My goal is to provide dinner for my family for an average of $5 except on special occasions. We don’t have to eat beans and rice to accomplish this goal! I shop the grocery sales each week. Then I plan my menu based on the foods I have already at home (at a great price). I balance more expensive meals with less expensive ones. We typically only cook a main dish 4 or 5 times a week. Each main dish cooked will serve 4-6, and the leftovers will be for easy dinners on the weekend, or to freeze for another week. This cuts down on cleaning, cooking, and meal planning– saving us lots of time!
Turkey, Corn Pudding, Deviled Eggs, Cranberry Pineapple Jello Salad, Crockpot Dressing, Green Bean Casserole
1 lb. turkey @ 1.37 (frozen turkey breast)
1 can whole kernel corn @ .45
1 can cream corn @ .45
1 jiffy corn muffin mix @ .33
1 cup sour cream @ .83
1 stick butter @ .15
1 cup shredded cheddar @ .63
6 eggs @ .59
mustard and pickle relish @ .10
2 boxes of jello @ .40
1 can pineapple @ .88
1 small apple @ .40
cranberry sauce @ .49
1 box jiffy cornbread mix @ .33
2 eggs @ .20
onion @ .20
3 stalks celery @ .30
2 cans cream chicken soup @ .74
1 cans chicken broth @ .50
sage, salt, pepper, margarine, poultry seasoning @ .20
3 cans green beans @ 1.35
1 can cream mushroom soup @ .37
1 can french fried onions @ .50
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese @ 1.25
pie shell @ .99
1/4 lb. pecans chopped @ 1.75
sugar @ .10
3 eggs @ .30
1/2 cup light karo @ .39
1/2 cup dark karo @ .49
Total cost: $17.03
1 lb. turkey @ 1.37 (frozen turkey breast)
1 can whole kernel corn @ .45
1 can cream corn @ .45
1 jiffy corn muffin mix @ .33
1 cup sour cream @ .83
1 stick butter @ .15
1 cup shredded cheddar @ .63
6 eggs @ .59
mustard and pickle relish @ .10
2 boxes of jello @ .40
1 can pineapple @ .88
1 small apple @ .40
cranberry sauce @ .49
1 box jiffy cornbread mix @ .33
2 eggs @ .20
onion @ .20
3 stalks celery @ .30
2 cans cream chicken soup @ .74
1 cans chicken broth @ .50
sage, salt, pepper, margarine, poultry seasoning @ .20
3 cans green beans @ 1.35
1 can cream mushroom soup @ .37
1 can french fried onions @ .50
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese @ 1.25
pie shell @ .99
1/4 lb. pecans chopped @ 1.75
sugar @ .10
3 eggs @ .30
1/2 cup light karo @ .39
1/2 cup dark karo @ .49
Total cost: $17.03
Ham and Thanksgiving Sides
1 lb. ham @ .79
leftover sides @ free
Total cost: $.79
Chicken Spaghetti and Thanksgiving Sides
Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup (eaten like a dip)
1 lb. chicken pulled @ 1.29
1 can generic rotel @ $.50
1 cup mild salsa @ $.94
1/2 cup dry black beans (prepared in advance) @ .14
garlic & cumin
1 cup sour cream @ .83
1/2 cup shredded cheddar @ .31
1 small sweet onion diced @ .20
1/2 red onion diced@ .19
Tortilla Chips @ .50
Total Cost $4.90
Chicken Spaghetti and Thanksgiving Sides
3/4 lb chicken @ .96
6 servings spaghetti @ .50
velveeta @ 1.00
1 can generic rotel @ .50
6 servings spaghetti @ .50
velveeta @ 1.00
1 can generic rotel @ .50
cr mushroom soup @ .50
leftover sides @ free
Total cost: $3.46
Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup (eaten like a dip)
1 lb. chicken pulled @ 1.29
1 can generic rotel @ $.50
1 cup mild salsa @ $.94
1/2 cup dry black beans (prepared in advance) @ .14
garlic & cumin
1 cup sour cream @ .83
1/2 cup shredded cheddar @ .31
1 small sweet onion diced @ .20
1/2 red onion diced@ .19
Tortilla Chips @ .50
Total Cost $4.90
Pasta with Italian Sausage, Green Beans, Texas Cheese Toast
1/2 box pasta @ .50
3/4 lb italian sausage @ .96
1/2 jar spaghetti sauce @ .34
1 can green beans @ .45
4 pieces of bread @ .16
4 slices of block mozzarella @ .24
garlic salt
Total Cost: $2.65
BBQ Sandwiches, Baked beans, Apples
1 lb. pulled pork @ 1.99
2 cans pork and beans @ 1
brown sugar and BBQ sauce @ .20
bread (for buns) @ .32
2 apples @ .80
Total Cost: $4.31
Average cost of the meals we’re cooking this week: $5.46.
When averaged with last week ($4.55) I have a 2 week average of $5.01!
Recipes for Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Recipes for Pies
Ideas for Thanksgiving Leftovers
This post is part of Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie.
