49 Grandmas Penny Pincher Dinners That Made Her Famous
Remember those hearty, homemade meals Grandma used to whip up—delicious, comforting, and somehow always budget-friendly? Well, she had a secret: she knew how to stretch a dollar without skimping on flavor! From rich and creamy beef stroganoff to a simple three-ingredient potato soup, these tried-and-true dinners are proof that you don’t need a big budget to make meals that everyone loves. This collection of 49 penny-pinching dinners brings you all the nostalgia and comfort of Grandma’s best recipes while keeping your grocery bill in check. Trust us—you’ll want to see every single recipe and add them to your rotation!
Creamy Beef Stroganoff With Ground Beef

This beef stroganoff with ground beef is a creamy, budget-friendly comfort meal that comes together in just 35 minutes. Made with simple pantry staples, it’s perfect for feeding a family or serving a crowd without breaking the bank.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Beef Stroganoff With Ground Beef
Budget-Friendly 3-Ingredient Potato Soup
When time is short, but you still want a homemade meal that warms the soul, this easy potato soup is a lifesaver. With just three humble ingredients—onion, potatoes, and broth you can create a budget friendly hot meal.
Get The Recipe: Budget-Friendly 3-Ingredient Potato Soup
4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken with Stuffing
This simple chicken and stuffing crockpot with 4 ingredients is the perfect easy chicken dinner that only takes 5 minutes to prep. A budget-friendly recipe that helps you save money on ingredients.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Crockpot Chicken with Stuffing
In A Snap No Bake Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
This delicious no bake shepherd’s pie recipe takes under 30 minutes from stove to table. Made with budget-friendly ingredients and satisfies even the hungriest eaters.
Get the Recipe: In A Snap No Bake Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Simple 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup
This 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup with frozen hash browns takes under 10 minutes to prep and makes a delicious, hearty pot of soup.
Get the Recipe: Simple 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup
Easy Crock Pot Whole Chicken Recipe
This super easy crock pot whole chicken recipe is tender, juicy and delicious. It also lowers grocery budget to roast your own chicken.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot Whole Chicken Recipe
Easy 5-Ingredient Pork Chops in a Crock Pot
This simple crock pot pork chops recipe requires only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of preparation! Easy to make, saucy crock pot pork chops.
Get the Recipe: Easy 5-Ingredient Pork Chops in a Crock Pot
Hearty Hamburger Vegetable Soup
Hearty Hamburger Vegetable Soup in your Crock-Pot is an easy recipe that is packed with ground beef, potatoes, and veggies for a simple, budget-friendly meal.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Hamburger Vegetable Soup
Homemade Seasoned Ground Meat Taco Recipe
Taco night just got even better! This ground meat taco recipe is quick, easy, and packed with bold flavors the whole family will love. No premade taco seasoning is needed with this festive blend of seasonings; your tacos just got better than ever!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Seasoned Ground Meat Taco Recipe
Rich and Hearty Instant Pot Vegetable Stew
This instant pot vegetable stew is easy to prepare and your Instant Pot has it ready in under 15 minutes. This quick stew is a delicious filling meal packed with plenty of veggies. Best part, the stew recipe is easy on the budget and would be great for a meatless Monday menu.
Get the Recipe: Rich and Hearty Instant Pot Vegetable Stew
Crispy Skin Air Fryer Chicken Legs
This Crispy Skin Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe only takes 2 min. prep and you get extra crispy skin on the outside and a juicy bite on the inside. It’s a delicious and budget-friendly dinner that’s sure to please the whole family.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Skin Air Fryer Chicken Legs
French Onion Soup Chicken Casserole
This French Onion Chicken Casserole is packed with savory flavor, featuring juicy boneless, skinless chicken thighs smothered in caramelized onions and topped with melty provolone cheese. It’s an easy, comforting dish perfect for weeknight dinners!
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup Chicken Casserole
Crock Pot Navy Beans Soup
Thick and hearty Crockpot Navy Bean soup is made with simple ingredients like dried navy beans, onion, fresh garlic, broth, and a savory ham hock. The best part is that it only takes 15 minutes to prepare and then simmers in your crockpot all day.
Get The Recipe: Crock Pot Navy Beans Soup
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken
Easy to make baked lemon pepper chicken is a flavorful and healthy dish that combines the zesty brightness of lemon, mellow baked garlic, and the slightly spicy taste of black pepper.
Get the Recipe: Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken
Super Tender Crock Pot Yankee Pot Roast Recipe
You can make this Crock Pot Yankee Pot Roast that’s fork-tender and juicy with just 10 minutes of prep time. It’s easy, just fill your slow cooker and let it do all the work.
Get the Recipe: Super Tender Crock Pot Yankee Pot Roast Recipe
Greek Lemon Chicken Rice Soup Recipe
Greek Lemon Chicken Rice Soup is a bowl of comfort made with a rich, silky, fragrant chicken broth soup with a hint of citrus and sweet rice.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken Rice Soup Recipe
Easy French Onion Chicken Recipe
With French onion soup mix, a few pantry ingredients, chicken, and a slow cooker, you can create a hearty and satisfying one-pot casserole dinner that’s as effortless as it is delicious.
Get the Recipe: Easy French Onion Chicken Recipe
Delicious Homemade Sloppy Joes
This made-from-scratch sloppy joe recipe for a crowd has a sweet and tangy sauce, easy to prepare and simmer in a slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Delicious Homemade Sloppy Joes
Chicken Noodle Soup
Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup, made with tender chicken breasts, herbs, and veggies in a flavorful broth, perfect for low-stress, hearty potluck meals.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup
Simple 3-Ingredient BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe
Easy 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe made with three simple ingredients and a slow cooker, create tender finger-licking wings.
Get the Recipe: Simple 3-Ingredient BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe
Creamy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti (Slow Cooker)
Rotel Chicken Spaghetti is a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful comfort food the whole family will love! This easy slow cooker recipe uses tender chicken, Rotel tomatoes, spaghetti noodles, and a creamy sauce made with canned soup and cream cheese. With just 10 minutes of prep, the crockpot does all the work, making it perfect for busy weeknights. It’s budget-friendly, kid-approved, and packed with a hint of spice.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti (Slow Cooker)
Easy 16 Bean Soup Crock Pot Recipe
This simple step-by-step recipe will teach you how to cook hearty 16-bean soup with a ham bone in your crock pot. It’s great for easy make-ahead meals.
Get the Recipe: Easy 16 Bean Soup Crock Pot Recipe
Old Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Recipe
Old fashioned chicken and dumplings recipe creates soft chewy dumplings, tender chicken and veggies smothered in a creamy sauce.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Recipe
Smothered With Rich Gravy Turkey Wings
Smothered With Rich Gravy Turkey Wings Made In A Crock Pot incredibly simple to make and guarantees tender, flavorful turkey wings.
Get the Recipe: Smothered With Rich Gravy Turkey Wings
Creamy Fresh Tomato Soup
This creamy fresh tomato soup recipe might be the easiest homemade soup you’ll ever make, especially if you have a Vitamix. Fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, and heavy cream combine to create the perfect warm, creamy tomato soup.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Fresh Tomato Soup
Baked Chicken Potato Casserole Recipe
This easy baked chicken potato casserole recipe combines tender baked potatoes, seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, creating a hearty and delicious addition to your chicken dinners.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Potato Casserole Recipe
Copycat Hawaiian Zippy’s Chili Recipe
Enjoy the taste of rich Zippy’s Chili Recipe wherever you are with this easy-to-make slow cooker copycat recipe!
Get the Recipe: Copycat Hawaiian Zippy’s Chili Recipe
Easy Leek And Potato Soup
You are going to enjoy making this velvety leek and potato soup with mellow garlic, onion, and veggie broth and a satisfying creamy finish.
Get the Recipe: Easy Leek And Potato Soup
Creamy Chicken With Ranch Crock Pot Recipe
Crockpot Chicken With Ranch is a simple to make, yummy recipe that combines cream cheese, zesty ranch seasoning with tender, juicy chicken for a meal the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken With Ranch Crock Pot Recipe
Layered Cheesy Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole
Layered Cheesy Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef is made with classic Mexican seasonings, beans, peppers, tomatoes and cheese.
Get the Recipe: Layered Cheesy Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole
White Chili Recipe With Chicken: Crock Pot
Easy to make, this white chili recipe with chicken, crock pot style, is a creamy, mildly spicy soup with tender chicken, beans, and chili spices, perfect for potlucks.
Get the Recipe: White Chili Recipe With Chicken: Crock Pot
Creamy Mississippi Chicken Recipe
Creamy Italian Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or laid-back weekends. It’s made with tender chicken breasts, a mix of savory, slightly spicy Italian banana peppers, and cream.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mississippi Chicken Recipe
Crock Pot Chicken Corn Soup Recipe
Crock pot chicken corn soup makes an easy meal for weeknights! It cooks up mostly unattended until you’re ready to serve it up for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Corn Soup Recipe
Mexican Chicken Taco Meat Recipe
This authentic Mexican crockpot taco chicken recipe makes an easy, quick-prep dinner. With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, these tacos are delicious and easy to prep in under 5 minutes.
Get The Recipe: Mexican Chicken Taco Meat Recipe
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe
If you want to serve thick Texas-style red chili, then you need to make the Best Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe. It’s one of my reader’s favorite recipes on Intentional Hospitality. They have tested it, and declare it’s the best copycat Texas Roadhouse Chile you can make at home, hands down!
Get The Recipe: Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken In Green Salsa
Quick prep Slow Cooker Pollo Verde Recipe spotlights a roasted salsa verde sauce. A step-by-step guide will show you how to make this mouth-watering Pollo Verde dish with a simple and quick tangy salsa verde recipe.
Get The Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken In Green Salsa
Easy Crock Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe is a potluck favorite, easy to make in a crock pot and loaded with tender chicken, fresh spinach, and fluffy gnocchi. It’s the ultimate comfort food!
Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
This easy-to-make Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken recipe is so flavorful and tasty. It cooks up juicy on the inside with a perfect seared herb crust on the outside.
Get the Recipe: Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
Extra Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
If you’re looking for a dish that’s going to taste delicious and is easy to make, Garlic Parmesan Chicken Crockpot recipe is the answer! With tender chicken, creamy Parmesan garlic sauce, and a touch of basil and oregano, this meal is sure to wow your guests and make your house smell amazing.
Get the Recipe: Extra Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
This pumpkin soup recipe combines naturally sweet pumpkin puree with some tasty broth and warm spices to provide a perfect balance of flavors.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup
Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
Indulge in this Lemon Garlic Chicken smothered in a rich and creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta. With just 15 minutes of prep, you’ll have dinner simmering in your crock pot, freeing you from the kitchen. Enjoy a hassle-free, mouthwatering meal that your whole family will love.
Get The Recipe: Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
Easy One-Pot Chickpea Soup
This easy to make chickpea soup recipe has a rich broth simmered with vegetables and spices for a quick and hearty meal that’s ideal for busy days.
Get The Recipe: Easy One-Pot Chickpea Soup
Easy Cajun-Smothered Chicken Recipe
Using your crock pot and blending your own cajun seasoning, it’s easy to make this Cajun Smothered Chicken Recipe with rich gravy.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cajun-Smothered Chicken Recipe
Slow Cooker Tender Sirloin Tip Roast With Vegetables
With just a few minutes of prep, the slow cooker does all the work, transforming a budget-friendly sirloin tip roast into a hearty meal complete with perfectly cooked vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tender Sirloin Tip Roast With Vegetables
Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup (Crockpot or Stovetop)
This Cheesy Hamburger Soup has all the rich flavors of a hamburger in the form of a hearty soup! It’s made with savory ground beef, aromatics, tender potatoes, and even some extra vegetables for a nutritious twist. This delicious soup cooks in the slow cooker, so it’s perfect for a busy weeknight!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup (Crockpot or Stovetop)
Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe is an easy and delicious dinner that tastes amazing and is just as fast to make as the boxed version…only made with real ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
Juicy Quick Browned Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Skillet browned roasted pork tenderloin that’s finished in the oven creates a caramelized crust and the juiciest interior. This method for oven roasted pork tenderloin with pears is one of the best ways to cook a tenderloin. The pork is first seared on the stovetop to lock in the juices, then baked with pears and sweet onions in a flavorful reduction. A beautiful presentation for your next family dinner or dinner party.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Quick Browned Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Sesame Noodle Salad
This Asian-inspired dish is packed full of veggies, topped with a made from scratch sesame ginger dressing, making it delicious AND nutritious!
Get the Recipe: Sesame Noodle Salad
Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
Coq Au Vin in the slow cooker gives you comfort food without having to heat up your kitchen. A French chicken stew with layers of flavor that would make Julia Child proud and is sure to be a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin
29 Easy Desserts From Grandma’s Secret Recipe Box
Grandma’s homemade desserts have a way of making everything feel a little sweeter. We’ve gathered 29 of the best old-fashioned desserts that taste just like home, from rich pecan pie to buttery pound cake. This collection is packed with comforting, time-tested treats that will bring a little nostalgia (and a lot of deliciousness) to your table. With options like chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, a slice of peach cobbler, or a no-fuss pumpkin dump cake, these recipes are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. So grab a fork (or just dig in with your hands)—you won’t want to miss a single bite! Get All The Recipes: 29 Easy Desserts From Grandma’s Secret Recipe Box