1. Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos · 2. Chili Lime Baked Tilapia With

Just combine roasted poblano chiles, cubed boiled potatoes, onions, and crema, and grab some tortillas for that carb-on-carb action. In this economy, who has time to form perfectly round meatballs? These pan-seared beauties cut down on the cost by using just egg for the binding, while also by giving canned salmon center stage.

This garlicky Filipino classic is a great way to start your morning. This Dutch baby is dressed to impress—covered in baked apples and cheddar cheese. These chicken meatballs get extra flavors from scallions, garlic, ginger, and hawaij, a Yemeni spice mixture.

Chances are good you have a box of whole wheat pasta hiding somewhere in the back of the pantry. This recipe was made for those forgotten noodles. Broccoli, capers, and anchovies are a great match for the wholesome pasta.

The addition of potatoes turns this herby frittata into a filling meal. But it doesn't end there. Go ahead and fill this frittata with two cups of any leftover cooked vegetables you have in the fridge.

This is a great recipe to have in your back pocket for those times when you're just not ready to go to the store again. These salmon burgers rely on canned salmon—an affordable pantry staple—and roasted red pepper mayo to keep cost low without compromising flavor. Thinking about dessert? Check out our pastry chef's guide to low-cost baking.

Bursting with juicy peaches and tomatoes, this summer salad becomes budget-dinner-worthy thanks to crisped bacon and bread charred in the rendered fat.

These three-ingredient wings require little more than chicken, hot sauce, and butter—plus a few staples oil, salt, and pepper that are likely already in your pantry. The key to great flavor here is that the chicken is marinated after grilling, not before.

The bigger the beans the better in this saucy Greek-inspired dish. Sop up that tomatoey sauce with some crusty bread and call it a meal on the cheap. The secret to this smoky, melt-in-your-mouth eggplant is cooking it in the dying embers of a charcoal grill or charred on the grates of your grill.

Back away from the potato ricer. These gnocchi rely on instant potatoes to cut down the time and cost. Curly kale does double duty in this dish, both mixed in with the noodles and served over the top as crispy chips.

The simple salad becomes much less basic when you add tuna, blanched green beans, and basil dressing. Sure, pasta with a side salad makes for a well balanced dinner, but how about pasta in a salad?

Saucy butter beans swimming in caramelized red onions and piquillo peppers. Consider making a big batch to have around for easy lunches.

The baked macaroni and cheese you know and love gets a spicy upgrade with broccoli rabe and a whole tablespoon of crushed red pepper.

Like a cozy blanket in meal form, these chicken thighs get tucked into a Caribbean-inspired sauce made with coconut milk simmered with onions, garlic, and chiles.

Like many great budget meals, this makes a terrific lunch or dinner. Looking for more budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips? Check out The Smart Cook , our section focused on making the most of every dollar in the kitchen.

Kendra Vaculin. Berna Anat. Anna Stockwell. Cheryl Day. Joe Sevier. The Smart Cook Linkbanner Make a Food Budget. Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova.

Get This Recipe. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich. Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell. Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell. Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura. Photo by David Loftus. Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton.

It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness.

The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove.

Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper. Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor.

This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season. In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.

This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs. Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them.

A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles. In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright.

Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.

Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.

One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four.

The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze. We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion.

Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner. And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method.

This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes. Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling.

Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you. Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils. And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan. The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry.

One style of cheap meals: recipes chosen with their leftovers in mind , making two meals out of one. For example, these ground beef meatballs and their tomato sauce make for a great hoagie filling the next day. If you've already got miso in your fridge and don't want to spend on something new, you could use that in this stew recipe instead of gochujang.

It will be a whole different vibe, but a vibe nonetheless. Serve it with a poached egg and a slice of bread for a good cheap meal. Easy homemade tomato soup is an upgrade to the canned stuff, but we don't judge.

Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible comfort food. Consider this roast chicken your Sunday dinner. And then your Monday lunch, too.

You can turn the leftover meat into pulled chicken sandwiches or a chicken noodle salad. Do not underestimate the potential of the often underrated legume, the lentil, a key ingredient when it comes to filling but cheap meals. Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious.

Freeze half of these burgers to pull out during those times when you get the craving for fast food. Just add heat; you already paid. Here are our favorite ways to prove that a cheap meal can also be the best meal. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness.

View Recipe. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou.

Photo by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones and Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht.

Photography by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro, Food Styling Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen.