Need some ideas for feeding your family without breaking the bank? Here are 10 meals all under $15 a meal. Each is for a family of 5 with leftovers or second helpings, and can easily be adjusted for dietary needs.
I like to cook the bulk meats at once and save so that dinners are quick to throw together and I’m not scrambling to get everything cooked if we have a busy day.
I like to throw the chicken in my large crockpot with some salt + pepper, then store everything in mason jars in the fridge. The ground beef I cook in my cast iron and store the same way.
I also try to bake most of our bread items like buns, dinner rolls or sandwich breads which cuts our bill down tremendously.
So, here’s the plan…
You will need to prep a total of 5 lbs. of chicken + 2 packages of chicken sausage or kielbasa + 3 lbs. of ground beef.
1. BBQ Chicken Sammies
• 1 lb. Chicken – $3.28
• BBQ Sauce – $3.08
• Homemade buns – $1.75
Total: $8.11 for 12 servings = $0.68 per serving
2. Sausage, Green Beans, Bacon + Rice
• Sausage $5.49
• 1 lb. bacon $3.25
• Green beans $5.48 (sometimes FREE from garden)
• Rice (already in pantry)
• Sweet potatoes (FREE from garden)
Total: $14.22
3. Stacked Green Chile Enchiladas
• 1 lb Chicken $3.28
• Sour cream $1.18
• Cheese $1.49
• Corn tortillas $1.56
• Hatch salsa $3.66 (you won’t use the entire jar)
Total: $11.17
• 1 lb chicken $3.28
• 8 baked corn tortillas $0.80
• 2 tomatoes $0.50
• lettuce $1.67
• avocado oil $0.20
• onion $0.25
• 2 avocados $1.98
• Hatch salsa $0.40
• homemade seasoning $0.25
• cheese $1.49
• homemade refried beans $0.40
Total: $11.22
5. Spaghetti + Homemade Garlic Breadsticks
• 1 lb. beef $3.93
• Pasta noodles $0.91
• Spaghetti sauce $2.38
• Veggies FREE from the garden
• Homemade seasoning $0.25
• Breadsticks $1.00
Total: $8.72
6. Black Eyed Peas + Sausage + Kale (or Spinach) Over Rice
• Chicken sausage $5.49
• Black eyed peas $1.98
• Rice $0.92
• Kale / spinach free from the garden
Total: $8.39
7. Sloppy Joe’s
• 1 lb. beef $4.18
• Homemade seasoning $0.25
• Homemade buns $1.75
Total: $6.18 for 12 servings = $0.52 per serving
8. Ranch Chicken + Bacon Casserole
• 1 lb. chicken $3.28
• 1 lb. bacon $3.25
• Pasta $0.99
• Chicken broth $1.25
• Cream cheese $1.44
• Ranch seasoning $0.99
• Shredded mozzarella $2.78
Total: $13.98
9. Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowls
• 1 lb. beef $4.18
• Kimchi $4.48
• Rice $0.92
• Green onion (FREE from garden)
• Broccoli (FREE from garden)
• Homemade bulgogi sauce approx. $2.00 total if you have these items already on hand – premade bottles are available at Walmart for $4.98
▢ 1/3 cup soy sauce
▢ 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional
▢ 2 tbsp fresh ginger grated
▢ 2 tbsp brown sugar
▢ 3 tbsp sesame oil
▢ 1 tbsp Gochujang
Total: $11.58
10. Chicken Noodle Soup
• 1 lb. chicken $3.28
• Egg noodles $2.37
• Chicken broth $1.25
• Herbs (FREE from garden)
• Carrots (FREE from garden)
Total: $6.90
Also check out my Trader Joe’s 7 Day Meal Plan
joyfullydwell 
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