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35 Cheap Chicken Recipes for Weeknight Dinners
These cheap chicken recipes are easy on the pocketbook, but they taste like a million bucks. From crowd-pleasing casseroles to simple-but-flavorful drumsticks and chicken thighs, these budget-friendly chicken dinners are perfect for weeknights at home.
Best Cranberry Chicken
My mom found this recipe for cranberry chicken thighs years ago. It's now a cheap and easy weeknight favorite at my house.
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Easy Chicken and Broccoli
This is a cheap chicken breast recipe that's comforting and quick enough for busy evenings.
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Adobo Chicken with Ginger
Chicken adobo is considered the national dish of the Philippines. The combination of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and peppercorns is delicious and actually preserves the chicken! My mother taught me how to cook this using her variation on the original recipe. It's a delicious, cheap, and easy dish. Serve with hot, steamed Jasmine rice.
VIEW RECIPE Baked Chicken Thighs With Mushroom Brown Rice
This easy and delicious one-pan meal that's easy on the budget can also be made with white rice.
VIEW RECIPE Cheesy Chicken and Potato Soup
I was messing around in my kitchen one day when I was hungry and came up with this using what I already had. It's cheap, easy, and delicious! Top with extra cheese and bacon bits.
VIEW RECIPE Easy Parmesan-Crusted Chicken
Make juicy Parmesan-crusted chicken with this quick and easy recipe.
VIEW RECIPE Emergency Chicken
This is a great recipe for a quick and easy entree. My wife, who is 8 1/2 months pregnant, had chicken thawing and asked me to cook since she was exhausted. She didn't have any plans so I just threw some things together and came up with this recipe. I'm sure it could be improved upon, but in a pinch it was easy and delicious.
VIEW RECIPE Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks
These easy baked chicken drumsticks are crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside--a flavorful, cheap meal to make any time!
VIEW RECIPE Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
This easy slow cooker chicken fajitas recipe is so easy and delicious you won't believe it. All four of my kids love this dish, which is not an easy accomplishment! Spoon it into tortillas with your choice of toppings, or spoon over rice.
VIEW RECIPE Southern Fried Chicken Livers
Mom made us fried chicken livers because they were cheap, and now the convenience stores sell them in the South! Use a fry screen — these things can pop and will burn you! Serve with pepper gravy or a packet of chicken gravy.
VIEW RECIPE Sheet Pan Mediterranean Frittata
This veggie-forward sheet pan frittata has tons of Mediterranean flavor, thanks to garlicky chicken sausage, briny feta, and fresh dill. It's a cheap and easy meal that's fit for company whether served as a weeknight dinner or weekend breakfast. Easy to make with minimal clean up, I would make this over omelets any day! Serve with buttered toast.
VIEW RECIPE Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Finger sandwiches are always popular for English-style tea or for gatherings. These chicken-apple-walnut sandwiches are unbelievably cheap, tasty, and easy to make with a food processor.
VIEW RECIPE Cilantro-Lime Grilled Chicken
This marinated grilled chicken is not only fast and easy, it's also budget-friendly and kid-approved! Serve with lime wedges and pico de gallo.
VIEW RECIPE Crispy and Tender Baked Chicken Thighs
Crispy chicken thighs are baked in the oven with a flavorful, homemade spice rub. The bone-in chicken thighs stay moist and juicy while the skin crisps up beautifully. Serve this budget-friendly main dish alongside any side dish for a dinner the whole family will love.
VIEW RECIPE Oven-"Fried" Chicken Thighs
These oven-"fried" chicken thighs are a perfect go-to dinner! They are budget friendly and can be turned into a complete meal served over rice, quinoa, or a fresh salad.
VIEW RECIPE Buffalo Chicken Dynamite Rice
This Buffalo Chicken Wing inspired twist on Dynamite Rice sushi rolls is a great budget-friendly family meal or crowd-pleaser for your next football party!
VIEW RECIPE Easy Sesame Chicken
This sweet and savory dish is simple to make and budget-friendly. Add broccoli and serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal.
VIEW RECIPE Spicy Chicken Penne alla Vodka
This spicy chicken penne alla vodka is a restaurant-style pasta dish that is also budget friendly. Most items will likely be in your pantry already, plus it takes very little time to put together. It'll be on the table in about half an hour.
VIEW RECIPE Crispy Baked Chicken Strips
A delicious, cost-effective recipe for crispy baked chicken strips. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
VIEW RECIPE Mexican-Style Pulled Chicken
This dish is wonderful both with chicken and pork. My family loves it no matter where I use it (carnitas, burritos, enchiladas... the list goes on). It freezes extremely well, so I always make extra.
VIEW RECIPE Blackened Ranch Pan-Fried Chicken Thighs
Using a cast iron skillet means these blackened ranch chicken thighs take only a few minutes to cook. Great for a weeknight dinner.
VIEW RECIPE Salsa Simmered Chicken
This easy-to-make simmered chicken recipe is a great weeknight family dish I threw together; we enjoyed it a lot. Delicious with rice. Can also be shredded and served with tortillas.
VIEW RECIPE Crunchy French Onion Chicken
Awesome crunchy baked French onion chicken that goes well with any side dish. It's quick and easy too!
VIEW RECIPE Instant Pot Crispy Barbecue Chicken Wings
Save time by making chicken wings in an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot. These Instant Pot crispy chicken wings turn out great with your favorite barbecue sauce and frozen or thawed chicken wings.
VIEW RECIPE A Good, Easy Garlic Chicken
Sprinkle chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoning salt — then sauté and enjoy. Couldn't be easier! Great recipe for a quick and easy meal, even for the pickiest eater.
VIEW RECIPE Blackened Chicken
Blackened chicken is great on a summer's day with fresh corn and mashed potatoes.
VIEW RECIPE Crispy Baked Chicken Legs
Crispy baked chicken legs inspired by my daughter, Ivy. This is fast and easy.
VIEW RECIPE Simple Baked Chicken Legs
We have some family members who love chicken legs, and every now and then, I have enough to treat them. This recipe starts with a simple salt water brine that makes them tender and juicy and removes discoloration that is sometimes found along the bone. Season it up with Italian flavors, as suggested, or use your own favorite combo!
VIEW RECIPE Super Easy Roasted Chicken Thighs
Roasted chicken thighs that hubby says "almost taste like fried!"
VIEW RECIPE Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole
I grew up with this chicken and rice casserole recipe. My Grandmother got it from a lady from church at a pot luck a long time ago! She passed it down to my mom and it's always been a family favorite. Quick and easy for school nights, and the leftovers are just as good! You can use less butter on top of course, my Momma and Mamaw always put the full stick on top (gotta love Southern ladies and their butter!)
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Slow Cooker Chicken and Salsa
Easy recipe! Chicken comes out moist and sweet. Slice breast to serve as main course or shred and use in tacos. Very versatile. Enjoy!
VIEW RECIPE Quick and Easy Chicken Spaghetti
This chicken spaghetti recipe is quick and easy to make, yet is hearty and delicious. It's a great way to use leftover chicken!
VIEW RECIPE Simple Chicken and Noodles
This is a recipe my grandmother used. She lived on a chicken farm, so it is as basic and simple as it can get. Usually all we have to accompany this recipe is mashed potatoes. It's really nice on cold days and extremely cheap to make.
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