Delicious Dinners on a Budget: 6 Meals for Under $60 (Week 61)

When we first started these weekly meal plans, we aimed to fill a gap in what was available. We really have three main goals for this every week:

• 1. Anyone can do it, Anywhere – We want each menu to be easily done by anybody anywhere in the US. That is why we try to include every ingredient possible on the shopping list. So, whether you have a stocked pantry or not, you can do this menu without it costing a ton!
• 2. Variety – You hear all the time that in order to eat on a low budget you have to suffer on a rice and beans diet. Well, not here! We want to show you that you can have a great variety of foods and flavors on a small budget!
• 3. Adjustable – The biggest thing we want to show is that all our recipes are easily adjustable. You can make so many swaps with the protein, the starch, and the veggies. Most of our recipes can easily be adapted for any special diets or allergies as well!

This week our prices came from Gretna, Louisiana (just outside New Orleans) and our total came out to $59.34. That is pretty close to our budget, but we have lots of items on the list you may already have so it would be fairly easy to come out cheaper than the list!

What’s on the Menu This Week?

What do we need to make these Dinners?

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.

How do we make these Meals?

Taco Spiced Cheddar Chicken with Rice & California Blend Veggies

This is such a fun twist on baked chicken! We also are making a super simple white rice side dish, and I love to use about half of the Taco Seasoning in the mayo mixture and put the rest in the rice to add more flavor.

Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

This is such an easy way to get all the flavors of stuffed peppers but without having to bake them! As a bonus, my husband always says he hates having to basically chop the pepper all the way up to eat it, so doing it on the stovetop makes it really easy to serve and eat this meal. No knife skills required which is great for young kids!

One Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken & Mushroom Pasta

I always make this one with garlic and herb seasoning and add fresh or jarred garlic, but you can use whatever seasonings you like! I love a good one pot pasta, and this is so simple but so tasty.

Shrimp Corn Chowder

This is my favorite stove top version of a basic chowder recipe. If you are not a big fan of shrimp (or your kids don’t like it) you can easily swap out the protein for chicken, ground sausage, chorizo, and so much more. I also love that you can flavor this with any seasonings you like so you can make it spicy or mild!

Mediterranean Sausage Pasta

I am a huge fan of feta cheese right now, so I literally have been adding it to everything! This is one of those dishes that you can easily swap out the veggies and you can choose to add olives or not. My husband is a huge fan of olives, but me and the kids are not so he adds his to the end!

Slow Cooker BBQ Sandwiches & Fries

This is our favorite way to make shredded BBQ chicken because it is just so darn easy! I will say that you can easily use this for more than just sandwiches. We love this over rice, baked potatoes, and even in tortillas and taco shells!

Low-Cost Fruit Options to Add:

I am a huge fan of adding fruit to dinners. This small, yummy part helps kids know they will love at least something on their plate.

So, whenever I have a little wiggle room in my budget, I try to pick up 2-3 fruits to add to meals. Here are some good options that you can grab this week! (Try mixing fresh fruit and canned fruit together for some added variety)

It’s also been shown that most Americans don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables, so add some to your dinner! (Remember you don’t need a ton of fruit either, just a 1/4 to 1/2 a cup can help fill you up at mealtime.)

*Walmart is not always the cheapest when it comes to fresh fruits. Lots of local stores run better sales and have fruit as loss leaders, so check your local stores for some better deals if needed!*

Free Printable PDF Version

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 on Fridays (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!