30 Dinners that Cost $5 or Less

With the price of groceries skyrocketing, it’s more important than ever to be strategic when planning your meals for the month.

Here are 30 days (yes a month’s worth!) of my favorite $5 meals.

As cost of living varies based on where you are living, some of the pricing for these meals could be more or less, based on where you are living.

Almost all of my shopping is done at either Walmart or Aldi and those prices are reflected in my price lists below.

Also, some of these recipes only include cost of ingredients used, but I did include the whole cost for reference.

UPDATED: Feb 2024. Prices are subject to region and may differ by city. Prices are pulled from Walmart, Aldi, Lidl, and other discount grocery stores.

Fajitas

Fajitas are crazy flavorful and super easy to make.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Chicken Breasts	$1.99
Bell Pepper	$0.50
Taco Seasoning	$0.54
Tortillas	$1.79
TOTAL	$4.82

Pancakes

Broccoli & sausage Skillet

This one pot meal is super simple to make. Just cup up and cooke the sausage. Prepare the rice. Cook the frozen broccoli. Combine and sprinkle with cheese. Stir over heat until cheese melts.

I can pick up an entire bag of white rice for about $1.60-ish. And out of that one bag, I can make enough rice for about 3 meals for my family of 5. So I’m calculating the cost of ingredients used.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Frozen Broccoli	$1.16
Rice (1/3 bag dry white rice ($.92/bag) yields about 6 c cooked)	$0.30
Turkey Sausage	$2.50
Cheese (1 c shredded)	$1.00
TOTAL	$4.96

Sloppy Joes

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Ground Turkey	$2.75
Sloppy Joe Mix	$1.22
Buns	$0.93
TOTAL	$4.90

Grilled cheese and tomato soup

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Bread	$0.99
Sliced Cheese ($2.22 pack)	$1.50
2 Cans of Soup ($.68 ea)	$1.36
Butter (4 sticks is $3.35)	$.50
TOTAL	$4.35

Chicken Pot Pie (w/ Shortcut)

In this recipe, you’ll mix the frozen vegetables, cream of chicken soup, seasonings to taste and canned chicken all together.

Pour this into a greased casserole dish.

Cut the refrigerated biscuits into 1/4th’s and spread over top of filling.

Place into oven and cook on 350 degrees (F) for about 30 minutes Then broil for an extra minute or two at the end to crisp up and brown the biscuits.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Refrigerated Pre-made Biscuits	$1.45
Frozen Veggies	$0.99
Cream of Chicken x2 ($.68 ea)	$1.36
Canned Chicken	$1.18
Seasonings (Salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic/onion powder)	$.00
TOTAL	$4.98

Chickpea Salad

This is a delicious and quick salad to throw together.

Start by rinsing the can of chickpeas and toss them into a large bowl. Next cut up the cucumber, bell pepper and tomatoes and combine in large bowl with chickpeas.

Throw in about 1/3 c of feta crumbles

Drizzle with equal parts red wine vinegar and olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

Combine well.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Can of Chickpeas	$0.82
1 Cucumber	$0.64
1 Green/Red Bell Pepper	$0.50
Tomato	$1.00
Feta (1/2 container. 1 container: $2.74)	$1.37
Red Wine Vinegar + Olive Oil
TOTAL	$4.33

Lentil & Potato Soup

This is a delicious and filling one pot meal.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Start by sautéing the white onions in your stock pot.
2. Add in can of diced tomatoes.
3. Add in seasonings
4. Add a cup of lentils
5. Add 8 cups of water and let simmer for half an hour.
6. Add cubed white potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are tender (10-15 minutes).
7. Add two handfuls of frozen spinach (about 1/2 the bag).

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Lentils	$1.10
2 White Potatoes	$1.00
Onion	$0.25
Italian Style Can of Diced Tomatoes	$0.96
Frozen Spinach	$1.00
Seasonings (garlic/onion powder, salt/pepper, basil) to taste
TOTAL	$4.31

Baked Ziti

This is a super simple and delicious meal.

Cook the noodles, drain and pour into a bowl. Pour both jars of sauce over the noodles and combine well.

Dump everything into a casserole dish. Cover with cheese. Bake covered at 350 degrees (f) for about 25-30 minutes.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Ziti noodles	$0.96
Canned tomato sauce	$0.96
Alfredo Sauce	$1.82
Mozzarella Cheese (1/2 bag)	$1.00
TOTAL	$4.74

TuRkey & Rice Skillet

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Rice (1/3 bag dry white rice yields about 6 c cooked)	$0.50
Ground Turkey	$2.75
Taco Seasoning	$0.54
Can of Diced Tomatoes	$0.96
TOTAL	$4.75

Creamy Sausage Pasta

Boil the pasta following driections on the box.

Cook sausage till cooked through and drain grease. Add 1.5 C of heavy whipping cream, spinach, red pepper flakes, onion & garlic powder to taste.

Combine pasta and sausage mixture.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Sausage (1/2 lb. 1lb=$3.49)	$1.50
Spinach (1/2 small bag. 1 bag= $2.63)	$1.30
Heavy whipping cream (1.5 C)	$1
Penne pasta	$0.98
red pepper flakes, onion& garlic powder
TOTAL	$4.78

Spaghetti

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Pasta	$0.98
Canned tomato sauce	$.96
Ground Turkey	$2.75
TOTAL	$4.69

Broccoli Baked potatoes

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Potatoes	$3
Frozen Broccoli	$0.99
Shredded Cheese (1/2 bag)	$1
Seasonings	$0.00
TOTAL	$4.99

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

I love this meal for when we are super busy. I just throw the chicken in my crockpot with some water and seasonings or left over chicken broth I’m trying to use up.

When it’s finished cooking, I shred and toss the chicken in the BBQ sauce.

Toast the buns and I’m ready to go.

You can serve with some veggies (steam-able broccoli is just under a $1).

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
1 pound of chicken	$1.99
BBQ Sauce	$1
Buns	$1
TOTAL	$3.99

One pan sausage Meal

Cut sausage into rounds. Drizzle veggies with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper.

Spread sausage and veggies on cookie sheet and place in preheated oven set to 400 degrees (F). Bake for about 20 minutes, being sure to flip half way.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Smoked Sausage	$3.28
Frozen Vegetables	$1.00
Olive oil, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning
TOTAL	$4.28

Lima Beans and rice

Rinse and soak beans over night.

Drain and rinse. Add beans, 6 c of water to stock pot and simmer on low for 3 hours. Don’t forget to salt the water.

Prepare rice.

Serve beans and ham over rice. Beans can also be prepared in slow cooker.

You can also add bacon or ham into the limas, but that would add a few dollars to the overall cost.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Lima Beans (dry)	$1.87
Rice (1/3 bag dry white rice yields about 6 c cooked)	$0.50
TOTAL	$2.37

Broccoli Pasta

This dish is super easy to make. Place the pasta and broccoli florets together in a pot to boil. Follow pasta box for cooking directions.

One pasta is finished, drain broccoli and pasta.

Add tablespoon of olive oil and garlic to pot, cook until golden.

Stir in pasta, broccoli, Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Pasta	$0.98
Broccoli	$0.99
Parmesan cheese	$2.22
1 Tablespoon Minced garlic (1 jar= $1.99)	$.20
TOTAL	$4.39

Chicken Alfredo

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
1 Box of pasta	$0.98
1 jar of Alfredo sauce	$1.82
Chicken	$1.99
TOTAL	$4.79

Southwest Eggs

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Eggs (1 dozen = $2.78)	$1.39
Shredded Cheese ($2.22/bag – 1/4 bag)	$0.55
Black Beans ($1.48 bag of dry beans)	$0.75
Small tomato	$0.50
TOTAL	$3.19

Vegetable soup

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Vegetable Broth	$1.37
Beans (bag of dry beans)	$1.34
Bag of Frozen Vegetables	$1
Pasta	$0.98
TOTAL	$4.69

Chicken THIGHS & Rice

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Chicken drumsticks (about 2lbs @ $1.59/lb)	$3.18
Yellow Rice	$1.44
TOTAL	$4.62

Black Bean Quesadillas

Oatmeal & fruit

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Oatmeal (whole container=$3.98)	$2.00
Bananas	$1
Brown Sugar/Honey	–
TOTAL	$3.00

Cheese & Bean Burritos

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
2 cans Refried Beans	$2.00
Tortillas	$2.08
Cheese ($2.22/8oz bag)	$.75
TOTAL	$4.83

french toast

Breakfast is one of the cheapest meals of the day– why not bring it around for dinner!

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Bread	$0.93
Milk (1/2 gallon= $1.49)	$0.75
Eggs (1 dz=$2.78)	$0.75
Syrup (1 bottle= $2.36)	$0.25
TOTAL	$2.68

French bread pizza

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
French Bread (14oz)	$1
Pizza Sauce (14oz jar= $1.20)	$0.60
Mozzarella Cheese Cheese ($1.98/8oz bag)	$1
Pepperoni – $2.26/5oz ( or Toppings of Choice)	$1.50
TOTAL	$4.10

Chicken & Rice Casserole

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
1 lb of Chicken	$1.99
Rice (1/3 of 32oz bag white rice yields about 6 c cooked)	$0.50
Cream of Mushroom Soup	$0.55
Shredded Cheese (1/4 bag)	$0.50
TOTAL	$3.54

Goulash

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Ground Turkey	$2.75
Stewed tomatoes	$0.65
Frozen Veggies (or use up left over veggies)	$1
Pasta/Rice	$0.50
TOTAL	$4.90

Turkey cabbage skillet

In a large pot, brown the turkey meat until cooked through. Season to taste ( I like to use salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder).

Stir in tomatoes and cabbage and simmer covered for about 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and let it melt down before serving.

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Turkey	$2.75
Cabbage	$1
Diced tomatoes	$0.65
Shredded Cheese (1/4 bag)	$0.50
TOTAL	$4.90

TAco soup

INGREDIENTS	PRICE
Chicken (1lb= $1.99)	$1
Black Beans	$0.56
Generic Rotel	$0.96
Corn	$0.49
Taco Seasoning	$0.54
Chicken Broth	$1.25
TOTAL	$4.80

What are some of your favorite frugal meals?