My Heart Says "Go Out To Eat" (My Budget Says "No"), So I Fell For These Cheap Dinner Ideas Instead

Arroz con pollo is the perfect weeknight dinner savior. It’s an easy one-pot meal that doesn’t taste like one (seriously, you just might be eating the rice straight out of the pan). The best part? It makes for incredible leftovers, so you can enjoy it all week long.

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Creamy vodka sauce is the ultimate comfort food, and with the addition of easy chicken meatballs, it becomes a simple, heartier dinner. The sauce relies heavily on rich, sweet tomato paste, and vodka adds an almost spiciness to the dish and helps balance out the heaviness of the sauce. The whole dish is quick and one you’ll be able to easily master.

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We added all the flavors of classic chicken Parmesan into these stuffed peppers, creating a two-in-one dinner that truly is the best of both worlds. Ready in a little over an hour, this cheesy recipe is the best way to upgrade your stuffed pepper game.

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If you have leftover rice hanging out in your fridge, then this fried rice is a no-brainer. Shake up your weeknight chicken dinner by recreating the take-out staple right at home. Not a chicken fan? Try our beef fried rice, kimchi fried rice, or pineapple fried rice instead.

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Looking for your new favorite way to dress up canned chickpeas? You’re in the right place. Simmered in an aromatic tomato gravy, this vegetarian spin on classic butter chicken will forever change the way you look at a can of beans.

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Just like all of our Marry Me dishes that came before, the sauce is something to obsess over. It’s perfect for sopping up with crusty bread or tossing with your favorite al dente pasta. Serve it up with a simple salad or your favorite roasted veggie to make this a well-rounded, satisfying meal for any date night.

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Obviously roasting a block of feta with bursting tomatoes is going to be amazing. But is it good enough to break TikTok like this one did? Our answer, begrudgingly, is yes. It's genius—super-easy, but fancy enough for date night. 😍

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A quintessential Chinese-American dish, beef and broccoli is a classic that graces the menu at almost every takeout spot across the country. In terms of popularity, it's right up there with orange chicken, and for very good reason: The combination of tender, seared beef and broccoli tossed in a garlicky, velvety sauce is practically impossible to resist.

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Like chicken and pork schnitzel before it, mozzarella schnitzel is crispy (thanks to a golden breadcrumb crust), and pairs perfectly with a mustard sauce as a special occasion dinner main. Your boo will FLIP over that cheese pull.

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Our recipe is extra-creamy due to a generous amount of cheese (in our book, no grits are complete without) and butter. We also took this recipe to the next-level by adding in crispy bacon. Not only does this amp up the texture of our dish, but cooking our shrimp in bacon fat adds heaps of flavor. The result is a rich and decadent weeknight dinner (or filling brunch!) we’ll happily dig into any time of year.

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Focusing on only 3 key ingredients, our chicken fajita recipe requires minimal prep and cook time, meaning dinner on the table FAST. Follow our classic recipe for our best-ever version or use it as a jumping-off point to experiment with your favorite proteins, veggies, and toppings.

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BBQ sauce and chicken go together like peanut butter and jelly: an undeniable classic combo that hits the mark every single time. This easy sheet-pan dinner comes complete with juicy chicken, loads of sweet–smoky flavor, and plenty of vegetables to round out the meal.

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Biting into a chewy, saucy, and cheesy slice of pizza is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Lucky for us, it’s also one that’s easily achieved at home—no delivery fees required! With simple ingredients and a little bit of patience (hot tip: make your components ahead of time), you’ll be on your way to homemade pizza that might be even better than your local pie shop.

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If you're looking for a simple—but super satisfying—way to switch up your weeknight chicken dinner rotation, this is it. All it takes is a few basic ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to transform chicken thighs into an herby, garlicky dream. The best part? Your sides and main dish will both be ready in under an hour, making this an ideal last-minute, filling dinner.

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If you’re reading this with doubts, please keep them at bay for a few minutes. This veggie spin on chicken Parmesan gives a refreshing twist to the classic, and is a win for anyone looking for a delicious low-carb, vegetarian dinner to impress.

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If you’re looking for a hearty, comfort food meal to eat after a long fall workday, this is the recipe for you. While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour (sometimes even more), our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes (!!).

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Cacio e pepe literally translates to “cheese and pepper." These two ingredients are usually thought of as small components to a dish but in this pasta recipe, they take center stage. The fruity bite of freshly ground pepper combined with salty cheese is complex, earthy, sweet and spicy all at once.

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Creamy Tuscan anything is a cult classic here at Delish, but this vegetarian version might be our new favorite. Featuring white beans and spinach swimming in a luxurious tomato cream sauce, this hearty skillet dinner is so comforting and satisfying, you’ll never miss the chicken.

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In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’re guaranteed a saucy, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

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This recipe is a bit of a riff on a pasta puttanesca, using familiar ingredients such as capers, anchovies, and olives. Instead of sitting over a pot of simmering tomato sauce, we turn sun-dried tomatoes and pasta water a luscious sauce–and it’s all made in one pan!

Get the One-Pan Tuna Pasta recipe.