13 Cheap Dinner Ideas For Big Savings On Your Grocery Bill

Lemony Greens Soup

While a lot of seasonal soups can feel overly dense, this lemony greens soup is packed with plenty of nourishing veggies, lemon, and fresh dill. It gets a wonderful flavor boost from miso paste, proving that healthy recipes for weight loss can still taste great. (via Love and Lemons Every Day for Brit + Co)

Authentic Fattoush Salad

If weight loss is your goal, you really can't go wrong with a salad. Don't make the mistake of building yourself a bland bowl, though: follow this easy recipe for Fattoush Salad that's boosted with a variety of fresh veggies and crunchy, satisfying pita chips instead! (via Forks & Foliage for Brit + Co)

Grilled Harissa Shrimp with Chickpea-Dill Tomato Sauce

Protein lovers are gonna go crazy for this healthy shrimp dish. The best part is it only takes 30 minutes to prepare! Dinner is served. (via Brit + Co)

Simple Walnut-Crusted Salmon

Salmon is super nutritious – it's packed with omega 3's, which can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and decrease your risk for disease. You'll get a nice dose of protein, too, which will help you feel fuller for longer. This fish is coated in a yummy, honey mustard-infused walnut crust that turns deliciously crispy after baking. (via 100 Days of Real Food for Brit + Co)

Farrotto with Butternut Squash

This vegan and vegetarian-friendly recipe deserves a spot in your weight loss meal plan. It's like your typical creamy risotto, but made with farro instead: a healthy grain that's loaded up with lotsa fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. (via Earthly Provisions)

Coconut Rice Veggie Bowls

Chances are, you've got a bag of jasmine rice sitting in your pantry right this very moment. Make use of it to craft these delicious rice bowls topped with green goodness. (via Completely Delicious)

Tofu Quinoa Stir Fry

This healthy recipe for weight loss swaps the typical rice for quinoa, and tofu for animal-based protein to make each bite a lil' bit lighter. It still tastes divine, plus it'll save you from a pricey takeout bill on the nights you really don't feel like cooking: it only takes 30 minutes to make! (via A Virtual Vegan)

Grilled Pesto Zucchini Stuffed with Tomatoes and Orzo

This Mediterranean-inspired dish has it all: healthy grains, fresh veg, and a huge punch of flavor, thanks to the pesto. It's a great way to make use of zucchini, especially in the summer when it's in season. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Vegan Cauliflower Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce wraps of any kind make great healthy recipes for weight loss, but this cauliflower version really takes the cake since it's sheet pan-friendly and totally vegan. Def adding this one to our lunch repertoire! (via The Edgy Veg)

Vegan Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Searching for some good, no-cook healthy recipes for weight loss? Consider your search over. This nutritious chickpea salad – packed with Mediterranean flavors, no less – is a great dish for getting all your veggies in. It also holds up well as a meal prepped lunch! (via Crowded Kitchen)

Grilled Chili Peach Chicken

Prep this 10-minute chicken to add flavor to healthy wraps, salads, and grain bowls. The mix of sweet and savory is everything. (via Averie Cooks)

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

We're salivating just looking at this bowl of white chicken chili. There's truly no shortage of flavor in this protein-rich recipe! Plus, you have options: you can use the stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot to make it. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Warm Farro Kale Salad

Healthy veg? Check. Tangy feta? Check. Hearty dinner? Check. This is one of those salads that doesn't necessarily feel like a salad, since it's served warm and has plenty of ingredients to fill your tummy, like cauliflower, farro, and walnuts. (via Hello Little Home)

Turkey Hummus Wrap with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Got some leftover turkey from Thanksgiving? Use up what's left by making these easy, healthy, and delicious lunch wraps. With turkey and hummus, your meal will be bulked up with a good amount of protein to keep you feelin' full throughout the day. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tortilla soup will never not be comforting AF. This iteration is super healthy since it calls for low-sodium chicken broth and tons of veg. You can easily use a rotisserie chicken for this to help speed up the cooking process. The best part? You're gonna have plenty of leftovers to eat on. (via Kathryn's Kitchen)

Sweet Potato & Broccoli Rabe Sheet Pan Dinner with Ginger Peanut Sauce

Sheet pan meals are simply amazing, saving you considerable time prepping dinner (and cleaning up after it). We love how colorful this recipe is! The zingy ginger-peanut sauce truly makes it a standout in terms of healthy recipes for weight loss. (via The First Mess)

Kale Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts

Though you might feel a bit hesitant to start mixing in sweeter ingredients with something that's typically savory (like a salad), this dish packed with dried cranberries, candied walnuts, and tangy blue cheese will definitely change your mind. Load up a big bowl for yourself to soak in all the fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins it has to offer! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Teriyaki BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Because, truly, what's more fun than eating your dinner off of a stick? These shrimp skewers are light, yet flavorful. Pair 'em with some brown rice to incorporate a healthy grain and complete the meal. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Easy Japchae

Japchae (AKA Korean glass noodle stir fry) hosts a whole rainbow of veggies, protein-ful egg, and small pieces of tender beef to fill you up. With this recipe, you'll be cheffing it up just like your local takeout joint in no time. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Greek Chicken Bowls with Toasted Pearl Couscous

CAVA, who?! These Greek chicken bowls present some pretty hot competition for one of our fave food chains. They're healthy and filling, plus totally customizable in terms of the toppings. (via Barley & Sage)

Why is it good to cook in a pressure cooker?

Pressure cooker recipes are very helpful because of how much time you'll save. And even though it cooks so quickly, it doesn't leave your food dry the way that other fast cooking methods can.

What cannot be cooked in a pressure cooker?

You'll want to avoid cooking crispy foods like French fries in a pressure cooker. We'd recommend using an air fryer instead — you'll still save time, but you won't have to worry about them getting mushy. (Same thing with noodles. Stick to your go-to stovetop method!)

What are the best things to cook in a pressure cooker?

You can turn all kinds of dishes into pressure cooker recipes! From Pad Thai to soups to perfecting the black beans you serve in your taco bar, keep reading for the best foods to cook in a pressure cooker.

“Pasta e fagoili” means pasta and beans, and this hearty yet simple-to-make soup has plenty and more. Comfort food at its best! (via Brit + Co Guides)

The only thing better than a homemade pho recipe is an easy homemade pho recipe. Nothing matches the taste of this homemade broth, and the basil, jalapeños, lime, and chili sauce topping are the perfect finishing touch! (via Brit + Co)

This Chinese dish can be on your table in roughly 30 minutes. From a frozen state, fish only takes 5 minutes to pressure-cook. (via Brit + Co)

Beef turns out fork-tender every time in the Instant Pot like magic. (via Brit + Co)

You can whip up this creamy chicken pasta with mushrooms and plenty of cheese in less time than it takes to order takeout. (via Brit + Co)

Eggs en cocotte sounds fancy, but these soft-cooked eggs, cooked in ramekins, can be whipped together and pressure-cooked in a matter of minutes. (via Brit + Co)

Fun fact — your pressure cooker’s rice setting does a lot more than just cook one type of grain. Try quinoa, then dress it up with your fave salad toppings. (via Brit + Co)

Pressure cook potato soup, purée it in a blender, then top it with your favorite baked potato fixings like bacon bits and green onion. (via Brit + Co)

Spicy butter chicken and basmati rice can be made at the same time in your pressure cooker. Who knew? (via Brit + Co)

Yes you can make a healthier version of the classic American-Chinese staple, and it can be made even quicker when seared and pressure-cooked in the Instant Pot. (via Brit + Co)

Salmon, sweet potatoes, and broccoli can be steamed up all together in three minutes via the ~wonders~ of the Instant Pot. This healthy pick has got to be one of our favorite pressure cooker recipes. (via Brit + Co)

Yes, you can pressure-cook chicken breast in 10 minutes. Brine it overnight for that extra flavor oomph. (via Brit + Co)

Sneak in a bunch of veggies with this frittata that’s also loaded with plenty of cheese. (via Brit + Co)

These flavorful carnitas start with pork shoulder, aromatic veggies, adobo sauce, and beer, but add your go-to herbs and seasonings to make it yours in this simple pressure cooker recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Quinoa naturally thickens this pressure cooker-made chili. All you need to worry about is what toppings to choose! (via Brit + Co)

This French Dip recipe is Pinterest’s most popular Instant Pot recipe, and once you see the step-by-step close-ups, you’ll understand why. (via Brit + Co)

Eight different vegetables, sweet Italian sausage, cannellini beans, San Marzano tomatoes, lemon, and fresh parsley make this one hearty soup to remember. (via Brit + Co)

Pressure cook a few eggs on a trivet with a bit of water for just a few minutes, and you’ll be amazed how creamy they turn out. (via Brit + Co)

This easy pressure cooker recipe reminds us exactly of summer nights (hello, juicy pineapple), and makes for a simple weeknight meal! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Pressure cooking may seem like it’s too intense for the likes of delicate eggs, but fact is, it's quite the contrary; the moist heat does wonders for keeping them fluffy and the result is perfect every time. (via Kitschen Cat)

When was the last time you cooked flaky and flavorful salmon in just five minutes? If your answer is never, then you obviously haven’t tried making it in the pressure cooker. (via Savory Tooth)

Prep this super simple shredded chicken in the pressure cooker to have on-hand for weeknight salads, tacos, wraps, and more. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Believe it or not, the types of mushrooms you choose for this dish will have a huge impact on its flavor. Try porcini, oyster, or enoki! (via Culinary Hill)

The best part about this pressure cooker recipe is the balance of flavors. It's not too bitter, and balances deep and bright flavors for a side dish you'll always want as your main! (via Forks & Foliage)

It's soup season! This pick is vegan, and the liquid smoke and paprika add just the right amount of smoky flavor you'll want on the rainiest of days. (via No Eggs or Ham)

This dish gives new meaning to one-pot pasta. Pork shoulder usually has to be cooked for many hours to yield a tender result, but with the pressure cooker, you’re looking at just one hour. (via Krumpli)

Sneaking veggies into your kiddo’s meals isn’t an easy feat. Use your pressure cooker to make quick work of this versatile marinara sauce that conceals a ton of carrots. (via Letty’s Kitchen)

If you want tender chicken infused with big flavor, look no further than the pressure cooker. Pair it with some fresh veggies and mango for tacos that pop with spice. (via The Girl On Bloor)

If anything's vodka sauce-infused, you can count us in. Plus, this pressure cooker recipe makes a hearty dish so easy. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Steel-cut oats are a more nutritious way to have breakfast, but they also take forever to cook. If you start this cinnamon-roll-flavored recipe in the pressure cooker as soon as you wake up, your breakfast will be ready in no time. (via Pressure Cooking Today)

Spiced, tender meatballs cook up in less than an hour in your pressure cooker. Serve these with bread or rice to soak up all the flavorful sauce. (via Skinnytaste)

Cooking pork loin under pressure is one of the best ways to make sure it doesn’t dry out. The pressure cooker keeps all of that juiciness in the meat. (via Savory Tooth)

Simple and nutritious lima beans and ham is one dish anyone can master with their pressure cooker. The ham infuses each bite with smokey flavor, while the beans become tender and creamy without having to be soaked the night before. (via The Blond Cook)

Sweet, tangy, salty, and meaty, this pressure cooker Korean beef comes out meltingly tender every time. Make enough for seconds! (via Damn Delicious)

Enjoy this Cajun classic without having to book a plane ticket to Louisiana, thanks to your trusty pressure cooker. (via Kitschen Cat)

Almond butter adds decadent richness to these moist dark chocolate cakes that are sweetened naturally with honey. (via Kitschen Cat)

In under 15 minutes, you could have a warm, steamy bowl of cozy oats sitting in front of you. Serve this pressure cooker recipe with some strong coffee, and you'll start your day off right. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

We will literally never say no to Pad Thai. It's the perfect dish for any time of year because even though it's served hot, the flavors are still bright enough to make it totally crave-able in the spring. This recipe will take you less than 10 minutes and will become a total crowd favorite. (via The Girl On Bloor)

This Olive Garden copycat soup recipe is concocted in the pressure cooker, allowing all of the good, comforting flavors to soak in. (via Salt & Lavender)

Soy sauce and hoisin do a bang-up job of transforming flank stank in your pressure cooker. This pressure cooker recipe is a sticky-sweet yet savory dish that you should definitely serve with fluffy white rice. (via The Blond Cook)

Our favorite way to eat our veggies? Tossed with long strands of seasoned noodles, of course. (via Kirbie’s Cravings)

Never underestimate the power of black beans. Make them on the weekend, then use them as a base for lunch and dinner all week long. (via Well Plated)

This pressure cooker recipe translates for both the Instant Pot and your stovetop, but no matter which method you go with, it'll still be overly creamy and cheesy. Yum! (via Hello Little Home)

Curry-based dishes need to be in your winter meal rotation when you're craving something different. They have just the right amount of spice to open up the sinuses, too. This one is packed with plenty of protein and veg. (via Completely Delicious)

Spicy, saucy, tender chicken for tacos, burritos, and more is super easy to whip up in your pressure cooker. Best of all, this recipe requires just three ingredients, so you don’t have to spend a ton of time rummaging through your cabinets before you get to cooking. (via Gimme Some Oven)

Give your body an anti-inflammatory boost with this golden turmeric and lentil soup. It’s healthy vegan comfort food everyone will love. (via The Girl On Bloor)

Like the boxed meals you grew up with (but way healthier), this hamburger mac and cheese is total comfort food. (via Salt & Lavender)

We suggest prepping a massive batch of these Instant Pot oats to have a dependable breakfast meal prep at the ready whenever you (or your fam) need it. (via The Girl On Bloor)

Stuffed peppers…without actually having to stuff peppers? Count us in! (via A Fork’s Tale)

Prep this amazing vegan pulled pork in the pressure cooker to fill some healthy tacos with! (via Chef Bai)

Balance out the spiciness of this chili by adding some sweet, tender butternut squash. Along with beans and chicken, it helps make this a hearty and nutritious meal. (via Put On Your Cake Pants)

Potatoes cook up ever-so quickly in your pressure cooker. Dress them in a light vinaigrette along with some other veggies for a French-inspired take on the barbecue classic. (via A Communal Table)

When you think of pressure cooker recipes, you probably picture a giant roast or a heavy meat-laden stew. This veggie soup is just the opposite, and is perfect as a light starter for any weeknight meal. (via My Food Story)

Cut through the creamy richness of chicken pasta Alfredo with a jar of salsa in this satisfying weeknight recipe. (via 365 Days of Slow Cooking + Pressure Cooking)

Making risotto can sometimes be a feat, but with the pressure cooker, it doesn't have to be. This easy recipe delivers a delicious bowl of risotto in a matter of minutes. (via Two Spoons)

This healthy meal is packed with flavor and will be sure to satisfy those Thanksgiving turkey cravings. Did we mention there are only five ingredients? That’s a dinner win at its finest. (via The Creative Bite)

Taco Tuesday is a weekly must in many households. Simplify the process by making your pork carnitas in the pressure cooker and garnish them with a little bit of fresh onion, cilantro, and cheese. (via Pressure Cooking Today)

This easy chili benefits beautifully from the sweetness in the apple and pumpkin. (via Clean Cuisine)

The way you cook ribs will forever be changed after you use a pressure cooker. This simple recipe contains ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard. (via Leite’s Culinaria)

This soup is oh-so comforting, but still light on the flavoring, thanks to the citrusy lemon. (via The Endless Meal)

Why order takeout when you can make it better and faster at home? Before everyone decides what they want, you could already have this honey sesame chicken finished and plated. (via Pressure Cooking Today)

The pressure cooker isn’t just for heavy comfort food-style dishes. Whip up these healthy pinto bean, chard, and brown rice burritos in a flash so you can eat something nutritious at the end of a long, stressful day. (via Kitschen Cat)

We tend to whip out our pressure cooker at dinner time, but it’s just as effective at churning out hands-off breakfasts, too. Cornmeal cake studded with blueberries stays ultra-moist in your cooker, making for an indulgent morning meal. (via Kitschen Kat)

When you just need a cozy meal, this lentil stew is the perfect solution. It's even more enticing, now that the cooking process is slashed when you use a pressure cooker. (via Salt & Lavender)

Don’t be put off by the green color of this hearty soup. It’s full of rich flavor, and split peas are chock-full of protein, too. (via Savory Tooth)

Cooking homemade baked beans from dried legumes takes literal hours to yield a tender result. With the pressure cooker, all that flavorful sauce is imparted into the beans in a fraction of the time for one tasty side dish. (via Kitschen Cat)

There’s no need to make a questionable dinner from a box when you can make the same thing from scratch and feel good about it. (via Chattavore)

The beauty of cooking is that you can take one of your favorite dishes and make it your own. This soup is inspired by traditional pho, but uses spiralized daikon radish instead of rice noodles for a healthy twist. (via The Sophisticated Caveman)

Steel-cut oats usually take more time than you have for breakfast in the morning, but with a pressure cooker, you can have them ready before you perfect your mascara. (via Kitschen Cat)

This rice pudding is a versatile dish that you can have for breakfast, dessert, or a quick snack. Serve it warm straight from the pressure cooker, or chill for a couple of hours if you like it cold. (via Pressure Cooking Today)

This is a delicious recipe you can make with pretty much what you almost always have in your fridge and pantry: spaghetti, pepper, some grated cheese, butter, and broth. Mix up your pasta rotation with something a little creamy and peppery this week! (via Instant Pot)

Homemade whole artichokes are a delicious and impressive appetizer for a fancy dinner party. Make a huge batch of these for your next girls’ night in, and the ladies will thank you almost as quickly as they’ll dip these in melted garlic butter or lemon aioli. (via Kalyn’s Kitchen)

One trick to producing a fantastic meal when using a pressure cooker is to finish your dish with fresh ingredients to balance the taste of the cooked food. This Italian chicken stew is full of marinated flavor and topped with lots of fresh herbs. (via Nom Nom Paleo)

Paleo pals, unite! This pressure-cooked beef stew is super easy to make, and will fill you with all the good and warm flavors you crave. (via The Endless Meal)

This rich and thick red lentil curry recipe from Vegan Richa’s Instant Pot Cookbook: 150 Plant-Based Recipes is finished with creamy coconut milk and tastes plant-based fresh and hearty at the same time. (via Instant Pot)

Any dish that can go from frozen to table in 20 minutes is a winner in our book. (via Live Laugh Rowe)

Keiko Agena has a complicated relationship with 'Gilmore Girls' character Lane Kim.

“I think what [the role] was for people was different than what it was for me,” she tells Juliet Litman on an episode of the Dear Felicity rewatch podcast (via People). “In a weird way, I feel like I want to honor the experience that people had from the show, and what it meant to them, especially young Asian people, because I get that comment a lot, about what it was like for them to see someone like that on screen.”

And it's no surprise that as much as Gilmore Girls viewers love Lane, Keiko "[loves] her too. I can tell, when I meet someone who knows Gilmore Girls or who loves Lane, it's like, I recognize that love. I see that you love that person."

But it's possible to hold two conflicting emotions at the same time, and although Lane Kim was an incredibly special role at the time, there are some things Keiko would do differently today. “The best thing is to have a Korean American writer [and a] Korean American actor,” she says. “I don't think that that role, cast that way, would happen today. But at that time, in 2000, it was such a different time that I definitely know I wouldn't have said no or pulled myself out of that situation at that time...Now it's just a mix of just having gratitude for having gone through that experience and having that experience.”

Keiko Agena also keeps in touch with two very special 'Gilmore Girls' costars!

And one aspect of Gilmore Girls that Keiko Agena is thankful for is her relationship with the Gilmore Girls cast! And there are two costars in particular she frequently keeps in contact with: John Cabrera (who played Brian) and Sean Gunn (who starred as Kirk).

“There is this kind of lovely nostalgia for that time, and yet also we have years since then,” she says. “I [have] gone to both of their weddings. Our friendship is part Gilmore Girls and appreciation for that crazy time, and then part just like a million other things that are just like friends.”

I was totally surprised to learn she keeps in contact with John and Sean (supposedly) more regularly than Alexis Bledel, but it makes sense when you remember Keiko, John, and Sean are all around the same age — and Alexis is 7 years younger. Hopefully we get another Gilmore Girls reunion to see our favorite television BFF's reunite!