My goal is to provide dinner for my family (2 adults and one toddler eating) for an average of $5 except on special occasions. We don’t have to eat beans and rice to accomplish this goal! We typically only cook a main dish 6 times a week, so each main dish cooked will be for 4-6 servings, and there will be leftover servings for lunches, dinners on the weekend, or to freeze for another week. This cuts down on cleaning, cooking, and meal planning- saving us lots of time!
Taco Salad, Cheese Dip, Chips, Apple slices
(1) pound seasoned gr. beef @ free (cooked and frozen 2 weeks ago)
1 small tomato @ .46
tortilla chips @ .66
cheese dip @ 1.75
(1) apple @ .50
lettuce @ .11
Total Cost = $3.48
Crockpot Salsa Chicken (adapted from here), fresh peaches
2 lb. chicken @ 3.96 (cooking double to use for the ck. spaghetti)
jar of salsa @ 1.88
1 can corn @ .62
1/2 can black beans @ .31
2 peaches @ .87
Total Cost: $7.64
Chicken Spaghetti and green beans (we didn’t need this last week)
(1) lb chicken @ free (cooked with salsa chicken)
spaghetti @ free
velveeta @ 1.00
cr mushroom soup @.50
1 can green beans @ .62
1 can rotel like peppers @ .78
Total Cost: $3.00
Breakfast for Dinner
5 scrambled eggs @ .42
shredded cheese @ .25
pancake mix @.33
syrup @ .25
milk @ .07
orange juice @ .64
6 little sizzlers sausages @ .50
Total Cost = $2.46
Pork Chops, mashed potatoes, sweet peas, toast, pineapple
Pork Chops @ 6.95 (3 lbs on clearance) (Cooking for three meals)
potatoes @ .50
milk @ .07
stick butter @ .12
1 can sweet peas @ .62
2 slices of bread @ .12
1/2 can pineapple @ .42
Total Cost : $8.80
Average Cost for the 5 meals we’re cooking this week: $5.07 (and this includes pork chops for two more meals!)
If you wonder how I get food items for free or for next to nothing, just follow my blog to know where to find all the great deals!