Cooking dinner can feel expensive fast, so I put together a “Splurge or Save” menu that lets you build the perfect meal without the stress of budget. Each category has a high version and a low version, and both taste amazing.
You can easily mix and match recipes based on your budget, your crowd, and how much time you want to spend in the kitchen (or on your grocery bill)!
Build a Menu on a Budget (or Not!)
This post is laid out to make your menu come together without the stress or the price shock. Everything is organized by course so you can see exactly where you want to spend and where you want to save.
Start with your main dish, add a couple of sides, then choose an appetizer and dessert. You will find recipes that taste amazing without blowing your grocery budget. Or, if it’s a special occasion, which recipes are worth splurging on! It is the easiest way to plan a dinner that feels special and still makes sense for real life.
Tips for Using This Menu
- Mix and match: Combine the high and low options to build your perfect dinner.
- Spend smart: Splurge on the main and save on the sides when you want a special centerpiece without a big grocery bill.
- Keep it simple: Stick to easy sides and splurge only on dessert if you want a quick win.
If You Splurge on the Meat, Do Not Waste It
If you are going to splurge on a big cut of meat like prime rib, please do not ruin it by guessing the temperature. Nothing hurts worse than spending all that money and ending up with something overcooked. A good thermometer is the difference between “wow, this is incredible” and “well… that was an expensive mistake.”
I tested all the top meat thermometers out there, and you know what surprised me? The super affordable one was the winner. It was literally the lowest priced option in the whole lineup that I tried and it beat every fancy thermometer I tried. So yes, you can splurge on the meat and save on the tool that protects it. Total win.
Main Course
Let’s start with the star of the show. Go fancy if you are feeling like a splurge or keep it simple if today is not the day.
Higher Priced
Dinner
Insanely Delicious Prime Rib Recipe
1 hour 5 minutes
Dinner
The Best Lobster Tail Recipe Ever!
20 minutes
Dinner
Marry Me Salmon
30 minutes
Dinner
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
9 hours 20 minutes
Dinner
Baked Stuffed Pork Chops
35 minutes
Budget Friendly
Dinner
3 Packet Roast
8 hours 5 minutes
Dinner
The Best Swedish Meatballs
30 minutes
Dinner
Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken with Pasta
6 hours 20 minutes
Dinner
Air Fryer Ham
50 minutes
Dinner
Simple Spaghetti Margherita
35 minutes
Side Dishes
Pick your sides like you are building the plate of your dreams. Veggies, potatoes, all the good stuff. High or low, they all belong here.
Higher Priced
Salads
Antipasto Salad Recipe
20 minutes
Side Dishes
Roasted Lemon Parmesan Garlic Asparagus
13 minutes
Salads
The Best Winter Fruit Salad
15 minutes
Salads
BLT Avocado Pasta Salad
15 minutes
Budget Friendly
Salads
Copycat Olive Garden Salad
15 minutes
Side Dishes
The BEST Air Fryer “Roasted” Potatoes
25 minutes
Side Dishes
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
40 minutes
Side Dishes
5 Ingredient Corn Casserole
50 minutes
Appetizers
A little something to snack on while dinner finishes. Some are fancy. Some are fast. All are delicious.
Higher Priced
Easy
How to Make a Charcuterie Board
20 minutes
Dinner
THEE BEST Grilled Shrimp
1 hour 20 minutes
Easy
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
20 minutes
Appetizers
Cranberry Pecan Brie Bites
20 minutes
Budget Friendly
Appetizers
Bacon Crackers
25 minutes
Appetizers
Kielbasa Bites
22 minutes
Appetizers
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
25 minutes
Appetizers
Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs
2 hours 5 minutes
Desserts
You know you want to finish the meal with something sweet. Go fancy and classic or pick the simple treat everyone always loves.
Higher Priced
Desserts
The Best New York Cheesecake Ever!
8 hours 40 minutes
Desserts
Easy Tiramisu Recipe
45 minutes
Recipe Skill Levels
Macarons
1 day 1 hour 48 minutes
Recipe Skill Levels
Crack Pie
6 hours 8 minutes
Budget Friendly
Desserts
Lemon Posset
3 hours 15 minutes
Desserts
Wacky Cake
50 minutes
Desserts
Easy Creme Brûlée
40 minutes
Desserts
Cherry Pie Bars
55 minutes
Store-Bought Shortcuts That Work Every Time
Sometimes the smartest dinner move is grabbing a few things premade. These store-bought items taste great, save time, and blend right in with a homemade meal.
- Festive Drinks: Easy, fun, and no cleanup.
- Frozen rolls or bakery rolls: Brush them with melted butter and a little salt right out of the oven. They taste fresh and soft every time.
- Bagged salad kits: A crisp salad balances a heavier meal. Pick a simple kit and toss it in a nice serving bowl.
- Dessert Cheat: Snag a store-bought pie, add some whipped cream and it instantly feels upgraded.
More Recipes to Round Out Your Menu
If you want to add even more to your menu, here are a few tried and true favorites that you will love all year long.
Side Dishes
Super Easy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
5 hours 15 minutes
Salads
Broccoli Apple Salad
20 minutes
Recipe Skill Levels
1-Hour Rolls
1 hour 3 minutes
Side Dishes
Crispy Parmesan Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
15 minutes
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