5 Simple Meals to Feed Your Family for $5 or Less

It may seem impossible in today’s economy – but yes, you can actually make some meals to feed your family for $5 or less.

But don’t get it twisted – it’s still a challenge. The average family of four spends $1,380 on groceries under a moderate plan per month, according to Ramsey Solutions, citing data from the USDA. That comes out to $345 per week or about $16.43 per meal, which assumes three meals per day.

If you find yourself strapped for cash and struggling to pay the bills, we have some cost-friendly options that will keep you under $5 per meal. Here you’ll be able to find a solid mix of protein-rich and fiber options.

Keep in mind that exact prices will vary by city, state and the store.

Meals with Eggs

It’s a good thing that the worst of the bird flu is over, with a carton of 12 eggs now costing just $1.49 at Target, according to a local location viewed by HealthyonBudget.

You can buy a 12-ounce Good & Gather sweet potato chunks bag (which has four servings) for just $2.59. That’s a solid breakfast with three grams of fiber and 6-12 grams of protein per person for just $4.08.

But how about eggs for dinner? This is something that actually used to happen at my household when I was younger.

You can get creative by buying a green bell pepper for 95 cents, adding a kick to your eggs or you can add a cut Russet potato or two for 79 cents each. Either way, you’ll be under $5 easily, even if you go with potato with eggs and peppers.

Meals with Pasta:

There’s a lot you can do with pasta as well. A 16-ounce box of Rotini costs just $1.29 at Target, which should be enough to feed four people. Target’s Good & Gather makes multiple sauce varieties, including roasted garlic and tomato, basil & garlic.

I recommend buying the organic versions because they feature the superior-tasting extra virgin olive oil as opposed to seed oils. It’ll cost 80 cents more, but a 24-ounce jar (which is plenty to feed your family) for $2.59 it still a solid deal. So you’re talking about pasta and sauce for $3.88.

But on some other nights, you may want to get a little fancier. How about spaghetti, which will cost the same as the other 16-ounce Good & Gather pasta at Target, with extra virgin olive oil and garlic?

Trader Joe’s has a great deal on that oil variety, selling a 33.8-ounce bottle for $10.99. You’ll need about five tablespoons, which comes out to 16 cents for each one or about 80 cents total. Plus, chop up some garlic; bulbs typically cost around 50 cents or less, depending on the store. Use how much you like, but half of the cloves may be good enough for a meal.

Making Spaghetti, with garlic and oil, shouldn’t cost any more than $2.59. You can add a frozen 12-ounce bag of broccoli at Target for an extra $1.29.

Rice & Beans

Another affordable starch to add to your dinners is rice. Instant brown rice costs $1.59 at Target, featuring nine servings. Meats might go well with rice, but it will be tougher to stay under budget.

But rice and beans will do the trick. Target sells an organic 15-ounce pinto can for $1.29. It’s not a fancy meal, but it’s a nutritious and budget-friendly one, costing around $2 for four servings. You’re also talking about seven grams of fiber per serving.

Right now, times are tough for many households, with high inflation and economic uncertainty. Still, while some of these meals are pretty basic, they can be part of a healthy diet.

On most days, you may not need to stay under $5 for meals – but doing this a few times a week might deliver significant savings. A simple $10 difference may not seem like a lot for one meal, but it does add up over time when it turns into $100 or more per month. Use this as needed. Also, consider buying products with larger servings if your store has them. This can provide savings over the long term.