5 Cheap Dinner Recipes for $10 That Are Easy and Delicious

Looking for easy, budget-friendly dinner ideas for $10 that actually taste good? Whether you're feeding your family, meal prepping for the week, or just trying to save money without sacrificing flavor, these 5 recipes hit the sweet spot of cheap, tasty, and satisfying.

Just how cheap and easy can cooking dinner recipes at home be?

Cooking dinner at home is significantly more cheap, easy, and fast than dining out for the same recipe. Preparing a meal at home like pasta with vegetables or a stir-fry costs a fraction of a restaurant bill—often under $5 per serving compared to $15-$30 at a casual eatery. For a deeper look at the cost savings of cooking at home, this analysis highlights how home-cooked meals consistently outperform dining out in affordability and convenience.

Home cooking is straightforward with basic recipes requiring minimal skills, and you control the ingredients, avoiding the hassle of menus and substitutions, it's often much healthier too. Plus, it’s quicker: a simple dish takes 20-30 minutes to prep and cook, while going out involves travel, waiting for a table, and service, often stretching over an hour. With pantry staples and a few tools, homemade meals save money, time, and effort. It just requires a little bit of meal and grocery planning.

Home cooking is straightforward with basic recipes requiring minimal skills, and you control the ingredients, avoiding the hassle of menus and substitutions; it’s often much healthier too. Plus, it’s quicker: a simple dish takes 20-30 minutes to prep and cook, while going out involves travel, waiting for a table, and service, often stretching over an hour. With pantry staples and a few tools, homemade meals save money, time, and effort. You can easily stock up on affordable ingredients for meal planning at Walmart*, making home cooking even more accessible. It just requires a little bit of meal and grocery planning.

Here are Food Butler, we make it our mission to make it as easy as possible. Without further ado, here are 5 simple recipes to get you started.

1. Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

This creamy, flavorful pasta is a weeknight favorite. Everything cooks in one pot, making cleanup a breeze. Fresh basil and cherry tomatoes add brightness to the rich, cheesy sauce.

Cost: ~$9

Serves: 4-6

Ready in: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 16 oz spaghetti noodles (or favorite pasta) ($1.00)

• 4 C grape or cherry tomatoes, halved ($2.50)

• 3 cloves garlic, minced ($0.30)

• 1 tsp oregano ($0.10)

• 1 tsp salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• 2 C milk ($0.50)

• 2¾ C chicken broth ($0.75)

• ¾ C fresh basil leaves, torn ($1.00)

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ($2)

Directions:

1. Combine milk, chicken broth, pasta, garlic, oregano, grape tomatoes, salt, and pepper in a large pot.

2. Bring the mixture to a boil over med-high heat, and lower to maintain a slow simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes and stir frequently. Check pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is ready.

3. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the fresh basil and Parmesan cheese until combined.

4. Ready to serve, let pasta cool to thicken if preferred.

   
   

Budget Tip:

• Use dried basil (1–2 teaspoons) if fresh basil is unavailable, adding it with the oregano during cooking.

2. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs with Rice and Broccoli

A sweet and savory classic that's quick to make and perfect for weeknights.

Cost: ~$9

Serves: 4

Ready in: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs ($3.50)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil ($0.30)

• ½ small onion, finely chopped ($0.25)

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped ($0.30)

• ½ cup honey ($1.00)

• ¼ cup soy sauce ($0.50)

• 1 pinch onion powder (optional)

• 1 pinch garlic powder (optional)

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

• 2 cups cooked rice ($0.75)

• 1 head broccoli or 2 cups frozen florets ($1.50)

• Salt and pepper to taste

  
  

Directions:

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.

2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and brown on one side for 3–5 minutes.

3. Flip the chicken and add chopped onion and garlic to the skillet. Continue cooking until the chicken is mostly cooked through and the onion and garlic are softened, about 5 or 6 minutes. Remove chicken.

4. Prepare the sauce by adding soy sauce, honey, onion powder, and garlic powder to the skillet. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan to mix the ingredients.

5. Return the chicken to the skillet, lower heat to medium and cover. Cook until for about 5 minutes, flip chicken and cook for about 5 more until the juices are clear. Internal temperature should read at least 165°F.

6. Serve the chicken over cooked rice with steamed broccoli on the side. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and garnish with chopped cilantro if desired.

3. Creamy One-Pot Taco Pasta

Rich, creamy, cheesy taco flavor in a single pan—comfort food that’s filling and affordable.

Cost to make: ~$11

Serves: 4

Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (85% lean) or turkey ($3.50)

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.25)

• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese ($1.25)

• 4 oz Velveeta or ¾ cup additional shredded cheese ($1.00)

• 1 tablespoon butter ($0.15)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.10)

• 1 packet taco seasoning ($0.50)

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce ($0.20)

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste ($0.25)

• 1 cup beef broth ($0.50)

• 1 cup chicken broth ($0.50)

• 1 cup whole milk ($0.35)

• 1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, undrained ($1.00)

• ½ lb medium pasta shells ($0.90)

  
  

Directions:

1. Prep the cheese: Shred the cheeses. Let sit at room temp while you cook.

2. Brown the beef: In a large pot, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease.

3. Sauté garlic: Add butter and garlic to the pot. Cook until fragrant ~1 minute.

4. Build the sauce: Stir in taco seasoning, Worcestershire, tomato paste, both broths, milk, and Rotel. Mix well.

5. Add pasta: When mixture first starts to boil, stir in the pasta and make sure it’s submerged. Cover and bring to a gentle boil. Cook according to pasta directions, stirring halfway through to prevent sticking.

6. Melt the cheese: Once pasta is cooked al dente, reduce heat to low. Gradually stir in all cheeses until melted and creamy.

7. Rest, then serve: Let sit for 5 minutes so the sauce thickens and coats the pasta. Garnish with chopped cilantro or green onions if desired.

   
   

Budget Note:

This meal pushes slightly over the $10 mark, but the flavor and portion size are worth it. It’s still far cheaper than takeout, and can be made even cheaper by:

• Using only cheddar instead of 3 cheeses

• Subbing water + bouillon cubes for broth

• Skipping Worcestershire if you don’t have it

4. Black Bean & Veggie Quesadillas

These crispy, cheesy quesadillas are protein-packed and easy to make meatless.

Cost: ~$7

Serves: 4

Ready in: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 can black beans ($1.00)

• 1 bell pepper + 1 small onion ($1.50)

• 1 cup shredded cheese ($1.50)

• 8 flour tortillas ($2.00)

• Spices: cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt ($0.50)

Directions:

1. Sauté onion and pepper with spices.

2. Mash beans lightly, mix with veggies and cheese.

3. Spread mixture onto tortillas, cook in pan until golden.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Egg Fried Rice with Frozen Veggies

Turn leftover rice into a delicious, fast meal that’s much cheaper than takeout.

Cost: ~$5.50

Serves: 4

Ready in: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice ($0.75)

• 3 eggs ($0.75)

• 1 cup frozen mixed veggies ($1.00)

• 2 tbsp soy sauce + oil + garlic ($0.50)

• Green onions (optional) ($0.50)

  
  

Directions:

1. Scramble eggs in a hot pan, set aside.

2. Sauté garlic and veggies, add rice and soy sauce.

3. Stir eggs back in, top with green onions.

   
   

Final Tips for Budget Cooking:

• Buy in bulk: Proteins, rice, and cheese are cheaper in larger packs.

• Use leftovers creatively: Today’s chicken can be tomorrow’s quesadillas.

• Plan ahead: Weekly meal planning cuts costs and reduces waste.

Want More Budget Meals?

Stay tuned for more cheap dinner recipes, weekly meal plans, and grocery budgeting tips — all focused on helping you eat better without overspending.

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*Disclosure: Not currently a Walmart affiliate and don’t earn a commission but may apply to earn one in the future.