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Cheap Dinners for a Family of 4 – 6 People
Is getting the best value for your money a priority of yours? If yes, cheap dinners for a family should naturally be a prime concern for you!
Don’t worry, this is the most luxurious looking and tasting budget meal plan that you’d ever come across! You’d save a ton of money without sacrificing any of the flavor or the high end dinner experience.
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Just to remind you of my frugal meal preparation mantra:
Food is your biggest controllable expense!
It’s third on the overall list of expenses incurred by the average household, after housing and transportation costs. Since the first two are fixed amounts… food is your biggest concern when it comes to saving money. It’s basically your largest expense that you are completely in control of.
Save on food and you can save the most money possible for your particular budget! With dinner traditionally being the most expensive meal of the day, it’s time you find yourself some cheap dinners for the week!
Even though in recent times volatile egg prices have resulted in breakfast starting to give dinner a run for its money, dinner is still the most expensive meal of the day. Save on dinner and your wallet would be sure to smile.
Just to ensure that we save the most money possible, we’d stick to cheap dinners for a family that don’t require eggs in the recipes. Eggs just don’t offer much value these days. Especially with alternative options to stretch your food budget.
To wrap your head around the significance of cheap dinner savings, keep this in mind:
I’m about to show you how you can eat for less than half that price, for an entire week! Mouth watering, satisfying, top class meals for $1 each, per person!
Let’s go… Cheap dinners for a family… Restaurant quality, without the blatant robbery! Maximum value!
What to Expect with these Cheap Dinner Recipes
Here’s a quick breakdown of all the things that you’d get from this weekly meal plan of cheap dinners for a family:
1. 7 Dinner Ideas: 1 for each day of the week.
i. All meals are bursting with flavor.
ii. All meals are easy to prepare.
iii. Meals are healthy and balanced (protein and side).
iv. Portion sizes are generous and satisfying.
2. The shopping list needed to make all meals.
3. The prices of all items needed.
4. Preparation instructions are included.
5. The recipes are not intended to be culturally authentic.
i. They are my budget friendly spin on certain traditional recipes.
ii. They are delish and fool proof, in their own right.
Cheap Dinners: Additional Points to Note
1. Only the major items are included on the shopping list. Basic pantry items and their cost have been omitted.
• The assumption is that you already have these available. These items include: seasonings, salt, oil, sugar, milk, basic condiments, etc. The costs of these, per meal is negligible.
2. The prices shown are based on the current listing of my neighborhood Walmart and exclude sales taxes. Prices may vary slightly based on your location.
3. All meals require very little prep time.
4. Meals can be prepared by anyone, regardless of culinary experience.
5. Bonus frugal meal preparation tips are included.
6. This meal plan is based on a family of 4 – 6 persons.
• For a 4 person family, it works out to be just around $1 per person, per meal.
• For a 6 person family, it works out to be just 69 cents per person, per meal.
7. The meal sizes are so generous that there will be leftovers! These can be used for lunches or roll over into dinners for the next week.
Shopping List for Cheap Dinner Recipes
Spaghetti, 16oz Pack, 4EA – $0.98 x 2 – $3.92
Pasta Elbows, 16oz Pack, 2EA – $0.98 x 2 – $1.96
Brown Rice, 32oz Pack, 1EA – $1.64
Potatoes, 5lb Bag, 1EA – $2.97
Flour, 2lb Bag, 1EA – $1.32
Frozen Mixed Vegetables, 12oz Bag, 1EA – $0.98
Pasta Sauce, 24oz Can, 1EA – $1.34
Yeast, 0.25oz x 3 Count, 1EA – $1.14
Ground Beef, 1lb Roll, 1EA – $4.24
Cheese, Mild Cheddar, 8 oz Bag, 1EA – $1.97
Chicken Drumsticks, 5lb Bag, 1EA – $5.93
Chopped Onions, 10oz Packet, 1EA – $1.46
TOTAL: $28.87
Cheap Dinners for a Family Budget Easy Recipes
This is hands down, the best possible dinner meal plan for a family of 4… With leftovers! This is what I personally swear by for my family of 4! And we have lots of leftovers to eat in subsequent days.
Considering the amount of leftovers involved, it’s actually an ideal meal plan for family of 6 on a budget!
Enjoy a full, delicious, healthy meal every day. They’re so good and over the top that you’d forget that you were on a budget!
Budget Friendly Sunday Dinner
Stir Fried Rice
Chinese Style Spaghetti “noodles”
Pan Seared Chicken
Monday Night Dinner
Spaghetti Bolognese
Tuesday Dinner Idea
Scalloped Potatoes
Grilled Chicken
Wednesday Night Dinner
Simple Cajun Dirty Rice
Potato Salad
Oven Baked Chicken
Thursday Dinner Idea
Pasta Salad
Seasoned Wedges
Fried Chicken
Friday Night Dinner
Cheezy Ground Beef Pizza
Bolognese Pizza
Cheezy Grilled Chicken Pizza
Saturday Night Dinner Ideas
Your choice of leftover combination:
Sides + Protein or Pizza
Cheap Dinner Recipes: Basic Preparation Instructions
You’ve now seen the weekly dinner menu. Apart from how cheap the ingredients are and how simple they are to prepare, there’s nothing basic about it. It’s impossible to eat like that and feel like you’re on a budget.
Eat luxuriously, save money and spend as little time in the kitchen as possible. Here’s how to prepare the dishes listed above:
Stir Fried Rice
1. Boil or steam half of the pack of rice (1lb or 16oz), based on the instructions on the pack. Add a tablespoon of salt, while boiling. Strain and allow to cool under running water.
2. Prepare 1/4 of the bag of mixed vegetables (3oz) as per the instructions on the bag.
3. Add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil (your choice of olive, vegetable, corn, canola, etc.) to a pot on medium heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon of chopped onions to the heated oil. Add in the mixed vegetables and stir together. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add in the rice and stir all ingredients together. Cook together for 10 minutes, while constantly stirring to avoid burning. You can lower the heat if necessary. Add additional salt to taste.
Note: You can add in a dash of additional powdered seasonings if you wish, based on your taste preference. Some soy sauce can also be added for an additional flavor burst.
Chinese Style Spaghetti “Noodles”
1. Prepare 2 packs of spaghetti as per the instructions on the pack. Do not over boil! Add a tablespoon of salt, while boiling. Add a teaspoon of oil and stir around while boiling. This prevents the spaghetti from sticking together.
2. Strain and allow to cool under running water. Set aside.
3. In a sauce pan or small pot, prepare a seasoning “broth” by adding 2 cups of water, a teaspoon of all purpose seasoning, a teaspoon of chopped onions and / or whatever additional dry seasonings that you like (e.g. onion powder, garlic powder, etc.). Boil on medium heat.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of ketchup and stir together. Set aside.
5. In a medium pot, add in 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and put on medium heat. Cook in 1 teaspoon of chopped onion. Add in the prepared spaghetti and toss together for 5 mins. Add in the seasoning “broth” and stir together.
6. Cook together for 5 minutes while constantly stirring to prevent sticking. Add additional salt to taste.
Note: Spaghetti is used in this recipe as a substitute for Chinese noodles, as it is cheaper and the taste of the end product is just as enjoyable.
Additional vegies such as bell peppers, carrots and shredded cabbage can be added to the recipe as well. Just stir fry these along with the onions, prior to adding the spaghetti / noodles.
Spaghetti Bolognese
1. Prepare 2 packs of spaghetti as per the instructions on the pack. Do not over boil! Add a tablespoon of salt, while boiling. Add a teaspoon of oil and stir around while boiling. This prevents the spaghetti from sticking together.
2. Strain and allow to cool under running water.
3. Add a tablespoon of cooking oil to a sauce pan or small pot and put on medium heat. Add quarter of the roll (1/4lb) of ground beef and stir in. Cook for 10 minutes. Add in half the can of pasta sauce (12oz) and stir together.
4. Cook together for 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Extra seasonings can be added based on your flavor preferences.
5. Plate spaghetti with Bolognese sauce on top, or toss together if you wish.
Scalloped Potatoes
1. Wash half of the potatoes (2.5lbs) and slice into thin slices about 1/4 inch in thickness. Place in a bowl. Add a cup of milk, a tablespoon of salt, a teaspoon of chopped onions, a dash of your preferred dry seasonings (e.g. all purpose, garlic, onion, etc.) and mix into the slices well.
2. Pour mixture into a casserole dish and spread evenly across the dish. Drizzle with 1/4 of the pack (2oz) of cheddar cheese.
3. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 mins at 350°F. Remove cover, allow to cool and enjoy.
Simple Cajun Dirty Rice
1. Prepare 1/4 of the bag of mixed vegetables (3oz) as per the instructions on the bag. Set aside.
2. Add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil (your choice of olive, vegetable, corn, canola, etc.) to a pot on medium heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar to the heated oil until it just melts. Do not allow to burn! Add in a teaspoon of chopped onions, the mixed vegetables and stir together.
3. Add quarter of the roll (1/4lb) of ground beef and stir in (adding ground beef is optional). Chicken, beef, pork or sausage bits can be added also. Cook together for 10 minutes.
4. Add half pack of uncooked rice (1lb) and stir together. Add 4 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of salt, a dash of your preferred dry seasonings (e.g. all purpose, garlic, onion, etc.) and stir ingredients together.
5. Cook together until water is evaporated, and rice is soft and textured to your liking. Add additional water in small amounts and cook longer if required to get rice to your desired texture.
Note: Stir regularly to ensure a uniform mixture and so that it doesn’t burn. You can add more salt according to your taste.
Potato Salad
1. Wash and cut 1lb of potatoes into cubes. Peeling is optional. Place in a pot, add water to just cover the top of the potatoes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salt and boil for 10 minutes on medium heat.
2. Strain and allow to cool under running water.
3. Prepare 1/4 of the bag of mixed vegetables (3oz) as per the instructions on the bag.
4. In a bowl, add a few tablespoons of mayonnaise (amount based on your preference), the potatoes and mixed vegetables. Stir together. Add additional salt and dry seasonings to your liking.
Pasta Salad
1. Prepare 2 packs of pasta elbows as per the instructions on the pack. Strain and allow to cool under running water.
2. Prepare 1/4 of the bag of mixed vegetables (3oz) as per the instructions on the bag.
3. In a bowl, add a few tablespoons of mayonnaise (amount based on your preference), the pasta and mixed vegetables. Stir together. Add additional salt and dry seasonings to your liking.
Seasoned Wedges
1. Wash and cut up 1lb of potatoes into wedges. Place in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, 1 tablespoon of salt, a dash of your preferred dry seasonings (e.g. all purpose, garlic, onion, etc.) and stir ingredients together.
2. Cook in an air fryer or bake in an oven until golden brown. You can also pan fry, on a stove top, if you prefer.
Pizza (Ground Beef / Bolognese / Meatball / Chicken)
This recipe makes 2 large (16″ diameter) pizzas, each having 8 huge slices when cut. It’s extremely easy to make, tastes great as leftovers and should be a staple in every frugal household. It’s too easy!
Pizza Dough Prep:
1. Combine 5 cups of sifted flour, 3 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 packet instant yeast, 1/2 cup cooking oil and 2 cups of warm water into a large bowl.
2. Stir ingredients together and knead well.
3. Ball up, cover the bowl and leave to sit for one hour for the dough to rise.
Pizza Topping Prep:
4. Place 2 tablespoons of cooking oil into a frying pan on medium heat. Place 1/4lb of ground beef into the oil and stir fry for 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and stir in. Set aside.
Note: You can prepare chicken as a topping if you wish as well. Just repeat the process above, utilizing two deboned drumsticks, chopped into small cubes.
Other toppings such as: bacon bits, thin slices of pork, beef, sausage or whatever protein you want, can be prepped similarly.
Pizza Completion:
5. Split the dough in two and roll each until 1/2″ thick. Spread into a greased pizza pan or sheet. Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce onto each. If you have left over Bolognese sauce, this can be utilized as well.
6. Scatter a light amount of chopped onions across both pizzas. Scatter chicken and / or ground beef / additional prepared toppings, as desired. Sprinkle some shredded cheese onto each as well. Preheat your oven to 350 °F and then bake for 25 mins.
7. Slice each pizza into eights or twelfths. Enjoy!
Note that you can double the recipe to make 4 pizzas if you wish. You have enough ingredients!
The key to a delicious pizza is utilizing a sparing amount of good quality ingredients. You do not need a heap of toppings! This is what makes pizza such a blessing to every budget!
You can get creative with additional toppings and play around with the amounts of cheese and onions that you prefer.
Pizza literally originated as a food for the poor. I’m not sure at what point it got put on a pedestal and became a costly item at restaurants.
I challenge you to try this recipe. You’d never want to spend money on overpriced pizza again!
Additional Expert Tips on Cheap Dinners for a Family
Enjoying budget friendly meals doesn’t have to be a great sacrifice! You can save money and time without feeling like you’re giving up on actually enjoying your food. Just be smart about what you cook!
Here are some additional bonus tips to make the most of your food budget:
1. Meal plan based on what you already have, before buying additional ingredients.
2. Don’t let leftovers go to waste. Consume all food within a reasonable time frame before cooking additional.
3. Meal plan so leftovers can be used smartly. Dinners can be eaten for lunch the next day.
4. Mix and match proteins with sides so you don’t get bored.
5. Get creative and don’t overthink cooking.
6. Have fun and be confident in your cooking abilities.
7. Stick to your budget and don’t buy unnecessary ingredients.
8. Stick to basic seasonings if you have a tight budget.
9. Don’t be afraid to substitute ingredients if it means saving money.
10. Minimize trips to the grocery to avoid the temptation to over-shop.
11. Shop online as much as possible.
12. Utilize coupons and deals to help you make and save money while shopping.
13. Cook what you’d enjoy eating so you won’t get frustrated and blow your budget. You have too many options available for your food to ever be underwhelming.
Frequently Asked Questions for Cheap Dinner Meals
FAQ: What are the cheapest family meals to make?
There are lots of family meals that just cost a few dollars to make. You can comfortably feed a family of 4 – 6 persons for under $5 with scrumptious recipes such as: stir fried rice, Chinese style noodles, Cajun dirty rice, potato salad, pasta salad and seasoned wedges, all paired with a chicken recipe of your choice.
Budget friendly favorites such as spaghetti Bolognese and pizza are also great family meals to make when looking to save money.
FAQ: What is the cheapest meal to make on a budget?
A family favorite that kids and adults both enjoy is pizza. It’s mind blowing how cheap and easy it is to make a yummy pizza. A regular oven, a baking tray or sheet or dish and a few dollars of very basic ingredients is all that you need.
The dough is made by hand… No fancy tools are required! 15 minutes of total prep work, some rest time to allow the dough to rise and 25 minutes in the oven. Easy as pie… Pizza pie!
With most pizza ingredients being pantry essentials, you may just have to spend about $2 – $3 to feed a family several meals.
FAQ: How to feed a family of 4 on $10 a day?
Feeding a family of 4 on $10 a day is simpler than you think. Toast or cereal for breakfast, chicken drumsticks and a side for lunch… and your choice of pizza or pasta for dinner. The key is to utilize leftovers for the upcoming days and your $10 would stretch way further than you expect.
FAQ: How to feed a family of 4 on $50 a week?
A $50 weekly budget for food is more than sufficient. For less than $30 you can prepare: 3 – 4 different chicken recipes, pasta salad, potato salad, seasoned wedges, pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, stir fried rice, Chinese noodles and lots more. This alone is enough to satisfy all the lunch and dinner requirements for the entire week.
Just cover breakfasts by spending $10 on some bread, cereal and milk… and your entire week would be covered for a total of $40. Or get yourself some eggs and sausage to make breakfast even more luxurious. $50 can have you eating quite nicely.
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Final Thoughts on Cheap Dinner Ideas
Eating luxuriously does not need to be expensive or complicated! This weekly dinner plan proves that. You don’t even need to repeat meals if you wish. Get all the flavor and satisfaction without spending a lot of money.
Build your confidence in the kitchen and you could have these meals whipped up to perfection in just minutes. Cooking does not need to be complicated either! A cheap dinner plan couldn’t be better! At least, as far as I’m concerned. This is what I swear by!
Do you have other “go-to” recipes that you swear by? Meals that deliver big satisfaction with a tiny cost? Share with us in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!
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