What is the absolute best budget portrait lens for a Canon Rebel T7 that wont break the bank?

Ive been shooting with my T7 kit lens—the basic 18-55mm—for about a year now and I feel like I have really mastered the exposure triangle and manual settings, but I ran into a huge wall last weekend. I was doing some test shots for my cousins graduation in a park here in Chicago and I just couldnt get that professional look I wanted. I zoomed all the way in to 55mm and set it to f/5.6 which is as wide as it goes at that focal length, but the background was still way too busy and distracting. It just didnt have that pop you see in professional portraits and the bokeh was basically non-existent.

Im super excited because I actually have three more shoots booked for next month when the flowers start blooming, but I really need better glass before then. My budget is pretty tight, like definitely under $200, maybe even closer to $125 if possible because I still need to buy a decent reflector and a bag.

Everyone keeps mentioning the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM which is obviously the classic choice, but Im a bit worried about the crop factor on the T7 sensor. Since its an APS-C, that 50mm is gonna act more like an 80mm, right? Im worried it might be way too tight if Im shooting in a crowded area or a small backyard. Has anyone tried the 24mm pancake lens for portraits or is the distortion at that width gonna make peoples faces look weird?

Also seen those super cheap Yongnuo lenses on Amazon for like $50-70 but I have heard the autofocus can be really loud and slow which might ruin the vibe if I am trying to catch candid moments. Is it worth saving up a little more for the name brand or is there some hidden gem I am missing for the EF-S mount? I just want that creamy background blur without spending a thousand bucks...