Looking for some inspiration this month? Check out these deliciously frugal dinner ideas and see how you can feed your family for cheaper this month with this $180 Monthly Meal Plan for a Family of 4.
When money is tight, finding food to feed the family can be hard. That's why I like to throw together affordable dinner plans that everyone can enjoy.
My kids aren't too picky when it comes to food, but because I firmly believe that "fed is best," I try to make sure dinners are something that they're comfortable with.
While I don't pack the meal plans with Air Fryer Dino Nuggets and hot dogs, I do make sure to include foods that they love at every dinner so that they can fill their tummies every night.
This month's meal plan includes a lot of their favorites. From cheesy recipes to pasta dishes and breakfast for dinner, the kids think they've won the motherload. Meanwhile, I'm excited about the savings.
For more meal plans, check out my $200 Monthly Meal Plan for Family of 4.
Things to Keep In Mind:
- My family's size and ages. My family of 4 consists of 2 adults and 2 children ages 5 and 10. All of us are healthy, happy, and well-fed. We all get our multivitamins daily and have regular doctor checkups as well. When I say these meals feed 4, I mean at a bare minimum it feeds my family of 4, but most of these recipes often make plenty of leftovers to enjoy over the course of a few days. Which means they can make more than 4 servings per recipe.
- I keep my pantry stocked and organized. I get paid once a month, and do my big shopping- once a month. Right before payday, I clean out the pantry and do a visual check to see what I have on hand. A Messy Pantry Costs You Money, and I'm trying to save money. I use the foods I find to create new meals to keep everything cycling through as needed. I will make small shopping trips throughout the month to buy fresh produce and products as needed.
- I like cooking from scratch, but I don't do it for every meal. I will use condensed soups, store-bought pie crusts, and packaged pancake mix whenever possible. The more time I can save in the kitchen, the more time I can spend with my family. I can easily spend hours per day on my feet photographing recipes for this blog. The less time I have to spend cooking, the more time I have to spend with the kids while they're still little. I'm also a fan of limiting dirty dishes because we don't have a dishwasher, and I already spend 5-7 hours hand washing dishes per week.
- I shop frugally. I do a majority of our grocery shopping at our local Aldi, and whatever I can't find there, I purchase from our local Walmart. Currently, we aren't in the position to Extreme Coupon, but I do follow store sales and check for markdowns whenever I go shopping. I also make sure to plan all my trips out of the house accordingly, so I'm not going back and forth to places, and it's more gas efficient by making a loop from home to stores and back.
- This menu plan ONLY includes dinner. It will not include the suggested daily servings of fruit and veggies, breakfast, lunch, or snacks. We do aim to include veggies at dinner in some form or another. If you choose to follow this plan, then it is up to you to add fruits, veggies, and more protein to your diet to make it more balanced.
For more frugal recipe ideas, make sure to check out our helpful posts on How to Save Money by Stretching Meat or How to Reuse Leftover Food (100 ideas).
Week 1
Wednesday
Starting our meal plan with my favorite nostalgic comfort dish, Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole. This makes a large 8x13 pan's worth and can be very filling. I especially love the leftovers the next day for lunch, yum!
Thursday
Grab a bag of Bear Creek Soup and a loaf of French bread (make sure to check the day old racks in the bakery department!) Note that Aldi has a store brand version of these soups for under $3.
Friday
Breakfast for dinner. Homemade Eggless Pancakes, A can of sliced peaches (split between us 4), 2 sausage links each, and 1 fried or scrambled egg each (depending on who wanted what).
Saturday
Leftover night. I like to warm up and assembled all of our leftovers like a buffet and allow everyone to pick and choose what they wanted to eat. This allows everyone to pick and choose their favorites from the week and ensures everything gets eaten.
Any leftovers that weren't eaten during the week get tossed in the trash after dinner, and we start the week fresh the next day.
Week 2
Sunday
Air Fryer Pork Loin Roast, (2) boxes of prepared boxed stuffing, and a veggie. Frozen veggies are roughly $1-$1.50 each and can give 4 large portions.
Monday
A cheap jar of Alfredo sauce is just under $2 from Walmart. Add it with a $1 box of pasta, one (cooked) diced chicken breast (or leftover shredded chicken), and a bag of mixed veggies.
Using penne noodles and adding a bag of California Medly veggies to the pot of boiled noodles (a minute or two before draining) can make the meal feel more like those Birds Eye meals from the store.
Tuesday
Bacon Fried Rice. With meat, veggies, and starches in one pan, there's no need for side dishes.
Wednesday
Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice. This is a great recipe for using up leftover shredded chicken.
Thursday
Grab a bag of Bear Creek Soup and a loaf of French bread (make sure to check the day old racks in the bakery department!) Note that Aldi has a store brand version of these soups for a under $3.
Friday
Breakfast for dinner with Sourdough French Toast, canned peaches, 2 sausage links per person, and one fried or scrambled egg.
Saturday
Leftover night. I like to warm up and assembled all of our leftovers like a buffet and allow everyone to pick and choose what they wanted to eat. This allows everyone to pick and choose their favorites from the week and ensures everything gets eaten.
Any leftovers that weren't eaten during the week get tossed in the trash after dinner, and we start the week fresh the next day.
Week 3
Sunday
Cooked up some Instant Pot Hot Dogs and (2) prepared boxed of Kraft Mac and Cheese. You can also add a side of steamed broccoli. (Reserved 3 hotdogs for a future meal).
Monday
Spaghetti and Frozen Garlic Bread in Air Fryer with a side of The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe.
Tuesday
Hot Dog Fried Rice using the reserved hot dogs from Sunday.
Wednesday
Easy Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes
Thursday
Grab a bag of Bear Creek Soup and a loaf of French bread (make sure to check the day old racks in the bakery department!) Note that Aldi has a store brand version of these soups for under $3.
Friday
Breakfast for dinner! Dairy Free Waffles, sliced fresh strawberries, 2 strips of bacon, and one egg each.
Saturday
Leftover night. I like to warm up and assembled all of our leftovers like a buffet and allow everyone to pick and choose what they wanted to eat. This allows everyone to pick and choose their favorites from the week and ensures everything gets eaten.
Any leftovers that weren't eaten during the week get tossed in the trash after dinner, and we start the week fresh the next day.
Week 4
Sunday
Meatloaf Without Eggs served with Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes and Roasted Frozen Cauliflower
Monday
Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole. You don't have to add any Ritz crackers on top or bake it- it can be served straight from the pan.
Tuesday
Keep this meal cheap by using frozen beef ravioli and a can of meat flavored pasta sauce. I like the $1 cans from Walmart because they're cheaper and contain fewer calories than the others.
Adding a side of canned green beans will help to complete the meal.
Wednesday
One of our favorite comfort casseroles is this Tater Tot Corn Casserole.
Thursday
Grab a bag of Bear Creek Soup and a loaf of French bread (make sure to check the day old racks in the bakery department!) Note that Aldi has a store brand version of these soups for under $3.
Friday
You can prep this dinner up to the night before for easier convenience! Overnight Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole.
Saturday
Leftover night. I like to warm up and assembled all of our leftovers like a buffet and allow everyone to pick and choose what they wanted to eat. This allows everyone to pick and choose their favorites from the week and ensures everything gets eaten.
Any leftovers that weren't eaten during the week get tossed in the trash after dinner, and we start the week fresh the next day.
Week 5
Sunday
Follow this Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs, but use chicken legs instead. Chicken drumsticks are cheaper than thighs as you can often find a 5lb bag for under $6. Add a side of cooked broccoli and some baked beans, and you have a delicious dinner that feels like summer.
Monday
My kids love when I cook up 5 Ingredient Mac and Cheese. I usually add some steamed veggies on the side.
Tuesday
Tuna Fried Rice. Follow along with my hot dog fried rice recipe, but swap out the hot dogs for a small can of drained tuna. Break it up well as you cook and mix things together.
Wednesday
Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice. This is a great recipe for using up leftover shredded chicken.
Thursday
Grab a bag of Bear Creek Soup and a loaf of French bread (make sure to check the day old racks in the bakery department!) Note that Aldi has a store brand version of these soups for under $3.
Friday
A pound of pork sausage, milk, and package of white gravy mix served with (2) cans of biscuits or some Homemade Baking Powder Biscuits and some fresh fruits (opt for seasonal fruits as they'll be cheaper).
Saturday
Leftover night. I like to warm up and assembled all of our leftovers like a buffet and allow everyone to pick and choose what they wanted to eat. This allows everyone to pick and choose their favorites from the week and ensures everything gets eaten.
Any leftovers that weren't eaten during the week get tossed in the trash after dinner, and we start the week fresh the next day.
Like this meal plan? Click here for a FREE Printable Copy of this $180 Menu Plan for a Family of 4.
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