My 5 top cheap dinner ideas! When it comes to budgeting with a big family, one of the first thing parents do is to try and cut back on their spending at the grocery store. It can get expensive fast trying to feed multiple mouths. We are a family of five and I know for a fact we spend at least $100 a week at the grocery store. When you add that up over the course of the month that is $400. That isn’t just $400 spent on everything we eat all month long because we do eat out as well on the weekends.
I have come up with my top five go to meals that are quick and cheap to make for my family during our busy work week. I have three small children that are constantly on the go and my husband and I work full time jobs. We know what it is like to be on the go all the time and feel like you do not have time to make a lavish meal for dinner. Sometimes you have to make something quick before a practice or a game and need to put it in the fridge so that way when you get home you can just quickly warm it up. It is a lot less money spent to make quick, simple meals than to constantly be in the McDonald’s drive thru two to three times a week.
First, Quick & Cheap Dinner Idea
My first quick and cheap dinner idea is SPAGHETTI! Who doesn’t love spaghetti. There are so many ways to make spaghetti too. You could use red sauce, alfredo sauce, vodka sauce, butter, cheese, etc. I personally can spend around $10 on spaghetti dinner. I always buy spaghetti noodles when they go on sale (which is all the time). DON’T ever pay full price for spaghetti and you can do this by not buying it the night you want to make it. My local grocery stores always have 10 for $10 sales or I have bought spaghetti on sale for $.50 a box. Yes you can coupon and get spaghetti for FREE, but for the majority of people in the world it is best to just buy them on sale and not worry about the coupon if you’re not interested in learning on how to coupon.
1 Box of Kroger Spaghetti $1.00
1 Jars of Kroger Traditional Spaghetti Sauce $1.50 x 2 = $3.00
1 Box (8 CT) of Kroger Garlic Bread $1.50
1lb Ground Beef $3.99
TOTAL $9.50
Second, Quick & Cheap Dinner Idea
My second go to dinner that is quick and easy are Quesadilla. There are many ways that you can make a tasty, cheap quesadillas for the family. You can add just cheese or you can idea cheese, beans, rice, salsa, seasons, chicken, steak, etc. It just depends on how much you want to spend and how much time you want to invest. My kids are fine with just having cheese quesadillas for dinner. I like to add a little bit of cumin season on top of the cheese when it melts between the tortillas. It would cost my family of five $6 to eat cheese quesadillas for dinner.
2 packs Mas y Mas Taco size flour tortillas 10ct. $1.00 x 2 = $2.00
1 family pack of Mexican cheese $3.99
TOTAL $5.99
Third, Quick & Cheap Dinner Idea
My third go to meal that is quick and cheap is chicken and rice. My kids love when I make chicken and rice. I literally take a baking dish and line chicken thighs or chicken breast in the bottom of the dish and season it with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and little bit of cayenne pepper on top of the chicken. Then I will pour of a box of chicken broth to keep the chicken from drying out. Finally I pour 2 bags of frozen peppers and onions on top of the chicken. Cook for 1 – 1.5 hrs at 375 degrees. Once it is done I serve it over rice. It is so good and so easy to make.
1 box of chicken broth (Kroger brand) $1.00
2 bags of Kroger frozen peppers and onion $1.39 x 2 = $2.78
1 package of Boneless, Skinless Kroger chicken thighs $1.99/lb (around $6 a pack) $6.00
1 box of Kroger instant white rice $2.79
Total $12.57
Fourth, Quick and Easy Dinner Idea
Another great easy meal to make that doesn’t cost a lot to make are pizzas made on Texas Garlic Toast. It is a fun meal to make with the kids and is also easy to track if you are tracking your calories. I simply buy 1 box of Garlic Texas Toast, 1 bottle of marinara sauce, pepperoni (or whatever toppings you want), and cheese. You simply just put it on a cooking sheet, place your toppings on top, and cook it to the directions of the toast. If the cheese isn’t bubbly at the end, I always broil mine for another 1-2 minutes.
1 Kroger Texas Toast (8 count) $1.79
1 Kroger Marinara Sauce $1.49
1 Kroger Pizza Cheese $2.29
1 Pack Hormel Pepperoni $2.99
Fifth, Quick and Easy Dinner Idea
My final go to meal that is quick and easy and very inexpensive is Kielbasi sausage, potatoes, and peppers. My local grocery store runs sales all the time on Kielbasi sausage. I have been able to get them for $0.99 a piece and when they do go on sale like that I’ll buy a bunch and freeze them for when I am ready to use them. This recipe normally takes me 30 mins tops to make. I simple clean and dice up the potatoes and cook them in the pan with a little bit of oil. Once they get soft I’ll add in the onions, peppers, and sausage with a little bit more oil. Add salt and pepper and serve.
1 Package of Kielbasi sausage $0.99 (I always buy mine when it goes on sale)
1 Onion $0.50
1 package of green, yellow, and red pepper $2.99