The only thing better than a tasty, cheap meal for dinner is if someone else cooks it for you! I do most of the cooking in our house, and I’m constantly asking myself what recipe to make for dinner. My main requirements are that it is quick – preferably 15 minutes or less – and a cheap meal.

Here are 7 cheap meals for dinner.

1. Indian chickpeas. Hubs first cooked this for me when we were dating and I didn’t realize it then, but he is a master of simple cooking. (That’s a nice way of saying he doesn’t enjoy cooking much). Rinse chickpeas from a can, add to hot, deep pan that has about 1-2 T canola oil in it. Saute for 5 minutes, or until chickpeas are tender. Add onion slices from 1 large or 2 small onions and continue to sautee for about 3 minutes. Add spices to taste: tumeric, chicken marsala, cumin, and salt. If you like your dinners spicy, add cayenne pepper. Cost: $1 or less per serving.

2. Quesadillas. Quick and cheap! I like to use sharp cheddar cheese in mind, but soft cheese like Monterey Jack melt better and produce less grease. I dice up any leftover meat I have, then add in small pieces of vegetables, including mushrooms, scallions, cucumber, green or red peppers, corn, tomatoes, etc. Your are only limited by what’s in your fridge. Cost: $1-2 per serving.

3. Egg wraps. Eggs are an incredibly cheap source of protein and very healthy for you in moderation. I love to make scrambled eggs wrapped in a warm tortilla for a cheap dinner. I dice any leftover meat I have on hand, plus toss in mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and peppers. If I have leftover potatoes, those go in, too. My secret ingredient is goat cheese, which melts really nicely and adds tremendous flavor. Cost: $1-2 per serving.

4. Hummus and vegetable plate. I wash and prep carrots, cucumbers, peppers, mushrooms, radishes, and  other vegetables I have on hand, then dip into hummus. Delicious, quick, and a perfect light meal for hot summer days when you don’t want to turn on the oven! Cost: $2 per serving.

5. Salsa wrap. I fix my own salsa with black beans, corn, red peppers, red onion, lime juice, and a dash of salt. There a LOT of variations for black bean salsa recipes, so you can tweak depending on what is in your fridge and what you feel like eating. Wrap plenty of salsa in a warm tortilla. Cost: $2 per serving. 

6. Easy Lentil Burgers. I recommend making a double or triple batch of these easy lentil burgers and freezing for quick meals later on. Very tasty with tahini sauce! Cost: $2-3 per serving.

7. Healthy salads. Yazmin shared 10 amazing salad recipes that will definitely spice up your greens! Cost: varies.

What meal do you like to make for dinner that is cheap?