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 5 or 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!
Cooking only 4 main dishes worked really well for us last week, so that’s all I’m planning again this week.
Catfish Fillets, Home made French Fries, Fried Cheese Sticks, tomato
3/4 lb catfish nuggetts @ 1.48
potato for fries @ .25
mozzarella @ .88
breading @ 1.00
tomato @ .92
Total Cost $4.53
Chicken & Biscuit Casserole with green beans
1/2 cup milk @ .07
black pepper
1 can of 8 butter tasting biscuits @ 1.43
1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated @ .99
minced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup @ .62
1/2 cup sour cream @ .29
1 pound chicken breast chopped @1.78
1 can green beans @ 67
Total Cost: $5.85
Chicken Nachos, Cheese Dip, Chips, fresh peach, Fresh Corn
1/2 lb chicken pulled @ .89
Chips @ .99 velveeta @ 2.00
1 can diced tomatoes and green peppers @ .88
2 ears corn @ .66
1 peach @ .71
Total Cost $6.13
Taco Salad, fresh plums
1lb. seasoned gr. beef @ free (cooked, frozen and counted 5 weeks ago)
1/2 a tomato @ .46
tortilla chips @ .66
left over cheese dip @ free
3 plums @ .72
lettuce @ .11
Total Cost $1.95
Average cost of the meals we’re cooking this week : $4.62
If you wonder how I get food items for free or for next to nothing, become a follower of my blog to know where to find all the great deals!