Budget and Plan a Week of Dinners
The cost of groceries seems higher than even right now, which is why this week’s meal plan is all about grocery shopping on a budget. The recipes below provide five dinner meal ideas for an average family of four for less than $100.
A few things to keep in mind – where you shop will play a role in the cost of ingredients. Some of the ingredients in recipes are pantry staples, so if don’t already have an ingredient, that will increase the cost slightly. Using leftovers is a big part of saving money when it comes to groceries, which you will see put into practice below. Let’s get started!
MEAL ONE:
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
$27.90
Cooking fajitas instead of ordering them out will not only save on money but can also be healthier! Sheet pans meals are also as easy as they come, which is great for busy weeknights. Make a double recipe and save leftovers overs for tomorrow night’s dinner (below)!
MEAL TWO:
Chicken Fajita Bowl
$11.83
Using leftover chicken fajitas from the night before and transforming them into a new meal is a great way to stretch your grocery dollar. Simply swap the tortillas for brown rice and beans and add a few toppings for a delicious and nutrient-rich meal. Extra tip – This recipe uses dry black beans, but you can also use no salt added canned beans, too!
MEAL THREE:
Spaghetti with Meatballs
$25.70
Spaghetti and meatballs are a dinner staple. It’s easy to make, filling, and sure to please everyone at the dinner table! I like to pair a meal like this with a fresh green salad or bagged salad kit to add some color to the plate. You can make a simple side salad or buy one of the salad kits!
MEAL FOUR:
Meatball Sub
$5.70
Using the leftover meatballs, marinara sauce, and salad kit from the night before saves big time on this recipe! Boost nutrients by purchasing whole-wheat sub rolls, reduced added sugar marinara sauce, and part-skim mozzarella cheese.
MEAL FIVE:
Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing
$19.03
Cooking a big batch of shredded chicken and using it in various recipes throughout the week is the ultimate time-saver and money-saver. Shredded chicken can be used in soups, quesadillas, pasta dishes, pizza, grain bowls, casseroles, on top of salads…the list is endless!
Total amount: $89.66
As a reminder, this is an estimated cost and will vary depending on where you shop. All estimated costs demonstrated here came from Walmart. The costs of each of these meals account for the full quantity of the ingredients which means you will likely have leftover ingredients to use towards other recipes during the week! Also, how long leftovers last will also depend on your family’s personal portion sizes at meals.