19 Easy and Affordable Meals for Busy Families

It is no secret that the price of food has gotten very high lately, which can make cooking for a family feel difficult. The good news is that you can still put a great meal on the table without spending too much money. These recipes are designed to be affordable and will feed a whole group easily. You will find a mix of old-fashioned favorites and new ideas from different places that are sure to make everyone happy.

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Table of Contents

1 Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas
2 Queso con Chile (chile peppers and cheese)
3 Baked Chicken Legs
4 Potato Tacos Dorados
5 Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
6 Baked Potato Flautas
7 Atun a la Veracruzana (Spicy Tuna Veracruz)
8 Cheesy Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast
9 Papas a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Potatoes)
10 Sausage and Bean Pasta Bake
11 Bean Pozole
12 Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta {Crockpot}
13 Enfrijoladas (Bean Enchiladas)
14 Perfect Vegan Sloppy Joes
15 Calabacitas a la Mexicana (Mexican Squash)
16 Easy Roast Beef Hash Recipe (Using Leftover Roast Beef)
17 Sopa de Pollo con Fideos (chicken fideo soup)
18 Entomatadas (Tomato Enchiladas)
19 Sausage and Cabbage Pasta

Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas

A bowl of vibrant vegetable curry garnished with fresh cilantro. It features chunks of tomatoes, potatoes, and chickpeas in a rich, orange-colored sauce. — Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas. Photo credit: Cooking Gorgeous.

This is a creamy curry that is made with soft chickpeas and is full of yummy spices. The Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas is a healthy, plant-based dinner that is both filling and very affordable to make for a family meal.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas

Queso con Chile (chile peppers and cheese)

Queso con Chile served in a decorative blue plate next to pinto beans and a cactus salad. — Queso con Chile. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Soft panela cheese is cooked in a simple tomato and chile sauce to create the dish called Queso con Chile. It is a very easy comfort food that is warm and tasty, making it a great choice for a simple and inexpensive meal any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Queso con Chile

Baked Chicken Legs

Six pieces of grilled or smoked chicken drumsticks with crispy, browned skin are arranged on a rectangular white plate. The meat looks juicy and well-seasoned. — Baked Chicken Legs. Photo credit: Razzle Dazzle Life.

Chicken legs are baked in the oven until the skin becomes crispy and the meat inside is tender and juicy. These Baked Chicken Legs are a very affordable family meal and can be glazed with a simple sauce like teriyaki for extra flavor.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Legs

Potato Tacos Dorados

These are crispy fried tacos that are filled with a simple and tasty mashed potato filling. You will find that Potato Tacos Dorados are very easy to prepare at home and taste amazing when you top them with some fresh salsa or a little bit of lettuce.
Get Recipe: Potato Tacos Dorados

Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Close-up of creamy macaroni and cheese with a fork, featuring elbow-shaped pasta coated in a rich, cheesy sauce and garnished with a light sprinkle of herbs. — Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: The Fast Recipe.

This version of mac and cheese gets extra creaminess and protein from the addition of cottage cheese mixed with cheddar. The Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese is a classic dish with a healthy twist that is both super tasty and also good for you.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Baked Potato Flautas

Potato flautas on a white plate topped with lettuce and tomatoes. — Potato Flautas. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You only need about five ingredients to make these delicious and crispy rolled tacos. Baked Potato Flautas are a simple appetizer or main dish that you bake in the oven until they are golden brown and ready to be enjoyed with your favorite dip.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Flautas

Atun a la Veracruzana (Spicy Tuna Veracruz)

Tuna sitting on a white plate next to tortilla chips. — Atun a la Veracruzana. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

This is a simple dish that uses canned tuna cooked with tomatoes, onions, and a little bit of spice. Atun a la Veracruzana is a very quick and tasty meal to make that has a light and zesty flavor from a simple vinaigrette sauce.
Get the Recipe: Atun a la Veracruzana

Cheesy Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast

A close-up of a baked dish featuring tender chicken topped with melted cheese, pepperoni slices, and a sprinkling of herbs in a rich tomato sauce. The dish is in a white ceramic baking dish on a dark wooden surface. Fresh cilantro is visible on the side. — Pizza Stuffed Chicken. Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian.

Chicken breasts are stuffed with cheese and pizza-style flavors for a fun and family-friendly dinner. This Cheesy Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe is full of delicious tastes that everyone will recognize and is sure to become a new favorite at your table.
Get Recipe: Cheesy Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast

Papas a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Potatoes)

Two Papas a la Mexicana tacos served on a green plate and surrounded with bowls of potential toppings. — Papas a la Mexicana. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Potatoes are cooked with tomatoes, onions, and peppers to create the simple but flavorful dish called Papas a la Mexicana. It works perfectly as a tasty side dish for any meal or can even be used as a filling for breakfast tacos.
Get recipe: Papas a la Mexicana

Sausage and Bean Pasta Bake

A large pot filled with baked penne pasta, tomato sauce, meat, and melted cheese sits on a table with a serving spoon. Slices of toasted bread are on a nearby plate, and a bottle of water is in the background. — Sausage and Bean Pasta Bake. Photo credit: Donna Dundas.

This is a yummy baked pasta dish that combines sausage and baked beans with carrots for a complete meal. The Sausage and Bean Pasta Bake is super easy to put together and is a hit with kids who love its comforting and familiar flavors.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Bean Pasta Bake

Bean Pozole

A close-up of a bowl of Mexican pozole verde, showcasing a hearty soup made with hominy, pinto beans, and shredded cabbage. The dish is topped with sliced radishes, jalapeños, and cilantro, with a hint of lime visible on the side. A spoon rests in the bowl, ready to eat. — Bean Pozole. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You can whip up a big pot of this wholesome and traditional Mexican soup using just a few simple ingredients. Bean Pozole is a quick and easy plant-based meal that is full of great flavor and is very comforting on a cool evening.
Get the Recipe: Bean Pozole

Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta {Crockpot}

A bowl of hearty vegetable pasta soup with rotini, tomatoes, spinach, white beans, grated cheese, and fresh basil leaves, garnished with black pepper. A spoon is placed inside the bowl. — Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta {Crockpot}. Photo credit: Haute Healthy Living.

This is a hearty soup that is easy to make in your crockpot with white beans, pasta, and spinach. The Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta has a creamy texture and a rich flavor from ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes that make it a very satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta

Enfrijoladas (Bean Enchiladas)

A plate of enfrijoladas, topped with crumbled cheese and cilantro, is displayed on a wooden table. Nearby are bowls containing sliced jalapeños and crumbled cheese, with a keychain and cilantro leaves scattered alongside some pinto beans. — Enfrijoladas. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

These are enchiladas that get covered in a smooth and savory sauce made from pureed beans instead of chili sauce. Enfrijoladas are a very economical and authentic Mexican dish that is packed with flavor and can be filled with cheese for a filling dinner.
Get Recipe: Enfrijoladas

Perfect Vegan Sloppy Joes

A close-up of a Sloppy Joe sandwich with a golden bun, lettuce, saucy ground meat filling, red onion slices, and jalapeño slices. The sandwich is on a dark plate with a blurred background. — Perfect Vegan Sloppy Joes. Photo credit: Happy Kitchen.

This is a plant-based version of the classic sandwich that is just as messy and tasty as the original. The Perfect Vegan Sloppy Joes are a healthy and comforting meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight when you want something satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Perfect Vegan Sloppy Joes

Calabacitas a la Mexicana (Mexican Squash)

Calabacitas a la Mexicana on a crunchy tostada — Calabacitas a la Mexicana. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Zucchini and other summer squash are cooked with tomatoes and onions in the style of this traditional Mexican dish. Calabacitas a la Mexicana has a spicy kick and is fantastic served on top of crunchy tostadas or as a simple taco filling.
Get the Recipe: Calabacitas a la Mexicana

Easy Roast Beef Hash Recipe (Using Leftover Roast Beef)

A skillet filled with diced potatoes, shredded meat, and chopped green bell peppers, garnished with fresh herbs, with a spoon resting in the dish. — Easy Roast Beef Hash Recipe. Photo credit: Grits & Pinecones,

This Easy Roast Beef Hash Recipe is a great way to use up any leftover roast beef you might have from another dinner. It is mixed with potatoes to create a hearty and filling meal that is packed with flavor and makes a very satisfying breakfast or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Roast Beef Hash Recipe

Sopa de Pollo con Fideos (chicken fideo soup)

A bowl of soup containing chicken, spaghetti, lime slices, and a variety of vegetables such as carrots and potatoes. The soup is garnished with chopped herbs and placed on a striped cloth. A small bowl of chopped herbs with a wooden spoon is beside it. — Sopa de Pollo con Fideos. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

This is a classic Mexican chicken soup that is filled with soft noodles and lots of tasty broth. Sopa de Pollo con Fideos is a very flavorful and satisfying meal that is perfect for when you want something warm and comforting for lunch or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sopa de Pollo con Fideos

Entomatadas (Tomato Enchiladas)

Entomatadas is an easy-to-make and tasty Mexican recipe. It consists of fried tortillas dipped in red salsa. Delicious! by Mama Maggie's Kitchen — Entomatadas. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

These enchiladas are made by covering soft tortillas in a savory and mildly spicy sauce made from pureed tomatoes. Entomatadas are typically stuffed with cheese, making them a very easy and delicious Mexican recipe that is also very budget-friendly.
Get the recipe: Entomatadas

Sausage and Cabbage Pasta

A bowl of pasta with chunks of sausage, napa cabbage, and chopped parsley, served in a terracotta dish on a bamboo mat. A small bowl of grated cheese is visible on the side. — Sausage and Cabbage Pasta. Photo credit: The Pasta Project.

This is a simple pasta dish from Italy that combines savory sausage with soft, cooked cabbage. The Sausage and Cabbage Pasta is a quick and yummy meal that uses basic ingredients and is a sneaky way to get your family to eat more vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Cabbage Pasta