DollopCheap dinner ideas
74 recipes
Every dinner here costs $2.50 or less a serving, worked out from typical US grocery prices for exactly what the recipe uses. They lean on the cheap staples that fill you up, like rice, pasta, beans, eggs, potatoes and chicken thighs. The cheapest is Crispy black bean burgers at $1.03 a serving, and the average here is $1.83.
Crispy black bean burgers
$1.03 a serving
40 min
Greek spinach rice (spanakorizo)
$1.10 a serving
40 min
Mujadara (lentils and rice with crispy onions)
$1.14 a serving
60 min
Veggie fried rice
$1.19 a serving
65 min
Lentil sloppy joes
$1.21 a serving
55 min
Kung pao chickpeas
$1.22 a serving
35 min
Cabbage pancakes (okonomiyaki)
$1.23 a serving
35 min
Lazy cabbage roll skillet
$1.24 a serving
50 min
Haluski (buttery cabbage and noodles)
$1.25 a serving
40 min
Mexican red rice with black beans
$1.29 a serving
40 min
West African–style peanut stew with sweet potatoes
$1.30 a serving
45 min
Cabbage yakisoba noodles
$1.32 a serving
25 min
Butter soy rice with crispy fried eggs
$1.37 a serving
30 min
Lentil bolognese with spaghetti
$1.37 a serving
60 min
Sopa de fideo (Mexican noodle soup)
$1.43 a serving
25 min
Stovetop mac and cheese
$1.43 a serving
25 min
Red beans and rice
$1.51 a serving
45 min
Crispy salt and pepper chicken thighs
$1.52 a serving
55 min
Cheesy savory oats with a soft egg
$1.53 a serving
20 min
One-pot chili mac
$1.57 a serving
35 min
Pasta e ceci
$1.59 a serving
35 min
Pasta e patate (pasta and potatoes)
$1.61 a serving
45 min
Peanut noodles with cucumber and carrots
$1.61 a serving
25 min
Black bean and sweet potato tacos
$1.63 a serving
45 min
Spinach and cheddar frittata
$1.64 a serving
35 min
Chickpea and potato curry
$1.65 a serving
50 min
Moroccan-spiced couscous with chickpeas and carrots
$1.65 a serving
25 min
Cheesy bean and rice burritos
$1.65 a serving
45 min
Soft scrambled eggs on buttery toast
$1.65 a serving
12 min
Omurice (ketchup rice under an omelette)
$1.70 a serving
50 min
Red lentil soup with lemon
$1.70 a serving
45 min
Käsespätzle (German cheesy dumplings)
$1.71 a serving
50 min
Egg curry with rice
$1.72 a serving
50 min
Pastina with egg and parmesan
$1.75 a serving
15 min
Cheesy broccoli orzo
$1.77 a serving
25 min
Hungarian paprika potato stew
$1.77 a serving
45 min
Tuna kedgeree (curried rice with eggs)
$1.79 a serving
40 min
Proper beans on toast
$1.80 a serving
20 min
Garlicky white bean and spinach pasta
$1.81 a serving
30 min
Lemon garlic chicken thighs
$1.83 a serving
35 min
Pesto pasta with peas and spinach
$1.83 a serving
25 min
Loaded sweet potatoes with chili-lime black beans
$1.91 a serving
70 min
Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas
$1.92 a serving
50 min
Juicy seasoned turkey burgers
$2.01 a serving
20 min
Crispy potato hash with fried eggs
$2.02 a serving
40 min
Vegetable lo mein
$2.02 a serving
35 min
Pork chops with butter pan sauce
$2.04 a serving
30 min
Huevos rancheros
$2.05 a serving
30 min
Egg roll in a bowl
$2.07 a serving
25 min
Stovetop tuna noodle casserole
$2.10 a serving
30 min
Smashed black bean quesadillas
$2.11 a serving
20 min
Garlicky rice porridge with jammy eggs
$2.12 a serving
60 min
Spanish potato omelette
$2.12 a serving
60 min
Crispy potato tacos
$2.13 a serving
40 min
Sheet-pan chickpea shawarma wraps
$2.16 a serving
35 min
Roasted cauliflower tacos with lime slaw
$2.16 a serving
45 min
Garlicky spaghetti with peas and parmesan
$2.19 a serving
20 min
Crispy tuna melts
$2.20 a serving
20 min
Smoky black bean soup
$2.20 a serving
40 min
Honey mustard pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes
$2.25 a serving
45 min
Crispy black bean tacos
$2.26 a serving
20 min
Creamy cheddar potato soup
$2.26 a serving
40 min
Sizzling veggie fajitas
$2.28 a serving
35 min
Smoky chicken and sweet potato sheet pan
$2.31 a serving
50 min
Tomato and egg over rice
$2.33 a serving
35 min
One-pot tomato basil pasta
$2.36 a serving
30 min
White bean and cabbage soup
$2.38 a serving
45 min
Creamy tomato penne
$2.39 a serving
30 min
Easy three-bean chili
$2.45 a serving
55 min
Turkish eggs on garlicky yogurt
$2.45 a serving
25 min
Garlic soy noodles with jammy eggs
$2.47 a serving
35 min
Bacon and crispy fried eggs
$2.48 a serving
25 min
Better instant ramen with a soft egg
$2.48 a serving
15 min
Lemony tuna pasta with capers
$2.49 a serving
30 min
Costs and nutrition are estimates for one serving, worked out from typical US grocery prices and standard nutrition values for what each recipe uses.
More ways to find dinner
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- Cheap high-protein vegetarian meals
- Cheap healthy meals
- Family meals under $10
- Cheap meals for one
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- Every list ›
Let Dollop plan the week for you
Tell Dollop what’s in your kitchen and it picks dinners like these for the nights you’re home, writes one grocery list, and walks you through each step.