I am back with more delicious extreme budget meals you and your whole family will enjoy without breaking the bank. Watch me bring these recipes to life on my Youtube channel!
With these easy and cheap dinner recipes, you can make a filling and healthy dinner with simple ingredients, great flavors, and only a few dollars each.
I have each of the recipes listed below that you can add to your weekly family meal plan and follow along for the week or pick out recipes you know you will enjoy or might even have all the ingredients already.
When I shopped for these 6 extreme-budget meals in Utah, I managed to get almost everything for $20. Prices may vary by location, but I’ve included a comprehensive shopping list at the end of this post to help you gather what you need without hassle.
To make this super simple while shopping for your groceries, I have a list at the bottom of everything you will need if you want to create each of these healthy recipes with me.
If you’re looking for more ways to save, don’t miss my popular blog post, “Cheap Family Meals Under $10” or explore my latest series, “Dirt Cheap Easy Family Dinner Ideas” There, you’ll find more of my favorite recipes that are sure to fit any budget. Happy cooking, and thank you for your continued support—I love you all! 😊
Extreme Budget Family Meals:
#1 Turkey Rice Taco Skillet
A flavorful, one-pan meal that’s quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 lb ground turkey
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 8.75 oz can corn, drained
Instructions:
1. In a large pan over medium heat, add the minced garlic and ground turkey. Cook, breaking up the turkey, until browned and cooked through.
2. Stir in the rice, water, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and corn.
3. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the flavors meld together, about 20-25 minutes.
#2 Lentil Tacos with Potatoes
A hearty and nutritious taco filling made with lentils and potatoes.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 lb uncooked lentils
- 1 1/2 cups water (more if needed)
- 10 medium-sized flour tortillas
- 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- Plus seasonings of your choice, I love using a tsp of salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, oregano
Instructions:
1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Stir in the lentils, water, seasonings, and diced potatoes. Bring to a simmer.
4. Let cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and potatoes are tender.
5. Serve the mixture in warm tortillas.
#3 Lentil, Carrot, and Cabbage Stew with Potatoes
A warming, veggie-packed stew that’s perfect for chilly days.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 1/2 lb uncooked lentils
- 1/4 green cabbage, shredded
- 3 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 5 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp oregano
Instructions:
1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and carrots. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Stir in the lentils, cabbage, potatoes, water, and all the seasonings.
4. Bring to a simmer and let cook for about 20 minutes or until the lentils and potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
#4 Cabbage Stir-Fry with Mixed Veggies
A quick and tasty stir-fry featuring cabbage and colorful veggies.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 head green cabbage, shredded
- 6 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 large carrots, shredded
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tsp brown sugar
Instructions:
1. In a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the shredded cabbage, mixed vegetables, shredded carrots, garlic, and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in the water, soy sauce, and brown sugar.
3. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the flavors are well combined.
#5 Rice, Chicken, and Veggie Skillet
An easy skillet meal with chicken, rice, and frozen vegetables.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 6 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 5 oz can chicken, drained
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 cups water
Instructions:
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté the diced onion and frozen mixed vegetables for about 3 minutes.
2. Stir in the minced garlic, canned chicken, rice, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and water.
3. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is cooked through and tender.
#6 Turkey Chili with Cornbread
A classic turkey chili served with cornbread on the side.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb ground turkey
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 6 cups water
- 15 oz can chili beans
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup white rice
- 1 box Jiffy cornbread mix (for cornbread)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the cornbread according to package instructions.
2. In a large pot, cook the ground turkey and diced onion over medium heat until the turkey is browned.
3. Stir in the garlic, spices (chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano), and cook for another minute.
4. Add the chili beans, diced tomatoes, water, and rice. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Recipe Video
Shopping List
Protein:
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 5 oz can chicken
Canned beans and vegetables:
- 14 oz diced tomatoes (2 cans) (or one 28 oz can divided)
- 8.75 oz can corn
- 15 oz can pinto beans
- 15 oz can chili beans
Dry goods:
- 1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
- 1 lb bag white rice
- 1 bag of lentils
- 10 medium-sized flour tortillas
Produce:
- 1 lb bag of carrots
- 1 head green cabbage
- 1 yellow onion
- head of garlic
- 5 lb bag potatoes
- 12 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables
Spices & Seasonings:
Check before you shop. I did not buy these from the store since these are seasonings I had on hand and you might already have on hand as well.
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp brown sugar
How to start:
Once you check to see what else you need out of the list above, head to the grocery store. Then pick which days you want to have your dinners and you are set!
Let me know which recipes you loved the most.
Can I double the recipes?
Yes, if you are serving a larger family you will want to double the recipes. Or if you want to have leftovers for a quick lunch I would also suggest doubling the recipes and putting the leftovers into airtight containers.
That will still give you 12 meals for $40! You can barely go to fast food for under that for a family of six one time, but now you can have a week’s worth of healthy dinners.
Can I choose a different protein?
Sure! If you want to swap the ground turkey for ground chicken or ground beef feel free! Just know they may change the amount you will have to pay slightly. But the recipes will work with either substitution.
Load up your month with these other great and easy dinner ideas:
- Healthy Dump & Go Slow Cooker Recipes
- Quick & Delicious! 10-Minute Dinners for Busy Nights | Easy, Healthy Tasty Recipes
- 10 of the BEST Ground Beef Recipes! | Tasty, Quick & Cheap Dinners Made EASY!10 Best Ground Beef Recipes
Quick links for making dinner easy:
- Family meal plans
- Tools for the kitchen and more
- The best cookbook for family dinner recipes
- FREE budget meal plan
- Cooking videos to watch
If you give these recipes a try, make sure to tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and let us know how much you liked the recipes!
