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 2022 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 that cost about $1 per person to make. Don’t over-think 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.