$5.00 Meals for 4????

[TheRootedNomad]

Well I was thinking after FrugalGirl’s thread about us putting our heads together for cutting grocery costs and remember also seeing a thread a while back about what we would cook for a $7 dinner that had some exceptions. I thought maybe we could all post a $5 meal or two that we haven’t posted before that could feed a family of 4. It would be nice if it contained some meat but doesn’t have too.


Here’s a couple quick ones of mine that are always plenty for DH. Myself and our 2 almost bottomless pits:

~ 3 bags of ramen noodles (I boil them, drain completely, and then add the packets for flavored noodles) (.45)
~ 3 oranges (sliced with salt) (.75)
~ bag of frozen veggies steamed(.79)
~ 1 lb. Package Italian sausage links microwaved for a minute and then fried (1.98)(cherry picked on sale of B1G1)
Total: $3.97


~ 1 lb bacon fried up(sale)(2.00)
~ biscuits from mix (2 batches)(1/2 box)(1.00)
~ fried apples (1.50)(1 3 lb bag bought 2 for 2.99)
~ for the ½ cup milk, cinnamon, jelly stuff (.50)
Total:$5.00

~ 1 and a ½ pounds of carrots (1.00)
~ 1 bag of peas (.79)
~ 1 piece of cheaper cut steak (just a BIG handful cut in cubes) (1.50)
~ 2 boxes beef rice mix (1.18 @ ALDI)

Brown the cubes in a big skillet with a tiny bit of butter. As soon as they are brown and the boxed rice mixes and cook as directed.
Total:$4.47

Ok ....who's got some they haven't posted before????

[FreesiaE]

Well here's one I'm trying out tonight

4 oz rotini/ziti .44 on sale with coupon for whole wheat rotini. We will be using that. I guess the box is 16 oz, so
.11
1/2 ground beef. We will be subbing that out with Morningstar Farms crumbles. About 1/2 a package that was purchased for $2 total, so $1
1.5 cups speghetti sauce. I got these for $1 a jar, so I'm maybe using .50 worth. Maybe
1 cup cottage cheese. Hmm, I think that is .75 worth.
1 Tbsp of Parm cheese. Well, let me think. That's not much. .15 worth?
1/2 egg beaten. I think it's about 1.79 a box or so here and I have to crack the whole egg. .15. The dog will get the other half
1tsp dried parsley and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. I don't know. .10 maybe for both? I've had both forever.

I think I've got 2.76. Now I'm making this for the two of us, but I imagine it will have leftovers.

[perSue]

well what i'm having tonight for dinner is way less than 5$ total, simply becauuse I have everything on hand.

mexican rice (brown rice, veggies of your choice (i chose canned tomatoes, onions & grn peppers - with some herbs/spices))
black beans (canned or raw/soaked)
homemade corn bread.

now, i'm a veggie, but to splurge, maybe some chicken or grilled steak or even ground meat with taco seasoning would extend this recipe.

[coltsmama]

16 oz rigotinni .59c sale
jar spaghetti sauce 1.00 sale
1 lb spicy breakfast sausage .50 c sale
parm cheese

brown sausage, boil pasta and combine all. sprinkle with parm.

loaf garlic bread 1.00
green beans .50
onion for green beans .50 ?

Total $ 4.09 you should also have a couple servings left over for lunch as this really makes quite a bit.

[coltsmama]

fried chicken and rice

1 lb boneless chicken breast sale 1.78
3 cups cooked white rice .50c
terriaki sauce .75
3 eggs .36
1 can pinnapple .65
lettuce, tomatoe onion salad 1.00??

dice chicken and cook in skillet with a little terriaki sauce for seasoning . boil rice. scramble eggs . combine all three add a little more terriaki sauce and salt and pepper to taste .

Serve with salad , rasberry vinagrette dressing is excellent with this. And some chunked or sliced pinnapple. Adds a nice sweetness to this meal.

Total $ 5.04

This makes a large portion.. Possibly leftovers.

[tina150]

Good thread

[sdrjeolsen]

My dinner tonight is less than $5 too, but I have everything on hand, so not sure what it would cost to go out and buy.

Beef stew:
1/2 pkg stew meat .75
4 potatoes .05 (.50 for 10 lb bag -Target sale)
1/4 pkg baby carrots .25
1 bullion cube .05
1/3 c flour .02
2T oil .02
spices .01

Bread (this makes 2 loaves so cost for meal would be half):
Sourdough starter .07
4 c flour .25 (1.00/5lb bag)
water
1/2 T salt .01

spinach salad (1/3 bag) .33
Salad dressing .10

Looks like it would be right at 1.75 for the meal.

We will probably have some Jello for dessert, so add another 20 cents.

Also, there will probably be leftovers for one person for lunch, so about .33 per serving.

[EmilyD]

I call this Chinese hamburger rice:

1 pound hamburger ($2.79)
1 pk. Rice a roni Fried Rice ($1.00)
1 small can of mixed veggies, drained ($0.64)
Chicken broth ($0.50)

Brown hamburger
pour fried rice mixture into hamburger to brown when meat is done.
Add 3 cups water or chicken broth, can of drained mixed veggies and the flavor packet.
Cook until all liquid is absorbed.

Will feed four and some extra.

[sdrjeolsen]

Last night's meal was chicken in gravy over rice. This made enough chicken for 2 meals (one we put over homemade baking powder biscuits)

2 chicken hind quarters (.39/lb sale) .60
1/3 c flour .02
spices .01
(makes 2 meals, total for one meal .32)

Cook chicken till falls off bone, strain off broth, debone chicken & add to broth with flour/water mixture. Stir and cook till thick. Pour over cooked rice

2 c rice ~ .15 (actually got the rice free at target but I'm guessing a good sle price here)

Spinach salad (1/3 bag) .33
Dressing .10

Grilled Zucchini .35

1.25 for the meal

[zakity]

Hashbrown scramble

1 bag of diced potatoes (0.99)
1 lb of sausage (0.99)
8 eggs (0.66)
onion and garlic(?)
shredded cheese (optional)

I fry up the sausage and put it in a small pan. I set it so it sits cock-eyed on another burner so the grease will drain down and the sausage will be on the high side.

I dice up the onion and set it aside.

I spoon some sausage grease into the skillet. I add in a few handfuls of potatoes and onions if the person wants some. I throw in some garlic (they don't have a choice on the garlic). When the potatoes are almost cooked, I throw in a little sausage (it is flavoring, not a protein source) and let it warm up a little. While the sausage is warming, I beat two eggs and add in a bit of salt and pepper. I dump this over the potatoes and meat in the skillet and mix it around so it gets coated well. I cook it until the egg is cooked well and dump it on the person's plate.

I make mine without eggs because I hate eggs. I will also add in a bag of frozen peas and carrots to mine. I wind up leftovers and I eat it for lunch the next day.

If we have some, a few of them like to put shredded cheese over their's also.

I figured this up a while back and it was less that $4.00 for the four guys to eat. I know the prices have gone up and I haven't refigured it up yet.

I know it would be cheaper if I cut up potatoes instead of using the frozen kind, but it is one of those "got home late and need something on the table fast" meals.

[jkelstaten]

I think just about every meal that I make would be less than $5 for me since I use lots of coupons and only buy on sale, but I'm not sure what would normally be less than $5.

How about:
Shepard's pie (1 lb. ground turkey $1.99, 1 bag frozen corn (free after coupon), 8 potatoes $0.20, butter $0.20, milk (free), turkey gravy (free after coupon)
total: $3.39

Jambalaya
2 cups rice $0.05 (20lb bag for $3.99), various herbs/spices $0.50, 1lb. smoked sausage $0.50
total: $1.05 (you could even add the shrimp for less than $5, we just don't eat it)

Taco casserole:
12 corn tortillas $0.09, 1lb. ground beef $2.59, 1 package of corn (free), 1 pkg. taco seasoning $0.15, onion $0.07, 2 cups cheese (free), sour cream (free after coupon), lettuce $0.25
total: $3.05

Minestrone:
16 oz. small pasta $0.33, 1lb. mixed beans $0.20, herbs/spices $0.50, 1 8oz can tomato paste (free), 7 cups water (free), 1 package mixed vegetables (free), 1 lb. sausage $0.50 (or chicken breast $1.99), serve with rolls $0.50
total: with sausage-$1.53 with chicken $3.02

Beef Stroganoff:
1 lb. beef $2.50, 16 oz. egg noddles $0.50, 8 oz. sour cream (free after coupon), 1 cup milk (free), 2 Tbsp. corn starch (free after coupon), beef bullion $0.25, salt & pepper. serve with green beans $0.50
total: $3.75

Cottage Potatoes (fried potatoes, onion, ground beef, sour cream)
Just about any soup/salad combination
red beans & Rice/Corn bread

This is the cost and size of meals for my family which at the moment consists of 4 adults and 2 kids eating. I'll see if I can think of anything else.

[fuzzybunny]

Well, I just made this last night:

8 oz elbow macaroni uncooked, i.e. 2 cups (.32 cents)
1 cup velveeta type cheese (1.50)
1 cup milk (from powdered .25?)
2 tbsp flour (a few pennies, .23 cents a pound bulk)
salt, peper, dry mustard, dash paprika or whatever (a few pennies)

make a white sauce with the flour milk and cheese whilst you cook the pasta. Pour cheese over cooked noodles. Makes 4 1 cup servings

Side Dish, Italian Beans

2 cans cut green beans (1.04)
1 can italian tomatoes (.54)
clove of garlic or a couple teaspoons pre-minced garlic (.10)
1 onion chopped (approx .10 at 34 cents a pound)
2 tsps olive or other oil (.05)

cook garlic and onion in oil. When onion are softened throw in beans and tomatoes and bring to boil, then reduce heat. Makes 4 1/2 cup servings

Meal's total cost: About $3.95 for four people. That leaves 1.05 for a cheap dessert. A single layer cake from scratch or an on sale/clearance cake mix should do the trick and still bring you in under $5.

We are drinking water of course because we are frugal.

Plus: If you are doing Weight Watchers you can substitute Light Velveeta and have an 8 point dinner, 6 pts for the Mac and Cheese and 2 pts for the veggies.

I will say, however that the Mac and Cheese was a bit bland so you'll want to spice it up to your own taste.

Christine

[Marie78]

We bought thick bulk porkchops for $1 each last week. Tonight we are having
2 porkchops $2
1 box stuffing $1
cauliflower and brocolli cooked from frozen -each bag was 75 cents we will use 1/4 of each bag so around 50 cents

That's 3.50 for the two of us with leftovers for lunch the next day. This could feed 3 people easily. You probably would add another porkchop for 4 people. So $5 for 4 people, because you would want to make more veggies too .

[pqb57]

I call this cowboy stew and my kids loved it when they were home.
1 pkg. hot dogs, cut in slices
3 or 4 potatoes cubed
1 can whole kernal corn

Brown hot dogs and potatoes in a little oil. Add corn. Cover and simmer until potatoes are done. Can make some Texas toast for a little treat.

[TheRootedNomad]

Some of these sound really easy and not time consuming as well as cost effective. I'll be pulling some of these off to use. Most of our dinners probably average out to around $5 or $6 dollar range, maybe less, but generally there is an expensive one and then I pull from it. Like baking a ham (say 9.50) one night and then I use it again for fried ham, ham sandwhiches, and of coarse a pot of beans. The initial dinner though looks more expensive. The same goes for a roast or a chicken. Let's keep 'em coming.

Tonight it will be:
2 .lbs of bone in chicken breasts (1.98)
4 baked potatoes (.40)
fresh raw spinach with mandrine oranges (half bunch spinach .74 and can of oranges .33)
homemade bread (.20)
red wine vinegar (for the salad) and spices for the chicken (.10)
butter (.10)

Total: $3.85