Looking for affordable family dinners in the UK? Start with a weekly budget guide, browse our existing recipes by need, then build your own plan with the free family meal planner.
Choose your weekly budget guide
- £30 family dinner plan
- £40 weekly meal plan
- £50 weekly family meal plan
- Budget meal plan for a family of four
These are planning guides, not guaranteed current supermarket prices. Check local prices and adjust portions to your household.
Explore budget family recipes
Choose a section below. Each link opens an existing MynRecipes recipe, with its own ingredients and method.
Family favourites · Quick midweek dinners · Meat-free meals · Leftovers and store-cupboard ideas
Budget Family Favourites
- Budget-Friendly Cottage Pie — A comforting mince, potato and swede dinner.
- Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake — A filling pasta bake with spinach and sweetcorn.
- One-Pan Chicken and Chickpea Tray Bake — Chicken and chickpeas in one family-friendly tray.
- Cowboy Hotpot — A warming family dinner.
Quick Midweek Dinners
- Air Fryer Potato and Onion Frittata — An easy egg-and-potato dinner.
- Sausage and Vegetable Tray Bake — A simple tray-bake idea.
- Pizza Toasts — A speedy option for busy evenings.
- Creamy Broccoli Bake — An easy cheesy vegetable bake.
Meat-Free Budget Meals
- Vegetable and Chickpea Biryani — A rice-based meat-free dinner.
- Roasted Vegetable and Lentil Curry — A flexible way to use seasonal vegetables.
- Broccoli and Garlic Penne — A simple vegetable pasta dish.
- Crustless Tomato Quiche — An egg-and-tomato option for a meat-free meal.
Leftovers & Store-Cupboard Ideas
- Store-Cupboard Salmon and Bean Pasta — A practical pasta using tinned salmon and beans.
- Simple Tomato and Basil Soup — A simple soup idea for pantry tomatoes.
- Easy Chicken and Vegetable Soup – A flexible option for using spare vegetables.
Make your food budget go further
Check your fridge, freezer and cupboards before shopping. Choose meals that share ingredients, plan for realistic portions and use leftovers safely. Compare unit prices where useful; availability and costs vary by shop and location.
More healthy, affordable recipe ideas
Looking for breakfasts, lunches and takeaway-inspired dinners too? Explore our 10 healthy high-protein and fibre-rich recipes, including chickpea wraps, chicken pizza bowls and make-ahead oats.
Build your own weekly plan
Ready to organise your dinners and shopping list? Use our free UK family meal planner. You can adapt the ideas above to your family’s preferences and budget.
Editorial note: This guide links to recipes already published on MynRecipes. Budget figures are illustrative and are not live supermarket quotes.