Here are some cheap dinner ideas and recipes your family is sure to love! They’re super easy and quick to make and you’ll save a lot of money over eating out or making convenience food. All these dinners cost around $1.00 per person for the entire dinner.
(NOTE: With 2023 inflation, these might be $2 dinners, but they’re still a great deal over what most people are currently spending.)
All the recipes are from Volume 1 of our Dining On A Dime Cookbook.
Shopping is the key to cheap dinners. Buy everything on sale. Buy fruits and veggies when they are $1 or less per pound. If the fruit or vegetable you plan to use is very expensive, consider using something that is on sale and in season instead. Choose meat that you can get on sale for $1.99 or less per pound.
Keep the recipes and dinners simple and everyone will be happy! Many moms try to imagine extravagant meals, but most families prefer the same simple meals they love rather than expensive and unusual foods, so be kind to yourself and keep it simple!
$1.00 Dinners! Cheap Dinner Ideas And Recipes
All of these meals cost about $1 per person to make. Don’t overthink it! Pick one and make it for your family today!
1) Cheeseburger Rolls With Sliced Cucumbers And Ranch Dressing
Total recipe cost- $1.50
Serves 6
Cost per serving – $0.25
Cucumbers with Ranch – $0.25
2) Homemade Hot Pockets With Baby Carrots And Ranch Dressing
Total recipe cost- $1.35
Serves 6
Cost Per serving – .23
Baby Carrots with Ranch – $0.25
3) Meatloaf With Salad
Total Recipe Cost- $3.86
Serves 6
Cost per serving – $0.64
Salad – $.50
4) Chicken And Dumplings
Total Recipe Cost – $1.65
Serves 4
Cost per serving – $0.42
5) Chicken Pot Pie
Total recipe cost – $2.04
Serves 4
Cost per serving – $0.51
6) Stir Fry Over Rice
Total Recipe Cost – $1.75
Serves 4
Cost per serving – $0.44
7) Ham And Bean Soup
Total Recipe Cost – $1
Serves 6
Cost per serving – $0.17
8) Ham and Vegetable Pot
Total Recipe Cost – $.60
Serves 4
Cost Per serving – $0.15
9) Ham Casserole With Salad
Total Recipe Cost- $1.90
Serves 4
Cost per serving – $0.47
Salad $.50
10) Navajo Tacos
Total Recipe Cost – $2.00
Serves 6
Cost per serving – $0.33
11) Green Chile With Rice
Total Recipe Cost – $2.00
Serves 4
Cost per serving – $0.50
Rice $.10
12) Cheese Enchiladas With Rice
Total Recipe cost – $3
Serves 4
Cost per serving – $0.75
13) Quesadillas With Rice
Total recipe cost – $3
Serves 6
Cost per serving – $0.50
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Thanks for the great ideas. They also look pretty quick. There is always something happening, so we learn to rock and roll with the market — If tomatoes are expensive (in winter), we eat oranges. There is always frozen spinich to add Vit A to any and every thing.
Nice quick recipes Tawra.. I just realized I have Some of these from Cookbook #1. I use what I have or can substitute. My mom also taught me to cook like your mom. Great ladies I think!! We both very blessed.
Yeas ago I turned my stuffed bell peppers into a quick 1 skillet meal. Family still prefers this to the original. 20 min. and dinner is one the table. I just started dehydrating fresh spinach. So will have it this winter to re hydrate and make egg bites with it and add to lasagna or other recipes. It does work good in egg bites. Daughter is doing chemo for pancreatic cancer. Says mine are better than star bucks. She needs high protein meals. So these work really well on chemo day or when she doesn’t feel like eating because if it. Thank you all for everything you teach share and bring to our attention. God bless you and your family. Sincerely Patricia ,
Oh Patricia I am so sorry to hear about her cancer. We will be praying for her. My brother is going through treatments so lung cancer right now so I know how hard it can be. Will truly be praying for her.
Great recipes, however, didn’t see the cheesey spinach casserole you mentioned that Mike loves?
Not sure Gretchen where you hear her mention that recipe at but I don’t think it is on the website.