Use this affordable meal plan for 7 days of easy cheap supper recipes plus simple breakfasts and lunches. Delicious cheap and easy meal ideas to help you stick to your budget!
There’s no doubt about it. The cost of food is steadily going up. In my area, organic milk has gone up by one dollar per gallon in the past year and eggs have doubled in price (again) in the past 3 months alone.
It’s only $4, but even this small amount is a really big deal to some of you because there isn’t that much in the food budget in the first place.
That’s one reason why I started making meal plans with cheap supper recipes for a family of four. When you’re concerned about small paychecks and increasing costs, figuring out what to eat is sometimes just too much to handle.
If you’ve ever made a meal plan before, you know that there really is an enormous amount of creativity that could go into it. From extravagant meals to flavorful sides, from weekly themes to beautiful produce. It’s a foodie’s blank canvas!
But to be completely honest with you, when you only have a small amount of money to spend on food each week, you’ve got to keep it simple, or you’ll blow the budget. So, because of this, I created a few basic guidelines for these easy cheap dinner ideas.
GUIDELINES FOR CHEAPEST MEAL RECIPES PLAN
This menu was created to feed the average family of four. Considerations for children (light eaters), teenagers (heavy eaters), food allergies, or any other dietary preferences are not included.
This menu is 100% real food, but it was not written to include organic, grass-fed, or any other qualities of real food. These things are great, but they’re not required for a real food diet. If your budget is small for the week, these qualities need to be momentarily set aside until your financial situation improves.
Snacks and desserts are not included. When you are forced into a very lean grocery budget, these things become luxuries. If you MUST have snacks or desserts, I encourage you to use what you already have on hand.
Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning) are not included. Most people have basic spices and pantry staples already, but you can include them in your budget if you don’t. The dollar store sells garlic powder and Italian seasoning for $1 each and you can find a salt/pepper combo for $1. Alternatively, leave them out of your meals.
There is a meal planned for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but eating leftovers should be a priority. Not eating food you’ve already paid for and cooked is a waste of money, and when you’re going through financial crises, you can’t afford to waste anything.
This menu is seasonal, so adjust produce as necessary to fit the season you’re in. Aim for $1 per pound of fresh produce, and don’t rule out frozen if it’s less expensive. Some staple ingredients are in season year-round. Onions, bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes tend to stay consistently priced. Broccoli, avocado, and tomatoes will fluctuate!
Serve fruit with breakfast and lunch. I’ve included basic recipes for these meals, but adding fruit rounds them out as a whole meal. Remember to aim for $1 per pound (but the less per pound the better!).
$50 MEAL PLAN FOR CHEAP SUPPER RECIPES (AND MORE!)
Day 1
- (B) Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (recipe in meal plan download) w/Fresh Fruit
- (L) Peanut Butter Sandwiches w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Carnitas with Corn Tortillas, Rice & Beans
Day 2
- (B) Fried Potatoes (or sweet potatoes) with Eggs and Fresh Fruit
- (L) Bean & Potato Burritos w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Easy Vegetable Chili (recipe in meal plan download)
Day 3
- (B) Blender Pancakes (recipe in meal plan download) w/Fresh Fruit
- (L) Cheese Quesadillas w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Chili Mac with Peas (recipe in meal plan download)
Day 4
- (B) Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal w/Fresh Fruit
- (L) Peanut Butter Sandwiches w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Carnitas Burrito Bowls
Day 5
- (B) Fried Potatoes with Eggs and Fresh Fruit
- (L) Black Beans & Potato Burritos w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Humble Tuna Pasta Salad (recipe in meal plan download)
Day 6
- (B) Blender Pancakes w/Fresh Fruit
- (L) Cheese Quesadillas w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Tex-Mex Baked Potato Bar
Day 7
- (B) Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal w/Fresh Fruit
- (L) Peanut Butter Sandwiches w/Carrot Sticks & Fresh Fruit
- (D) Loaded Vegetable Fried Rice
TIPS FOR BUDGET FAMILY SUPPER RECIPES
Use local circulars and sales to find the best prices. Remember that local sales and prices will vary from region to region.
Repeating ingredients in your family supper recipes throughout the week will help you stick to your budget and avoid wasting food. By using the same ingredients multiple times, you won’t end up with half of a package of anything with no plan to use it.
My goal is to make this cheapest meal recipes plan as complete as possible. I included a shopping list, recipes, and the above meal plan in a single download for you. I also included price points, so you have something to go on while you’re in the store.
Real food doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t matter how small your grocery budget is – you can do this!
Finding easy dinner recipes that are cheap and healthy to make is one of the principles I teach in Grocery Budget Bootcamp. It helps families save hundreds on their groceries every month. Enrollment is currently closed, but you can check out my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop. You’ll get access to three AMAZING video sessions focused on how to save money on food right now, despite rising grocery costs.
MORE CHEAP SUPPER RECIPES
If one of the cheap supper recipes on the meal plan list doesn’t appeal to you, swap it out! Just remember to update your shopping list accordingly. Try one of these easy budget-friendly dinner recipes instead:
- Our Favorite Rice and Beans Recipe
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Kung Pao Chicken with Vegetables
- Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
- Garlic White Bean Soup with Kale
- 15-Minute Spaghetti Sauce
- Cheesy Lentil Pasta
- Minestrone Soup
CHEAP MEALS FOR SUPPER FAQS
What are some cheap meal recipes for 2?
This may not be the most popular opinion, but why not make one of these weeknight dinner ideas for a family of 4 and just eat it 2 nights in a row? You’ll be using the ingredients you have and avoiding wasting food. Plus, you’ll get a night off from cooking! If that’s not your jam, you could still use this meal plan but halve the recipes.
What easy supper recipes for family can I make for hungry teenagers?
Add extra carbs to the meal to help fill those bottomless teenager bellies in an affordable way. Serve the main meal so everyone gets a balanced meal with some protein and some veggies, but add rice or potatoes on the side, or offer peanut butter sandwiches if they’re still hungry.
Are these fast and easy supper recipes? I don’t have much time to cook.
Yes! As you read through this meal plan, you’ll find that some meals build on each other. For example, when you’re washing and chopping fruit on Day 1, go ahead and get it ready for the rest of the week at the same time.
When you make tortillas, rice, and beans, make enough to cover the remaining days when those items appear. (Don’t worry! I’ve listed this out in the meal plan download so it’s easy to see where a little bit of extra prep work saves you time later in the week!)
MORE CHEAP SUPPER IDEAS
Looking for more cheap supper ideas or full meal plans?
I have TONS of meal plans on this page.
Or try one of these plans with cheap meals for supper and more!
- One Week Vegetarian Meal Plan
- 7 Chicken Meal Prep Recipes
- One Week Aldi Recipes Plan
- Low Cost Dinner Ideas: 1 Week of Affordable Meals
- 7 Ground Beef Dinner Recipes
- 25+ Cheap Healthy Meals for Under $10!
What’s your favorite super frugal meal? Leave it in the comments below!
In this cheap meal recipes plan, you’ll find everything you need to make it happen: the plan, the shopping list, AND the recipes. It’s a one-stop shop for you to feed your family of four on a budget.
We like to make creamed chicken or turkey for a frugal meal. Sautee 1/2 onion in 2Tbl butter. (Skip the onion if you don’t have any or substitute a little onion powder for flavor.) Season with salt and pepper. Then add 2Tbl flour (gluten free works too!) and stir while cooking for a minute or two. Add 2 cups milk, stir, and bring to a boil. Add leftover cooked meat like chicken, turkey, maybe even ham. Add veggies at the same time – whatever you have on hand, frozen or fresh. We like peas, corn, carrots, green beans, but anything works. Once the meat and veggies are heated through, serve over toast or mashed potatoes.
Sounds delicious Ashley!
This menu looks great!! I’ve never cooked so much from scratch so am a little nervous about it all. I work part time so am wondering about prepping ahead. Do you do any of the recipes ahead of time like on Sunday or freeze anything? Do you have any tips on which ones would be good to do on Sunday. I’m assuming the bread, tortillas, maybe butternut puree. What else? I just want it to be not too over-whelming when I get home on those days I work. Thanks!
Thanks Jodi! Looking at the menu, I wouldn’t necessarily delegate time on Sunday to prep for the week, BUT I would batch cook big time on Day 1 since many of those things will be re-used later in the week.
For example, I’d wash/chop fresh fruit for the whole week on Day 1, since I’m chopping anyway. Same for the veggies at lunchtime.
Tortillas, rice and beans – make however much you need to get through the whole week and you’ll be covered on Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6.
Basically, anytime you make something, look ahead to the rest of the week and see if you’re eating the same thing, or using that ingredient again (as in the case of rice and beans). Instead of cooking for just that one night’s dinner, make enough for the rest of the nights’ too. The printable is designed to help you do this, but looking at it again I’d make extra rice (day 1), prepare salsa, cook the squash, double batch pancakes (triple if you can, and freeze extras for later), maybe boil pasta for the week, shred cheese, make hard boiled eggs and bake bread. That would get you covered for sure!
What herbs go into your herb bread? I have been dying to try and make bread, this recipe seemed so simple!
Whatever you have! Rosemary is always popular, and oregano will make your home smell like an Italian restaurant, but a hefty shake of Italian seasoning or any dried herbs you have will work. It’s very flexible!
This is such a helpful post. Thank you.
Here are three of my go-to recipes when times were tight on money:
Spaghetti, Pizza, Hamburger Gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, or bread.
1 lb ground beef (Use 1/2 lb or less for spaghetti, 1/4 lb for pizza, 1/4 lb for hamburger gravy)
1 loaf French bread (Use part for garlic bread with spaghetti and part for pizza crust cutting it lengthwise)
1 24 oz jar pasta sauce (Use 2/3-3/4 of jar for spaghetti, the rest for the pizza)
Cheddar cheese, shredded (Use on spaghetti and pizza)
Pizza dough that I make (or use what’s left of the French bread cutting in half lengthwise)
Hamburger gravy uses 1/4 lb ground beef browned with onions. Make pan gravy with flour, milk, salt and pepper. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or bread as you like.
I usually didn’t have the French bread, so I made my own pizza dough which is very inexpensive to do. You can add whatever sides you wish. We also like olives, mushrooms, and bell peppers on our pizza. I watch for them on sale. I find it cooks best to put the cheese over the pasta sauce then add the toppings over the cheese.
Here is a recipe my mother used to make in the pressure cooker that takes about an hour to make.
It’s one of my favorites.
Small steak or any meat and size you like
1 onion, chopped
1 can tomatoes, diced
1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced or use the baby carrots from the store
4-5 potatoes, peeled
A small head of cabbage if you like. If I have it, I like it.
Brown meat in oil in the bottom of the pressure cooker.
Add the can of tomatoes and onions and 1 – 1 1/2 cans water
Close pressure cooker and cook 10 – 15 minutes
While the meat is cooking, peel and slice the carrots, and peel the potatoes.
Let cooker cool before opening making sure all pressure is vented out.
Add carrots around the meat and the whole potatoes over the carrots. You can add more onions if you like.
Quarter the cabbage, place on top of the potatoes if there is room or skip the cabbage.
Seal the pressure cooker, and cook another 10-15 minutes along with the meat again.
Let cooker cool before opening making sure all pressure is vented out.
I don’t thicken the juice. We like the juice over the meat and potatoes as it is.
Serve with hot biscuits.
There are usually leftovers, and the next day I cut up leftover potatoes, shred the meat, and add back into the juice. Makes a good soup or good spooned over leftover biscuits.
I make drop biscuits. Use 1 cup milk instead of the 3/4 cup called for in the recipe on the baking powder can. Drop by spoonsful onto baking sheet and bake – fast and easy.
I can’t get any of the downloads to download. Are they only avaliable on a computer or can I get them on my phone (my only source of Internet)?
You should be able to get them on your phone Apryl, but sometimes your device may require software to read them. These are PDF’s. I’d also check your downloads folder on your phone.