• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking Gorgeous
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us
    • Media Mentions
  • Recipe Index
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cozy Soups
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cozy Soups
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Cooking Gorgeous » MSN Posts

    10 Cheap Dinner Ideas

    Published: Apr 6, 2024 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Check out these 10 super tasty dinner recipes that won't break the bank! They're made with pantry staples, affordable ingredients, and leftovers. If you're on the hunt for budget-friendly yet delicious meals the whole family will love, this collection is for you!

    Briam - Greek Roasted Vegetables

    colourful greek roasted vegetables served on a plate
    Ayla Clulee

    Briam is a hearty Greek casserole dish featuring roasted vegetables cooked in a generous amount of olive oil and seasoned with simple Mediterranean flavors.

    This dish is perfect for using up any vegetables you have in your fridge and makes a complete meal when served with a piece of crusty bread on the side.

    To learn more: Briam - Greek Roasted Vegetables

    Turkish Cabbage Stew - Kapuska

    turkish cabbage stew is cooked for 1,5 hours
    Ayla Clulee

    Kapuska is a comforting Turkish Stew made with cabbage, onions, and minced beef gently simmered in a tomato sauce.

    This rustic Turkish Cabbage Stew is perfect to keep you all cozy and warm in the colder months.

    You can use any other ground meat you prefer, or entirely skip the meat and make it vegetarian. I usually make Kapuska with trimmings left from stuffed cabbage rolls.

    To learn more: Kapuska - Turkish Cabbage Stew

    Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice

    Lebanese lentil and rice dish garnished with chopped parsley
    Ayla Clulee

    Mujadara (or Mujaddara) is a simple yet delicious Lebanese Recipe made with Lentils and Rice and flavored with caramelized crispy onions. 

    It is extremely easy to make with only a few simple ingredients which you probably already have in your pantry. 

    Also, this beautiful dish is inexpensive to make, full of nutrition, and gluten-free.

    To learn more: Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice Recipe

    Kuru Fasulye - Turkish Bean Stew

    kuru fasulye is traditionally served with rice pilaf
    Ayla Clulee

    Kuru Fasulye is a hearty and rich Turkish stew made with white beans and diced lamb or beef slowly cooked in a tomato sauce. 

    It is packed with lots of flavors and is the ultimate comfort dish for cold winter nights.

    There are many different variations of this popular bean stew, and the vegetarian version is just as delicious!

    To learn more: Kuru Fasulye

    Chicken and Eggplant Fatteh

    chicken and chickpeas fatteh ready to serve
    Ayla Clulee

    Fatteh is a Middle Eastern dish made with pieces of grilled stale flatbread topped with other ingredients such as chickpeas, yogurt, and cooked leftover chicken pieces.

    It is a perfect way to use up leftover stale pita and cooked chicken pieces and serve as a quick weeknight meal or family gathering.

    To learn more: Chicken and Eggplant Fatteh

    Chicken and Dumplings

    the soup is poured into a bowl with a ladle
    Ayla Clulee

    Deliciously rich and creamy Chicken and Dumpling Soup have been warming hearts and soothing souls for generations.

    This fuss-free soup is a delightful way to use up leftover chicken, and it has become a much-loved family favorite.

    To learn more: Easy Chicken and Dumplings Soup Recipe

    Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

    Butternut squash curry served with a bowl of raita
    Ayla Clulee

    Butternut Squash Curry with Chickpeas is a delicious, warming, and affordable Indian dish featuring squash, chickpeas, warming spices, and creamy coconut milk. 

    This cozy and healthy one-pot curry is perfect for busy weeknights.

    To learn more: Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

    Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie

    Ayla Clulee

    This easy Turkey Shepherd's Pie is a perfect way to use up leftover Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Swede and Carrot Mash, and turkey gravy as well as Oven Roasted Turkey.

    It is comforting, full of flavor, and very easy to make - a great casserole dish for cold fall and winter nights.

    To learn more: Leftover Turkey Shepherd'e Pie

    Fellah Koftesi - Turkish Bulgur Dumplings

    fellah kofte
    Ayla Clulee

    Fellah Koftesi is a delicious vegetarian bulgur dish made with simple ingredients such as bulgur, semolina, onion, tomato and pepper paste, and spices.

    I usually do this budget-friendly dish in batches and freeze some to serve later.

    To learn more: Fellah Koftesi

    Vegan Mousakka

    Lebanese eggplant moussaka served with Coban Salatasi on the side
    Ayla Clulee

    This deliciously healthy Vegan Lebanese Eggplant Moussaka, also known as Maghmour combines roasted eggplants and chickpeas in a tangy tomato sauce flavored with Lebanese spices.

    It is incredibly simple to prepare using everyday affordable ingredients, while still being bursting with flavor and nutritional goodness.

    To learn more: Vegan Lebanese Eggplant Mousakka - Maghmour

    « Greek Pastitsio Recipe (Greek Lasagna)
    10 Amazing Mediterranean Desserts »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

    Soup Recipes

    • Greek Chicken Lemon Soup - Avgolemono
    • Arpa Şehriye Çorbası - Turkish Orzo Soup
    • Turkish Tarhana Soup - Tarhana Çorbası
    • Homemade Turkish Tarhana Powder Recipe
    • Moroccan Harira Lamb and Chickpeas Soup
    • chicken and dumpling soup served in a bowl
      Easy Chicken and Dumpling Soup Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • FAQs

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Cooking Gorgeous

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT