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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.

    side view of buffalo chicken quesadillas with filling coming out of sides.

    Easy Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas Recipe

    overhead shot of salmon, broccoli, and lemon wedges on a plate next to rice pilaf and tartar sauce cup.

    How to Cook Fish in a Pan (3-Ingredient Recipe)

    chicken breast sliced on a plate with side dishes.

    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (Easy Crock-Pot Recipe)

    hands gripping a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

    Grandma’s Chicken Noodle Soup from Scratch

    platter of roast with new potatoes and a fork.

    What to Serve with Pot Roast: 40+ Best Side Dish Recipes

    a bite of pot roast on a fork with meat and potatoes in the background.

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Tomato Gravy

    knife cutting into chicken cordon bleu casserole.

    Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Recipe

    white bowl of chili with toppings and chips, a spoon on the table nearby.

    The Best Homemade Slow Cooker Chili (Thickened with Masa)

    chicken strips on wire rack with sauce cups.

    The Best Fried Chicken Strips to Make at Home

    chick-fil-a cobb salad with a red check napkin and bottle of dressing in the background.

    Copycat Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad Recipe

    dinner plate with quinoa pilaf, salad, and pork tenderloin.

    Easy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Recipe

    teal tongs picking up skillet chicken tenderloin heavy with seasoning.

    Skillet Chicken Tenderloins (Saute on Stovetop)

    a bite of chicken on a fork over a plate of chicken and gravy with asparagus on the side.

    Quick & Easy Chicken and Gravy Dinner Recipe (from Scratch)

    sliced air fryer turkey tenderloin on platter with fresh herbs.

    Easy & Delicious Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin Recipe

    close up of ploughman's lunch on a wooden board with a red checked cloth.

    The Ploughman’s Lunch or Traditional English Snack Plate

    slices of pesto pizza on a white plate.

    Easy Pesto Pizza Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes & Feta

    the baked supreme pizza round.

    The Best Supreme Pizza Toppings on Homemade Crust

    cooked taco meat in oval dish with taco toppings nearby.

    The Easiest Dinners: 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes

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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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