Cheap Family Meals: 6 Easy Dinners for Under $10 Each (Menu #86)
Stop me if this sounds familiar: You’re standing in the middle of the grocery aisle, looking at your banking app, and wondering how four bags of groceries suddenly cost as much as a car payment.
As a busy mom, I know the “what’s for dinner?” dread is real especially when you’re trying to balance a tight budget with a packed schedule. That’s why I’m so excited to share this “Done-For-You” 6-night meal plan that I fueled entirely at Walmart for just $55.77!
These aren’t fancy, complicated dishes that require a culinary degree and twenty spices; they are simple, hearty, and delicious meals designed to actually fill your family up. If you’re ready to stop stressing and start saving, grab your shopping list…. I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you!
Dinners for the Week on a Low Budget
Shopping List
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.
Simple Dinners for Families
Chicken Fajitas & Mexican Rice
This easy one-pan favorite brings the restaurant experience home using budget staples like rice and tortillas, though you can easily swap the peppers for a can of black beans or corn if your kids prefer a milder crunch.
Cottage Pie
This comforting skillet meal is topped with creamy mashed potatoes for a filling dinner, though you can easily swap the potato topping for a bag of cheesy tater tots for a fun twist the kids will dive into.
Chicken Parmesan & Butter Noodles
By using a smart spot-saucing technique, this classic stays perfectly crispy over buttered noodles, and you can even use crushed crackers as a thrifty swap if you run out of breadcrumbs.
Creamy Sausage & Spinach Pasta
Cream cheese and canned tomatoes create a rich, gourmet-style sauce for a fraction of the price, and you can swap the Italian sausage for ground beef and a dash of oregano if that’s what you have on hand.
Montreal Chicken with Carrots & Potatoes
This “set it and forget it” meal uses a clever pan layout to get the perfect roast on your potatoes and carrots, but feel free to swap the carrots for sweet potatoes or broccoli depending on what your family loves.
Western Frittata & Roasted Potatoes
A protein-packed “breakfast-for-dinner” winner that uses ham and eggs for a quick meal, and it’s perfect for clearing out the fridge since you can swap the peppers for almost any leftover veggie in your crisper drawer.
Free Printable PDF Grocery List & Recipes
This prints on standard paper sized 8.5 x 11 inches.
What about next week?
We put out a new meal plan every week! We have 3 ways to be notified of new menus:
*Join our Low Dough Facebook Page where we post new menus every Saturday and new meal ideas every Wednesday!
*Sign up for the weekly email newsletter. We send it out on Fridays, so you actually get early menu access!
Join our Facebook Group- Meal Planning for All (you can ask questions and get help planning your own menus)
Until next week, I hope you have a fabulous week!
