$30 Mini Menu: 3 Easy Meals Made with Cream Cheese (MM#32)

Cream cheese is one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep in your fridge and this time of year it is usually on sale for holiday dips and party appetizers. But there is so much more you can do with it. Move over bagels because cream cheese adds richness, creaminess and body to meals without needing a long list of extra ingredients.

In this week’s mini menu we are using two blocks of cream cheese to create three delicious dinners that all come in under our thirty dollar budget. Each recipe uses cream cheese in a different way. You will find it rolled into crispy taquitos, melted into a silky sausage pasta and tucked inside warm stuffed biscuits.

These meals are cozy, comforting and incredibly easy which makes them perfect for busy weeknights this time of year.

Grocery Items Needed for the Mini Menu

If you want to see the full shopping list on Walmart in your area, all you have to do is click my Walmart Grocery list and change the zip code to your area. *This is an affiliate link, and I do make a small commission on any purchases, but at no additional cost to you!*

**** Please note, that every once in a while, an item that I pick turns out to be regional. This means that it may be a much higher price in some areas. Always double check the list and if you see an item that is much higher than normal, just adjust as needed.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

These creamy chicken taquitos use rotisserie chicken, cream cheese and salsa to create a rich filling that bakes up perfectly crisp in the oven or air fryer. You can swap the salsa for salsa verde, add a little shredded cheese or use corn tortillas if you prefer.

Creamy Sausage Pasta Skillet

This one-pan sausage pasta turns ground sausage, canned tomatoes and cream cheese into a silky and comforting stovetop dinner that feels far more luxurious than its price tag. You can use smoked sausage instead of ground sausage or swap in tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes if that is what you have.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Stuffed Biscuits

These biscuits are filled with a creamy chicken mixture seasoned with bacon bits and ranch for an easy and fun dinner that pairs perfectly with a simple side salad. We did not include salad dressing in the price because everyone has a favorite and most of us already have at least one dressing in the fridge. You can swap the bacon bits for chopped ham or add shredded cheddar for an extra cheesy version.

Free Printable List & Recipes

Here is a 1-page cheat sheet that includes the grocery list as well as all the recipes you need to make this budget mini menu work!

Don’t forget to check out our full week menus, as well as join our email newsletter for more fun and affordable meal ideas!