71 Cheap Dinner Ideas That Do the Most With the Least

Looking for some cheap dinner ideas? Sure, we all are—and we wholeheartedly believe that you can cook well while spending less. Whether you’re saving money for rent, future travel plans, or because the cost of everything is just too damn high, you can still make a delicious dinner. It just takes some clever techniques and inexpensive pantry staples such as rice, pasta, beans, frozen produce, and chicken thighs. Turn your stash into spicy one-pot kimchi and squash mac and cheese, the ultimate comfort food; creamy, lemony tortellini soup; store-bought udon noodles bathing in buttery tomato broth; or turmeric-infused red lentils and spinach with rice. Here are 71 ways to prove that your cheap meals can also be your best meals.