Eating well on a budget is mostly about two things. Repeat ingredients on purpose and choose dinners that are fast, flexible, and leftover-friendly. This 7-day plan uses recipes to build a full week of affordable dinners, mixing quick air fryer wins, Instant Pot “dump-and-go” meals, and a couple of comfort-food nights that feel special.
Why You’ll Love This Budget-Friendly Dinner Plan
- Built for real budgets . Affordable staples (bread, pasta, chicken, salsa, frozen veggies) do most of the heavy lifting.
- Fast weeknight wins . Several dinners are on the table in about 20–30 minutes, so you’re not paying for convenience via takeout.
- Smart ingredient overlap . Salsa, cheese, chicken, and seasonings get reused across multiple nights. Less waste, fewer “extra” purchases.
- Leftovers that actually help . Many of these recipes make leftovers to be repurposed, giving you an easy “new” dinner on Day 7 with almost zero extra cost.
- Family-friendly comfort food . Pizza night, pasta night, taco soup, and crispy chicken keep everyone happy without pricey ingredients.
This plan delivers quick, crowd-pleasing dinners that reuse budget staples and leftovers so you spend less, waste less, and still eat really well all week.
Quick Look: Your 7-Day Budget Dinner Schedule
- Day 1: Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
- Day 2: Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
- Day 3: Savory Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup
- Day 4: Bacon Pasta (Bacon Parmesan Pasta)
- Day 5: Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Day 6: Cowboy Chicken (Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs)
- Day 7: Leftover Remix Night (Salsa Chicken 3 Ways)
Can I Swap Chicken Breasts And Thighs To Match Sales?
Yes, this plan is very “shop what’s on sale.” Taco soup uses boneless skinless chicken thighs in the recipe card, while Salsa Chicken uses breasts; swapping is usually fine as long as you adjust cook time and cut pieces similarly.
What Are The Fastest Dinners This Week?
French Bread Pizza is 16 minutes total, Bacon Pasta is 20 minutes total, and Cowboy Chicken is 27 minutes total. Reach for these dinners on the nights you’re pressed for time to avoid breaking your food budget on takeout.
Cowboy Chicken | Bacon Wrapped Chicken Recipe
This Air Fryer French Bread Pizza recipe delivers crispy, cheesy pizza in just 16 minutes with no dough required, using sliced French bread, pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and Italian seasoning. Perfect for busy weeknights and kid-friendly meals, this easy French bread pizza gets golden and bubbly at 375°F and is ready to customize with your favorite toppings.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe | Crispy Parmesan Chicken
This Parmesan Crusted Chicken recipe makes juicy chicken breasts with a crispy, golden Parmesan and breadcrumb coating for an easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in 18 minutes. Seasoned with garlic powder and paprika, this quick crispy Parmesan chicken is delicious on its own, sliced over salads, or stuffed into sandwiches.
Bacon Pasta Recipe | Bacon Parmesan Pasta
This Bacon Pasta Recipe is a creamy, comforting bacon parmesan pasta made with spaghetti, crispy bacon, garlic, heavy cream, and plenty of grated Parmesan for rich flavor in every bite. Perfect for busy nights, this easy creamy bacon pasta comes together fast with simple ingredients and tastes like a restaurant-style dinner at home.
Savory Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup + Video
This Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup is a quick, cozy dump-and-go dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes, made with chicken, frozen mixed veggies, taco seasoning, and a creamy finish. Easy to customize for low carb or keto, this flavorful pressure cooker taco soup is perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.
Salsa Chicken | Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Recipe
This Instant Pot Salsa Chicken is a fast, flavorful shredded chicken recipe made with chicken breasts, salsa, cumin, oregano, and garlic powder for an easy weeknight dinner or meal prep staple. Pressure cook for 10 minutes and use it for tacos, burrito bowls, salads, nachos, and wraps with your favorite toppings.
French Bread Pizza | Air Fryer French Bread Pizza Recipe
This Air Fryer French Bread Pizza recipe makes crispy, cheesy pizza fast with sliced French bread, pizza sauce, mozzarella, and your favorite toppings for an easy weeknight meal or kid-friendly snack. Ready in 16 minutes and cooked at 375°F, it delivers a golden crust and bubbly cheese without turning on the oven.
For the last night of this budget-friendly week of dinners, use any leftovers you have for a delicious mash-up of flavors. My favorite way to enjoy them is using salsa chicken or chopped up parmesan crusted chicken to stuff a chicken quesadilla!
Get the clickable shopping list to add everything you need to make these recipes straight to your Walmart shopping cart here: https://walmrt.us/4t6oTvM #WalmartPartner
Double-check the quantities of the items needed (for example: weight of meat, quantity of rotisserie chickens, fresh produce volume) before checking out, as the amounts do not always add to the cart correctly.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly dinner plan that doesn’t feel like you’re “making do,” this 7-day lineup is the sweet spot: fast meals, repeat ingredients, and leftovers you can actually use. Save this post, shop your sales, and rotate these cheap weeknight dinners anytime you want a lower-stress (and lower-cost) week.
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Game days call for crowd-pleasing snacks, and these Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders are here to steal the show. Tailored for easy prep and maximum flavor, these sliders are a touchdown of taste.
Why You’ll Love This Super Easy Meal
- Spicy Kick . The buffalo chicken filling brings the perfect level of heat, combining spicy goodness with savory shredded chicken.
- Effortless Goodness. Let your slow cooker do the work! With minimal prep, you’ll have a savory, saucy filling ready to pile onto slider buns.
- Crowd-Ready . Whether you’re hosting a game day party or a casual get-together, these sliders are the ideal finger food for hungry guests.
- Versatile Delight . Serve with your favorite toppings or alongside cooling dips for a customizable snack experience.
These Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders are a game day essential. The spicy kick and juicy chicken make them a guaranteed hit. Get ready for a flavor-packed touchdown!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Breasts- In the slow cooker, they become tender and easily shredable, absorbing the flavors of the buffalo sauce and seasonings.
- Buffalo Sauce - The star ingredient that gives the chicken its signature spicy and tangy flavor.
- Unsalted Butter - Adds richness to the buffalo sauce, creating a luscious and flavorful coating for the chicken.
- White Vinegar- It adds brightness to the flavor profile, cutting through the richness of the butter.
- Worcestershire Sauce- Adds depth and umami to the buffalo sauce.
- Garlic Powder- Infuses the chicken with a garlic flavor, enhancing the savory and aromatic elements of the buffalo sauce.
- Onion Powder- Contributes a mild onion flavor to the buffalo sauce, complementing the garlic and adding complexity to the overall taste.
- Dried Dill- Introduces a hint of dill flavor to the buffalo sauce, providing a subtle herbal note that enhances the overall profile.
- Celery Salt- Includes salt and celery seed. It adds savory and slightly vegetal notes, reminiscent of celery.
- Salt and Pepper- Enhance the overall taste of the buffalo chicken.
- Slider Buns - Choose soft and slightly sweet slider buns to complement the spicy and savory chicken.
- Blue Cheese or Ranch Dressing - Add creaminess and coolness to counterbalance the heat of the buffalo chicken.
- Keto Coleslaw - Optional fresh topping that add crunch and freshness to the sliders.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Prepare the Chicken . Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Make the Buffalo Sauce . In a bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, melted butter, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, celery salt, salt, and pepper.
- Pour Over Chicken . Pour the buffalo sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well-coated.
- Cook to Perfection . Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Shred the Chicken . Shred the chicken directly in the crockpot using two forks, allowing it to soak up the flavorful sauce.
- Serve on Slider Buns . Toast the slider buns and spoon the buffalo chicken onto each bun.
- Add Toppings . Customize your sliders with toppings like blue cheese or ranch dressing, coleslaw, shredded lettuce, or sliced tomatoes if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy . Arrange the sliders on a platter, and they’re ready to be enjoyed. Perfect for sharing with friends or savoring on your own!
Tips And Tricks
Here are some tips to make your Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders even more delicious:
- Cheese Choices - Opt for blue cheese crumbles for a tangy and bold flavor, or go for a classic ranch dressing to cool down the heat.
- Fresh Toppings - Add freshness to your sliders with crisp shredded lettuce and thinly sliced tomatoes or low carb coleslaw.
- Slider Bun Toasting - Toast the slider buns before assembling to enhance their texture and prevent sogginess from the buffalo chicken.
Variations
Feel free to get creative with your Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders. Here are some variations to try:
- Buffalo Chicken Nachos - Turn the buffalo chicken into a crowd-pleasing appetizer by serving it over tortilla chips with melted cheese, jalapeños, and sour cream.
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap - Wrap the buffalo chicken in a tortilla with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and your favorite dressing for a handheld delight.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad - Toss the buffalo chicken with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and blue cheese crumbles for a satisfying salad.
- Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla - Sandwich the buffalo chicken between tortillas with melted cheese for a cheesy and spicy quesadilla.
What Goes With Buffalo Chicken Sliders?
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sliders are a flavorful and spicy dish that pairs well with a variety of sides and accompaniments. Here are some delicious options to serve alongside or complement them:
- Celery Sticks and Carrot Sticks - Classic buffalo wing accompaniments, fresh celery sticks, and carrot sticks provide a cool and crunchy contrast to the spicy sliders.
- Coleslaw - A crisp and tangy coleslaw can provide a refreshing element to counter the spiciness of the buffalo chicken.
- Potato Salad - Creamy potato salad, either classic or with a twist, makes for a comforting and satisfying side dish.
How Long Do They Last?
While these sliders are best enjoyed fresh, you can store leftover buffalo chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove for a quick and tasty snack.
Assemble fresh sliders with your favorite toppings for a quick and delicious leftover treat.
Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Sliders?
Make entertaining a breeze by preparing the buffalo chicken filling ahead of time and freezing it in portions. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat when needed, ensuring you’re always game day ready!
More Simple Chicken Recipes
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Keto Chicken Tenders
- Salsa Chicken
- Marry Me Chicken
Buffalo Chicken Sliders | Crockpot Chicken Sliders
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 pounds Chicken Breast
- ▢ 1 cup Buffalo Sauce
- ▢ 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- ▢ 1 tbsp White Vinegar
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ▢ 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ▢ 1 tsp Onion Powder
- ▢ 1 tsp Dried Dill
- ▢ 1 tsp Celery Salt
- ▢ 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- ▢ 12 Slider Buns
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken . Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Make the Buffalo Sauce . In a bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, melted butter, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, celery salt, salt, and pepper.
- Pour Over Chicken . Pour the buffalo sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well-coated.
- Cook to Perfection . Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Shred the Chicken . Shred the chicken directly in the crockpot using two forks, allowing it to soak up the flavorful sauce.
- Serve on Slider Buns . Toast the slider buns and spoon the buffalo chicken onto each bun.
- Add Toppings . Customize your sliders with toppings like blue cheese or ranch dressing, coleslaw, shredded lettuce, or sliced tomatoes if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy . Arrange the sliders on a platter, and they’re ready to be enjoyed. Perfect for sharing with friends or savoring on your own!
