A Week of Simple Family Dinners for $50 in 2024

Hi friends!

This week I’ve been working on a new video for my YouTube channel sharing six meals that you can make for $50. As I was compiling my grocery list and checking prices and everything I realized that I might as well go ahead and share it all with you here on the blog too!

I know that some people prefer video while some prefer to read. If you’re more into videos you can check out the video here. Prefer reading? Well then you’re in the right place.

This is a simple and cheap meal plan with six dinners that you can feed your family of four (or more if you have little kids) for just $5o. (Yes, it’s possible even in 2024!) Cooking for just one or two? Just half the recipes!

Because this is a budget meal plan you’re not going to find super fancy dishes or what I call meat-heavy dishes (like a pot roast for instance.) To keep the cost down you’ll divide a three pound package of ground beef to use for three meals and a five pound package of chicken breasts to use for the other three. All six of these recipes can be made with just $50 worth of ingredients.

Feeding a Family of Four – A Week of Family Dinners for $50 in 2024

Here are all the meals. If you’re a long time subscriber you’ll definitely recognize these recipes as they’re all staples in our house.

You may wonder why I’m calling this a week of dinners when I’m just sharing six recipes – that’s because I’ve left one night open for leftovers.

Scroll to the bottom and you’ll see a complete list of all the ingredients and their prices.

1. Spaghetti with meat sauce with salad and French bread

Yep, we’re starting off with spaghetti. I know, it’s the stereotypical basic meal but I say yay for cheap and easy!

In the picture below I served my spaghetti and meat sauce with peas and garlic bread, but today’s meal plan / grocery list calls for salad and French bread.

2. Sloppy joes with potato wedges and a veggie

I prefer this homemade version of sloppy joes to a pre-made mix or the canned kind, but feel free to make whatever sloppy joe recipe you like!

3. Taco salad

I don’t have a link for this recipe because it’s so easy. Just cook up your ground beef with taco seasoning and serve with lettuce, crushed tortilla chips, black beans, tomato, sour cream, cheese, and salsa.

4. Chicken and cheese stuffed biscuits with salad

This is a favorite at our house and is perfect for a quick family meal on the go.

5. Crispy chicken, rice, and bean burritos with tortilla chips and salsa

This recipe is an old favorite that I’ve shared in multiple meal plans. It makes for great leftovers too!

6. Air fryer chicken strips with baked potato and a veggie

We love these air fryer chicken strips. I make them in two batches in my air fryer, but the oven would work just fine as well.

$50 Grocery List

I priced everything on this grocery list at Walmart with the exception of the two meats which I picked up on sale at Kroger.

Meats

Ground Beef (3 lbs @ 2.99 lb) – $8.97

Chicken breasts (5 lbs @ 1.77 lb) – $8.85

Produce / Frozen

Lettuce – $3.24

Tomatoes (4) – $0.84

Potatoes – $3.27

Frozen veggies (2 bags) -$1.96

Dairy / Refrigerated

Sour cream (16 oz) – $1.97

Shredded cheese (16 oz) ($3.74)

Canned biscuits – $1.87

Dry goods / Pantry items

Spaghetti sauce – $1.62

Spaghetti – $0.98

French bread – $1.00

Hamburger buns – $1.46

Salsa – $1.74

Taco seasoning – $0.94

Dry black beans – $1.48

Rice – $0.88

Tortilla chips – $1.98

Tortillas – $1.98

Bread crumbs – $1.22

Total = $50.02

Are you surprised that you can make a week of family dinners for $50 in 2024? Would this meal plan work for your family? Let me know in the comments!