25 Cheap and Delicious $5 Dinners for a Family of Four Everyone Will Love

Some might find amusing the concept of a $5 dinner for four, picturing a bunch of people eating flavorless crackers and calling it a night. However, with the correct mentality, most can make this work. If you use breakfast components, think of the pantry basics and store brand instructions as leftovers. That’s a good thing.

It may also not be the case that some of these will cost $5 depending on your geographical area as you might engage in some sales and opt for fewer components. This could mean that I will have to give something rather weird, and I am absolutely fine with that.

1) Olive Oil Pasta

Even though I threw this dinner together last minute, it feels super planned. For the pasta, I used a garlic and oil (or butter) sauce and added chili flakes and a green thing from my crisper which could have been spinach, kale, or even chopped broccoli stems. The only trick is to toast the garlic until it turns golden and nutty and isn’t burned. I’ve burned garlic before and it smells like regret. If you have a lemon, just a squeeze of it lifts the entire dish like it just got good news.

2) Quesadillas with Bean Filling

Canned black beans are endlessly useful. What you can do is mash some with salt and cumin and spread that into a tortilla with cheese and toast it until it cracks. For dip, I mix plain yogurt and salsa instead of using sour cream, super economico, and yogurt is a better choice too. If your kids are a bit picky about “beans,” you can keep the mash smooth and call it “taco filling”: this surprisingly works well.

3) Rice And Eggs

Hot rice and eggs is proven to be comforting food. You can do this by either cooking the rice from scratch or reheating some rice from a previous meal, then just heat or scramble some eggs, and finish with soy sauce, and with a little bit of butter for that texture and flavor that is savory and oh so rich. Just like that, you have a dish that will make people quiet for a while. You can add some frozen peas or shredded carrots for added color and to make it a little healthier. However, I would never say that I always do that. Keeping things simple and fast is the objective at times.

4) Personal Pizzas

For late-night pizza cravings without spending money, use bread for the base. First, toast the bread. Then, spread your choice of tomato-based sauce (this could be some pasta sauce, a jar of sauce, even canned tomatoes) over the bread, add cheese, and broil it until the cheese is bubbly. I like to add a bit of garlic powder and oregano. Your oven will smell like a pizza place too. If you want to be really nice, you could add a bagged salad.

5) Lentil Soup

Dried lentils might be one of the very few foods that seem to want to help. If you simmer them with some onions and carrots, and any kind of broth you have (even bouillon cubes), you can make a soup that will fill people up. I like to add a bit of vinegar (apple cider, red wine, or even just plain white) just before serving, and the flavor really pops. Serving some crusty bread will help you look more professional too.

6) Salad Sandwiches

For the chickpea spread, start by mashing the chickpeas using a fork. After that, mix some mayonnaise (or do a yogurt/mustard combo) and finish with some chopped celery or diced pickles, if those are available. This spread will be like tuna salad, only it won’t cost you an arm and a leg for tuna, and you could even take it for lunch the next day since it’ll still be fresh in the fridge. The first time I made this dish, I placed a cover on the ingredients so that no one could see them until the plates were almost empty. Yes, it’s a bit cowardly, but it was quite entertaining. With how chickpeas are, they will not have enough seasoning, so be bold with your spice additions.

7) Bean Chili

With two cans of beans, one can of tomatoes, a handful of frozen corn, and chili powder, you can get dinner ready in no time. Just let it simmer for a bit to thicken and develop the flavor. Add crushed tortilla chips or a spoonful of rice to stretch it further. Many people seem to miss the meat in chili, but honestly, with enough toppings to choose from, I think most people will stop caring.

8) Cabbage And Noodles

Cabbage is a cheap and hardy vegetable. It’s very easy to overcook it and it will still taste good. When it comes time to cook, simply slice it thinly, and sauté it with onions. To create an enticing dish, sprinkle a generous amount of black pepper. Once the edges of the butter/oil mixture become a golden brown, stir in the noodles. The dish will taste like grandma’s secret recipe.

9) Breakfast Pancakes

Pancakes are the definition of saving money. For a healthier pancake topping and a more cost-effective option, swap out syrup for peanut butter and banana. Use any pancake mix that you have, and then top the finished product with peanut butter and sliced banana. I’ve seen kids eat this with the same intense concentration that a business person shows on a task that is critical. The pancakes can be the main component of the meal, but have scrambled eggs on the side if more protein is desired.

10) Baked Potato

You can whip up a meal in a jacket for a big russet potato. I repeat, bake or mic it until fluffy, then add steamed frozen broccoli and a little cheese. If you have plain yogurt, you can use it in place of sour cream without spending a lot. The secret, is salt; potatoes tend to be dramatic and need some excitement to perform.

11) Spanish Rice And Eggs

With a little effort you can have a warm dish that is slightly Spanish by cooking rice with some canned tomatoes (or possibly a spoon of tomato paste) and adding a little bit of onion. Put some fried eggs on top so everyone can have the golden yolk sauce thing. I might toss in some smoked paprika if I have it on hand, but regular paprika also works just as well. It is cheap, filling, and curiously brings joy.

12) Pasta With Tuna

I make this when I want something easy and familiar. I mix hot pasta with canned tuna and frozen peas, then add a quick sauce of butter and milk (or olive oil and lemon). It might not be designer, but it is just as authentic as your fave old sweatshirt. If you have people in your house who don’t like tuna, keep the tuna separate from the rest of the food and let the others decide what they want.

13) Ramen Noodles

Instant ramen is inexpensive and also ramen with an egg and some greens is a full meal. Eggs are the best way to upgrade the meal to a restaurant quality bowl. You can either poach the egg in the broth, or soft boil the egg, slice it, and add it to the broth. I used frozen spinach because it’s easier. If you are sensitive to salt, a warning for the seasoning packet, as some people find ramen to be too salty.

14) Tostadas

Spread some refried beans on the tortillas, and put on some tomatoes, lettuce, and whatever sauce you like. These are super crunchy and filling. You can even make them look fancy with some dressing! These are great to wear on a sweatpants day. I have had tostada bar nights in the past and I only put out a jar of salsa and some chopped onions and nobody seemed to care. The tostadas do a lot of emotional labor.

15) Split Pea Soup

The feeling of silkiness is elegance personified and is hard to believe while the split peas are still simmering. The best part is that split peas are also very inexpensive and only require minimal time and/or patience. If you see a bay leaf hiding in your spice drawer, be sure to include that along with some diced onion and carrot when you get to the cooking part. No need to worry if you don’t have ham. A little bit of smoked paprika or some extra black pepper can also help create some depth. Even if you haven’t been very responsible, your kitchen will smell like you have when you make this soup.

16) Grilled Cheese And Soup

I have to be honest about my position on this dish; grilling cheese is my ideal comfort food. It gets better when I have it with tomato soup, which is an easy dish to prepare. One can simply use canned tomatoes, add a bit of milk (it could be an inexpensive carton of milk, which is totally fine), and you are good to go. I always start by buttering the bread. I toast it slowly to give enough time for the cheese to melt. If you do it too fast, you could be left with a half-melt situation, which is not ideal. If you serve it with pickles, it adds some good crunch. I do.

17) Beans On Toast

What if you heat a can of white beans with some added butter (or olive oil) and a bit of garlic? You can develop a nice creamy texture by smashing a few of the beans and then spooning the creamy mixture onto some toast. This is quick to prepare and a bit strange but is also more refined and inexpensive than most other snack options. Just a few drops of lemon or vinegar keep the dish from being bland. When I served this for the first time, I was expecting some criticism, but I was caught off guard when I was met with silence and one comment: “Can we do this again?” Talk about an endorsement.

18) Vegetable Fried Rice

Not as great as cold leftover rice, but fresh rice will work (just spread it out to dry for a minute). Then prepare your frozen mixed vegetables and combine them with the rice and soy sauce as you please. After that, just crack an egg into the pan and stir. This dinner is nice enough to serve to guests and uses up a variety of leftovers. A little sesame oil will add the lovely restaurant smell.

19) Polenta Bowls

Polenta, aka cornmeal mush, is a cheap, comforting meal, especially warm in the winter. Just stir it until it’s creamy, then add some marinara and cheese if you have some. I personally enjoy it with sautéed onions or mushrooms, but others prefer it with just a straight marinara sauce, and that’s good too. A meal like this enables you to appreciate the moment, and that is valuable in itself.

20) Peanut Noodles

Peanut butter, soy sauce and a little hot water make a quick sauce. For added crunch, feel free to include some shredded carrot or cabbage. If the peanut butter is especially bitter, I tend to add some sugar or honey. It is very good and will be gone before you can even sit down.

21) Chicken And Rice

Drumstick prices are no exception to the rules of supply and demand. They often go on sale for $5. Roast until the skin is crispy and the meat is juicy. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. You may have the appearance of having to put in a significant effort, when, in reality, you only paired it with rice and a frozen vegetable. If the price of chicken in your area is absurd, feel free to substitute the chicken for beans.

22) Vegetable Frittata

If you don’t plan on making eggs the only source of protein for the week, eggs can save a number of families some cash. Sauté any vegetables that you have on hand. Then, add some beaten eggs, and cook gently until they are set. When it comes to frittatas, I think everyone has come across ones that were a tad too browned on the bottom, but that is all made up for when the ketchup comes out. It makes the meal feel complete, like we’re not just cleaning out the fridge (even though we are definitely fridge cleaning).

23) Sausage And Cabbage

Buy any sausage that is on sale. You can make a lot of cabbage and onions with just a few links. Brown the sausage and use the drippings to cook the cabbage (add pepper and a splash of vinegar). It smells somewhat like a tavern, and I mean that in a good way. If you need some help later in the week, go ahead and freeze the leftover sausage.

24) Pasta And Beans

Combine the hot pasta with the sautéed garlic and white beans along with a splash of reserved pasta water to create a silky-smooth sauce. A few smashed beans add creaminess to the sauce. Other gourmet chefs may recommend bean sauces, on the other hand, I tend to stick with a decent dose of dried rosemary or Italian seasoning, and call myself a herb connoisseur. This dish feels relaxed and calm, the warm food equivalent of a deep breath.

25) Burrito Bowl

I make this simple dish when people have varying food preferences. I start with some rice, to which I then add beans and corn. I complete the bowl with toppings of lettuce and onion, cheese, and salsa. In a separate dish, I prepare a sauce by mixing yogurt or mayonnaise with lime juice and salt, which adds a lot of extra flavor to the dish. Serving everything separately is better than any negotiations to keep the peace with picky eaters.