*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the full disclosure here.
Let’s be honest: getting dinner on the table after a busy day can feel like a full-time job in itself. Between school runs, homework, after-school activities and the never-ending mountain of laundry, the last thing anyone needs is a complicated recipe with a long list of expensive ingredients. And when you’re cooking for little ones, there’s the added challenge of finding something the whole family will actually eat!
That’s where these cheap, quick and kid-friendly weeknight dinners come to the rescue. If you’re looking for easy family meals that won’t break the bank or keep you chained to the kitchen, you’re in exactly the right place.
Think comforting bowls of cheesy pasta, crispy homemade chicken wraps, speedy homemade pizzas and one-pan favourites that make both cooking and washing up a whole lot easier.
The best part? Every meal can be ready in just 30 minutes or less, making them perfect for those evenings when time is short and hungry tummies are rumbling.
With simple ingredients, clever shortcuts and plenty of opportunities to use up leftovers, you can create delicious dinners that are easy on your wallet and big on flavour. Even better, many of these recipes are flexible enough to suit fussy eaters, so you can keep things familiar while sneaking in a few extra veggies along the way.
Whether you’re feeding a family on a tight budget, trying to cut down on takeaway nights or simply searching for fresh inspiration for your weekly meal plan, these affordable dinner ideas are here to make life easier.
So, grab your favourite frying pan, round up those hungry little food critics and get ready to discover some delicious, budget-friendly weeknight dinners that prove family meals can be quick, easy and seriously tasty!
Creamy Mushroom Pasta
In just 30 minutes you can make this creamy mushroom pasta, your family will enjoy. Made with onions, garlic, all-purpose flour, mushrooms and chicken broth. Once the sauce is ready, throw in your pasta for a rich and filling weeknight dinner.
Salsa Rice
If you have rice and salsa in your pantry, you can make this simple meal for dinner.
Sausage Pasta
If your family loves sausage, you can make this delicious sausage pasta made with just 5 ingredients: cream, grated cheese, sausages and garlic.
Cheesy Tomato Pasta
To your pasta sauce add garlic, onion, chili flakes and cream cheese for a delicious and simple pasta dinner.
Chicken Pesto Wraps
Made with only three ingredients, this is probably the easiest on the list.
Pesto Pasta
The original and convenient way to use your pesto sauce is with your pasta. Stir in hot pasta and add cooked chicken if you have some.
Bread Pizza
If you do not have any pizza dough at home, you can also use bread as the based and add your favorite sauce and pizza toppings.
Onion Pasta
All you need is to caramelize a lot of sliced onions in butter and oil. Once the onions have browned you can add cream or milk and toss in your pasta with seasonings of your choice.
Pesto Pizza
If you have not already tried pesto on your pizza, you should try this! All you need is pesto and cheese on your pizza dough and it’s good for the oven. You can add tomatoes or chicken as your extra topping.
Pesto Sandwich
Make your grilled cheese sandwich with pesto, tomato and mozzarella for that cheesy pull!
Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing beats a comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup made with chicken, garlic, onion and celery. It hearty and warming to have for dinner with a warm bread roll.
Tuna Bake
Garlic Butter Pasta
Egg Fried Rice
