13 cheap and easy chicken dinners to save you big

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This list of 13 cheap and easy chicken dinners are about to become your wallet’s best friends. These flavorful, cheap chicken recipes are here to rescue your meal plan and your bank account.

A crock pot filled with chicken and lemons.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Fried chicken with lemon wedges on a plate.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get ready to give your taste buds a high-five with these air fryer chicken thighs, perfectly seasoned and ready in just 30 minutes. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and none of that wallet-guilt to ruin the taste. Just a few simple spices and you’re on your way to a budget-friendly feast.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Slow cooker bbq chicken legs in the crock pot after cooking.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting with these BBQ chicken legs that are as easy on your budget as they are on your schedule. Slathered in a tangy BBQ sauce, these drumsticks are fall-off-the-bone tender without falling out of your frugal meal plan. Just set it, forget it, and come back to a finger-licking good dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

Two chicken leg quarters on a grey plate sprinkled with parsley with a broccoli salad in the background.
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crispy, juicy, and oh-so satisfying, these air fryer chicken leg quarters are the budget-friendly heroes of weeknight dinners. They come out of the air fryer with a perfectly golden exterior that’ll make you feel like a gourmet chef. And your wallet will hardly notice.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken on wooden cutting board.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Instant Pot to the rescue with this Honey Garlic Chicken that’s as kind to your time as it is to your wallet. In about 30 minutes, you’ll be sitting down to a meal that’s so full of flavor, you’ll forget it’s budget-friendly. Quick, easy, and lip-smackingly good – that’s how dinner should be.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

Chicken legs in the air fryer.
Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks are your ticket to a keto-friendly dinner that’s easy on the pocket and on the palate. Crispy and golden, they’re a quick weeknight fix that’ll have everyone at the table asking for seconds. So go ahead, indulge in some cheesy goodness without spending a fortune.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

A crock pot filled with chicken and lemons.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Come home to the aroma of slow-cooked chicken thighs that have been simmering all day in a bath of rich flavors. This slow cooker miracle turns a few humble ingredients into a dinner that tastes like a million bucks. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel like you’ve outsmarted the system.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Glazed Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Asian chicken with sesame seeds on a plate.
Glazed Air Fryer Thighs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These glazed air fryer chicken thighs are the perfect mix of sweet and spicy, and they’re about to become your new budget-friendly best friend. The Asian-inspired marinade turns ordinary chicken into a sticky, crispy treat.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Four chicken drumsticks with parsley on a plate.
Air Fryer Chicken Legs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Who knew that crispy, juicy chicken legs could be so easy and inexpensive to make right in your air fryer? In just 25 minutes, you’ll be serving up a family favorite that’ll make you the MVP of mealtime. Dinner’s ready, and your budget is still intact – talk about a slam dunk!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks on a plate.
Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Spice up your dinner routine with Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks that are as friendly to your wallet as they are to your taste buds. The zesty marinade is a fiesta of flavors that turns budget-friendly drumsticks into a gourmet treat. Roast them to crispy perfection and watch them disappear.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

Cast Iron Chicken Thighs

Closeup overhead shot of 3 crispy chicken thighs in a black cast iron skillet.
Cast Iron Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Break out the cast iron skillet and get ready to cook up some chicken thighs that are as easy on your budget as they are on your watch. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have a meal that’s crispy, savory, and so tender it’ll make your heart sing. And when your wallet stays as full as your stomach, that’s a real kitchen victory.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Chicken Thighs

Blackened Chicken Thighs

Blackened chicmen thighs in a white dish.
Blackened Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

These blackened chicken thighs are the budget-friendly answer to your flavor cravings, with a smoky kick that’ll have you feeling like a culinary genius. They’re versatile enough to be the star in salads, wraps, and pretty much anything else you can dream up.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Chicken Thighs

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Creamy Onion Gravy

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs on a platter.
Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Creamy Onion Gravy. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

These oven-baked chicken thighs with creamy onion gravy will make you want to lick your plate clean – and with a price tag that’ll make you want to do a happy dance. This wholesome dish turns simple, inexpensive ingredients into a meal that’ll have everyone at the table singing your praises.
Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Creamy Onion Gravy

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

A plate of chicken thighs.
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

These air fryer honey garlic chicken thighs are a flavor-packed, juicy delight that’ll save you time and money. With a sticky sweet glaze that’s finger-lickin’ good, you’ll be wondering why you ever thought takeout was a good idea. Fast, delicious, and easy on the wallet – it’s everything you need for a quick meal fix.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

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