28 Thrifty Family Meals To Cook For 10 Dollars (Or Less!)
How about some extremely cheap meals for the family? We’re talking 10 dollar meals – perfect when you’re feeding the family on a tight grocery budget!
Trying to feed my family without spending a fortune feels impossible these days. So, I hopped on Pinterest to hunt down cheap dinners for a family – and I’m talking real $10 meals that actually feed everyone and don’t make me feel guilty about what’s on the table.
A lot of recipes say they’re under $10, but after checking prices, most aren’t (unless you’re a couponing pro!). But good news – I did find a few tasty meals that truly cost less than ten bucks that everyone loved (even them picky eaters!)
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Just off the top of my head, my “go to” family meals I can make for under $10 are:
1. Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet
Brown a pound of ground beef or turkey, stir in taco seasoning, canned tomatoes, and cooked rice. Top with shredded cheese and a few crushed tortilla chips. One pan, super filling, and everyone loves it!
Use one or two chicken breasts, a bag of frozen mixed veggies, soy sauce, and rice. Add a little garlic and honey if you have it. It’s quick, healthy, and way cheaper than takeout!
A total classic! Combine one pound of ground beef with a jar of pasta sauce and serve over spaghetti noodles. Add a side of garlic toast from a cheap loaf of bread for extra comfort.
Dice and fry potatoes with onions and peppers, then scramble in eggs and top with cheese. Add toast or fruit on the side. Super filling and protein-packed!
Approx. cost: $6–$7
5. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Throw chicken thighs or breasts in the crockpot with BBQ sauce, shred, and serve on hamburger buns. Add a side of coleslaw or chips for an easy weeknight dinner.
Approx. cost: $9–$10
But, needless to say – I make those 5 dinners a LOT with grocery prices these days.
So let’s find MORE 10 dollar or less meals to make!
This page is an on-going project that I keep adding to as I find recipes that meet my criteria and the ingredients seem to fit the claim of “food under $10”.
I am using my Walmart app to check prices to see if things line up. Needless to say, the prices around me (in Georgia) can be very different than the prices near you.
My criteria is pretty simple.
– Recipe must be able to be made for $10 or less.
– Recipe must make enough to feed a family of 4 (or more).
– Recipe must be simple and convenient to make.
That’s it, but trust me, while my criteria isn’t crazy-tough, turns out it IS tough to find family meals that check all 3 requirements!
Description says: "This Hamburger Stroganoff recipe is budget-friendly, family-friendly, and is the definition of comfort food. Ready in just 30 minutes."I say: this is SO good AND super affordable. A pound of ground beef, a bag of cheap egg noodles and a few other ingredients turn this into a dinner the whole family loves!
The recipe description for the popular affordable dinner recipe is: Make Crock Pot Chicken Tacos with just five ingredients and minimal effort for flavorful shredded chicken tacos the whole family will love!I see MANY other bloggers and Pinterest users claiming this meal can be made for under $10.Reviews are all positive - "This has been my go to for making chicken tacos for a while now since everyone in my family loves this!"Is it affordable? The recipe calls for 2 pounds of chicken breasts which, at my local Walmart, costs about $8 - $9. Add in a cheap jar of salsa and yep, could be made for under $10 - but that doesn't include all the toppings, etc.Regardless, these chicken tacos sure LOOK good!
This crockpot baked ziti recipe has a touch of an AI feel to it, but that might be me?The recipe description says: This Crockpot Baked Ziti has all the cheesy goodness of traditional baked ziti, but with half the effort. Layers of pasta, ricotta, marinara, and mozzarella come together for a hearty, comforting dish that’s perfect for any night of the week. I serve with with some crispy garlic bread, and it always flies right off the table! Reviews indicate that it's better cooked in the oven than in the crockpot - "I definitely prefer it cooked in the oven rather than the crockpot, but this was super easy to throw together."Is it affordable? The recipe doesn't call for any meat - just pasta, sauce, cheese and some seasonings. That, to me, makes it sound very affordable AND easy to make.
Description says: "Low-carb taco soup combines hamburger or sausage, cream cheese, and Rotel with seasoning and broth for a low-carb Mexican meal."The few ingredients are basic and inexpensive - and bonus points for being low carb!
Recipe description says: "I love to make French Bread Pizzas at home for an easy and budget-friendly meal. The French Bread is slathered with garlic butter and toasted before adding toppings. It’s like garlic bread and pizza had a baby. You’re going to love these garlicky, cheesy, toasty French Bread pizzas!"I can tell you straight away that this is a SUPER cheap dinner (we make it quite often - grab a bag of salad to round it out and it's a pretty yummy meal!)
Recipe description says - "This One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta is a quick, easy, and delicious meal perfect for busy weeknights. Ready in just 30 minutes, it combines savory Italian sausage, al dente pasta, and a creamy cheese sauce all cooked in one pot for minimal cleanup"Reviews seem all positive too - "This ended up much more flavorful than I anticipated. Everyone can have their fill as well since it makes quite a bit. We used small bow tie pasta, and it worked wonderfully. "Is it affordable? The recipe calls for a pound of Italian sausage which, again using Walmart prices near me, costs about $5. Other ingredients are cheese, seasonings and chicken broth so yep, I can see it being very possible to make this meal for under $10.
Recipe description says: Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is a quick, simple, delicious meal that everyone always loves. No need to turn on the stove for this under 10 minute meal.I LOVE No Oven Dinners!Reviews are positive but many reported having to cook longer than the recipe says.Is it affordable? Well yep, grilled cheese is always a super cheap meal to make for dinner...Plus -It goes great with a hot bowl of crockpot soup when it's cold out!
Recipe description says: "This dish combines two classic comfort foods, macaroni & cheese and taco meat, to create a fun and flavorful meal that the whole family will love."I can flat out agree - the whole family DOES love it... and so does this Mom!It's super cheap to make (plus I always I have the ingredients on hand) - easy to throw together....and never a fuss from any mouth at the table. That's a win!
Description says: "Discover the ultimate one-pot meal with this Smoked Sausage Pasta recipe. Featuring hearty smoked sausage, tender bow tie pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce, this easy dinner is packed with flavor and ready in just 30 minutes."I say - yep, cheap meal. I get the buy one, get one deals on sausage when I see them and this is one of my favorite recipes to make with it.
Recipe description says - "Manwich sloppy joe sliders are an easy dinner the family will love! Get dinner on the table in under 10 minutes with this quick recipe."I gotta admit, they look yummy and easy to make. Haven't really seen any reviews for it, but my family loves the Manwich style of sloppy Joes - and I'm sure they'd love them on Hawaiian rolls!Affordable? Sure! A pound of ground beef plus a can of Manwich mix (about $1.50) plus the rolls (Walmart brand about $2.50) - a very frugal recipe that will fill your family up.I have LOTS of cheap ground beef dinner recipes here.
This broccoli tortellini Alfredo made with Walmart Great Value ingredients is very good.Just dump the 3 ingredients in a skillet and cook.Affordable? You bet!
This broccoli cheese soup and garlic bread $10 dinner totally checks out. Plus, it's remotely healthy, dump and go lazy easy and makes a super cheap dinner for a family.I have lots of "dump and go" soup recipes here.Be sure to try the 3-Ingredient Potato Soup - so good and SOOOOO easy!
Recipe description says - "This Easy Baked Spaghetti is a one-pan meal that’s always a hit at the supper table or at a covered dish supper. With a creamy, cheesy center, and a meaty sauce, this pasta casserole is comfort food taken to a whole new level!"I don't even need to read any reviews because I KNOW this recipe is SO very good and cheap to make.Best of all, my picky PICKY eaters LOVE it and always eat seconds (which is fine because the recipe makes a ton!)Is it cheap to make? Oh heck yes! A pound hamburger meat, some pasta, cheese and sauce.A box of pasta is good for SO many cheap meals.See all Pasta "Struggle" Meals here.
Recipe description says - "Conquer your weeknight routine with this quick & flavorful chicken dish! Ready in 30 minutes, it's perfect for busy schedules & delivers a satisfying meal."I have to admit, making million dollar chicken in the air fryer never crossed my mind, but it intrigued me. I didn't see any reviews, but it definitely looked yummy enough to check out.Ingredients include 2 pounds of chicken, cream cheese, some bacon, cheese, etc that when I add it up puts this recipe within wiggle room of my budget requirements.Plus, we all know I LOVE my super simple chicken casserole recipes!
Description says: "This mixed bean and tomato pasta soup is perfect for a last-minute warming soup on cool days. It combines pantry staples such as tinned tomatoes, beans, and pasta, with a few seasonings for a simple, wholesome vegan soup. Not only is this pasta and green bean soup pantry-friendly and low-budget, but it’s also oil-free, gluten-free optional, and versatile too!"Just a quick look at the ingredients, and the fact that it's a meatless soup, is all we need to know in order to decide if it's budget-friendly or not (hint: yes, it IS!)
Description says: "I love making this easy sheet pan roasted Sausage and Peppers in the oven! We are simply placing pre-cooked smoked sausage, and seasoned bell peppers and onions on a large full size sheet pan, then sending them into the oven to bake.You are looking at an easy, fast, and tasty one-pan recipe…perfect for a quick no-fuss dinner!"Peppers and onions are cheap enough - and I've seen precooked sausage and kielbasa on sale around her quite often so yes, this is a good cheap easy meal.In fact, it's one of my FAVORITE Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes!
With just 3 VERY cheap ingredients, you can make the BEST potato soup!And best of all, WITHOUT milk (which for us lactose-intolerant folks is a cream come true!)
Description says: "Sink your teeth into this hearty meatball casserole! It’s an easy one-dish dinner that combines tender baked meatballs with pasta and a zesty tomato sauce. Topped with melty cheese, this comforting casserole is sure to satisfy the whole family. Whip it up for a filling weeknight meal or feed a crowd at your next potluck. "Ingredients are cheap (including frozen meatballs) so yep, this is a cheap large meal!
Kid-friendly dinners – getting dinner on the table FAST on busy weeknights is enough of a struggle WITHOUT picky eaters to feed. These frugal last minute meals take the stress out of feeding the family!
Today’s Topic Is: 26 Fast and Frugal Family Dinners for Big Families On A Tight Budget – that’s right, we’re talking dirt cheap and easy “struggle” meals that are perfect for quick school night meals and busy weeknights when the picky eater family needs to be fed, but you’re short on time AND short on MONEY.
These make ahead casseroles below are all freezer-friendly for cheap simple freezer to oven meals on busy weeknights – plus tips for casserole dishes, freezer meal prep shortcuts to make cheap dinners on a budget and free cookbooks I’ve found.
Ready for some NEW meals to try? Dinners can get boring, so how about trying something DIFFERENT for dinner?
Below are ideas for unique casseroles, skillet meals, crockpot dump recipes, soups, and SO much more to help you figure out what to make for supper tonight!
25+ cheap easy “struggle” dinners to make for quick school night meals and busy weeknight simple family dinners. Frugal meal planning and picky eater approved recipes with ground beef, chicken, pork chops, pasta and more comfort food dishes!
Baby, it’s cold outside! Break out your crockpot and make one of these easy slow cooker winter comfort food meals! From healthy to hearty, to soups and stews, these frugal meals are sure to warm you up!
I finally discovered the magic of lazy easy crockpot dump meals! Hooray for EASY throw together crockpot meals – especially on busy weeknights!
These EASY “dump ‘n go” recipes are perfect for busy school nights when you just want to throw cheap ingredients into a crockpot and forget about it until YOU are ready for dinner.
Super simple family meals, low prep, low MESS AND budget-friendly – yes!
