33 Healthy and Cheap Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes (2023)

We've rounded up 33 of our favorite recipes for when you're short on time and money. These easy, inexpensive, and great-value meals are packed with vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, and all take 20 minutes or less to reach your plate. Inexpensive staples like beans, pasta, and frozen vegetables also help make them more affordable. Recipes like Crispy Gnocchi Macaroni with Tomato and Leek and One Pot Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts are so delicious they will satisfy everyone at your table.

Chicken cutlets with dried tomato sauce

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Although a chicken cutlet can be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe will show you how to make chicken cutlets that taste twice as good. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes works just like this healthy dinner recipe. The flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go in the creamy sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

Pesto Ravioli Bread with Spinach and Tomatoes

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Looking for a new way to turn a package of frozen cheese ravioli into a hearty and healthy dinner? This simple pasta recipe only requires five ingredients, but it's bursting with fresh flavors. By using grape tomatoes, pre-washed spinach, and prepared pesto, we take all the prep work out, making these 15-minute Caprese-inspired ravioli the ideal weeknight meal. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2019

fried shrimp

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Shrimp scampi is a favorite at many Italian restaurants, but our version only takes 20 minutes to make, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner at home. Large prawns are simmered in garlic then served over linguini pasta in a butter wine sauce. It's so good your family might think you ordered takeout! Source: Diabetic Life Magazine

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To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy pre-cut lettuce leaves at the grocery store. For a complete and hearty dinner, serve with cooked brown rice. When shopping for cooking sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less, and check the ingredients list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep it vegan. If you like a touch of heat, add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce at the end. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018

salmon stuffed avocado

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A valuable pantry staple, canned salmon is a convenient way to add heart-healthy omega-3 rich fish to your diet. Here we pair it with avocados for an easy no-bake meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2019

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This easy and delicious dinner recipe only takes 20 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for weekend nights! When tomatoes are their best, all it takes is a quick chop and a few ingredients to make spaghetti sauce in minutes. Store-bought chicken meatballs bring the low-effort theme to the table. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019

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Filled with veggies, cheese, and hummus, then rolled and sliced, these kid-friendly wraps definitely have a sushi vibe. Serve them with store-bought Green Goddess, a creamy, herb-packed sauce for easy downing. They look impressive, but are easy enough for kids to make a simple lunch or dinner. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2019

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The secret to this simple tortilla recipe is choosing a good goat cheese. Fortunately, most supermarkets stock excellent Chevre: Vermont Creamery and Laura Chenel are easy varieties to find. If you have access to fancy local options, pick them up for this quick breakfast recipe. Along with goat cheese, eggs, and herbs, you only need a few ingredients and 20 minutes to make one of the best omelettes you can make. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019

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Do you want to make a simple dinner recipe more interesting? Five-Spice can be your new best friend. What is five spice powder? A blend of these five spices: cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Sichuan pepper. (There are regional recipes in China that include more spices, such as white pepper, nutmeg, and orange zest.) It adds a distinctly warm flavor to these hearty salmon cakes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

Spring pasta with zucchini

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This spring recipe cuts carbs by swapping out the pasta for zucchini "noodles." This quick vegetarian dinner is bursting with colorful vegetables covered in a light and creamy sauce. We like to use prepackaged spiralized zucchini pasta to make this super quick recipe, but if you have a spiralizer and zucchini on hand, you can easily make your own. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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This vegetarian tofu stir fry is quick and easy and makes a great weeknight meal. Grilled tofu has a firm, flavorful texture that becomes very crispy in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a stronger flavor. Serve with brown rice. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2019

Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

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This easy Inside Out Ravioli Lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layers or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap the ground turkey for beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also known as "pearls") in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2019

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These gnocchi are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside because you fry them in hot oil. They also leave a bit of broth (crispy golden bits) in the pan that adds a toasty flavor to the tomato leek sauce cooking in the same pan. Because this easy gnocchi recipe calls for store-bought shelf-stable gnocchi, it's quick to make—just 20 minutes, start to finish. Opt for whole grain gnocchi for an extra 2 grams of fiber per serving compared to white gnocchi. This easy and healthy dinner is also easy to adapt: ​​see tips for variations using shrimp, pesto instead of butter, and pork chops instead of gnocchi. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Looking for a quick and easy dinner? This Lemon Pepper Roast Chicken recipe is just that: chicken breasts are pan-seared and covered in the oven with lemon wedges, which soften and form part of the sauce, with a hint of maple syrup. and butter for flavor. It is so easy and delicious that you will make this healthy dinner again and again. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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An easy to make salad served alongside these salmon tacos makes for a quick weeknight dinner. If you prefer more heat with these fish tacos, simply add a pinch or two of chipotle chili powder or cayenne pepper with the chili powder. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018

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Packed with classic flavor, this super-quick one-dish dinner is so crowd-pleasing that you'll want to add it to your regular weeknight dinner rotation. We ordered bone-in pork chops to maximize flavor, but boneless pork chops are a good substitute. To finish this meal off a bit, serve it with rice or mashed potatoes. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

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Taking a minute to sauté some garlic in olive oil is an easy way to make the cheese sauce for these easy homemade mac and cheese, and the flavor pairs well with cauliflower and Brussels sprouts in this family-friendly pasta dish. . This recipe is for you to make a large batch of cheese sauce to use in various dishes – mix it with pasta and vegetables to make those one-pot pasta dinners and use it later in the week for a Beef Cheese Enchilada Casserole with cheese (see Related Recipes). Or simply serve it over your favorite steamed vegetables for an easy side dish. If you prefer to make enough sauce for this pasta, simply halve the amount of sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

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You won't believe how quick and easy this healthy pizza is to make. No fermentation time is required thanks to a two-ingredient dough that combines self-rising flour and Greek yogurt. Simply roll, cover and bake and a delicious dinner will be on the table in less than half an hour. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2018

Green salad closeup photo

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This Asian-inspired evening salad has an incredible crunch thanks to the snap peas and bok choy. Give the sauce a touch of heat by adding some sambal oelek, an Indonesian spicy sauce that you can find in most large supermarkets and Asian grocery stores. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2018

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These 15-minute quesadillas go a little beyond the basics with the addition of sautéed bell peppers and onions. Have children fill them with ingredients at the table. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2018

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Lentil curry with cauliflower rice

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Pastel

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3 Ingredient Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts with Apple Chicken Sausage

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Balsamic mushroom and spinach pasta 20 minutes

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Recipe photo with black beans, rice and fried egg

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Homemade Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowls

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Sandwich with chickpea salad

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3 Ing Diabetes Peanut Zoodles Edamame

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