Looking for budget-friendly family dinner ideas? Check out this list of 70 different simple ideas you can make for under $10!
70 Family Dinner Ideas Under $10
NOTE: We realize the location and cost of living may factor into your meal costs, but using our best judgment and knowledge of grocery prices, we feel pretty confident that the majority of these meals are budget-friendly no matter where you live.
With grocery prices on the rise, it can feel next to impossible to feed your family for anything less than a fortune.
But if you’re willing to get creative, there are dozens of frugal dinner ideas that will keep your family (and your wallet) full!
Here are 70 easy dinner ideas your family will love — all for under $10.
Easy Beef Dinners Under $10
1. Shepherd’s Pie — 5 lb. bag of potatoes, 1 lb. ground beef, one bag of frozen peas & carrots, one can cream of chicken soup, and one can cream of chicken and herb soup.
2. Cottage Pie — Sauté one chopped onion with 1 lb. of ground beef, mix in two packages of frozen peas and carrots and onw can of beef gravy, then top with boxed or fresh mashed potatoes.
4. Rotel Pasta — A package of noodles, 1 lb. ground beef, and a can of Rotel mixed together.
5. Vegetable Beef Soup — Follow this recipe or make a simple pot of soup with ground beef, cream of mushroom (or celery) soup, mac or penne noodles, and Lipton beefy onion soup. (Add enough water to the mix before adding the noodles.)
6. Goulash — 1 lb ground beef, a bag of macaroni, a can of diced tomatoes, and one onion.
7. Hamburger Helper and Salad.
8. Taco Rice — Rice, ground beef, canned tomatoes, and taco seasoning.
Easy Chicken Dinners Under $10
9. Rotisserie Chicken, a bag of baby carrots, and a loaf of bread.
10. Chicken Leg Quarters with rice and veggies.
11. Aldi’s Popcorn Chicken, brown rice, and frozen broccoli.
12. Rotisserie Chicken with ramen noodles and a couple bags of mixed frozen vegetables.
13. Chicken Noodle Soup — Follow this recipe or make a quick version with whole chicken, cream of chicken soup, and egg noodles.
14. Chicken Fried Rice — Rice, eggs, mixed vegetables, and chicken.
15. Chicken Alfredo — Cooked chicken breast, broccoli, fettuccini, and a jar of Alfredo sauce.
16. Chicken Legs, butternut squash, and green beans.
17. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
18. Costco Chicken, instant mashed potatoes, honey baby carrots, and pudding for dessert.
19. Chicken Pot Pie — Follow this recipe or make a quick version with rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, and egg noodles or biscuits on top.
20. Chicken Nuggets, a box of mac and cheese, and canned vegetables.
21. Chicken and Dumplings — Whole chicken, a box of Bisquick, and a frozen bag of carrots and peas.
Easy Pork Dinners Under $10
22. Kielbasa Skillet — Noodles, broth, kielbasa, frozen veggies or canned diced tomatoes in a skillet.
23. Smoked Sausage, cabbage, & cornbread.
24. Zuppa Toscana Soup —1 lb of Italian sausage, a bag of potatoes, kale or spinach, and heavy cream.
25. Smoked Sausage Stew — Smoked sausage, 3 cans of green beans, 2 cans of potatoes simmered together in a pot.
26. Pork Loin, potatoes, and carrots all cooked in a slow cooker together.
27. Sausage & Buttered Noodles.
28. Chorizo Fried Rice — Rice, chorizo, eggs, and a big bag of frozen veggies.
29. Chili Dogs — Hot dogs, buns, canned chili, chips, and dip.
30. Bean and Chorizo Tacos with Mexican rice.
31. Sandwiches — Bread, lunch meat, and mayo.
32. Hotdogs and Buns, a bag of carrots, and a bag of potato chips.
33. Ham, Cheese, and Onion Toasted Sandwiches — We also love these Ham & Cheese Hot Pockets!
34. Lentil Soup with bacon and carrots.
35. White Beans and Rice with ham hocks inside.
36. Lentils, Smoked Sausage, and mixed veggies.
37. Pig in a Blanket ( rescent rolls, hotdogs, cheese) with tater tots on the side.
38. Smoked Sausage and Zatarain’s jambalaya mix.
39. Skillet Meal — Sausage, potatoes, onions, and green beans cooked in a skillet.
40. Sheetpan dinner — Sausage, sweet potatoes, and broccoli cooked on a sheet pan. (Or switch it up with any combo of veggies!)
41. Frozen Pizzas.
42. Aldi Large Pizza and bagged salad.
43. Pancakes — We LOVE these chocolate chip pancakes! We like to serve them with sausage and fruit!
44. Eggs, Toast, and Bacon. (Or try these Baked Egg Bites for something different and on-the-go!)
45. Quiche.
46. Breakfast Tacos.
Easy Seafood Dinners Under $10
47. Tuna Salad Sandwiches and chips.
48. Mac & Cheese with Tuna.
49. Pasta Roni, a can of tuna, and a can of peas.
50. Tuna Noodle Casserole.
51. Frozen Fish Sticks and French fries.
Vegetarian Dinners Under $10
52. Spaghetti and a loaf of French bread. (Or try Spaghetti Pizza or Baked Spaghetti Pie for something different!)
53. Baked Ziti and a bag of salad.
54. Broccoli Potato Soup — Frozen broccoli, cream of cheese soup, cream of potato soup, and two cans of milk.
55. Sweet Potato Skillet — Sweet potatoes, rice, beans, and frozen vegetables.
56. Vegetable Soup with homemade biscuits.
57. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup.
58. PB & J Sandwiches with raw veggies or fruit on the side.
59. Rice and Vegetable Stir-Fry.
60. Indian Stew — Sweet potatoes, a bag of lentils, a bag of rice, and a can of coconut milk.
61. Bean and Cheese Quesadillas with veggies or fruit on the side.
62. Bean Burritos.
63. Black Bean Soup.
64. Rice and Bean Bowls with taco fixings.
65. Eggs and Potatoes.
66. Veggie Omelets.
67. Biscuits and Gravy with scrambled eggs and cheese.
68. Fried Eggs on top of potatoes with hot sauce.
69. French Toast and eggs.
70. Baked Potatoes and toppings. (Baked potato bars are the best!)
Looking for even more dinner ideas? Don’t miss these:
- 50+ Cheap Easy Dinner Ideas
- 15 Pantry Recipes to Make When Your Cupboards are Bare
- 20 Make-Ahead Freezer-Friendly Dinner Ideas
- How to Eat Well on a $40 Grocery Budget
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