Use these cheap dinner ideas to make easy and cheap meals your entire family will love! I think a lot of people are under the impression that in order to have cheap meal plans you have to have just beans and rice. The fact is that’s just not true! By watching sales and shopping at discount stores you can eat very well for just $30-$50 a week!
Cheap Dinner Ideas – $30 for 1 Week of Family Dinners
Here is a week’s worth of cheap dinner ideas that can simplify your meal preparation, getting you out of the kitchen faster and saving you a lot of money on your family food budget. Each dinner idea includes a meal plan for the day and some of the recipes that go with each meal plan.
You don’t have to strictly stick to any one of these meal plans. You can easily modify any of these easy dinner ideas to suit our family’s own taste, so if you want to switch around the order of the meals or substitute a different main dish or side, don’t be afraid to adapt it for your own convenience.
You can feel free to modify these dinners.
We put these dinner plans together with the idea of saving time and money, so you can make the meal plans just as they are described here for the $30. If you’re not as concerned about having the lowest possible price, you can feel free to substitute any more expensive dinner items that you prefer.
These meal plans assume that each person eats one serving of the meal. Many people eat a lot more than the recommended number of servings per person. If you serve each family member more than one serving, you will naturally be paying more, so keep that in mind.
If you have optional food preferences, you are choosing to pay more. For example, if you eat all organic or only buy free-range chicken, you are choosing to pay more for the food. It’s fine to choose that if you can afford it, but don’t expect to pay the same low price that other people are paying who do not make that choice.
How to shop for the best prices
In order to get the best prices, especially on meats, you MUST shop smart! If you decide to make a meal today and go to the store today to buy the meat, you will probably pay too much. I made these menus and recipes based on prices I am able to get regularly by paying attention to prices and stocking up when the meat and other ingredients are cheap.
To get the best prices on meat:
Keep your eye out for sales whenever you’re at a store. If you notice that something is a much better price than usual, stock up while it’s cheap so you can have inexpensive leat to use to make these meals. For example, I never pay more than $1.99/lb. for boneless skinless chicken breasts because I buy a lot of them when they are on sale and do NOT buy them when the price is high.
Check the ads to see what each store is offering this week. When you see that a store is offering chicken, ground beef, pork chops or something else at an unusually good price, stock up and buy as much as you have room to store. Then wait to buy it again until you find another great deal.
Don’t shop at just one store. We often have people say that meat is so expensive at the store where they shop, but they refuse to shop at any other store or even check the prices at other stores. If you only ever are willing to shop at one store, you will pay a lot higher prices than you need to.
Cheap Dinner Ideas – Family Meal Plan Week 1
Total Cost = $30
Meal Plan Day 1
Baked Apple Pork Chops
Rice (make and save 2 cups extra for another day)
Steamed Broccoli
Old Fashioned Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding– Total=$8.40
Baked Apple Pork Chops
Ingredients
4–5 pork chops
4–5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced (If you like the peels you don’t have to peel them.)
4 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon (to taste)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Salt and pepper
2–3 Tbsp. butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Grease a casserole dish or pan. I like to use bacon grease for this.
- Place pork chops on the bottom of the pan.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Top with apples.
- Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Sprinkle small chunks of butter over the top of everything.
- Cover and bake for 45-60 minutes until pork chops are fully cooked.
Meal Plan Day 2
Homemade Chicken Tenders
Mashed Potatoes
Mixed Vegetables
Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins Total=$6.50
This 3 Ingredient Parmesan Chicken Tenders Recipe is a quick and easy chicken recipe that is super yummy! It makes a great quick meal for your family!
Parmesan Chicken Tenders Recipe
This easy 3 ingredient parmesan chicken tenders recipe makes light and crispy fried chicken tenders perfect for families! This is a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe you can make fast. Our teenagers love this recipe and often request that I make it for dinner!
Ingredients
Boneless, skinless chicken, cut into strips
1 egg, beaten
Parmesan cheese (the stuff that is already grated in the green can)
Oil for frying (I usually use canola or vegetable oil.)
Instructions
- Cut boneless, skinless chicken into strips.
- In a bowl, beat the egg.
- Place the Parmesan cheese into a separate bowl.
- Place about 2 Tbsp. oil into a frying pan.
- Dip each strip of boneless, skinless chicken into the beaten egg. Turn to coat.
- Then dip it into the Parmesan cheese and turn to coat the other side.
- Fry in your favorite oil.
The BEST Homemade Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Yield: Serves 5-6.
Ingredients
5 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
Instructions
- Place potatoes and enough water to cover the potatoes into a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat.
- Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender (about 10-15 minutes depending on your altitude).
- Drain.
- Transfer potatoes to a mixing bowl and mash. I use a hand mixer for this but you can use a potato masher.
- Add butter, milk, sugar and salt.
- Beat until smooth.
Meal Plan Day 3
Use leftovers from chicken for soup and in place of noodles use leftover rice from day 1.
Homemade Chicken Soup
Cheese Slices and Crackers
Raw Veggie Platter Total= $1.50
Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe
Make this warm and comforting soup with your chicken leftovers. The roasted chicken adds a little different and yummy flavor. Don’t be frightened by all the ingredients. You can chop a lot of it the day before you make it and just dump and add the rest.
Ingredients
1 cup onions, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp. olive oil or canola oil
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. thyme
8 cups chicken broth
4 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 tsp. salt (adjust to taste)
2 cups chicken, cooked and diced
2 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup evaporated milk
Instructions
- Sauté* the first 4 ingredients in oil in a large Dutch oven (big pot or pan).
- Stir in flour, oregano and thyme.
- Gradually add chicken broth, potatoes and salt.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and cook for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
- Add chicken and noodles and simmer 10 more minutes.
- Reduce heat and add milk. Do not boil.
Notes
*Saute means to stir and cook until tender, usually about 3-5 minutes.
You can change this recipe to suit your taste:
- Add other veggies like peas, corn or broccoli.
- You can leave out the potatoes or substitute them with something like sweet potatoes or squash.
- You can leave out the milk (but the milk makes a nice creamy soup) and/or add more or less broth.
- You can also adjust the spices, for example you might add a little Tabasco sauce to give it a little kick.
Meal Plan Day 4
- Meatloaf
- Cucumber & Tomatoes
- Macaroni Salad Total= $6.30
Super Easy Meatloaf Recipe!
This easy meatloaf recipe is a super delicious traditional meatloaf recipe that is easy to make with just 5 minutes’ prep time! This is an easy family dinner idea that everyone loves!
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 cup quick cooking oatmeal or 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup or barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix the ground beef and all other ingredients together except the ketchup.
- Put the meat mixture into a loaf pan.
- Spread ketchup over the top.
- Bake 1 hour or until done.
Meatloaf Glaze Recipe
Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients.
- Pour on meatloaf about 15 minutes before it is done.
Meal Plan Day 5
Crumble or cube up leftover meatloaf from yesterday into spaghetti.
Use any leftover cucumber and tomatoes from yesterday for salad.
Spaghetti
Garlic Bread
Tossed Salad Total = $1.50
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
1/2 lb. Italian sausage
2 (16 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes, chopped, with juice
1 (8 oz.) can tomato paste
salt to taste
1 clove garlic, pressed, or garlic powder (to taste)
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Crumble sausage in a 2-quart saucepan.
- Brown the sausage with the onion.
- Drain off the fat.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Simmer for 1 hour. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Meal Plan Day 6
Spaghetti Pizza (using the leftover spaghetti from above)
Confetti Salad
Brownie Sundaes Total=$4.50
Spaghetti Pizza Recipe
This easy spaghetti pizza recipe is a great way to use leftover spaghetti. It makes an easy spaghetti casserole using any pizza-type leftovers and other pizza ingredients you love!
Ingredients
1/2 lb. spaghetti noodles, cooked
1 egg, beaten with a fork
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 jar (16 oz.) spaghetti sauce
Toppings
Seasonings like oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper
Onions, chopped
Cottage cheese
Ground beef, cooked
Pepperoni slices
Mozzarella cheese
Black Olives
Bell Peppers, sliced
Any other pizza toppings you love and have on hand
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix noodles, egg and cheese.
- Place into a well greased 9 inch pie pan (You can double it and put it in 9×13 pan).
- Pour spaghetti sauce on it and top with any of the toppings you like.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until it is hot and the cheeses are melted.
Confetti Salad Recipe
Looking for a quick and easy salad recipe that is both delicious and visually appealing? Look no further than this confetti salad recipe! With its colorful blend of fresh vegetables and leafy greens, this salad is not only a feast for the eyes, but also a tasty addition to any meal. Serve it as a side dish or enjoy it on its own for a light and refreshing lunch or dinner option.
- Yield: Makes 8-10 servings.
Ingredients
6 cups salad greens, cut into bites sized pieces
1 (2 1/4 oz.) can sliced ripe olives, drained
1 small red onion, sliced
1/2 cup red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup yellow pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Italian or dressing of your choice
Instructions
- Toss everything into a bowl.
- Serve with dressing.
Day 7
Serve leftovers for whatever is left or if you go out for date night go ahead and go out and give the kids leftovers!
For more super easy and cheap dinner ideas, check out our easy cookbooks, filled with recipes your family will love!
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Loving these idea and menus!!
Thank You!!!
The meals look lovely, but the pork chops alone would be about $14 where were from. Not frugal at all.
You know we get this comment a lot and what try to get people to understand is not to worry so much about the prices we put on here but the basic principles we try to teach. People get so hung up on prices that they over look the basic principles like portion control, use what is in season, use the meats that are on sale or least expensive in your area etc. Of course prices are different in each area but if you really want to save on groceries we give you general ideas of how to do that.
watch for when pork loins go on sale and cut them up yourself
This Judy totally agrees!
Also, take in consideration, that if you plan your meals on a regular basis, you will eventually come to buy in bulk, therefore, leaving you with more to portion out for each weeks meals :)
Do be careful buying in bulk though. Often it is not cheaper and unless you have a large family and have a lot of control over your food you can end up throwing a lot away because you have not used it. I see so many smaller families and singles buying bulk thinking they are saving but they throw so much away and don’t really save in the long run. Plus storing and having to have places to keep things can some times cause you a lot of work and even money to buy shelving etc.
I cannot shop at bulk stores. I have 160.00 to 200.per month for all of my food. A $14 box of whatever would leave me without enough groceries I never ever eat out. . I raised four sons by myself on my $54,000.00 annual salary. My husband left when I was 36. At 57 years old I became too ill to keep my job and my Dr. applied for my social security benefits for me it’s for disibility for me. My income was reduced drastically to $840.00 a month not a week.. Per month ! With cost of living ” raise” over 6 years my income is now 954.00 per month. I have my shopping down to a science . I pay rent 590$ per month ( I revive a 200 credit ) and my own electric bill , auto ins ,prescriptions . I eat pretty well. I had to give up cell phone cable tv service , and my house . I went through surgery and 36 radiation treatments for breast cancer recently . I never buy any G.M.O. Foods since my cancer . When I receive my SS . I immediately pay my rent utility prescriptions my doggies BAG of food electric bill auto ins and get a roll of quarters save 10$ for coin laundry ( I use to have $ 2500 washer dryer set.) enough gas in my car to get to my Dr appts . The past two months I spend every dime I have left on my groceries for the month immediately after I pay all of that.. The first three months this past summer when I moved from house to a Sr apartment I ran out of food that was depressing scarey.. The difference was buying a full tank of gas verses half of it or buying multiple soap and cleaners instead of using VINEGAR or getting a haircut instead of cutting it myself or a new T shirt instead of appreciating what I have. I grew up quite comfortable my parents were entrepreneurs with high 6 figure income . They passed away when I was 22 and 39 . I have 7 lifelong friends 5 females two males that are already widows. What is a reality is if you have a spouse when you become a senior citizen you turn out to be financially okay. My social security insurance payment is so low because I was a stay at home mom during 14 years of marriage . As you can see I’ve lived in a high income bracket a middle class income bracket and now as a senior citizen in a poverty level brackett. My advice don’t get down … It can be scarey I worry what if grocery prices rise even more then I put my headphones on and listen to The Unteatherd Soul and remove the what ifs from my talk in my head. I’m suppose have two knee replacements I can’t afford a dog walker while I heal that is a real fear I lose sleep over. I have a rescue Beagle I named Thea she is a blessing . I like your channel because you share happiness your husband’s laughter is uplifting. I am the ” person” you inadvertently talk in generalization about” very low fixed income unable to work any longer” . I appreciate you are respectful about people in my realm. I believe I did a good job teaching my son’s not to overspend and have control over there finances. I would never tell them how little I live in since I couldn’t work it would cause them info stress !
You sound like a good mom and a very reasonable person. I hope that since you did so much for your sons, they in turn help you out now. You don’t mention them. As parents, we don’t want to ask our kids for help but if they love you, they will want to help. We all need help upon occasion.
Just a suggestion. I’m in a similar position. Every month, our food bank does a food box distribution to anyone financially eligible. I’m also on disability and went for the box every month. You never know what you’ll get and it changes every month .I don’t always like things in it, but I can redonate them. Ours almost always includes a major meat protein, items for breakfast, dessert or snack items, sometimes drinks and a variety of canned goods. Check out your regional food bank to see if they have anything like that going on. It can make a difference, especially since ours is near the end of the month right when money is running out.
If you are in the lower income based on your monthly income that should qualify you for both Food Stamps and Medicaid unless you live outside the United States. I also think your grown children should be coming to your assistance.
So sorry for all your situations. Don’t hesitate to ask for a little help. People in your situation deserve a little help along the way. Do you have a church family? Where I live in W. Texas our church has a ministry that helps people with food, clothes and furniture. It’s all free. I hope you can find something like that. If you don’t have a church, please find one where people are loved. A relationship with Jesus will be more helpful than any music. Read John 3:16. YOU are loved. I’m praying for you.
Thank you ALL for the great work that you all do! You must be helping thousands of people to live better lives!
Thank you, Ellie, for sharing your story. I enjoy Living on a Dime, but have not commented before. Your attitude is remarkable. May many blessings come your way.
I save all uneaten hamburger products ( taco meat meatloaf sloppy Joe) and tomato based sauce in a butter bowel in frezer to make chillie
Thats an awesome idea! Ty!
Thanks for sharing I want to try them all
Awesome meal plan. There are 5 of us in our house. I, being the one that eats less than I should, have trouble keeping food in the house or keeping a budget with my non-stop eaters. However, I have found that many supermarkets, ie..Save-mart, Food-4-less, WinCo, ect, Have amazing meat prices when the meat is already seasoned. It is more often then not, cheaper for it to be pre-seasoned. Idk why? A package of 8 drumsticks seasoned with adobo seasoning is $2-3. Country Pork ribs are an awesome alternative to pork chops and much cheaper. Plus they make great pulled pork, or carnitas. I live in California, where everything is pretty much in season or near to. I understand that many do not have the luxury of having fresh veggies and fruit and meat for that matter. Look for Tyson brand chicken. A bag of pre-cooked, pre-cubed chicken breast pieces are about $6 here. It will feed us about 3 times, if I am careful. It works so well with any dish. Over rice and veggies, for pasta and whatever you can think of. Thank you Jill for providing this meal plan. I appreciate it. So does my wallet, and brain :)
LOL I can appreciate the brain part being important too – are days I am not sure mine even woke up that morning so every little bit helps doesn’t it.
Please be careful of preseasoned meat. I heard on tv that stores will sell seasoned meat because it’s past it’s expiration date. This way they can still sell it and the consumer has no idea.
Believe in the lord God with all your heart, and he will lead you on the right path.
I love these easy to make recipes, and was inspired by one of your recipes yesterday (tacos). However, I am not sure when you posted these recipes, but the prices of goods have increased significantly over time. Many of the things you mention are much more expensive today than they were ever before. We paid ~10$ for one kg of ground beef; tortillas and lettuce were ~2 dollars each, and cheese a few dollars. So the cost of having homemade tacos for dinner was about 15-20 dollars for two adults, which is at least 3 times more than what you said in your post (under 5$). Granted, I am aware that yours had less ingredients and was the price for chicken tacos. Still, when I read through your ingredients here, I couldn’t help but think “that would cost way more than 4.50/6.50” etc. Alas, living a quality life is not as affordable and accessible as it once was.
Not sure where you live but I can easily get the cheaper prices where I live and Tawra can get them where she lives. You may have to keep and eye out for good sales or go a different store but those prices are out there. Now if you are in a different country which it sounds like you might be than things might be different. One thing though don’t get to where you are focusing so much on the negative that you it causes you to not see the positive or how you can make things work. For example even if prices are more the chances are you make more money where you live, where can you save then – are your throwing a lot of food away or eating larger portion sizes than you should therefore wasting money that way.
As far as living a quality life that is affordable and accessible, I am sorry but for the past 35 yrs I have lived on average the exact same amount of income every year and I am quite comfortable. I own my own home, have a nice amount of savings and no debt at all. I wear name brand clothes and really want for nothing. The secret is I never moaned about how hard things are or how much I don’t have. I figured out what I could do to fix it and did the best I could with what I have.
You also have to consider the exchange rate. $1 US is NOT EQUAL to $1 Canadian or $1 Australian or $1 New Zealand.
Not just exchange, but products are not the same price in every place your post is read. I just saw a place in California that had chicken breasts for $8 for 8. Where I live, you would be lucky to get 2 breasts for $8.
This is why I always say to stop looking at the prices and use our tips instead because they can be used any where no matter what the prices are. For example – buy things on sale, buy chicken thighs and legs instead of expensive chicken breasts, stop buying so many drinks (special coffee and tea, juices, milk, alcohol, pop) drink water instead. We have found that most of the time when someone makes a comment like this we can usually find it some place in your area that you can get it for cheaper than you think. Many just go to 1 or 2 stores and don’t really check the sales in other stores in their area and often when a comment is made like this it an excuse to justify in their mind spending more than they should on groceries.
Throw away food!? Never!! :) I’m sure Jill and Tawra have given this idea at one time or another. I’ve been doing it for years. Keep a container in the freezer marked ‘Soup’. ALL leftover bits of anything go in there. Especially any little bits of leftovers that you THINK will get used, but reality is will get shoved to the back of the fridge to become science experiments. Also juice from canned veg or cooking veggies (so many nutrients get dumped down the drain), broth from meat, etc. Almost every week I take it out, put in the crockpot in the morning, evening meal is ‘Mystery Soup’ with home made bread. Almost free meal and unique flavor every time. Give it a try!
I also keep a ‘smoothie’ container in the freezer…bits of leftover fruit, juice from drained canned fruit, etc
I love this article and these recipes! However, is there anyway that you could do an article that has meals for vegetarians that are really cheap? Unfortunately, all of these recipes are meat-based. There are a lot of us vegetarians or vegans that watch your videos and read your blog :-)
Sorry but there are so many “special” diets now that to keep up with all of them is the same as impossible. Most of our menus and recipes are so easy though that we have many readers who say they love them because they can easily adapt or adjust them to their special diet needs. For example on of the dinner ideas has chicken soup so all you would have to do is substitute veggie soup for it.
You can find A LOT of budget vegan/vegetarian meals on youtube!!!! You also need to learn to cook the way they do without meat. Say they tell you to do tacos well vegetarian tacos can be made a frew different ways
Hard shells, shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes whatever you can afford for toppings…
Pinto beans made into a “taco meat” is SUPER cheap…
Black Bean burrito/taco mixture super cheap
I’m not vegetarian or vegan I’m Christian, but I do like veggie meals from time to time. You just have to learn to adapt things..
LORD JESUS is KING of kings and LORD of lords
This is a great list. One of the best I have seen. Doable and customizable. Nice job! 😊
Thank you Jennifer. I hope it helps you and gives you some easy ideas.