11 Quick And Cheap Dinner Recipes

With ingredients that can break the bank and dishes that are lengthy to prepare, making dinner can sometimes be time consuming and expensive. With summer here and more time to spend outside and at the beach, we've found some savory dinners that can cut cost and time.

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Protein is an important part of any meal — and usually that means some kind of meat on the table. When choosing meats, there are several inexpensive cuts to choose from. Chicken thighs and legs are much better for your budget than chicken breasts. Also, less costly cuts of steak, like flank steak, can be tenderized and marinated to star in delicious meals. Ground beef is another favorite that is easy to incorporate into pasta dishes.

One-pot meals are also fantastic options for anyone looking to save time and money on dinner. While crock pots seem to have a long cook time, the actual hands-on time is minimal. Just prep the night before, throw ingredients together in the morning, and simmer during the day.

There are many options for budget and time-friendly meals, but we've rounded up a few of our favorites to last you through summer.

Grilled Spiced Chicken Recipe

Spice things up this barbecue season with adding masalas to your chicken recipe! The yogurt and turmeric result in a tender, succulent chicken and the yogurt in particular balances the spices in this dish. 

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Black Bean Enchilada Casserole Recipe

This easy vegetarian black bean casserole is loaded with cheese and flavor, but light on money and time.

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Originally published July 10, 2014

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.