By: T Worthey»Updated: » View our disclosure policy
You simply can’t beat delicious meals at a budget price and these $5 dinner ideas are a great way to stretch your grocery budget! They are easy, delicious, and at a price that lets your budget breathe!
Table of Contents
Easy Dinner Ideas For About $5 – Budget-Friendly Recipes
With the new year, a lot of us are rethinking our spending habits and trying to trim down our budget. And, if you are like my family, the grocery bill can easily add up! One of the main ways our family saves on food is the weekly meal planning. Each week, Derrick and I will go shopping and focus on making meals based on the sales and what we have in our pantry and deep freezer. This is the BEST way to save money on your grocery bill. Plus, we use apps like Ibotta to save money as well as digital coupons. We live in the Midwest so our food expenses will pale in comparison to those living in California, New York, and other expensive states.
However, you can take a look at these easy and budget-friendly dinner ideas, and adjust accordingly to your cost of living. Either way, you’ll still save money by meal planning ahead and comparing these recipes to what’s on sale at your grocery store this week. You can also save this post and come back to it each week to find more meal ideas that match your grocery circulars.
These $5 dinner ideas are a great way to stretch your grocery budget! But, wait! You may be thinking you have to sacrifice taste, flavor, and nutrition? No way! With these budget meals, you still get a fantastic delicious meal but with a price that lets the budget breathe! Now, that’s what I am talking about!
Here are a few of my favorite dinner ideas we’ve made for roughly $5 or under!
This Penne Pasta recipe is pretty basic, but oh-so-delicious! Plus, it has bacon in it! Hello! I also purchased the bacon on sale, as well as all the ingredients for this recipe. That’s the key people, buy items when they’re on sale. I also stockpile items. No, I’m not a huge couponer (I used to be), but I stockpile items I know my family uses all the time. When bacon is on sale, I will buy 4-5 packs at a time. Same for pasta sauce, butter, cheese, and pasta. We shop weekly for fresh ingredients like vegetables.
Another budget-friendly dinner idea to consider, especially in the winter months are soups! Not only are soups easy to put together, but you can easily stay on budget by serving soup for dinner. Try ourRosemary Scented Garlic Soup Recipe Made In The Instant Pot for dinner this week!
Depending on when beef goes on sale for a GOOD price in your neck of the woods, ourInstant Pot Barbacoa Tacos are so good! This recipe does require a little prepping ahead of time, but once you get the Instant Pot going, it will save you a ton of time!
Here’s another soup recipe that uses Orzo pasta. Grab it on sale, as well as chicken, and you’ll be able to rock out dinner with this budget-friendly recipe!
Keep reading below for more easy dinner ideas under $5 (or about).
Best $5 Meal Ideas to Help Stretch Your Budget
You simply can't beat delicious meals at a budget price and these $5 meal ideas are a great way to stretch your grocery budget! They are easy, delicious, and at a price that lets your budget breathe!
Photo Credit:www.awortheyread.com
Family Dinner Idea: Potato Zucchini Alfredo Bake
Photo Credit:www.awortheyread.com
Instant Pot Recipe for Potato + Kale Soup
Photo Credit:www.awortheyread.com
Rotisserie Chicken Spicy Pho
Photo Credit:www.awortheyread.com
Creamy Tomato + Chickpea Soup (Instant Pot Recipe)
Photo Credit:foodal.com
Cheap and Easy Hamburger Soup
Photo Credit:pipingpotcurry.com
Instant Pot Lentils & Rice (Mujadara)
Photo Credit:thehelpfulgf.com
10 Minute Gluten-Free Chicken Fried Rice
Photo Credit:littlesunnykitchen.com
Vegan Shepherd's Pie
Photo Credit:recipesfromapantry.com
Spicy Slow Cooker Bean Soup
Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com
Thai Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Photo Credit:savingtalents.com
Cheap & Easy Tuna Casserole
Photo Credit:lowcarbyum.com
Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks and Thighs
Photo Credit:littlesunnykitchen.com
The Best Vegan Chili
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Easy Gluten-Free + Vegan Pizza Bagels (Allergy-Free)
Photo Credit:cookeatgo.com
4 Ingredient Stove Top Meatloaf Recipe!!
Photo Credit:stefseatsandsweets.com
Cabbage Soup
Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com
Sausage and Cajun Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Gluten-Free Pasta e fa*gioli (Vegan, Allergy-Free) | Pasta & Bean Soup
Photo Credit:www.playpartyplan.com
Four Delicious English Muffin Pizza Recipes
Photo Credit:nourishplate.com
Lentil Dahl Recipe
Photo Credit:mamalikestocook.com
Best Chunky Instant Pot Vegan Soup Recipe
Photo Credit:littlesunnykitchen.com
One Pot Pasta
Photo Credit:foodal.com
Easy Pizza Potatoes
Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com
Thai Curry Soup - with squash, carrots or sweet potatoes!
Photo Credit:kathrynskitchenblog.com
Spinach Artichoke Tortellini Salad
Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com
Chile Con Queso Pasta Bake
Photo Credit:www.recipethis.com
One Pot Steak Mac And Cheese
Photo Credit:mamalikestocook.com
Slow Cooker Vegan Barley Stew Recipe
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Vegan Eggplant Parmesan (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free)
Photo Credit:savorandsavvy.com
Crock Pot Black Bean Soup
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Photo Credit:www.melaniecooks.com
Easy Chicken Pasta Salad
Photo Credit:recipesfromapantry.com
Curried Instant Pot Carrot Soup
Photo Credit:recipesfromapantry.com
Dump and Start Instant Pot Creamy Bacon Pasta
Photo Credit:www.recipethis.com
Slimming World One Pot Veggie Loaded Bolognese
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Homemade Spaghetti O's (Allergy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Photo Credit:www.melaniecooks.com
Instant Pot Lentils And Brown Rice
Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com
Mexican Buddha Bowl with Cilantro Lime Sauce
Photo Credit:nourishplate.com
Curried Cauliflower Soup
Photo Credit:www.francinesplaceblog.com
HOMEMADE PUMPKIN, POTATO AND CARROT SOUP RECIPE
Photo Credit:savingtalents.com
Super Easy Instant Pot Macaroni & Cheese
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken
Photo Credit:www.foodwinesunshine.com
Zesty Italian Chicken – Freezer to Crock Pot Meal
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Easy One-Pot Vegan Gluten-Free Louisiana Red Beans & Rice (Allergy-Free)
Photo Credit:kathrynskitchenblog.com
Vegetable Herb Pasta Salad
Photo Credit:littlesunnykitchen.com
Aubergine and Chickpea Curry
Photo Credit:deliciousonadime.com
Creamed Ham (or turkey) - Just five simple ingredients!
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Comforting Veggie Bean Chili
Photo Credit:lowcarbyum.com
4-Ingredient Keto Mexican Chicken Soup
Photo Credit:mindbodyandspiritwellbeing.com
Keto Feta and Spinach Omelette
Photo Credit:strengthandsunshine.com
Gluten-Free + Vegan Chickpea Nuggets (Allergy-Free, Grain-Free)
Photo Credit:pipingpotcurry.com
Penne Pasta in Tomato Cream Sauce - Instant Pot
Find more budget-friendly dinner ideas below:
$5 Dinners Your Family Will Love Over 30 Recipes!
Dinner Ideas For The Family 35+ Meals Under $5
