18 Cheap Dinner Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less

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Grocery bills keep climbing, but dinner still needs to happen—preferably fast and without drama. That’s where a few smart shortcuts and fewer ingredients can make all the difference. These cheap dinner recipes use five ingredients or less, which means less shopping, less cleanup, and less stress. They’re practical without being boring, and they don’t rely on obscure pantry items you’ll use once. If your weeknights are busy and your budget is tight, this is a solid place to start.

Juicy Blackstone Burgers

A sesame seed bun cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a bite taken out, showing the inside of the patty and melted cheese.
Juicy Blackstone Burgers. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

These burgers hit the griddle fast, pack in the flavor, and skip the overpriced drive-thru routine. They’re a win for anyone stacking up cheap dinner recipes that still feel like a weekend treat.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Blackstone Burgers

5 Ingredient Pork Chops In Crockpot Recipe

Two slices of turkey with gravy served on a bed of mashed potatoes, garnished with black pepper on a light blue plate.
5 Ingredient Pork Chops In Crockpot Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Toss five things into your slow cooker and walk away like a pro. If you’re tired and need cheap dinner recipes that still pull their weight, this one checks every box.
Get the Recipe: 5 Ingredient Pork Chops In Crockpot Recipe

Leftover Steak Quesadilla

Four cheese and beef quesadilla wedges are arranged on a black plate, showing melted cheese and vegetables inside.
Leftover Steak Quesadilla. Photo credit: Dinner By Six.

Leftover steak turns into something you’ll actually be excited to eat again, especially when melted cheese gets involved. This is one of those cheap dinner recipes that rescues last night’s meal without complaints.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Steak Quesadilla

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe

Shredded chicken mixed with sauce and vegetables being stirred with a wooden spoon in a pot.
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Chicken, salsa, and a slow cooker—there’s not much to mess up here. Great for cheap dinner recipes when you’re overthinking everything except dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Recipe

Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops Recipe

Two breaded, cooked pork chops with exposed bones are garnished with chopped parsley and served on a dark plate.
Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops Recipe. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crispy outside, juicy inside, and way cheaper than anything from a restaurant. These pork chops are ideal when you want cheap dinner recipes that feel like more than they cost.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops Recipe

Smoked Chicken Drumsticks

Five cooked chicken drumsticks with a glaze, garnished with chopped herbs, arranged on a white plate.
Smoked Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Drumsticks are already budget gold, but smoking them takes the flavor up a notch without taking your money. Perfect for cheap dinner recipes when you need to feed a crowd on the low.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Chicken Drumsticks

Carnivore Casserole with Ground Beef

A slice of yellow frittata on a white plate with a fork placed beside it.
Carnivore Casserole with Ground Beef. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This dish sticks to the basics—meat, cheese, done. For cheap dinner recipes that double as comfort food, this one walks the line just right.
Get the Recipe: Carnivore Casserole with Ground Beef

Smoked Chicken Wings

Close-up of seasoned and cooked chicken wings on a white plate.
Smoked Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Wings don’t have to be deep-fried or delivered to hit the spot. Fire up your smoker, spend next to nothing, and call it dinner—cheap, messy, and worth it.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Chicken Wings

Ultimate Chicken Casserole

Baked chicken rolls stuffed with spinach and cheese, served on a bed of lettuce in a white dish.
Ultimate Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

This one’s loaded with pantry staples and a whole lot of comfort. It belongs on any list of cheap dinner recipes that stretch chicken without feeling like you’re stretching anything.
Get the Recipe: Ultimate Chicken Casserole

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

A plate of glazed chicken wings with a cup of creamy dipping sauce on a white dish.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Who says BBQ night has to cost a fortune or involve your grill? These wings bring the bold without breaking the bank, which earns them a spot in your stash of cheap dinner recipes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

A bowl of shredded chicken, black beans, rice, and diced tomatoes. Lime, shredded cheese, cilantro, and a red cloth are nearby on a white surface.
Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

It’s chicken + salsa + minimal brainpower = dinner done. When cheap dinner recipes need to be foolproof and low-effort, this one shows up every time.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Mediterranean Grilled Chicken

A white plate with stuffed chicken breasts topped with melted cheese, tomatoes, and herbs, garnished with basil; salad and tomatoes are in the background.
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

You don’t need a plane ticket or a fancy grocery run to pull this off. It’s light, quick, and lands in your pile of cheap dinner recipes without a fuss.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Grilled Chicken

Keto Sausage Balls

A bowl of creamy white dip garnished with herbs is surrounded by meatballs in a skillet. A fork holds one meatball above the dip.
Keto Sausage Balls. Photo credit: Low Carb No Carb.

Just a handful of ingredients, no bun in sight, and still wildly filling. These sausage balls check the cheap dinner recipes box with room to spare.
Get the Recipe: Keto Sausage Balls

The Best Crispy Roasted Parmesan Carrots Recipe

A plate of baked carrots and rice with crispy edges.
The Best Crispy Roasted Parmesan Carrots Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Carrots finally get their moment to shine, and not in some sad side dish way. Add cheese, roast until crispy, and you’ve got one of those cheap dinner recipes that pulls double duty.
Get the Recipe: The Best Crispy Roasted Parmesan Carrots Recipe

Green Bean Mushroom Casserole

Plate of green bean casserole topped with crispy onions and herbs.
Green Bean Mushroom Casserole. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

Casseroles are the secret handshake of budget dinners, and this one holds its own. You can serve it with anything or just scoop it into a bowl and call it good.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Mushroom Casserole

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken and Dressing

Close-up of a creamy chicken casserole topped with a golden breadcrumb crust, garnished with herbs, served on a dark plate with a gold fork.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken and Dressing. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This one practically cooks itself and doesn’t ask for much—just four ingredients and a slow cooker. You’ll want it in your cheap dinner recipes lineup for those evenings when ambition takes the night off.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken and Dressing

Beef Quesadillas with Carne Asada Steak

Stack of cheesy mushroom quesadillas garnished with herbs, served on a plate with bowls of sour cream and red sauce.
Beef Quesadillas with Carne Asada Steak. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Stretch a bit of steak with tortillas and cheese, and suddenly no one’s asking what’s for dinner. It’s a solid addition to any cheap dinner recipes list without feeling like a shortcut.
Get the Recipe: Beef Quesadillas with Carne Asada Steak

Stuffed Chicken Roll Ups Recipe

A serving of rice topped with baked chicken breast stuffed with spinach and melted cheese, garnished with herbs.
Stuffed Chicken Roll Ups Recipe. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

These roll ups look fancy but sneak in on the cheap. Great for when you want to fake a restaurant vibe without the restaurant bill.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Chicken Roll Ups Recipe

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