The 22 Easy And Affordable Recipes That I Make Most Often In My Household Of 5 (2024)

These bites are a regular breakfast go-to in my house. I especially love these for my kids because it takes out the additional hassle of the cream cheese mess that a traditional bagel 'n' schmear often leaves us. These also reheat well so I can make a big batch on the weekends for the week ahead.

Recipe: Stuffed Bagel Balls

This is a go-to when I need something that's easily customizable for different palates — and it works equally well with chicken breasts or chicken thighs. (If you want a true replica of Chipotle's version, you need to go with the thighs.)

I don't do well with spicy food, and neither do my kids. So, instead of chopping up the chiles, I leave them whole as the chicken marinades and then remove them for the cooking process. This allows the chicken to soak up a bit of the heat without going overboard (for us).

Recipe: Chipotle-Style Chicken

These cups start with a layer of frozen hash browns that the recipe instructs you to thaw ahead of time. However, I've made these many times now and have never actually taken the extra time to thaw them — and they still always turn out great! One trick for these is to make sure you grease your muffin tin to prevent sticking — and be careful not to overcook the egg.

Recipe: Hash Brown Breakfast Cups

The best part about this recipe (and bread in general) is that you likely have all the ingredients you need already. This means you don't need spend your valuable grocery budget money on a simple staple. We all love this with classic butter and jam, or with butter and sea salt as a side with a hearty soup. In short, it's appropriate for any occasion. The only hard part? Waiting for it to be ready.

Recipe: Soft & Fluffy White Bread

There have been times when I've made this BLT salad multiple times a week. (Also, I had been making this salad for months before I even realized it calls for the green beans to be cooked. I still haven't done that, as I love the crunch and sweetness of the fresh beans!) If you were wanting to meal prep this salad, I would switch out the lettuce for kale to prevent sogginess. Add the dressing as you go!

Recipe: BLT Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

A complete, well-rounded meal — all on one pan. I love sheet pan meals because they are typically easy to prep AND easy to clean up, and the fresh flavors and vegetables really stand out in this particular one. Mediterranean food is also one of my favorite cuisines, so this meal is a no-brainer staple in my house.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Before this recipe, I had never made my own ramen before. (I'm talking real ramen — not college dorm room microwave ramen.) I couldn't believe how easy it was, and I loved that I can vary it just a bit each time depending what veggies I want to include. One thing I did learn is that I much prefer the baby bok choy to regular bok choy for this one. The baby bok choy is a touch sweeter.

Recipe: Instant Pot Ramen

This recipe is on my son's request list every single week. (I'll even do double batches to make sure he has plenty for his school lunches!) For a lighter take to traditional stroganoff, this recipe leads with a flavorful Dijon-based cream sauce that happens to be dairy-free. Although my family isn't a dairy-free household, this is still my favorite stroganoff recipe due to its lightness and that Dijon base.

Recipe: Ground Beef Stroganoff

Think of this as one of the best ways to stretch a $5 Costco rotisserie chicken into a full meal. I'll turn to it when I truly need a dinner in 20 minutes or less. It's also a crowd-pleaser with minimal effort. By the time the oven is preheated, you will have pulled apart the rotisserie chicken, mixed it with some buffalo sauce and ranch, and scooped it all onto Hawaiian rolls. (And yes, it really is that easy.)

Recipe: Easiest Buffalo Chicken Sliders

This is one of my all-time favorite recipes I made all through last year. Sometimes, I serve these meatballs as part of a huge bowl with rice, greens, veggies, etc. Other times, just on their own with sautéed peppers. To save even more time and effort, swap in store-bought tzatziki.

Recipe: Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

This is the one chocolate chip cookie recipe I always come back to. After the kids go to bed, you can typically find me cozied up with my Kindle in one hand and a cookie in the other. (Or: My husband and I's favorite Netflix show and a cookie for each hand.) Needless to say, I've tried quite a few different recipes, and this one is my favorite. The cornstarch allows the cookie to stay relatively soft, but the edges are still perfectly crisp. I also really like the deeper flavor of the brown sugar.

Recipe: Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies