20 Budget-Friendly Dinner Ideas to Get Through Winter
Affordable cuts of meat and pantry staples to the rescue!
Winter can be challenging, especially when you're feeding a family. After the holiday season, you might feel a strain on your wallet. And with not a lot in season, it can be hard to save money on groceries and still find good quality ingredients. But the good news is that you can still make cozy winter dinners based on what you have stocked in your pantry, fridge, and freezer!
The affordable winter meal ideas you'll find here take advantage of affordable cuts of meat like chicken thighs and ground beef and turn them into cozy comfort food that will satisfy everyone in the colder months ahead. You'll find easy pasta recipes, lots of fun twists on potatoes (like Ree's favorite potato soup!), and pretty much every which way to enjoy beans from flavorful soup recipes to hearty chilis. And of course, don't forget the unsung heroes for fresh flavor in the off season: frozen vegetables!
You'll find easy 30-minute meals and slow cooker recipes that you can set in the morning and forget until dinnertime. Use leftovers to make fried rice or use canned tuna for a nostalgic casserole that will make your grandma proud. Plenty of the recipes are flexible for ingredient swaps, so matter what you have on hand, there will be something you can turn into dinner in no time. Then bookmark the rest so you have other ideas to make all winter long! You wallet and your stomach will thank you.
Chili Dogs
Jazz up that package of hot dogs with homemade chili. Top with cheese and onions and you've got a quick and easy meal that'll warm you right through.
Get Ree's Chili Dogs recipe.
Lemon Pasta
Brighten up any dark winter night with this easy-to-make pasta. Just toss it with butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and parmesan, then top with basil and black pepper if desired. It'll be ready in just 25 minutes.
Get the Lemon Pasta recipe.
French Bread Pizzas
Using French bread (or rolls or English muffins or bagels!) is an easy way to make pizza without having to order out. Plus, you everyone can make their own with their favorite toppings so there's less arguing.
Get Ree's French Bread Pizzas recipe.
Lentil Soup
Affordable, easy to make, and so good for you: You really can't go wrong with lentil soup. Plus, you don't have to soak dried lentils in advance so you can make it for dinner without having to plan the day before.
Get Ree's Lentil Soup recipe.
Pork Fried Rice
Turn that leftover rice and a bag of frozen veggies into an amazingly flavorful meal. It's also very versatile. Don't have pork? Use any protein you've got. You can vary the veggies, too.
Get Ree's Pork Fried Rice recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are often less expensive than chicken breasts. If you cook them low and slow with affordable potatoes and carrots, you get a full meal without a lot of work, too.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe.
Hamburger Soup
Ree calls this a "clean out the fridge soup" because it's so easy to swap out ingredients for what you have on hand. The results are pure cozy comfort either way! Plus, leftovers are great for lunch the next day.
Get Ree's Hamburger Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Cook a big batch of pulled pork and you can make endless meals for the rest of the week. Make everything from sandwiches to tacos and more. You can find at least 30 ideas right here!
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
7-Can Soup
The name says it all! You combine canned beans, tomatoes, corn, and processed cheese to create what Ree calls the "the easiest soup on the planet." It takes just five minutes of prep time.
Get Ree's 7-Can Soup recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Why choose between chili and mac and cheese when you can have the best of both worlds? This easy skillet dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Grandma made this for a reason! Affordable canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, egg noodles, and frozen peas really transform into cozy nostalgia when baked together in a casserole dish. Don't forget to crunch some potato chips on top!
Get the Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe.
Dumpling Soup
Check your freezer! If you find a package of frozen dumplings, you're just 15 minutes away from making a flavorful soup. There's plenty of room for variation to switch up the veggies for whatever you have on hand, too.
Get the Dumpling Soup recipe.
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
If you've got bread and cheese in the house, you know just what to do! Try making it in the air fryer. It's fast, of course, and makes a perfectly toasty and melty combo.
Get the Air Fryer Grilled Cheese recipe.
Sheet Pan Gnocchi
Turn refrigerated gnocchi into an easy dinner. Combine it with pretty much any veggies you have on hand and bake everything together on a sheet pan. Easy to cook and even easier to clean up!
Get the Sheet Pan Gnocchi recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
You can usually find drumsticks on sale, so grab a pack when you can! Then give 'em a nice rub with a bunch of spices you probably already have in your pantry and let your air fryer do the cooking for you.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks recipe.
Sweet Potato Chili
Meat can be expensive! You can skip it entirely and still make a flavorful, filling chili. You'll find beans, veggies, sweet potatoes, and just the right amount of spice in this recipe. Then have fun with the toppings to customize it.
Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Potato Soup
Oh, the humble potato! While it always makes an excellent side dish, it can also be the star of the show when you make this creamy soup. You can dress it up with fun toppings, too, like cheese, sour cream, and bacon.
Get the Slow Cooker Potato Soup recipe.
Oven-Baked Pork Chops
Use that bottle of BBQ sauce in the fridge to make flavorful pork chops in the oven. The veggie bakes right alongside them and comes together super fast. It's made of pre-made slaw mix and frozen corn.
Get Ree's Oven-Baked Pork Chops recipe.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Pot roast is pure comfort food. Plus, it's made with a more affordable cut of meat that practically begs a for slow cooker to make it tender. It cooks alongside potatoes and carrots for a filling, cozy meal.
Get the Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe.
Lemon-Thyme Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
It doesn't get more straight forward than chicken and potatoes. They're so easy to cook on a sheet pan, too. Simply toss with lemon, thyme, and garlic and a flavorful dinner will be ready with just 15 minutes of prep.
Get Ree's Lemon-Thyme Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes recipe.
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