Need some cheap meals your family will love? Look no further than these delicious recipes that are sure to warm your belly and save money!
When it comes to cooking for my family there are 3 things that I strive for…
- Budget friendly cheap meals
- Easy to cook and clean
- Something that will they will love and will fill them up!
You cannot get easier than one pan dinners. These are sure to be a crowd pleaser and a family favorite!
As a family of five we can eat a bit and I am always trying to make enough for my husband to have lunch the next day too!
Here are two recipes I make often at our homestead…
Cornbread Casserole is delicious in any season!
It accompanies a summer bbq perfectly or can warm your belly in the colder months.
It can be made as is and satisfy those taste buds or jazzed up with a protein or a layer of cheese!
Ingredients:
- 1 box of Jiffy Cornbread Muffin Mix
- 15 1/4 ounce can of whole kernel corn, drained
- 14.75 ounce can of creamed corn
- 8 oz of sour cream
- 1 stick of salted butter, melted
- 1 egg
Cornbread Casserole Directions:
- Combine all ingredients and spread into a greased 11×7 baking dish.
- Bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees or until edges are brown and top is golden.
Jazz it up by adding a layer of shredded cheese to the top, diced up chicken breast or even bacon!
Estimated cost: $11-14
Cornbread Casserole

Cornbread Casserole is delicious in any season! It accompanies a summer bbq perfectly or can warm your belly in the colder months.
Ingredients
- 1 box of Jiffy Cornbread Muffin Mix
- 15 1/4 ounce can of whole kernel corn, drained
- 14.75 ounce can of creamed corn
- 8 oz of sour cream
- 1 stick of salted butter, melted
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and spread into a greased 11x7 baking dish.
- Bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees or until edges are brown and top is golden.
- Serve warm!
Talk about EASY! This One Pan Kielbasa Bake requires a little washing and chopping, but then, you just throw it all into one dish and voila dinner is covered.
Ingredients:
- One package of kielbasa- the options are endless here. I prefer polish kielbasa- this one here was pecan smoked.
- 5-7 red bliss potatoes depending on size
- 2 generous handfuls of fresh green beans. (frozen work too!)
- 1/2 an onion
- Squeeze garlic
- Seasonings to preference, I like to use McCormick Garlic & Herb
Kielbasa Bake Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Wash potatoes and green beans.
- Chop potatoes into chunks and cut ends of green beans.
- Chop onion to size preference.
- Cut kielbasa into rings.
- Combine all into sheet pan and generously drizzle with olive oil.
- Add in seasonings and garlic and mix well.
- Cover with tinfoil and bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.
- Uncover and continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
You can add in extra’s to make this dish go even further!
Suggestions: broccoli florets, corn, sweet potato.
Estimated cost: $15-$17
One Pan Kielbasa Bake Recipe

Talk about EASY! This One Pan Kielbasa Bake requires a little washing and chopping, but then, you just throw it all into one dish and voila dinner is covered.
Ingredients
- One package of kielbasa, any flavor
- 5-7 red bliss potatoes
- 2 generous handfuls of fresh green beans (frozen work too!)
- 1/2 an onion
- Squeeze garlic
- Seasonings to preference, I like to use McCormick Garlic & Herb
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Wash potatoes and green beans.
- Chop potatoes into chunks and cut ends of green beans.
- Chop onion to size preference.
- Cut kielbasa into rings.
- Combine all into sheet pan and generously drizzle with olive oil.
- Add in seasonings and garlic and mix well.
- Cover with tinfoil and bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.
- Uncover and continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
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I hope you and your family love trying out some of our favorite cheap meals!
Love, light and a little grace…
-Olivia

Olivia Whalen is mama to three young girls who is devoted to creative learning, exploration and free range imagination. Olivia enjoys thinking outside of the box when it comes to preparing homemade baby food or meals for her family. She most enjoys allowing the little minds in her life to flourish and with that you will see her write about creative kid crafts, recipes that fit a family budget and keep everyone asking for more, tips and tricks for a tiny babe, and beginner homesteader fun! Some of her hobbies include gardening, hiking, reading, cooking or just basking in motherhood.