Amazing 1 Cozy Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly)

Let’s be honest, eating healthy, satisfying food when the budget is tight can feel like an Olympic sport. You want nourishing meals, but you absolutely do not want to spend a fortune or spend all evening chained to the stove after a long day. That’s why I want to introduce you to my absolute favorite comfort classic: Cozy Homemade Chicken and Dumplings. This thing is pure magic. It’s bursting with rich gravy, tender chicken, and the fluffiest dumplings you’ve ever made from scratch. Seriously, this recipe proves that we can nail those coveted Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) without sacrificing flavor. I remember scraping by in college, and meals like this—using cheap cuts of meat and basic flour—were lifesavers. They warm you up from the inside out, and your wallet will thank you!

Why This Chicken and Dumplings Recipe Makes Great Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly)

This recipe absolutely shines in the budget department, trust me! We stick to simple, accessible ingredients that keep our cost way below that magic $10 threshold while still feeding a crowd. It’s hearty, packed with protein, and feels way more special than a quick snack.

Here’s why it scores high marks for affordable eating:

• We use budget-friendly chicken thighs instead of pricey breasts.
• The base relies heavily on inexpensive aromatic veggies like onion, carrot, and celery.
• It’s mostly made up of true pantry staples—flour, broth, and spices!

Gathering Your Ingredients for Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly)

Putting together this amazing meal is painless because you probably have half this stuff already hiding in your cabinets! The key to keeping this firmly in the Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) category is leaning on those humble base ingredients. Don’t substitute the chicken thighs when you buy these—they braise better and taste richer in the gravy, which is huge for flavor depth!

For the Chicken and Gravy Base

We need about a pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this. Make sure you have your veggies ready to go: one yellow onion, diced—don’t chop it too small!—and two cloves of garlic, minced nice and fine. We’re using two carrots and two celery stalks, all neatly diced up. For the gravy body, grab four tablespoons of butter, a quarter cup of flour for thickening, two cups of chicken broth, and one cup of whole milk. Finally, grab your herbs: parsley, thyme, rosemary, and sage. Don’t skip the fresh crack of pepper; it makes a difference!

For the Fluffy Dumplings

The dumplings are super simple, which is why I love making them from scratch instead of using canned biscuits! You need one cup of all-purpose flour for these fluff balls, mixing it with standard baking powder, a touch of sugar for balance, and some salt and garlic powder. The wet part is easy—just half a cup of milk and two tablespoons of melted butter. Mix gently! We want soft, scoopable batter, not tough, chewy hockey pucks, so handle this gently!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly)

Okay, this is where the magic happens, but don’t rush it! We are building layers of flavor here, and that starts before we even think about those fluffy dumplings. Remember, your heat control is crucial for keeping this a delicious and truly budget-friendly meal. If you want to see how other wonderful, warming comfort meals look, check out my roundup!

Browning the Chicken and Sautéing Aromatics

First thing’s first: get that olive oil warming up in your big skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. We want to brown the chicken thighs on both sides—this step is my non-negotiable expert tip! Browning creates those amazing crusty bits on the bottom of the pan, and that deep color translates straight into flavor for our final gravy. Once they look golden, pull the chicken out and set it aside on a clean plate.

Now, toss in your diced onion and minced garlic right into that flavorful oil. Sauté them until the onions start to soften up—maybe three or four minutes. Make sure you take a wooden spoon and gently scrape up all those browned speckles off the bottom of the pan; that’s pure flavor gold right there!

Next up are the carrots and celery. Drop those in and keep them cooking for about five more minutes until they start getting tender. They need a little time to soften before we move on to building the thickener.

Creating the Rich Gravy Base

Time to make the roux! Add the four tablespoons of butter to the vegetable mix. Once it melts down, sprinkle in your quarter cup of flour. You need to stir this constantly until it turns into a smooth paste that coats all the veggies. Keep cooking and stirring for a good two minutes—we have to cook out that raw flour taste! That paste is going to be the secret weapon for thickening our sauce later.

Now, pour in your seasonings: the parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, salt, and pepper. Give it a quick stir, then slowly whisk in the chicken broth and the whole milk. Keep stirring until everything bubbles up and starts to simmer around the edges. Let it cook for a minute or two until it visibly thickens up into a lovely, rich gravy.

Dice up that partially cooked chicken you set aside and drop it right back into the gravy along with all those fragrant veggies. Put the lid on now, lower the heat back down to medium, and let that chicken gently simmer while you whip up the dumplings. About five to seven minutes of simmering will do it here.

Preparing and Cooking the Dumplings

While the chicken is simmering, mix up the dumplings! In a separate bowl (don’t use the gravy pot!), dump in the one cup of flour meant for the dumplings, the baking powder, dried parsley, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and that final bit of pepper. Whisk this dry mixture together just until it’s blended evenly.

Pour in the half cup of milk and the two tablespoons of melted butter. You need to stir this only until a soft, scoopable batter forms. Seriously, stop stirring when you still see a few streaks of dry flour. Overmixing will make your dumplings tough as rocks—we want clouds, not stones!

Check your skillet—the gravy should be gently simmering. Take two little spoons and drop about 12 tablespoon-sized dollops of that sticky dumpling batter right onto the simmering gravy surface. Give them a little space so they have room to puff up! Place the lid back on TIGHTLY, and this is the most important step: DO NOT LIFT THE LID for a full 15 minutes. That trapped steam is what makes them cook all the way through and get perfectly light and fluffy. After 15 minutes, turn off the heat, and serve these amazing Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) right away while they’re steaming hot!

Expert Tips for Making Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) Last Longer

Just because this is a cheap meal doesn’t mean we let the leftovers go to waste! This Chicken and Dumplings recipe actually reheats surprisingly well, which is fantastic for busy weeknights. I always make sure I have enough for two dinners for my family because it saves so much time later.

When saving leftovers, try to keep the dumplings and the gravy slightly separated if possible, as dumplings can sometimes get a bit soggy sitting in the gravy overnight. If you’re planning ahead, you can even freeze portions! Cool the leftovers completely, place them in freezer-safe containers, and top with just a small amount of extra broth or milk when reheating.

When you reheat it on the stovetop, bring it slowly up to a gentle simmer. Seriously, resist turning the heat up high! For the best results and to bring back that fluffy texture, you can follow my meal prep tips for reheating creamy dishes. This keeps our Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) stretching even further!

Ingredient Substitutions for Your Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly)

I know sometimes you have to shop with what you have on hand, or maybe chicken thighs just aren’t your favorite. That’s totally okay! The beauty of relying on Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) is that they are usually very forgiving. Think of this recipe as a framework, not a rigid textbook. We want to maintain that hearty, savory flavor profile without blowing the budget.

If you don’t have thighs, don’t panic and run to the store! You can absolutely use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just watch the cooking time carefully, okay? Breasts cook faster, and if you let them simmer as long as the thighs, they get dry and stringy. When using breasts, I cook them just until they are opaque before setting them aside to dice later. That way, they finish perfectly in the gravy.

What about the herbs? If you happen to have fresh thyme or rosemary, swap them in! Just use about twice the amount of fresh herbs compared to dried. However, since this is sticking to the Budget-Friendly Meals theme later, dried herbs are usually what we keep stocked because they last forever.

If you are completely out of chicken broth, you can stretch your milk further, but you really need that savory base flavor. Try using water mixed with a bouillon cube or powder. It won’t be quite as rich, but it keeps the price down! Just taste and add a little extra salt or pepper if needed to boost that flavor back up.

Serving Suggestions for This Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) Meal

Wow, you just made a huge, comforting pot of chicken and dumplings! Now what? We don’t want to ruin our fantastic budget-friendly success by adding expensive sides, right? This dish is already so rich and filling with the gravy and the starch from the dumplings, so we just need something bright and simple to balance it all out. Keep it cheap, keep it easy!

You don’t need a fancy spread here, just something green to cut through the richness of that gravy. I find that a quick, light side balances everything perfectly. It stops the meal from feeling too heavy!

Here are my favorite ways to round out this meal:

• Simple Green Salad: This is my go-to. Grab some pre-washed mixed greens or romaine. Toss it with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil—that’s it! Maybe a tiny sprinkle of salt if you feel fancy. It adds crunch and freshness without adding much cost to the overall dish.
• Steamed Frozen Veggies: Never underestimate the power of frozen green beans or peas. They steam up in about five minutes and offer a nice pop of color and extra nutrients for almost no effort or money. I keep bags of these on hand specifically for meals like this.
• Crusty Bread for Dipping (Optional): If you have a loaf of day-old bread lying around, warm it slightly and use it to mop up the last bits of gravy left on your bowl. It’s basically using food you already have, keeping us firmly in the Budget-Friendly Meals category! Skip buying new rolls if you’re sticking strictly to the budget.

See? Easy additions that let the star of the show—those amazing, cheap, and cheerful dumplings—really shine. When you nail your main dish as a great example of Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly), the sides should just support it, not compete with it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly)

I know you probably have a few questions swirling around when trying out a new recipe, especially when you’re trying to keep things tight on the purse strings. These are all great questions I get asked a lot about keeping things simple and affordable. Let’s dive into a few common queries!

Can I make this recipe using only Pantry Staples?

For the most part, yes! This recipe is designed around Pantry Staples. The flour, dried herbs, baking powder, sugar, salt, and pepper are all things that should live on your shelf indefinitely. The only real fresh items are the chicken, onion, carrots, and celery. If you happen to have dried carrots stored somewhere, fantastic, but fresh ones are cheap anyway! If you don’t have chicken broth, using bouillon cubes mixed with water keeps this recipe true to the pantry-focused idea. It’s all about working with what we already have on hand to keep those Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) achievable!

How can I ensure this remains a Family Dinner option?

This recipe already yields about six generous servings, which is a solid Family Dinner right there. If you have a bigger crew or just want leftovers, scaling up is super easy—just double everything! However, you might need a second, wider pot or Dutch oven if you double the amounts, especially when you go to drop the dumplings. Make sure the gravy is still simmering nicely before adding the second batch of dumplings, otherwise, they won’t puff up right. It handles doubling really well!

Is this considered one of the healthier Cheap Eats?

I totally get wanting to keep up your wellness goals even while saving cash. While it’s definitely comfort food, it scores better than standard fast food because of the quality ingredients we used. We are getting about 30 grams of protein per serving from the chicken thighs, which keeps you full, and we sneak in carrots and celery for some veggie goodness. It’s certainly one of the better Cheap Eats out there, especially if you pair it with a simple side salad like I mentioned above. It’s nourishing, not just empty calories! If you want to check more recipes focused on nutrient density while staying low in calories, definitely browse my calorie-smart recipes.

Estimated Nutritional Snapshot for This Comfort Meal

One of the best parts about sticking to Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) is that sometimes, you get a really satisfying meal that doesn’t completely blow up your daily macros! Because we are using leaner chicken thighs and lots of vegetables, this Chicken and Dumplings is pretty well-balanced for a cozy classic.

Below is the estimated nutritional breakdown for one serving (which is about 1.5 cups of this comforting stew). Now, I always like to remind you that these numbers are based on the exact ingredient measurements I used, so if you use a different brand of broth or a slightly fattier cut of chicken, things can shift just a little. That’s just the reality of home cooking, right?

• Serving Size: 1.5 cups
• Calories: 450
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 22g (with almost half being unsaturated fat—a bonus!)
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 550mg
• Cholesterol: 110mg

See? A solid, hearty portion that keeps you feeling full and energized. It’s proof that our Budget Friendly Meals don’t have to mean sacrificing good fuel. If you are tracking your own macros, just double-check what kind of broth or milk you use, as those can sometimes sneak in extra sodium or sugar!

Share Your Experience Making This Meal

I truly hope this recipe brings as much warmth and comfort into your kitchen as it does mine! Making Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly) shouldn’t feel like a chore; it should feel rewarding, and nothing is more rewarding than hearing that you loved a recipe!

I put all my heart into making sure this Chicken and Dumplings recipe is easy to follow, tastes incredible, and helps you feel great about saving money. Now, I want to hear from you! Have you tried this yet? Did you make any clever tweaks while sticking to the under $10 price point?

Please leave a comment below and tell me how it turned out! Did you give it a 5-star rating? Snap a picture of your beautiful bowl of comfort food and tag me when you share your own success stories about creating amazing Budget Friendly Meals. It genuinely makes my day to see how my recipes fit into your real life. I always check the comments on my blog, so don’t be shy!

By Hi, I’m EMILIA, the founder of MeltItClean.com – your digital space for natural weight loss, real wellness habits, and clean-living inspiration that actually fits your life. For years, I struggled with the ups and downs of dieting. I tried everything — juice cleanses, low-carb crazes, fitness challenges — but I always ended up back where I started: tired, bloated, and frustrated. I didn’t just want to “lose weight” — I wanted energy, mental clarity, glowing skin, and confidence without sacrificing my joy or sanity. After years of experimenting, learning, and unlearning, I discovered a simple truth: your body is already powerful — it just needs support, not restriction. That’s when I created Melt It Clean — a site dedicated to real transformation through clean, intentional, and nourishing daily habits that anyone can follow. My goal was simple: build a place where people could feel informed, supported, and empowered without being overwhelmed by wellness fads.

This whole journey of figuring out how to eat well without breaking the bank or stressing myself out defined the philosophy behind Melt It Clean. Cooking meals like this Cozy Homemade Chicken and Dumplings really reflects that ethos—it’s nourishing, it’s whole food-based, and it proves that wellness and budget-friendly dinners can absolutely go hand-in-hand. If you want to know more about how I approach real, sustainable changes, check out my story over on my About Page!

Print