Ree Drummond’s Best Budget-Friendly Dishes

When it comes to hearty, delicious weeknight meals, you can’t go wrong with pasta. In this recipe, Ree uses beef tenderloin, but you can easily substitute a more affordable cut of beef, like flat iron steak. It’s ready to serve in 40 minutes, and only calls for a handful of ingredients, most of which you already have on hand in your pantry.

From chickpea to corn, check out this definitive guide to alternative pastas.

Whether you’re preparing a Meatless Monday dish or looking for a way to use those tomatoes from your garden, this savoury cobbler will quickly become one of your go-to comfort dishes. A bright cherry tomato-based filling is topped with herbed biscuit dough and then baked to golden perfection. Serve it on its own or with a green side salad.

One of The Pioneer Woman’s most popular recipes is also one of the most budget-friendly. This hearty casserole takes the meat from a whole rotisserie chicken and combines it with corn tortillas, cheese, peppers and a creamy sauce. It’s a great make-ahead meal to prepare over the weekend and freeze until you’re ready to bake it. Plus, you’ll have leftovers for another day.

Canned tomato soup is elevated into a rich, velvety dish with the help of some pantry staples. Ree finishes her recipe with garlic croutons, but an ooey, gooey grilled cheese sandwich would be another perfect addition.

Long-grain rice, broccoli and four kinds of cheese are the foundation of this comforting casserole that works equally well as a main or a side. It’s also a fun recipe for the whole family to make together, allowing the little ones to sprinkle grated Cheddar between each layer.

Who doesn’t love a meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes, especially on a weeknight? In this recipe, Ree combinees fettuccine with a creamy, peppery base and then adds some blanco tequila for an extra kick.

Whether you love gnocchi, lasagna or mac and cheese, try these best-ever pasta recipes for easy dinners.

A pressure cooker will help you get this robust chili on your table in under an hour. Filled with tender morsels of chicken, creamy beans, green chiles and bright corn, expect your family to request this dish again and again.

Satisfying and delicious, there’s a reason why mac and cheese is the definition of comfort food. Chillier temps call for baked pasta goodness, and Ree’s recipe has an extra layer of warmth thanks to the addition of jalapenos and hot sauce. It’s also a great make-ahead dish that can be prepared over the weekend and reheated on a weeknight.

When you’re looking for plant-based versions of classic comfort foods, give these comforting vegan dinners a try.

When you’ve had a ham for Sunday dinner and definitely don’t want to make sandwiches all week with the leftovers, dice it up and make this robust soup. It’s a great starting point if you’re new to cooking collard greens, which is an affordable and vitamin-packed veggie.

When planning your meals for the week, don’t forget dessert! With a store-bought cake mix and a few extra ingredients, you can bake up a picture-perfect bundt cake that your family will love. It’s also great for a celebration cake at a fraction of the cost you’d spend at a bakery.

Does even the thought of baking stress you out? Anyone can learn to bake with these easy 4-ingredient desserts, from cookies to pies.