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    Home » Main Dishes

    Frugal Main Dish Recipes

    The main dish is the starring attraction, the one that can make or break the meal. It can also make or break your budget.

    Whether you're going meatless with Spring Vegetable Soup or beefing things up with this homemade Carne Asada recipe, these frugal main dish recipes are sure to save your bacon.

    two halves of vegan sandwich with avocado stacked on a plate with a red toothpick in the top half.

    The Best Vegan Sandwich with Avocado

    sideview of spoonful of antipasto pasta salad over bowl of salad.

    Antipasto Pasta Salad (90 cents/serving)

    ratatouille on a bed of rice on a white plate with slices of baguette.

    How to Make Ratatouille in the Oven

    knife cutting into chicken cordon bleu casserole.

    Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes

    grilled spicy chicken on white platter.

    Spicy Chicken Marinade

    fluffing cooked couscous with a fork.

    How to Cook Couscous

    closeup of cheesy hashbrown casserole on a dinner plate.

    Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (44 cents/serving)

    hand holding a turkey lettuce wrap over a platter of wraps.

    Turkey Lettuce Wraps

    grilled pork tenderloin sliced on a plate with cheesy potatoes and green beans.

    Grilled Pork Tenderloin (78 cent/serving)

    close up of asian cabbage salad with serving spoon in white platter.

    Asian Cabbage Salad

    close up of gluten-free meatballs in pot of sauce.

    Gluten-Free Meatballs Recipe (25 cents each)

    no bean chili recipe served in a black bowl topped with cheese, sour cream, green onions, and chips.

    30-Minute No Bean Chili Recipe (92 cents/serving)

    pair of chimichangas in baking dish topped with sauce, cheese, and chopped scallions.

    Beef Chimichanga Recipe (61 cents each)

    chicken fajita burrito cut in half with one half resting on the other, showing the cut side.

    Spicy Chicken Fajita Burritos (73 cents each)

    cut side view of hot chicken sandwich with cheese and chunks of bacon showing alongside the chicken.

    Hot Chicken Sub with Bacon (75 cents/serving)

    sourdough pizza dough balls on floured surface.

    Sourdough Pizza Crust (60 cents/pizza)

    stack of pyrex dishes with lids filled with casseroles in the freezer.

    Easy Chicken Freezer Meals (with Grocery List)

    halves of chili cheese burrito stacked on a plate with chips and guacamole.

    Easy Chili Cheese Burritos

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

    More about me

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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