Fast Easy Meal Plan for under $70 (Week #44)
I swear the closer we get to the holidays the less time I have. It’s exhausting with all the events and after school activities. So, this week, we are focusing on fast and easy meals that are super yummy!
We have a $70 budget for 6 dinners and dessert this week, and our total came out to $67.65 at the Super Walmart in Chicago, Illinois. Don’t worry though because we used lots of common ingredients that you may already have at home!
There are also lots of variation opportunities this week, so make sure to adjust the recipes to suit your family and what you like to eat.
Simple Cheap Meals for a Family
Grocery List
If you want to save time, you can check out My Walmart Grocery List for this week’s meal plan! *This is an affiliate link, and I do make a small commission on any purchases, but at no additional cost to you!*
Quick and Easy Meals this Week
1. French Dip Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Sweet Potato Fries & Green Beans
This is very similar to the Mississippi way to making pulled pork in the crockpot, and you can easily swap out the seasonings to be Ranch Seasoning & Au Jus Mix with Pepperoncini Peppers if you like!
2. Quick Orange Chicken with Stir Veggies over Rice
I love this flavor combination, and we have done it in the crockpot and as a sheet pan meal. This time we are going for quick on the stove-top!
3. Easy Chili over Sweet Potatoes with Broccoli
This is a great base recipe that you can use with not just ground pork! You can swap this out to be ground beef, ground turkey, venison, ground chicken, and so much more!
4. Brunswick Stew with Cornbread
Don’t be scared by all the veggies in here! Mix it up to include veggies you love, and this is also a great way to use up any leftover veggies at the end of the week.
5. Chicken and Artichoke Mini Pizzas
I know not everyone is a huge fan of artichokes so you can easily swap that out with another veggie like spinach or broccoli if you like!
6. Baked Chili Cheese Dogs with Sweet Peas
It really can’t get any easier than this dish! Plus you can swap out and add extras to this and totally make it your own!
Dessert: Cookie Truffles
I love small desserts that can be eaten over multiple nights and is more of a treat! This is also a great formula that you can use with pretty much any sandwich cookie flavor.
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 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 1/4 a cup can help fill you up.)
Free Printable PDF (Grocery List & Recipes)
This is a totally free print at home version of the meal plan. This will print on standard paper (8.5x11inches) unless you adjust it.
What about next week?
We really hope you enjoyed this week’s meal plan! If you want to see new menus every week, we encourage you to join our Facebook page where we post new menus every Saturday morning. Check it out here: Low Dough Family Facebook Page.
You can also join our email newsletter, so you get notified every time there is a new menu!
