8 Delicious Budget Friendly Casseroles That Your Family Will Love (2024)

These days, everyone wants and needs to save money where they can. It can be easy to stop wasting money on things like entertainment, clothes and your cable bill but not so easy to save when it comes to groceries. If there’s one thing that’s certain, we want to make sure we always have food in the fridge to feed our families. In our current economy, the price of groceries fluctuates often, and shopping for food can become stressful as you try and make your dollar stretch as far as it can.The American casserole has often been characterized as a Mid-West staple, frequently made as a one-dish meal, and often unhealthy. But if you want to revive the casserole in your recipe rotation, there are plenty of ways to make delicious, healthy and budget friendly versions. We’ve collected a bunch right here, so get looking and then get cooking!

Source: BHG.com

1. Hot & Cheesy Chicken Casserole

This casserole is one the entire family will enjoy, because it has a little something for everyone. You can’t go wrong with chicken, cheese, crispy crackers and veggies. It’s like a chicken pot pie, without the pie! Best part is you don’t need to make any additional sides if you don’t want to, because you’re getting a variety of food groups at once! Head over to Better Homes & Gardens for the entire recipe on this delicious dinner.

2. Baked Ziti and Summer Vegetables

If you’re shopping on a budget, then you will notice two things: pasta is very inexpensive and meat can be quite expensive. This dish is the perfect solution because it embraces pasta but adds a very healthy amount of veggies. So much so, that you don’t even know the (expensive) meat is missing! This recipe uses tasty veggies, herbs and some cheese to pull everything together. It’s great for cold or warm evenings! Check out MyRecipes.com for this delicious recipe.

Source: 5DollarDinners.com

3. Baked Eggs with Spinach, Tomato and Garlic

A list of casseroles wouldn’t be complete without a breakfast dish, and this one looks amazing. For just under $4, you can make a healthy and filling breakfast the whole family will love. Sure, we all love those potato, bacon and egg breakfast casseroles, but if you’re looking for a cheaper and healthier option then this is for you! Check out5DollarDinners.comfor the entire recipe on this gorgeous dish.

4. Spaghetti Casserole

Spaghetti always hits the spot in our house, but sometimes I get tired of making it the traditional (aka boring) way. You just can’t go wrong with some pasta, ground beed and cheese for this dish! It’s a nice change of pace to spaghetti night, and yields some great leftovers which I bet taste just as good cold as they do warmed up! Betty Crocker has a delicious version of this famous “million dollar” spaghetti casserole, so be sure to pin it now, to make later!

5. Cottage Pie

Meat? Check. Potatoes? Check. Veggies? Check. This is definitely a filling dinner that your kids will love at least some part of. The cottage pie has been around for over 100 years, and started its popularity when poor people gained access to potatoes, and would make this dish as a mashup of their leftovers! While the ingredient list is a little long, you probably have most of them already in your pantry. Head over to LoveFoodies.com for this tasty recipe.

Source: BrokeAssFoodie.com

6. Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Brought to you by budget friendly website, Broke Ass Foodie, this dish comes in at a whopping $1.84 per serving! Now THAT’s budget friendly! This is a simple recipe and you probably have most of the ingredients in your house already. Combine ground beed, rice, bell pepper and herbs and spices, top with cheese and throw (gently) into the oven. Tasty!

7. Potato, Sausage & Cheese Casserole

If you’re looking for an alternative to chicken or ground beed, this potato based casserole is right up your alley. It’s a little fancier than just a regular scalloped potato casserole, with the added sausage. This is a great dish that’s not just a side dish, but can be served all by itself. Check out Taste of Home’s recipe for this savory dinner.

Source: BHG.com

8. Chicken Caesar Lasagna

This isn’t Grandma’s lasagna recipe, it’s so much more. Using chicken, light alfredo sauce, tomatoes, herbs and whole wheat pasta, you are going to turn the tables on Italian night with this delicious dinner. You family will never cringe when you say “casserole” again! Head over to Better Homes & Gardens for this recipe now!