Let’s face it: when times get tough, sometimes we need dinner ideas on a budget!
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite recipes for under $20. I have a family of 3, so you may need to double up on some of the ingredients if you have a larger family. I have included how much each meal roughly costs for the amount I use. Most of the ingredients for these recipes can be found at Walmart under their brand, Great Value. All of these recipes can be tweaked to fit your likes and dislikes! Enjoy!
Pizza Ravioli
Family size bag of frozen ravioli, Great Value ($4.98, Great Value brand)
Spaghetti sauce ($1-$5, depending on brand)
Pepperoni ($2.63-$3.46, depending on brand)
Shredded cheese ($2.22-$6.96, Great Value brand)
Seasonings of choice (I use garlic, onion, garlic salt, basil, oregano, pepper)
Salad ($1.84, classic iceberg salad)
Preheat your oven to 350° and spray a large baking dish with oil. Place ravioli into the greased baking dish and top with pepperoni (either sliced or cut into smaller pieces). Add spaghetti sauce and seasonings of choice, then top with cheese. Cook the dish in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes or until heated through. You can pair it with salad if you’d like, which brings this meal total to roughly $15. We always have leftovers, so this particular meal can feed at least a family of 4-5.
Rice & Chicken Casserole
3-pound bag of frozen chicken ($6.14, Great Value brand)
One can of cream of mushroom soup ($0.58, Great Value brand)
One can of cream of chicken soup ($0.58, Great Value brand)
Seasonings of choice
Two boxes of Rice-A-Roni ($1.00 per box)
Milk ($1.49 for a half-gallon, Great Value brand)
Preheat your oven to 350°. In a bowl, combine 1 can of cream of mushroom, 1 can of cream of chicken, milk (roughly 1 cup), and your seasonings. Mix well then add two boxes of Rice-A-Roni. Place rice mixture into a greased baking dish and top with chicken. Make sure to season your chicken breasts! If you love cheese like we do, feel free to add some now if you have it on hand. Bake for roughly 30 to 45 minutes or until everything is cooked through. This will roughly feed a family of 4-5 depending on how many pieces of chicken you use. The total on this meal is roughly $12 and is very quick and easy to make.
Crockpot Chili
2 cans of black beans ($0.58 each, Great Value brand)
2 cans of mixed chili beans ($0.58, Great Value brand)
1 can of kidney beans ($0.58, Great Value brand)
1 can of tomatoes with green chilis ($0.68, Great Value brand)
1 can of diced tomatoes ($0.72, Great Value brand)
1-2 packets of chili seasoning mix ($.58 each, Great Value brand)
1-pound package of hamburger ($3.20-$5.68 depending on how lean you like it)
Shredded cheese ($2.22 for a small bag, Great Value brand)
Sour cream ($1.08 small tub, Great Value brand)
Yellow Onion (0.$46 depending on size)
Add all of your cans of beans to the crockpot. Note: I drain them all except the 2 cans of mixed chili beans because those are seasoned. Then add the canned tomatoes and packet(s) of chili seasoning, and stir everything together. Brown the hamburger, drain fat, and add to crockpot, stirring well to combine. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. I love this meal because I am free to go about my day and come home to a delicious meal with my house smelling great. Before serving the chili, I dice up the yellow onion and grab the cheese and sour cream to put on top. This is one of my family’s favorites and it costs roughly $15 for a large pot.
Creamy Spaghetti Bake
1-2 jars of spaghetti sauce ($1-$5 depending on brand)
1 jar of Alfredo sauce ($1.50-$6.94 depending on brand)
1-2 boxes of penne pasta ($1 each, Great Value brand)
1-pound package of hamburger ($3.20-$5.68 depending on how lean you like it)
Seasonings of choice
Shredded cheese ($2.22 small bag, Great Value brand)
Preheat oven to 325°. While the oven is preheating, boil the pasta and brown the hamburger. Once the noodles are cooked, drain then add the alfredo sauce to them. Add the spaghetti sauce and seasonings to the browned hamburger. Put the Alfredo noodles in the bottom of a large, greased baking dish, top with the hamburger spaghetti sauce mix, then top with cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes, then serve. This meal is easy to make and different from your typical spaghetti bake. It costs my family about $11.
