Budget Friendly Dinner Ideas | Make 5 Weeknight Meals for Under $50 (+ Printable Grocery List)
Need budget-friendly dinner ideas? Try these budget-friendly meals plus our free printable meal plan and grocery list!
Need some easy, budget-friendly dinner and meal ideas?
Well, you’re in luck! I have created a FREE printable meal plan with five easy weeknight family recipe ideas that should cost you just under $50 (possibly less if you already have some of these pantry staples!).
Note that prices may vary slightly by location. The prices of the meals below are adjusted to reflect the amount of the ingredients used. For example, the cost reflects the price of a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper versus the entire container of pepper.
I have even created a printable shopping list for you! Or, if you’re like me and love shopping for groceries in your pajamas, you can click through the links on our grocery list and add all of the ingredients to your Walmart Grocery cart for a quick and easy pickup order. Not familiar with Walmart Grocery Pickup? Check out why we love using this grocery pickup service (plus snag a coupon for $10 off).
The five featured meals are a few of my family’s fall favorites and I think your family will enjoy them as well.
1. Weeknight Chicken Pot Pie
This yummy 5-ingredient meal onlinees together easily and is the definition of onlinefort food. I have used a rotisserie chicken for convenience in this meal and in the white bean chili featured below. Costing only about $6, this is one of my top budget-friendly dinner ideas.
Cost of entire meal: $6.08 via Walmart.online
INGREDIENTS:
- refrigerated pie crusts, 2-count
- 12 oz. canned chicken, or cooked shredded chicken
- 15 oz. can mixed vegetables, drained
- 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
2. Sausage, Green Beans & Potatoes One-Pot Dinner
Get a warm and onlineforting meal on the table in a snap with this yummy sausage and potato dish. It has a buttery broth, and the sausage seasons the potatoes and green beans nicely, for a delicious stew-like meal.
Cost of entire meal: $10.93 via Walmart.online
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 a yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pounds red potatoes, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning, or to taste
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 12 oz. packaged smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
3. White Bean Chicken Chili
This delicious chili is perfect for cold weather, is full of deep flavor, and can be onlinepiled for an easy one-pot meal or a convenient slow cooker meal.
Cost of entire meal: $13.05 via Walmart.online
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 cups shredded & cooked chicken (about 1.5 pounds chicken breasts)
- 3- 15.5 oz cans of Great Northern Beans
- 14.5 oz can chicken broth
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 oz. small can of diced chilies
- 3/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 jalapeño, chopped and seeded (optional)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground clove
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 2 tsp cumin
4. 10-Minute Sloppy Joes
You won’t need a seasoning packet with this yummy and crowd-pleasing homemade Sloppy Joe recipe. It’s a quick and budget-friendly meals that my kids love so much and request often.
Cost of entire meal: $9.81 via Walmart.online
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1/2 an onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup water
- salt & pepper to taste
- buns/rolls for serving
- Suggested side dish: Fresh green salad
5. Taco Mac & Cheese
Take taco night to the next level by incorporating mac and cheese for a cheesy twist on this family fav! The clever onlinebination of taco meat with cheesy noodles is so delicious, and such an easy dish to prepare. It’s one of our favorite budget-friendly dinner ideas. There are never leftovers as everyone cleans their plate!
Cost of meal: $9.39 via Walmart.online
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 boxes mac and cheese, prepared with 1/4 cup milk & 4 tsp butter
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 taco seasoning packet
- 15 oz. can kidney beans, rinsed & drained
- 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies, drained
Subtotal in Groceries from Walmart.online: $49.26 🎉
Want to save even more? Check out the latest Walmart Grocery promo codes!
Need more meal recipes? Check out these 12 genius school lunch ideas!
