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20 Dinners That Cost 5 Dollars or Less

frugal· recipes· saving money

This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

6 Mar

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Image of pasta on a plate with the title "20 Dinners that Cost 5 Dollars or Less"
Plate of pasta with the title "20 Dinners That Cost 5 Dollars or Less"

Are you low on funds this week? Read this list of 5 dollar dinners to give you ideas for cheap meals!

Whether you’re struggling to make ends meet or just looking to save some money, I think we all need ideas for cheap dinners. Ways to stretch our grocery budget every week.

Back when we ate for $37 a week, I felt like the master of coming up with cheap meals! I’ve come up with a list of 20 dinners you can make for $5.00 or less, almost all of which are kid friendly!

Picture of a Sloppy Joe

Are these recipes healthy?

Keep in mind that some of these may not fit in with your lifestyle; that is, they may not be the healthiest option for your family. If you don’t like plain cheese quesadillas, add a can of beans or some chicken, keeping in mind that may take you over $5.00.

There are always healthier options, but when you’re low on money, you do what you can with what you have!

These are also all main dishes, which means you can add any vegetable you may have in your house for a more well-rounded dinner.

Do these recipes really only cost 5 dollars or less?

Disclaimer: I live in Ohio and have access to an Aldi. Your prices may not be this low, so do your research!

The prices I’ve come up with below are based on what I’ve found at Aldi; your store’s prices may vary. I’ve also tried to stay true to the actual cost. Some recipes elsewhere may say they only cost $5.00, but don’t take into account that you pay $2.00 for cheese but only use about $.50 worth for the recipe.

The prices below also don’t include seasonings. My local Dollar Tree sells jars for $1.00 each and they’re bigger than what I can find at Aldi!

I’ve tried to make sure each recipe stays around $5.00 even after buying more than what you need. Look at it this way: you now have leftover food to create another meal! Another great way to save money.

Looking for other healthy meal ideas? Be sure to download my FREE Healthy Meal Plan!

20 Dinners That Cost 5 Dollars or Less

Image of pancakes sitting on a plate, topped with berries

1.) Pancakes- We like cooking these with our griddle because we can fit 6 at a time!

  • Box of pancake mix: $2.00
  • Bottle of syrup: $1.59
  • Eggs (as a side, for protein): $.48-$1.00

2.) Sloppy Joes

  • Ground turkey: $1.89
  • BBQ sauce: $1.00
  • Hamburger buns: $1.00

3.) Grilled cheese and tomato soup

  • Bread: $1.00
  • Cheese: $2.00
  • Can of soup: $.89
  • Butter/Margarine: $1.00

4.) Salad- Adding protein with this helps but will take you over $5.00

  • Iceberg lettuce: $1.00
  • Tomato: $.99
  • Shredded cheese: $2.00
  • Dressing: $1.29

5.) Grilled ham and cheese

  • Bread: $1.00
  • Deli ham: $2.49
  • Sliced cheese: $2.00
  • Butter/margarine: $1.00

6.) Spaghetti

  • Box of spaghetti: $1.00
  • Jar of spaghetti sauce: $1.00
  • Small bag of meatballs (Optional): $2.50-$3.00

7.) Mac and cheese with tuna and peas

  • Box of mac and cheese: $1.00
  • 1 can of tuna: $.69
  • Bag of frozen peas: $1.00

8.) Spanish rice with ground turkey and diced tomatoes

  • Box of Spanish rice: $1.00
  • Ground turkey: $1.89
  • Can of diced tomatoes: $.59

9.) Baked potatoes

  • Potatoes: $1.99
  • Sour cream: $.99
  • Bag of frozen broccoli: $1.00
  • Butter: $1.00

10.) Egg noodles with butter and Parmesan

  • Egg noodles: $1.29
  • Butter: $1.00
  • Parmesan cheese: $2.49
Image of shredded chicken in a large bowl

11.) BBQ pulled chicken- easily made in our slow cooker and shredded using our KitchenAid mixer!

  • 1 pound of chicken: $1.99
  • Bottle of BBQ sauce: $1.00
  • Hamburger buns: $1.00

12.) Quesadillas

  • Tortilla shells: $1.49
  • Shredded cheddar cheese: $2.00
  • Can of black beans: $1.00
  • Sour cream: $1.00

13.) Tuna melts- Will take you over $5.00 if you don’t have butter

  • Bread: $1.00
  • Can of tuna: $.69
  • Mayo: $2.00
  • Cheese: $1.79
  • Butter/margarine: $1.00

14.) Smoked sausage and potatoes- Use leftover potatoes as baked potatoes above!

  • Smoked sausage: $2.50
  • Potatoes: $1.99

15.) DiGiorno pizza- Yes, frozen pizza counts! It’s a good, fast weeknight dinner.

  • $5.00

16.) Chicken and fries

  • Frozen chicken nuggets: $2.50
  • Frozen fries: $2.00

17.) Beans and rice

  • Can of black beans: $.69
  • Bag of rice: $1.79- We cook rice in our rice cooker to save time and energy!
  • Diced tomatoes: $.59
  • Onion (Optional): $1.59

18.) Cheesy beef skillet

  • 1 box of mac and cheese: $1.00
  • Ground turkey: $1.89
  • Diced tomatoes: $.59
  • Taco seasoning: $.39
  • Brown ground turkey as the macaroni boils. Add macaroni to the turkey, as well as the cheese powder, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Image of pizza bagels, topped with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and jalapenos

19.) English muffin/bagel pizzas- Can be easily made in a toaster oven for a quick meal!

  • English muffins/bagels: $2.00
  • Pizza sauce: $.99
  • Mozzarella cheese: $2.00
  • Pepperoni: Optional, but will take you over $5.00

20.) Two timin’ pasta

  • 1 box of pasta: $1.00
  • 1 jar of spaghetti sauce: $1.00
  • 1 jar of Alfredo sauce: $1.29
  • Mozzarella cheese: $2.00
  • Mix both jars of sauce together, then pour over boiled pasta in a casserole dish. Top with Mozzarella cheese, then bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes

Would you add anything to this list? Share recipes with us below!

Like this post? Be sure to check out 20 MORE dinners that cost 5 dollars or less!

123 Comments

Previous Post: « 3 More Dollar Tree Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Edition
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Barbara Stapleton says

    October 15, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    The Quesedillas are confusing. I am sure you put in something besides cheese. I love your site/blog!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 16, 2015 at 5:31 am

      Thanks Barbara! As for the quesadillas, I think it just depends on the night. Sometimes we’ll get “fancy” and add chicken, rice, and/or black beans. A lot of times we’ll have just plain cheese (Just the way my daughter likes it!) and have Spanish rice as a side. =) Now that I’m looking at the prices I wrote down, I just realized I can add a can of black beans and still make it under $5.00, so I’ll add that now! Thanks for your help!

      Reply
    • Km says

      July 8, 2019 at 10:45 pm

      We eat just cheese in ours but dip in salsa or sour cream

      Reply
    • Jenn says

      September 23, 2019 at 8:16 pm

      BEANS IS A MEAT Substitute…..

      Reply
      • Mary says

        April 22, 2020 at 9:32 am

        My family dollar store has chicken strips in the $1 section of frozen food and there is 6-8 strips in a bag. They are very good. Make sure it’s the strip not the nuggets!

        Reply
  2. Lakisha says

    October 24, 2015 at 8:53 am

    For a struggling college student, I LOVE THIS LIST.

    Reply
    • Megan says

      May 13, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      I’d like to know where she lives getting chicken breast for 1.99

      Reply
      • Jaime says

        May 13, 2016 at 6:02 pm

        I live in Ohio! =) My local Sam’s Club has them for $1.88/pound, and they’re usually between $1.99 and $2.49 a pound elsewhere.

        Reply
        • Diana says

          October 24, 2018 at 3:05 pm

          I have paid as little as 99 cents a pound for them. Just have to find the sales and stock up.

          Reply
          • Abi says

            May 31, 2019 at 2:36 pm

            Fantastic. I will try all !

        • cindy says

          August 3, 2020 at 4:47 pm

          2020 – $1.89 in Lowell, IN

          Reply
      • Jodi says

        January 1, 2017 at 1:46 pm

        I live on the East Coast (Maryland) and most of our grocery stores will have sales on boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 1.99 or 1.88 a pound. We also have a store (Wegman’s) that has year-round special price on family pack of the same for 1.99. Just have to take a peek around. You might be surprised. Also check out ALDI, bare bones stores, but great organic produce and great prices

        Reply
        • Jaime says

          January 1, 2017 at 2:08 pm

          I wish we had a Wegmans in Ohio! My husband is from New York and every time we go up there to visit, I have to go to Wegmans. It’s not just a grocery store, it’s an experience. =)

          Reply
      • KaiCie says

        April 24, 2017 at 12:47 am

        Our Wal-Mart has chicken for $1.99/lb As their regular price. If you get markdowns you can get it for about $1.59/lb. Our local Aldi has it for $1.89 as their regular price but has it for $1.49 pretty often. I do have to say I like Wal-Mart’s chicken better though.

        Reply
      • Sandra says

        September 16, 2018 at 8:33 am

        You can find it on sale at this price quite a bit

        Reply
      • rita mccauley says

        November 30, 2018 at 10:11 pm

        I always get chicken breast for 1.99 a lb! my problem is we have 5 people in my house and i think she only has 3. My cost is almost double her amount.

        Reply
        • Jaime says

          December 1, 2018 at 4:44 am

          You’re right, we only have 3 people in our household. =) I still try to stretch what we have, though. A great way to stretch chicken is to either shred it or chop it finely and add it to things like casseroles. You’re still getting your protein, but you’re just making the chicken go further!

          Reply
      • Renee says

        June 4, 2019 at 2:58 pm

        I get it for that price all the time!

        Reply
      • Katelyn says

        July 19, 2019 at 10:31 am

        It’s 2019 now and I still only pay $1.99 a pound for chicken (or less). It is basically always $1.99 per pound at Walmart. I live in Nebraska.

        Reply
      • ruby gray says

        August 11, 2019 at 1:24 am

        Ruby Gray in California

        Two weeks ago Albertsons had boneless skinless chicken breast for 88 cents this week they have all chicken parts except chicken breast all for 87 cents a pound Last week Aldi had chicken legg quarters for 55 cents 10 pound bag 5 dollars and 50 cents. Just shop around for lowest price. Good luck to all

        Reply
      • Paulette Little says

        November 17, 2019 at 10:07 pm

        I always get boneless, skinless chicken breast for $1.99, sometimes $1.89. This week they were on sale for $1.69 a pound.. I live in Northwest Arkansas and Aldi prices do not vary a lot no matter where you live.

        Reply
      • Amy Dundes says

        June 8, 2020 at 12:57 pm

        Im in 2020 (article 2016) I bought 10 lbs of BS chicken breasts at Walmart for 19 so it can be done

        Reply
  3. Alexis M says

    November 22, 2015 at 9:09 am

    Great Post! Groceries are so expensive these days it’s CRAZY! As a stay at home, I’m always looking for ways for our family to save money (especially with the holidays just around the corner)! I’ll definitely be adding some of your meals to my grocery list. Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      November 23, 2015 at 5:50 pm

      Thank you for reading! =) I agree, with the holidays coming up, I’m trying to fit all baking stuff into my grocery budget as well, and it’s so difficult!

      Reply
  4. Courtney says

    December 12, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    I buy Tortillas, ground turkey or beef and a packet of cheesy taco seasoning for tacos under $5 usually make 6 tacos

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      December 13, 2015 at 5:11 am

      They make cheesy taco seasoning??? 😮 I need this in my life, thanks for the suggestion!

      Reply
  5. Crystal says

    December 14, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    This can be over $5 if you don’t have milk, eggs, and oil. But those items are staples in my house and this meal is super quick and easy and everyone loves it! Sometimes I use whatever frozen veggies we have, one time I even used stir-fry ones, lol! You need:

    Can or frozen bag mix soup veggies (corn, peas, carrots)
    Can of Cream of Chicken Soup
    Can/Pouch of Cooked Chicken or Tuna
    1-2 Box of Jiffy Corn Bread (I use 2 if I’m splurging)
    (optional) Can of Creamed Corn to mix in cornbread

    Sautéed frozen veggies in a little oil in a 10″ skillet or cast iron pan until soft if using frozen or 2-3 minutes on med-high heat with a little salt and pepper. Stir in drained tuna or chicken and cream of chicken soup (you can add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to thin out and make creamy if you want). Bring to a little boil and then Reduce heat to a simmer. Mix corn bread batter according to directions and preheat oven to box directions. You can omit liquid and add creamed corn if you choose that option – If batter is too thick, add milk or water to add more liquid. Pour batter directly over soup mixture and spread evenly. Put in oven and bake according to box directions for muffins. Hola! Chicken/Tuna Pot Pie!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      December 17, 2015 at 5:29 am

      Wow, that sounds amazing! =) Thanks for the recipe, I’m going to try this!

      Reply
    • Jessica says

      January 20, 2017 at 9:23 am

      Love tjis idea

      Reply
  6. Kesha Parvin says

    December 17, 2015 at 8:39 am

    Breakfast for dinner is always a cheap go to in my house! Whether it be biscuits and gravy or waffles and bacon or sausage!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      December 19, 2015 at 1:26 pm

      Totally!! We try to keep a box of pancake mix in the house for quick dinners. =)

      Reply
    • VitaLynne says

      September 20, 2017 at 11:42 am

      Ah yes! Waffles with bacon or sausage! Love it!

      Reply
  7. Tracy says

    January 26, 2016 at 7:48 am

    Costco rotisserie chickens are huge, delicious and $4.99 each. This is one where you’re obviously going to spend more than $5 if you want more than chicken but there’s so much you can do with the mountain of meat from these things that they’re worth considering. We like to make chicken shepherd’s pie using leftover mashed potatoes, frozen peas and chicken gravy. We also have cold chicken sandwiches, hot open sandwiches with gray and mashed potatoes, chicken salad, make stock from the carcass to have soup, etc. One chicken turns into several meals.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      January 26, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      That’s a great idea! =) It does initially cost more than $5.00, but if you divide it up, I’m sure the recipes will cost much less! We have a Sam’s Club membership, so I may check out those instead of the chicken breasts we usually buy.

      Reply
  8. Lisa says

    April 10, 2016 at 1:19 am

    We like make egg noodles + a large can of cream of chicken. It’s super fast and easy. Sometimes I add a can of mixed veggies and it’s still under 5$

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      April 10, 2016 at 4:27 am

      That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  9. Mairi says

    April 23, 2016 at 3:23 am

    If you are from the US the 99 cents store is amazing!

    Reply
  10. Jennifer says

    May 3, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    One of my favorite go-to dinners:

    1 box Mac n cheese
    1 lb hamburger meat
    1 can ranch style beans

    Mix all together and binge watch Netflix! 😉

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      May 3, 2016 at 9:34 pm

      That actually sounds delicious! It’s going on my “to-make” list. 😀

      Reply
  11. Becki says

    May 30, 2016 at 10:51 pm

    my aunt Nancy makes these amazing nachos. we call them Nancy nachos. bag of torilla chips can of refried beans American cheese.
    spread beans on chips then put a slice of cheese (break up to make fit, doesn’t have to cover the whole chip or all the beans) bake til cheese is melted/bubbly. I like to dip mine in salsa

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      May 31, 2016 at 9:58 am

      That sounds awesome and very frugal! Thanks for sharing that!

      Reply
  12. Katherine says

    July 14, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    forgot the “melt” part of your tuna melts. Love the list

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 14, 2016 at 6:16 pm

      Oh my, I can’t believe it’s been up all this time and I forgot the cheese! Thank you for telling me, I’ll go and fix it now. =)

      Reply
  13. Jessica says

    September 9, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Here is a recipe I made in college :
    1 can condensed ck rice soup
    1 can rotel (tomatoes w chiles)
    Heat and add tortilla chips to top …. Viola ! Tortilla soup

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      September 9, 2016 at 6:23 pm

      Pretty awesome! Frugal and sounds great, too. =)

      Reply
  14. Lisa says

    September 20, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Spinach mushroom and feta frittata comes in under $5!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      September 20, 2016 at 8:01 pm

      Ooh, that sounds really good! I’ll have to try it. =)

      Reply
  15. Sonny says

    November 5, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    One of our low cost favorites is cabbage, onions and bow tie pasta. Cook the bow tie pasta per box instructions. Sauté 1 sliced onion and small head of cabbage sliced in butter until soft. Combine with bow ties. Makes a t
    Lot for less than $5.00

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      November 6, 2016 at 4:26 am

      That sounds great, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  16. Jessica says

    December 13, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    1 small onion
    16 oz. can of tomato sauce
    Polish sausage
    Jalapeño
    Rotini pasta
    Water

    I had the onion and noodles, but everything else came in around $4 at the store. My husband LOVED it.

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      December 13, 2016 at 4:14 pm

      Oh! And cream cheese.

      Reply
    • Jaime says

      December 14, 2016 at 5:23 am

      That sounds amazing! Definitely going on the menu at our house soon. =)

      Reply
  17. Lenoria says

    December 18, 2016 at 11:48 pm

    Wow, I love some of these ideas and I am always looking for ways to use leftovers when we have them. I also love breakfast for dinner and when I have spaghetti I never seem to know how much to cook and usually end up with a bunch left over so I put it in a bag and a couple of nights later we have leftover spaghetti in a 9×13 inch pan, browned hamburger meat, mozarella cheese, and then spaghetti sauce on top with a little more mozarella cheese on top. Cook at 350 for 30 minutes and supper! Makes a cheap meal and the meat can be left out if you don’t have it or don’t want it.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      December 19, 2016 at 5:27 am

      That’s a great use of leftover spaghetti! Thanks for sharing! =)

      Reply
  18. Barbara Stapleton says

    January 25, 2017 at 1:14 pm

    My favorite “instant soup” is a handful of vegetables in a bowl and I pour over it some organic bone broth. It cost me about $1-2 dollars at the most!
    I buy a large bag of organic frozen vegetables at Costco on someone else’s account. They are VERY big and chunky. Because it’s a large bag they last me a long time. I used to make my own bone broth but it’s expensive and extremely messy. Now I just buy the carton of the organic bone broth from my supermarket on sale and stock up.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      January 26, 2017 at 4:22 am

      That’s a really good idea! Thanks for sharing. =)

      Reply
    • Tamy says

      November 4, 2018 at 8:09 am

      “Stock up” ?

      Reply
  19. Hannah says

    March 14, 2017 at 4:51 pm

    A pound of chicken isn’t $1.99 sweetheart? good try though!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      March 14, 2017 at 8:18 pm

      It depends on where you live! =) $1.99 is actually higher than I’d pay now where I live (Ohio). I’ve seen them go as low as $1.47 a pound.

      Reply
      • Stapes says

        March 15, 2017 at 2:22 am

        ShopRite supermarket chain has chicken breast for $1.99 a pound. That is the regular price. The problem is sometimes it’s not safe to eat and other times it’s fantastic.

        Reply
      • Crystal says

        October 24, 2017 at 10:04 am

        I live in Ohio, too, and chicken breast is $1.99 at several places around here (Toledo). If you get chicken quarters you can get a 10lb bag for like $6.

        Reply
    • Kimber says

      October 24, 2018 at 7:01 pm

      I can get if for less at several stores. Shop frugal.

      Reply
    • Vanna says

      July 8, 2019 at 5:12 pm

      Why be condescending when you don’t have to?

      Reply
    • Jessy says

      March 16, 2020 at 8:24 am

      I live in GA and it is frequently on sale for as low as $1.00 per pound. $1.99 sounds perfectly reasonable to me. The key is to wait until it’s on sale and stock up

      Reply
  20. Ashley says

    July 18, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    Hannah quit making a fool of yourself!
    “good try though” ? Seriously?
    Of course prices vary depending on which state your are in! You don’t expect the same gas prices in every state, do you?
    Same goes for food! Go try to buy chicken in Hawaii for $1.99 and they’ll think you are insane, but other places that may be high in price!
    I love this list! Super helpful for our family of four! ??

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 18, 2017 at 6:56 pm

      I used to think I was pretty good with $1.59 milk until I saw it was $.99 in other places. =) It’s pretty cool seeing the price differences in other states!

      Reply
      • Tanesha P says

        January 8, 2018 at 3:11 pm

        What?? Omg! I’m in FL and haven’t paid less that $3.00 for milk in years.

        Reply
        • Jaime says

          January 8, 2018 at 7:29 pm

          I was in New Smyrna Beach, so I don’t know how that compares to other parts of Florida. =) I just know that I was totally surprised!

          Reply
      • Kimber says

        October 24, 2018 at 7:03 pm

        I get organic 2% for less than $3.

        Reply
  21. Sherry says

    August 2, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    One of our favorite cheap dinners, is chili mac. 1 box of macaroni and cheese, made as directed, and 1 can of chili (with or without beans, your choice) heated and mixed in. If we want to get expensive, we add in some cut up hot dogs.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      August 3, 2017 at 5:23 am

      That’s a good, frugal meal! I’ll have to try it sometime. Thanks for your suggestion! =)

      Reply
  22. Charissa says

    August 7, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out how I’ve never heard of Two Timin’ Pasta and why no one seems to be as fascinated at the idea as I am. ??

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      August 7, 2017 at 7:42 pm

      It’s a hilarious name! I saw it on Pinterest and I was surprised at how good it was. =)

      Reply
    • lindsay says

      October 9, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      same here !! cant wait to try it

      Reply
    • Erica says

      November 18, 2018 at 1:41 am

      I make it with cut up chicken nuggets in it (or patties or anything that’s on sale really) it’s sooo good!

      Reply
  23. Megan says

    August 21, 2017 at 5:37 pm

    This list is exactly what I’v been looking for! We have tried to eat clean but really need to cut back our budget. I feel like if the rest of our day is balanced and we add veggies (and this is what we can afford) then its great. Funny how sometimes you just can’t figure out what other people must eat to save money. This is perfect!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      August 21, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      Thanks, Megan! And you’re not alone; I feel like every week I’m searching for recipes like “Wait, what is food and how do I cook?” Sometimes you just need something to look at first!

      Reply
  24. Vita Lynne says

    September 20, 2017 at 11:27 am

    This is the most authentic list of meals you can eat when you only have $5 to spend and that’s it! All the other blogs I’ve seen, in order to get to the $5 meal, you have to spend way more than that! Thank you for “keepin’ it real” and giving us a list we five-ers can work with! I referred to your list last evening, when I only wanted to spend $5, and a pizza was listed. It just so happened that Acme’s store brand pizza was on sale for on $3.34 per pizza. Were it not for your list I would not have even considered a whole pizza as a $5 option. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      September 20, 2017 at 1:54 pm

      Thank you so much! I noticed the same thing when I looked at other blog posts, so I’m so glad this could help you! =)

      Reply
  25. Crystal says

    October 24, 2017 at 10:01 am

    Finally a blog that gets what “budget” meals means. I don’t have $200 to fill my pantry with bulk spices and such, I need cheap meals to make NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. And thanks to all the commenters, too!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 24, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      Thanks, Crystal! =) I try to keep a good supply of pantry items, but there are definitely weeks where you have just enough money to buy what you need right now!

      Reply
  26. Tanesha P says

    January 8, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Thanks so much for these great (frugal) dinner ideas!!! I’ve got $10 in my wallet and was out of ideas! You are heaven sent girly!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      January 8, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      Thank you so much! I hope this list can help. =)

      Reply
  27. Rachel zahel says

    February 1, 2018 at 7:20 pm

    I make beanee weenie with corn muffin
    Pork and beansee 1.00
    Gwaltney traditional hot dog .88 cents
    Jiffy corn muffin mix .59 cents
    6 CT eggs for .56 cents
    I pint of milk 1.00
    Total 4.03

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      February 1, 2018 at 8:58 pm

      That sounds really cute! Thanks for the idea. =)

      Reply
  28. Shelly says

    February 5, 2018 at 5:53 pm

    Thanks for real food meal ideas not all those fancy meals that I always see. I have my list of usual meals but wanted something different, easy and cheap.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      February 5, 2018 at 7:56 pm

      Thanks, Shelly! I hope you found something to add to your list. =)

      Reply
      • Coleen says

        March 6, 2019 at 4:17 pm

        My easy fix meal is with my 6 quart/crocketpot, 5/6 chicken breast and salas. Put a approximately a cup of salas in bottom of crocketpot then add your raw chicken (I used frozen or fresh chicken with no problems). Pour about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of salas over chicken. Set your crocketpot – Hi for 3 to 4 hours or Low for 6 to 8 hours. I serve the chicken and salas mixture over white or brown rice and with a vegetable. Depending on the size of your crocketpot will determine how many pieces of chicken you are cooking.

        Reply
        • Jaime says

          March 7, 2019 at 4:27 am

          Ooh, Salsa Chicken is one of my favorites! And so easy, too!

          Reply
  29. Ashley says

    March 23, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    I love your blog! There are so many great ideas on here!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      March 24, 2018 at 6:47 am

      Thank you, Ashley! I really appreciate that!

      Reply
  30. Vanessa says

    June 6, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    These are great ideas! Cutting back on meats is so helpful!

    Reply
  31. Renee says

    July 5, 2018 at 8:34 pm

    Egg Drop Soup
    Cook ramen noodles. When they are ready use a fork to stir in a beaten egg, a splash of soy sauce and some spinach.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 6, 2018 at 5:06 am

      That’s super easy! Thanks for sharing, I love egg drop soup. =)

      Reply
  32. Stef says

    July 13, 2018 at 11:39 pm

    Depression Spaghetti, a family favorite. Spaghetti noodles, butter, parm cheese, packaged bacon bits. About $5/pot exactly, depending on where you shop, and can feed a lot of ppl.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 14, 2018 at 8:14 am

      Nice! I like the addition of bacon bits; I’ll have to try that. =)

      Reply
  33. Tabytha says

    September 30, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    I’m more from the south but a yummy quick cheap meal we make is open face sandwiches. It may cost a little over $5 for everything. We use loaf bread , sliced cheese, one onion , one tomatoe and a can of spam .
    All I do is cut everything up put 2 slices of spam , tomatoe, onion and cheese and put it in the oven and my kids love them !!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      September 30, 2018 at 7:45 pm

      Spam is such a great comfort food! I haven’t had it in forever, but I used to love the spicy Spam mixed with mac and cheese. =) Delicious!

      Reply
  34. Kim R says

    October 6, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    I just quite my second job and while I know I don’t need it anymore (all the hospital bills are paid off!) I’m in panic mode that I’ve lost $500 on month in income So I have been searching for cheap meal options. Thank you so much for this list. Several of the other ‘budget’ menus I found I leave the website wondering if they know what a budget is. Several of these ideas are going into this months menu.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 6, 2018 at 7:18 pm

      Thanks, Kim! Good on you for paying off your bills, that’s a huge goal. =)

      Reply
  35. Jordan says

    December 20, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    From Audi’s
    Hot dogs 89¢
    Buns 85¢
    Chili in the can maybe 1$
    Fries 1.89$

    Salisbury steak 2.59$ a box
    Vegetable 50¢ a can
    Mac & cheese 50¢ a box

    Pizzas 2.59$ self rising crust

    Lasagna 2.59$ a box

    Eggs 1-2$ carton
    10 pk sausage links 1$
    Waffles 10pk 1.19 box
    Syrup maybe 1-2$

    I use a few others but they run a few dollars more to feed usually 3 people sometimes 4.

    Chicken 5$ worth
    Vegetable 50¢ can
    Mac & cheese or instant mashed potatoes usually no more than 1$ worth.

    Same as above but with 5$ worth pork chops.

    Burgers and fries if u find beef cheap enough.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      December 20, 2018 at 7:26 pm

      Excellent ideas, thanks for sharing! Breakfast for dinner is super cheap and can feed a ton of people.

      Reply
  36. Gina says

    June 25, 2019 at 3:39 am

    We make oven fries and use left overs on top. It’s a fridge cleaning of sorts. Peel potatoes we use baking. Try to make them all the same size add a tad of oil and whatever spices you have. I bake mine at 400 for around 25 minutes ovens vary though. We pile high veggies or any left overs you have. I also use Budget Bytes.Com recipe for cheese bread except we turn it into a soft bread pizza with leftovers. That recipe I can double or triple and I buy bulk yeast at Sams Club. Very cheap and easy meals.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      June 25, 2019 at 4:26 am

      I love the idea of topping fries with leftovers! I’ve done it with leftover chili, but that’s it. Great ideas. =)

      Reply
  37. Erica says

    July 3, 2019 at 1:06 am

    I think you forgot a few ingredients. Like butter for the grilled cheese and the grilled ham and cheese. Otherwise that’s just dry toast with cheese on it. Also, what seasonings are you using for a quesadilla? Cheese in a tortilla isn’t a quesadilla. And there is almost no protein in that meal. You can add chicken or beans or something, but it still needs seasoning. Otherwise it’s basically a cheese sandwich. There were a few others that seem incomplete as well. Since you included mayo in one of your price lists I’m assuming you meant to include things like butter and seasonings.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 3, 2019 at 4:27 am

      Hi Erica, thanks for letting me know! I’ll look through these and update where necessary.

      I’ve never actually put seasonings in a quesadilla. Maybe we’re just boring, haha. =) You can certainly add beans to yours to add extra protein and still be under budget! We do like our cheese quesadillas sometimes, though.

      Reply
  38. Kim says

    July 8, 2019 at 10:31 pm

    We make hamburger casserole but we make it for 7 …….2 lb.ground beef browned and grease drained , 2 cans of corn drained , real mashed potatoes ( 12 potatoes for our family ) and 6 slices of American cheese …put in bakeware dish the cooked ground beef , then the corn , then the mashed potatoes . Then top with the cheese .Cook in oven approx. 10 minutes or until cheese is melted . All the kids LOVE this

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 9, 2019 at 4:29 am

      That sounds really good! Thanks for sharing this! =)

      Reply
  39. Julie says

    August 6, 2019 at 9:38 pm

    You could also buy a block of cheese and slice/grate it yourself for all the recipes. It’s cheaper than buying separate packages of differently prepped cheese.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      August 7, 2019 at 4:27 am

      This is true! I actually just started doing it myself. =)

      Reply
  40. Kayla says

    August 17, 2019 at 11:14 am

    Oh my goodness with school starting back our budget has taking a huge hit. Thank you so much for taking the time to post. It really helped!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      August 17, 2019 at 12:22 pm

      Thank you, Kayla! School’s about to start here too so I know the feeling. =)

      Reply
  41. April says

    September 5, 2019 at 12:46 pm

    I was going to comment buy pot pies and tiny tub of cottage cheese. Its a good dinner idea doesnt cost much. I try to get Marie calendar because there’s more meat in them and variety to choose from.
    Or do fish stick tacos.
    Make fish sticks .buy some shredded coleslaw and the coleslaw dressing so youll always have it on hand. Walmart brand tortillas are cheaper and they taste the same to me. Combine all that and your good.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      September 5, 2019 at 7:32 pm

      Oh my goodness, fish stick tacos sound really good! I need to look into that!

      Reply
  42. Jenny says

    September 23, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    I MIX hamburger,taco seasoning and Mac and cheese better than the store bought hamburger helpers..use two
    browned pounds of hamburger or turkey or chicken ,half package of seasoning two boxes of Mac and cheeseif u drink beer put a little bit in the hamburger helper when it’s almost done if not about 1/3 cup water ….. MMMMMMMMM SO GOOD……

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      September 24, 2019 at 4:57 am

      That sounds similar to something we’ve made before! It’s so good! =)

      Reply
  43. Anna says

    October 7, 2019 at 4:09 am

    You can cut the chicken and pAnnaut some to the side to make home made shredded chicken easily, that way with the chicken, you can use it for more meals.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 7, 2019 at 4:31 am

      That’s a good idea! I’ve found that shredded chicken stretches your food farther, too. =)

      Reply
  44. Tracie says

    March 16, 2020 at 9:58 pm

    I’ve found some really good ideas here! I like to slice up smoked sausage and sauté it with chopped cabbage in olive oil with salt and pepper.

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      March 17, 2020 at 4:24 am

      Oh man, that sounds really good!!

      Reply
  45. Amanda says

    March 31, 2020 at 7:52 am

    Chili Mac
    2 boxes of shells and cheese
    1 can of chili (with or without beans)
    Feeds 4 comfortably

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      March 31, 2020 at 10:54 am

      Oh yum! That’s a good idea!

      Reply

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  1. What I'm Reading This Week #17 - says:
    August 1, 2015 at 6:03 am

    […] 20 Dinners That Cost $5 or Less  Aren’t we all looking for ways to feed our family inexpensively?  You need to check out No Getting Off This Train’s extensive list of ideas! […]

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