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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.

    close up of sauteed tilapia with herb butter, green beans, and buttered noodles.

    30+ Easy Fish Recipes

    close up of unsliced Thai chicken pizza.

    Thai Chicken Pizza

    plain round of whole wheat pizza dough on a screen.

    Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Recipe

    spoonful of pasta over larger bowl of instant pot pasta.

    Instant Pot Pasta with Sausage & Cheese

    overhead shot of tomato soup in black bowl with basil garnish.

    Instant Pot Tomato Soup

    close-up view of skillet full of creamy garlic shrimp pasta topped with fresh parsley.

    50+ Romantic Dinner Ideas to Cook at Home

    array of rice bowls in black bowls on table.

    How to Make a Rice Bowl

    black bowl of Chili Cheese Fries with lots of toppings.

    Homemade Chili Cheese Fries

    spaghetti sauce in souper cubes to be frozen for later.

    Can you freeze spaghetti sauce?

    overhead shot of bowl of spaghetti with crock pot sauce.

    Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

    overhead shot of potato soup in black bowl on wooden board.

    Instant Pot Potato Soup

    close up of Catalan meatballs over potatoes.

    Catalan Meatballs – Boules de Picolat

    turkey taco salad in a black bowl, with toppings.

    Turkey Taco Salad

    two halves of a tuna sandwich, stacked on a white plate, cut side facing the camera.

    How to Make the Best Tuna Sandwich

    cream cheese pasta in serving bowl next to parmesan and fork and spoon.

    Cream Cheese Pasta

    black dish of split biscuits with sausage gravy.

    Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

    cut half of breakfast burrito leaning on second half on plate with pico and orange slices.

    Breakfast Burrito Ideas

    breakfast sausage patties on a white plate.

    How to Cook Breakfast Sausage

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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.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    teal graphic with the words, do you know what's for dinner tonight.

    Mexican Food Recipes

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      60+ Budget-Friendly Mexican Dinner Ideas
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      3 Ways to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips
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      Nacho Bar
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      Easy Homemade Taco Meat
    • overhead shot of jalapeno cream cheese dip with sliced jalapeños on top and a spoon twirled in the cheese.
      Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
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      Spanish Brown Rice (Mexican Brown Rice)

    Reader Favorites

    • asian marinated chicken breast sliced on a plate with rice and veg.
      5-Minute Asian Chicken Marinade Recipe
    • close-up of cream of celery soup in a jar with celery leaves behind.
      Homemade Cream of Celery Soup Recipe
    • small glass pitcher of milk on black background.
      20+ Easy Milk Recipes to Use Up the Leftover Gallon
    • with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.
      Baked Rice: How to Cook Rice in the Oven
    • green onions added to meal prep salads.
      Meal Prep Salads for Easy Lunches You’ll Want to Eat
    • best pulled pork in a freezer container to freeze.
      Best Pulled Pork Recipe

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