Super Cheap Family Dinners for $10 or Less
Looking for frugal meals to make for dinner?
With the price of groceries steadily going up, it’s getting harder to find dinner ideas that work with our budget.
Not knowing what or how you are going to feed your family is a horrible feeling. So make sure you always have a couple of budget-friendly struggle meals in your back pocket so you know what to do when money is low.
These meals cost $10 or less and most of the things you probably already have in your pantry or cabinets. Having ideas on hand for low cost meals is so important. Sometimes we have to wait for that next paycheck, but your family still needs to be fed.
These are some of my go-to struggle meals for when money is tight. I also like to make some of these make-ahead freezer casseroles when I do have a little bit of extra money so I know I have things on hand that are a filling dinner!
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 16 ounce package egg noodles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Bean and Cheese Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pinto beans drained of any broth or liquid
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 8 corn tortillas
Creamy Tomato Lentil Pasta
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces dry spaghetti
- 14 ounces canned lentils
- 3 cups creamy tomato pasta sauce
Cornbread Chili Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef, cooked and crumbled
- 1 package Trader Joe’s cornbread mix 15 oz (or 2 Jiffy 8.5 oz)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes 28 oz, undrained
- 1 can whole kernel corn 8 oz, drained
- 1 can chili beans 15 oz, undrained
- 1 can navy beans 15 oz, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt (to taste)
Simple Pasta with Peas
Ingredients:
- Pasta (I used linguine, but any will work well)
- Peas (fresh or frozen)
- Pesto – this is optional
- Parmesan (I use a vegetarian parmesan)
- Fresh basil
- Freshly ground black pepper
Chicken Patty Parmesan
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
- 8 frozen chicken patties
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- spaghetti
Sloppy Joe Mini Pies
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. Ground Chicken [or Ground Beef or Ground Turkey – your choice!]
- 1 can Manwich
- 1 can Crescent Rolls
- Shredded Cheese for topping [optional]
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces Dried Beef
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 2 cups Milk
- ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Toasted Slices of Bread
Southern Salmon Croquettes
Ingredients:
- 1 (14.75) pink salmon can with bones removed
- 1/2-3/4 cup self rising flour
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion we use the food processor, this was about ½ an onion for us
- 1/4 cup finely diced green pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal optional (you can omit or use flour if you prefer)
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
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