3 Quick, Easy & Tasty Ideas for Dinner on a Budget

1. Sheet pan salmon

This sheet pan salmon dinner also includes broccoli and roasted asparagus. The secret sauce? I marinated the salmon in a vinaigrette made with maple syrup and other ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Salmon
• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
• ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
• Olive oil
• 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe’s

1. Marinate the salmon

Mix the maple syrup, white wine vinegar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and cilantro. Pour over the salmon to marinate. Marinate for about 15 to 20 minutes but no more than 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Prepare the vegetables

Cut up the head of broccoli. Put the broccoli on one end of the pan in a single layer. Put the asparagus on the other end of the pan in a single layer.

Drizzle olive oil over the broccoli and asparagus. Season the vegetables with salt, pepper, and 21 Seasoning Salute to finish.

3. Place salmon on the sheet

Put the salmon in the middle of the sheet between the vegetables. Drizzle the marinade over the fish. Bake in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

4. Serve

Serve with mashed potatoes.

2. Chicken bruschetta

I used two chicken thighs and some seasoning to create this budget dinner.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs
• Asparagus
• 1 package of riced cauliflower
• Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe’s
• Olive oil
• For the bruschetta:
• 2 plum tomatoes
• Red onion
• Seasonings, including dried basil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic reduction

1. Prep the chicken

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a baking/casserole dish, put in the chicken thighs and the asparagus. Season to taste. Sprinkle chicken and asparagus with olive oil.

Put it into the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes.

2. Make the bruschetta

Dice the tomatoes and red onion, and mix them up in a bowl. Add seasonings, including dried basil and balsamic reduction. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to chill until dinner is served.

3. Serve with riced cauliflower

Plate the chicken and asparagus over riced cauliflower. Top the chicken and asparagus with bruschetta. Drizzle a bit of balsamic right over the top of the entire dish.

3. Buffalo chicken pizza

What’s for dinner tonight? Buffalo chicken pizza made with naan bread. If you love buffalo wings, you’ll love this pizza.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of naan bread
• Chicken thigh meat
• Shredded mozzarella
• Green onions
• Celery
• Vegan ranch dressing (homemade)
• ½ cup mayonnaise (vegan optional)
• ¼-¼ cup coconut milk
• 1½ teaspoons ACV (apple cider vinegar)
• ½ tablespoon dill
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon chives
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Buffalo sauce:

• 2 tablespoons Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter

1. Prep the naan bread

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Put the naan bread on a pizza tray. Drizzle olive oil on top of the bread. Put it in the oven for five minutes to make the bread crunchy.

2. Make the sauce

In a saucepan, add hot sauce and butter. Stir over low heat. Put aside.

3. Prep toppings

While the bread is baking, dice the celery, green onions, and chicken meat.

4. Layer the pizza

Take the bread out of the oven. Add homemade ranch dressing on top of the baked naan bread, along with the chopped chicken. Then, top with cheese and sprinkle with celery and green onion.

Drizzle prepared hot sauce on top of all the ingredients. Then, put the pizza back in the oven until the cheese melts.

The crust is nice and crunchy and the celery adds another crunchy kick.

Dinner on a budget

These are three of my very favorite vegetarian low-budget meals. Do you think you’ll make them? How will you change the recipe? Share your thoughts on these cheap dinner recipes in the comments.