30 Budget-Friendly Dinners the Whole Family Will Eat

Here’s hoping.

Feeding a family is no joke. That one doesn’t eat raw tomatoes, this one hates chicken (unless it’s in nugget form) and that one over there won’t touch anything green. It’s improbable, if not impossible, to please everyone all at once, so instead of trying to address every little preference with one finished dish, I suggest going for recipes that are easily adapted or deconstructed at the stove or the table. The 30 recipes below are just those sorts, with a few guaranteed crowd-pleasers like pancakes and nachos thrown in — and they are cost-conscious to boot.

1. Pork Laab

Sherry Rujikarn’s pork laab (also known as moo larb or laap) is a fragrant Thai dish made with ground pork, fresh herbs, shallot, lime juice, fish sauce and chile. Toasted rice powder, which you can buy online or at a well-stocked market — or which you can make by toasting a few tablespoons of rice and grinding it in a mortar and pestle — adds an unmistakably earthy flavor. Some readers swap ground chicken or turkey for the pork.

Recipe: Pork Laab

2. Slow-Cooker Jalapeño Pulled Pork

Here’s one of those slow-cooker recipes that we love to love: a five-ingredient dish from Ali Slagle that requires very little prep but yields outstanding rewards. Eat over rice, tortillas or burger buns.

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Jalapeño Pulled Pork

3. Lemony White Bean Soup With Turkey and Greens

“This is my favorite new fall recipe — I’ve made it four times now,” wrote one happy reader about this brothy and bright ground-turkey soup from Melissa Clark. You can, of course, sub in ground chicken, pork or beef — whichever is on sale — for the turkey.

Recipe: Lemony White Bean Soup With Turkey and Greens

4. Roasted Cabbage and Butter Beans

Cabbage, that underrated bargain vegetable, gets her turn in this vegetarian hash from Dan Pelosi. Ribbons of cabbage are roasted until they are caramelized and then tossed with white beans, garlic, anchovies and fresh parsley.

Recipe: Roasted Cabbage and Butter Beans

5. Hamburger Soup

Hamburger — as in what your Midwestern grandmother called ground beef — is the workhorse of this homey, brick-red soup from Melissa Knific. It’s the perfect place to dump all of the frozen vegetables from your freezer.

Recipe: Hamburger Soup

6. Egg and Cheese Toasts With Salsa

For Rick A. Martínez’s speedy version of huevos ahogados (drowned eggs) — a Mexican dish of eggs gently poached in salsa — layer fried eggs over cheese-laden rolls, and then smother them in a bright, spicy tomato salsa. Rick provides a fast salsa recipe, but feel free to use store-bought.

Recipe: Egg and Cheese Toasts With Salsa

7. Skillet Broccoli-Cheddar Rice

“My kids said it’s the best thing they’ve ever eaten,” wrote one reader about this easy-peasy one-pot cheesy delight from Ali Slagle. Eat it on its own or alongside chicken or pork.

Recipe: Skillet Broccoli-Cheddar Rice

8. Slow Cooker Senate Bean Soup

This hearty soup of navy beans simmered with ham hocks, butter and onion has been on the menu at the Senate Dining Room for more than 100 years. Sarah DiGregorio’s updated slow-cooker version calls for carrots and smoked paprika and, as a nod to Idaho, a single potato, which is mashed into the soup to give it a creamy consistency.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Senate Bean Soup

9. Saag Paneer

Paneer is a delightful chewy cheese that is the anchor of this spice-and-greens-rich meal from Kay Chun. For ease and economy, substitute frozen chopped spinach for fresh, but be sure to drain and season well.

Recipe: Saag Paneer

10. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

“The best white chicken chili out there,” wrote one reader about this mild-mannered dish from Sarah DiGregorio. It can be made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, and it would work great with leftover roast turkey or chicken. Serve it alone, over rice or tucked into a tortilla.

Recipe: Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

11. The Original Nachos

One of my family’s favorite dinners is a big blank-canvas pan of basic nachos alongside several bowls of taco meat, queso, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream and cubed avocado. This recipe from Pati Jinich is the perfect starting point.

Recipe: The Original Nachos

12. Butternut Squash Congee With Chile Oil

Cozy, earthy and lightly sweet, this vegetarian 30-minute porridge made with leftover rice and cubed butternut squash from Hetty Lui McKinnon is just the thing to warm everyone up on a chilly evening. One reader substituted sweet potato to happy results, and if you don’t like chile oil, try a drizzle of toasted sesame oil instead.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Congee With Chile Oil

13. Banana Pancakes

On evenings that call for breakfast for dinner (brinner!), may we suggest Samantha Seneviratne’s tender and sweet yet crisp-edged banana pancakes? Do as my kids do: Roll up a sausage link in a pancake and dip it into a small saucer of warmed syrup for the ideal ratio of sweet to salty.

Recipe: Banana Pancakes

14. Sheet-Pan Sausage With Spring Onions, Potatoes and Mustard

Spring onions are not in season, but feel free to substitute scallions, leeks or any member of the allium family in this sheet-pan wonder from Kay Chun. Be sure to prop the sausages on the potatoes and onions so the kielbasa crisps up instead of steams.

Recipe: Sheet-Pan Sausage with Spring Onions, Potatoes and Mustard

15. Baked Skillet Pasta With Cheddar and Spiced Onions

“This was very tasty. My daughter described it as ‘baked taco ziti.’” We can’t think of a more inviting description, so sign us up for this cozy vegetarian pasta-bake that is chock-full of caramelized onions, cumin, coriander and garlic from Melissa Clark.

Recipe: Baked Skillet Pasta With Cheddar and Spiced Onions

16. Adasi

Adasi is a Persian dish of simply seasoned lentils that’s often eaten for breakfast in Iran, but you really can enjoy it all day long. Every version starts with lentils, salt and water, but Yasmin Fahr’s variation includes onion, cumin and turmeric. Eat it however you like, but Yasmin likes it best with a pat of softened butter stirred in and topped with fresh herbs.

Recipe: Adasi

17. Vegetable Yakisoba

Don’t you love that smug-happy feeling you get when you not only make a delicious meal but also use the sad, wilted vegetables in your fridge in the process? This adaptable noodle dish from Kay Chun is just that kind of recipe. If you can’t get your hands on frozen presteamed yakisoba noodles, cook dried noodles according to package instructions, and then proceed with the recipe.

Recipe: Vegetable Yakisoba

18. Roasted Broccoli and Potato Tacos With Fried Eggs

These weeknight tacos from Kay Chun are made with fried eggs, roasted broccoli and potatoes for a very satisfying vegetarian dinner. Try using cauliflower in place of the broccoli and sweet potatoes in place of the potatoes. Lay everything out on the table (except the eggs; fry those up as needed), and let your crew build their own tacos.

Recipe: Roasted Broccoli and Potato Tacos With Fried Eggs

19. Ribollita

Here’s another clean-out-the-veggie-drawer recipe, from Mark Bittman. It calls for one full pound of kale, but feel free to use a mixture of dark, leafy greens like escarole, chard, broccoli rabe or bok choy. Fresh herbs can get pricey and can be tough to use up before they go bad, so use half a teaspoon of dried thyme and a teaspoon of rosemary in their place if you like.

Recipe: Ribollita

20. Spam Macaroni and Cheese

This macaroni and cheese from Von Diaz works with almost any cheese you have on hand, and it skips the roux-making process, which is a typical (and fussy) step in most homemade mac and cheese recipes. If Spam is not your thing, substitute cubed deli ham or sliced kielbasa.

Recipe: Spam Macaroni and Cheese

21. Crispy Baked Fish With Tartar Sauce

This 25-minute recipe from Ali Slagle gives off nostalgic fish stick vibes. Creamy tartar sauce adds flavor, keeps the fillets moist during cooking and helps the breadcrumbs stick to the fish. Start roasting some green beans when you begin preparing the fish — they’ll be done when you slide the fish out of the oven.

Recipe: Crispy Baked Fish With Tartar Sauce

22. Rosemary-Garlic Roasted Chicken and Gnocchi

Chicken and potatoes is a classic comfort food combination that never disappoints. In this sheet-pan meal, Ali Slagle uses store-bought shelf-stable gnocchi in place of the potatoes for a faster, more fun riff on the dish. The recipe calls for two packages of gnocchi, but one reader smartly used one package and one head of cauliflower cut into florets, writing that it worked like a charm.

Recipe: Rosemary-Garlic Roasted Chicken and Gnocchi

23. Tofu and Broccoli Fried Rice

Fried rice has the potential to make everyone happy because it works with any number of ingredients. Kay Chun’s version contains seasoned chunks of tofu, broccoli and scrambled eggs, but feel free to use whatever leftover cooked meat or veggies you have on hand, like cabbage, bell peppers or mushrooms.

Recipe: Tofu and Broccoli Fried Rice

24. Pressure Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

Sarah DiGregorio’s recipe for barbecue pulled pork is ridiculously easy and needs just a handful of ingredients. If you don’t have a can of Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper, you can substitute ginger ale, beer, coffee or a combination. You can find a slow-cooker version here.

Recipe: Pressure Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

25. Crispy Bean Cakes With Harissa, Lemon and Herbs

These crispy bean patties from Yewande Komolafe are a delight to eat on their own or tucked into a soft roll. They work with any kind of bean, so no need to shop for anything special. For those who don’t like spicy foods, substitute tomato paste for the harissa.

Recipe: Crispy Bean Cakes With Harissa, Lemon and Herbs

26. Garlic-Braised Chicken

This recipe from Eric Kim calls for 20 cloves of garlic, but fear not: They reduce and soften into a velvety and earthy sauce that is not at all overpowering. If you don’t have white pepper, use black, and if you don’t have chardonnay (or if you don’t want to cook with wine), chicken stock will do. One reader stirred spinach into the final dish for a little pop of green, but you could also serve it alongside a crisp green salad.

Recipe: Garlic-Braised Chicken

27. Quick Ragù With Ricotta and Lemon

Like a deconstructed lasagna Bolognese, Sarah Copeland’s quick pasta dish comes together in under an hour but tastes as if it’s been simmering all day thanks to plenty of sambal oelek. (Harissa or the adobo from a can of chipotles also works, or even tomato paste and a pinch of cayenne if you have spicy-averse diners.) The recipe calls for beef, but you can also use spicy Italian sausage, or ground pork or turkey.

Recipe: Quick Ragù With Ricotta and Lemon

28. Rice Noodles With Egg Drop Gravy

This vegetarian noodle dish from Hetty Lui McKinnon is inspired by wat tan hor, a Cantonese, Singaporean and Malaysian meat and fresh rice noodle dish that’s topped with a silky egg gravy. For more oomph, add slices of pan-fried tofu, cauliflower or broccoli.

Recipe: Rice Noodles With Egg Drop Gravy

29. Connecticut-Style Shrimp Rolls

Garlicky shrimp are tucked into squishy hot dog buns in this Kay Chun recipe that evokes beachfront seafood shacks and butter-soaked lobster rolls. This recipe works great with affordable frozen raw shrimp; just defrost first.

Recipe: Connecticut-Style Shrimp Rolls

30. Cream Cheese Ramen

Kevin Pang makes this 10-minute dish for his family when he’s short on time and everyone is craving something cozy and comforting. It’s perfectly delightful all on its own, but top it with smoked salmon and everything bagel seasoning for a bit more pizazz.

Recipe: Cream Cheese Ramen

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