A Budget Family Menu Only $33.06 – Week 2

The popularity of my post last week on A Cheap Family Menu For Less Than $40.00 just proves what I already knew, we need cheap meal ideas put together in a simple weekly dinner planner.

Many of us are so financially stressed right now that preparing cheap meals is one important way we can try to cope during this recession. Having access to weekly dinner menus that are cheap and easy to prepare will lighten the burden.

I received more views for that 1 article in one week than my site as a whole in the last month. So of course the only thing to do is create yet another weekly dinner planner consisting of cheap meal ideas under $5 per meal. See what my readers want, my readers get!

Last week I created a weeks worth of recipes for cheap meal ideas with what I had on hand and a limited number of items and money to purchase from the grocery store.

For the weekly dinner menus this week, I am going to pretend that none of the items are on hand, even though most of my $5 dinner meals are created from simple ingredients normally sitting in the pantry. Watch as I create 7 days worth of cheap meal ideas for only $33.06. Yep, that’s cheap and it is easy to do.

Cheap Meal Ideas For A Week Only $33.06

Weekly Dinner Planner

  • Monday – Chicken Casserole Recipe – 1 lb of chicken, any type just get whats cheap ($2.50), 1 can of cream of mushroom soup ($0.79), 1 bag frozen broccoli ($.99), 1 can of pears ($.50)

Total Meal Cost – $4.78

  • Tuesday – Crockpot Chili – 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef ($3.00), 1 can stewed tomatoes ($.99), 1 can chili beans ($.50) 1 jiffy box of cornbread mix ($.33)

Total Meal Cost – $4.82

  • Wednesday – Quick Chicken Recipe With Pasta – 1 pkg fettuccine noodles ($.60), 1 Jar Alfredo Sauce ($1.50), 1 lb chicken ($2.00), 1 can green beans ($.50)

Total Meal Cost – $ 4.60

  • Thursday - Breakfast Waffles – 1 box pancake mix ($1.00), 1 lb fresh fruit ($2.00), 2 pkg sausage links ($1.94)

Total Meal Cost – $4.94

  • Friday – Soup and Sandwich - 1 loaf bread ($.88), 1 pkg cheese ($1.50), 4 cans of chicken noodle soup or tomato soup ($2.00)

Total Meal Cost – $4.38

  • Saturday – Fish Casserole – 1 can tuna fish ($.75), 1 pkg egg noodles ($1.00), 1 can cream mushroom soup ($0.79), 1 can peas ($0.50), 1 bag chips ($1.50)

Total Meal Cost – $4.54

  • Sunday – Soy Pork Roast – 1 lb pork roast ($4.00), 1 pkg rice ($1.00)

Total Meal Cost – $5.00

Your total cost for this weekly dinner menu is only $33.06, now that’s not bad at all. Creating a cheap family meal plan isn’t difficult, it’s just a habit you have to learn. All of the cheap menu ideas above are just a starting point, these recipes are so simple you can substitute one item for another, you can purchase a little bit extra and double the batch for a make ahead lunch meal or do an easy freezer dinner next week. The goal here is just do it! Take control of your family food budget now not later.

Here is last weeks cheap quick easy dinner recipes:  Cheap Family Menu For Less Than $40.00

Need to feed a “BIG FAMILY”? This will help: Creating Big Family Meals On A Budget

January 20th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Best Crockpot Recipes, Casserole Cooking, easy ground beef meals, freezer meals recipes | 39 comments

Quick Chicken Broccoli Casserole For Dinner

If your looking for quick Chicken Casserole Recipes, then look no further. I have said it before, I find some of the best family meal ideas right on the Campbell’s soup can.

I found a great side dish  called Broccoli ‘n’ Cheese Casserole on the label but wanted to make a meal of it so I added in some chicken and pasta and it turned out to be one of the best Chicken Recipes for a casserole.

My family loves it and yes its another one of those great $5 dinner meals to add to your cheap meals recipe collection.

Chicken, Broccoli ‘n’ Cheese Casserole

Chicken Casserole Recipes

Chicken Casserole Recipes

Found on Campbell’s Soup can and added to it

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Serves 4- 6

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken cut-up (use what cheap or already in the freezer)
  • 3 cups corkscrew pasta (rotini), cooked and drained
  • 1 can (10 3/4oz.) Campbells’ Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 bag (16oz.) frozen broccoli flowerets, thawed
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon-style mustard
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tbsp. melted butter

Meal Preparation Directions:

  1. Stir soup, milk,mustard, broccoli and cheese in a 2-qt casserole dish or pan.
  2. Mix in chicken and pasta.
  3. Mix bread crumbs with butter and sprinkle over mixture.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot.

Meal Assembly:
Add a dinner salad and side of fruit.

TIP: Double the batch for a make ahead freezer meal next week.

Need something different? Try this easy Mexican recipe: Straw Hat Casserole

For more great dinners with chicken here is list of 7 simple and quick dinner ideas: Chicken Recipes

January 15th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Casserole Cooking | 5 comments

A Cheap Family Menu For Less Than $40.00

As I prepared my family meal menu for the week I quickly realized, the freezer is empty and I’m broke. I grocery shop for a month of family meals at a time but with the holidays last month I skimmed from the food budget and now I’m paying for it.

So I have to tap into the $5 dinner meals for a weeks worth of cheap food recipes to get me by until payday.

This is one great tool I have learned to use and love over the years. I can go to the grocery store with a shopping list, purchase just what I need.

Now I can prepare cheap meals for the family without having to borrow money, take a payday loan or eat hot dogs and mac-n-cheese for the week (yes I have done all 3 before)!

After a good look in the pantry I have come up with some great family meals for less than $27.00 for the week.

Yes that’s all! It can be done, I have done it with even less before.

Here’s what it looks like:

Cheap Quick Easy Dinner Recipes For A Week

Monday – Good ‘Ole Spaghetti with garlic bread and a dinner salad. I had the spaghetti noodles and sauce already in the pantry so the only thing I had to purchase is a head of lettuce($.97), french bread($.25 after coupon) and 1 lb of sausage($.97)
TOTAL MEAL COST = $2.19

Tuesday – Chicken and Rice Bake with a can of green beans. I had the canned items as I always purchase canned goods by the case. I also had the rice and seasons so the only thing I had to purchase was the chicken. I usually prepare this with chicken breast but that’s too expensive this week but I found a big family pack of chicken leg’s for $2.99.
TOTAL MEAL COST = $2.99

Wednesday – Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwiches with a can of peaches and pears. I already had the bread and I need to use the rest of the lettuce from Monday. I also had the can’s of peaches and pears so the only thing I had to purchase was a small tomato($.78) and 1 lb of bacon($1.50 on sale)
TOTAL MEAL COST = $2.28

Thursday - Tater Tot Casserole with french bread and applesauce. I already had the canned goods and the cheese, I only needed to purchase 1 lb. hamburger ($2.39), loaf of french bread ($1.00 – no more coupons) and a bag of tater tots ($1.50)
TOTAL MEAL COST = $4.89

Friday – Pizza Please – we try to make Friday night Pizza night at our house. We like to purchase the take-n-bakes but this week we have to make our own. I had the cheese, sauce and a few of the favorite toppings already. I had to buy 2 can’s of the jumbo biscuits ($1.94) and a bag of pepperoni ($1.50) I also bought a bag of chips($2.00) and a 2 liter of pop ($.69) not to healthy but fun for the kids and easy for mom and dad.
TOTAL MEAL COST = $6.13

Saturday – Crockpot Lemon Chicken with rice and canned fruit – I had everything for this meal but the chicken and lemonade. I found that great deal on the big family pack of chicken legs($2.99) and the can of lemonade ($.33 on sale)
TOTAL MEAL COST = $3.32

Sunday – Easy Cheesy Broccoli Soup with canned fruit – this was the perfect choice for a cold winter day. I had the canned fruit and all the ingredients for the soup except the broccoli, cheese whiz and bread bowls. I decided to substitute the cheese whiz for shredded cheese I already had in the fridge. So the only thing I had to purchase was the broccoli bunch ($2.97 ouch – no sales) and 2 pkgs. of bread bowls for ($1.98)
TOTAL MEAL COST = $4.95

Cooking cheap meals for a big family like mine can be done. These $5 dinner meals are simple and healthy to prepare. My grocery list also included 2 gallons of milk for the week ($4.00), 3 loafs of bread ($3.00), 1 case of top ramen ($2.40 on sale) and 1 lb of cooked ham from the deli ($2.99 on sale), this covered breakfast and lunch for the week. For less than $40.00 I am able to feed my family of 6 complete cheap meals that are healthy, simple and quick!

For more easy recipes like these, here is a great blog to see: Easy Recipes Index

January 11th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Best Crockpot Recipes, Casserole Cooking, Dream Dinners Made Cheap, easy ground beef meals, freezer meals recipes | 24 comments
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