Looking for 7 cheap family meals (under $10!) that won’t blow your weekly food budget? This 7-night dinner plan is filled with affordable meal ideas that cost under $10 per meal and feed a family of four!
Be sure to check out my latest video and the shopping list that is provided below. 👇
From budget dinner recipes like saucy Thai pasta to cheap ground beef recipes, these are the best budget meals for families who want to eat well without blowing the grocery budget.
💡 Bonus: All of these are recipes from my blog — tried, tested, and kid-approved!
Jump to:
- 🎥 MY LATEST VIDEO
- 7 CHEAP AND EASY DINNER RECIPES
- 1. CREAMY FRENCH ONION PASTA
- FRENCH ONION PASTA - PRICE BREAKDOWN (ESTIMATED)
- 2. EASY QUICHE COURGETTE (ZUCCHINI QUICHE) NO BASE!
- QUICH COURGETTE – PRICE BREAKDOWN (ESTIMATED)
- 3. SHREDDED CHICKEN WITH RICE AND FROZEN VEGGIES.
- SHREDDED CHICKEN, RICE AND FROZEN VEGGIES – PRICE BREAKDOWN (ESTIMATED SERVES 4)
- 4. HEALTHY VEGAN CHILI
- VEGAN CHILI - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
- 5. NO RISE PIZZA
- NO RISE PIZZA - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
- 6. BROCCOLI AND ALMOND SOUP
- SOUP - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
- 7. CAJUN SAUSAGE STEW
- CAJUN SAUSAGE STEW - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
- 🛒 CHEAP FAMILY MEALS - SHOPPING LIST!
🎥 MY LATEST VIDEO
7 CHEAP AND EASY DINNER RECIPES
1. CREAMY FRENCH ONION PASTA
🧅🧄🧀
This rich, savoury pasta is packed with slow-cooked onions, garlic, and creamy cheese. It's comfort food with major flavour, and it comes together with just a handful of pantry basics. It's one of those cheap and easy dinner meals to make that tastes delicious, but it takes under 30 minutes from stove to table. You can toss in some frozen peas or spinach for more nutrients.
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $5.61!
That works out to approximately $1.40 per serving for four people, well within your cheap family meals under $10 target!
FRENCH ONION PASTA - PRICE BREAKDOWN (ESTIMATED)
| Ingredient | Quantity | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti / Fettuccine (½ of 1 lb pack) | ~0.5 lb | $0.66 |
| Olive oil | 2 tablespoon ≈ 1 oz | $0.30 |
| Onions (3 large) | ~1.5 lb | $1.50 |
| Garlic (4–5 cloves) | ~1 bulb | $0.50 |
| Chili flakes | ¼ teaspoon ≈ negligible | $0.05 |
| Cream (½ cup / 125 ml) | retail carton | $1.00 estimate |
| Spinach (fresh or frozen handful) | ~40 g | $0.40 estimate |
| Parmesan cheese (¼ cup / ~25 g) | retail pack | $1.20 estimate |
❤️ Perfect for a cosy night in.
2. EASY QUICHE COURGETTE (ZUCCHINI QUICHE) NO BASE!
🥚🧀🧅
This budget dinner recipe skips the cream and pastry. Eggs, cheese, grated zucchini, and a handful of herbs — baked to golden perfection.
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $10.00
Serves 4 = about $2.50 per person
QUICH COURGETTE – PRICE BREAKDOWN (ESTIMATED)
| Ingredient | Quantity | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Zucchini (courgette) | 2 large (350g / ~2 cups) | $1.50 |
| Eggs | 3 | $2.25 |
| Cheddar cheese (grated) | 1 cup (~110g) | $3 |
| Feta cheese (optional) | ¼ cup (~30g) | $2 |
| Whole milk | 1½ cups | $0.60 |
| All-purpose flour | ½ cup (~60g) | $0.20 |
| Baking powder | 1 tsp | $0.05 |
🥗 Serve with a simple side salad or roasted potatoes.
3. SHREDDED CHICKEN WITH RICE AND FROZEN VEGGIES.
🍗 🧄 🥕
Easy, high-protein, and super meal-prep friendly — this shredded chicken dish is perfect for busy weeknights or batch cooking for the freezer. Serve with frozen veggies and rice.
✔️ Protein-packed and super filling — perfect for hungry kids or teens.
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $9.25
SHREDDED CHICKEN, RICE AND FROZEN VEGGIES – PRICE BREAKDOWN (ESTIMATED SERVES 4)
| Ingredient | Amount | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless, skinless chicken breasts | 4 (6–8 oz each) | $5.00 |
| Salt and pepper | ½ teaspoon each, to taste | Pantry staple |
| Olive oil | Drizzle (about 1 tbsp) | $0.25 |
| Chicken stock or broth (low sodium) | 4 cups | $1.50 |
| BBQ sauce (low sugar, optional) | ½ – ¾ cup | $1.00 |
| Rice | 2 cups | $0.50 |
| Mixed Frozen Vegetables | 1-2 cups | $1.00 |
4. HEALTHY VEGAN CHILI
🌱🫘🌶️
Who says cheap family meals can’t be hearty and healthy? This warming vegan chili is made with beans, tomatoes, spices, and veggies. It is still packed with plant protein.
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $7.74
VEGAN CHILI - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
| Ingredient | Amount | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Onion, finely chopped | 1 medium | $0.50 |
| Garlic clove, crushed | 1 clove | $0.10 |
| Olive oil | 2 tablespoons | $0.50 |
| Smoked paprika | 2–3 teaspoons | $0.30 |
| Chili flakes | ¼ teaspoon | $0.10 |
| Red kidney beans (canned) | 2 x 14 oz cans | $2.00 |
| Crushed tomatoes (canned) | 1 x 14 oz can | $1.00 |
| Worcestershire sauce | A good squirt (~1 tbsp) | $0.25 |
🍚 SERVE WITH:
| Serving Suggestions | Amount | Estimated Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rice (uncooked) | 1 cup | $0.50 |
| Sour cream | Small tub (~8 oz) | $1.50 |
| Green onions, sliced | 1 bunch | $0.99 |
🌿 Naturally vegan, high protein, and freezes beautifully.
5. NO RISE PIZZA
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $7.20 – $7.50
NO RISE PIZZA - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
| Ingredient | Amount | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups (~250g) | $0.50 |
| Baking powder | 2¼ tsp | $0.10 |
| Sugar | 2 tsp | $0.05 |
| Salt | ½ tsp | Pantry staple |
| Warm water | 1 cup | Free |
| Olive oil | 3 tbsp | $0.30 |
🍅 THE TOPPINGS:
| Ingredient | Amount | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza sauce (or ketchup) | 12 tablespoon (~¾ cup) | $0.75 |
| Shredded mozzarella | 1 cup (~4 oz) | $1.50 |
| Cherry tomatoes | 1 cup | $1.50 |
| Mushrooms | 1 cup sliced | $1.00 |
| Fresh basil | Small bunch | $1.50 |
(Pantry staples like salt are not included in the cost.)
6. BROCCOLI AND ALMOND SOUP
🥦🌿🧅
Light, creamy, and green in the best way. This soup uses broccoli (fresh or frozen), onions, and stock, and a few almonds to make a comforting bowl that feels fancy but costs next to nothing.
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $8.20
SOUP - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
| Ingredient | Amount | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds (whole, raw or roasted) | ½ cup (~70g) | $1.50 |
| Olive oil | 2 tbsp | $0.20 |
| Onion, diced | 1 medium | $0.50 |
| Garlic, minced | 2–3 cloves (~1 tbsp) | $0.20 |
| Salt & pepper | Pinch each | Pantry staple |
| Potatoes (Yukon gold or Russet) | 2 cups diced (~2 medium) | $1.00 |
| Broccoli florets | 3–4 cups (~300–350g) | $3.00 |
| Vegetable stock (or stock cube + water) | 2½ cups | $1.00 |
| Almond milk (unsweetened) | 1 cup (~240ml) | $0.80 |
🥣 Add a slice of toast or garlic bread and you’ve got dinner sorted.
7. CAJUN SAUSAGE STEW
🌭🍅🌿
A bold, rustic tomato-based sausage stew. Simmered with onions, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs — it’s a rich and comforting meal.
💵 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST ~ $9.36
CAJUN SAUSAGE STEW - PRICE BREAKDOWN ESTIMATED
| Ingredient | Amount | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | 1 tablespoon | $0.15 |
| Onion, diced | 1 large | $0.50 |
| Garlic, diced | 2–3 cloves | $0.20 |
| sausages | 8 sausages | $3.00 |
| Cajun spice | 1 teaspoon | $0.10 |
| Chicken stock (low sodium) | 2½ cups | $1.25 (bulk stock) |
| Crushed tomatoes | 1 can (14 oz) | $1.00 |
| Heavy cream | ½ cup | $0.75 – $1.00 |
| Uncooked spaghetti | 8 oz (220 g) | $0.66 (half of a 1 lb pack) |
| Shredded cheese | 1 cup | $1.50 |
🍛 A great way to stretch a few sausages into a full family meal.
💵 A QUICK NOTE ON COST
All of these recipes are designed to feed four people for under $10. I’ve based the cost estimates on Australian supermarket prices, but I’ve done my best to keep them aligned with U.S. dollar value. Grocery prices can vary by country, season, and store, but every recipe here is created with budget-friendly, accessible ingredients in mind.
🛒 CHEAP FAMILY MEALS - SHOPPING LIST!
(For all 7 recipes, serving 4 people each)
| Category | Ingredient | Quantity Needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta & Grains | Spaghetti or fettuccine | 1½ packets total (about 1.5 lb / 675g) | ☐ |
| All-purpose flour | 2½ cups | ☐ | |
| Baking powder | 3¼ tsp | ☐ | |
| Sugar | 2 teaspoon + ½–1 tsp | ☐ | |
| Rice (for serving chili) | 4 servings (~2 cups uncooked) | ☐ | |
| Vegetables | Large onions | 6 total | ☐ |
| Garlic cloves | 9–12 cloves | ☐ | |
| Zucchini / courgettes | 2 large (350g) | ☐ | |
| Spinach (fresh or frozen) | 1 handful (~1 cup) | ☐ | |
| Broccoli florets | 3–4 cups | ☐ | |
| Potatoes (Yukon gold or Russet) | 2 medium (~2 cups diced) | ☐ | |
| Green onions (for chili garnish) | 2–3 stalks | ☐ | |
| Mixed frozen vegetables | 1-2 cups | ☐ | |
| Protein | Boneless skinless chicken breasts | 8 total (approx. 3 lb / 1.36 kg) | ☐ |
| Andouille sausages OR any cheaper sausages of choice | 1 lb (500g) | ☐ | |
Eggs | 3 | ||
| Canned & Jarred | Crushed tomatoes | 2 cans (14 oz / 400g each) | ☐ |
| Red kidney beans | 2 cans (14 oz each) | ☐ | |
| Pizza sauce (or ketchup) | 12 tablespoon (~¾ cup) | ☐ | |
| BBQ sauce | ½–¾ cup | ☐ | |
| Dairy | Cream (heavy or thickened) | 1 cup total (½ + ½) | ☐ |
| Milk (whole/full cream) | 1½ cups | ☐ | |
| Grated cheese (cheddar or similar) | 1 cup | ☐ | |
| Parmesan Cheese or cheaper option of cheese | Parmesan Cheese or a cheaper option of cheese | ☐ | |
| Feta cheese (optional) | ¼ cup | ☐ | |
| Shredded mozzarella | 2 cups total | ☐ | |
| Sour cream (for chili garnish) | ½ cup | ☐ | |
| Pantry Staples | Olive oil | 11 tbsp | ☐ |
| Chili flakes | ½ teaspoon + ¼ tsp | ☐ | |
| Smoked paprika | 2–3 tsp | ☐ | |
| Cajun spice | 1 tsp | ☐ | |
| Italian seasoning | 1 tsp | ☐ | |
| Salt & pepper | To taste | ☐ | |
| Worcestershire sauce | Good squirt (~1 tbsp) | ☐ | |
| Vegetable stock (or cube) | 2½ cups | ☐ | |
| Chicken stock (low sodium) | 9 cups total | ☐ | |
| Nuts & Non-Dairy | Almonds | ½ cup | ☐ |
| Almond milk (unsweetened) or cream | 1 cup | ☐ | |
| Extras for Serving | Corn chips | 4 servings | ☐ |
Nikki says
Let me know if you have any questions ❤️ Nikki