Groceries can be expensive.  I don’t know about you, but these days my grocery bill seems to be going higher and higher.

And who wants to (or can!) spend hours in the kitchen each night? It’s much more fun to spend that time with family or relaxing. The good news is you don’t have to sweat over a hot stove. You don’t need to spend a fortune either. Here are five quick, easy and cheap family meal ideas.

1.  Beans and rice – A staple in the South, beans and rice can be prepared so many ways it’s amazing. From Mexican style beans and rice, to Cajun style, there’s a recipe for everyone’s tastes. From the south? Try Hoppin John. It’s delicious. Best of all, it’s cheap and easy too. And when combined, beans and rice provide a complete protein. No meat required for this meal. Buy canned beans and brown rice in bulk to really save money.

2.  Roast chicken – Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned roast chicken? Whole chickens are inexpensive and they generally provide enough food for more than one meal, unless you have a large family.  And if you do, cook two chickens at once and use the leftovers for a tasty chicken salad served on a bed of greens or a chicken noodle casserole. There are also two time-saving ways to manage a roast chicken. You can buy a whole roasted chicken already cooked at your grocery’s deli. Or you can roast one on the weekend and reheat it for mealtime. (You can also cut the roasting time in half by splitting the chicken down the middle).

3.  Fish and a salad – Fish actually only takes a few minutes to cook. And when you buy fish like orange roughy you can get it at a resonable cost. Grab a bag salad and you have a very healthy meal you can prepare for a few dollars. And it’ll take less than ten minutes to prepare.

4.  Soup and stew – Soups and stews are really inexpensive. When paired with bread and a salad they’re also quite satisfying and healthy. You can buy premixed soup and stew items at the store. Just add them to your crock pot in the morning and they’re ready when you get home. You can also make them on the weekend and reheat when it’s time to eat.

5.  Pasta – You can do almost anything with pasta. Pasta primavera. Pasta with tomato sauce. Pasta with sardines, capers and lemon. There are literally hundreds of pasta recipes. Best of all, pasta is quick. It’s cheap and it’s tasty. You really can’t go wrong with pasta. Add a salad and you have a complete meal.

With a little patience and planning you can serve your family quick and easy meals ever night of the week. And you can save money doing it. If you need some recipe ideas, grab your guide here.