Forum Challenge: Meals for 4 people at $5 or less in total cost

[mitchell]

That's right... $5 or less to feed a family of four dinner for the night. Must be healthy and if you use your own produce or such add the current store cost average sale price would be fair I think into the meal cost. For example my peppers would be 10 cents each on sale at the Jewel.

I'll start off with my dinner for tonight. I am actually doubling this and doing 2 chickens that will be the base for two other meals chicken enchiladas and chicken soup and extra stock for the pantry. The single recipe below will serve 2 adults and 3 children and give a carcass for a pot of chicken soup for a lunch or another supper. Just throw the carcass into a large pot, put in enough cold water to cover the chicken completely and simmer the chicken for a few hours until the meat is falling off the bone. Strain the chicken and strip off the meat and dice. Return stock and chicken to pot and add in the leftover diced vegetable and pan drippings and simmer for another 1/2 hour. Now for the actual meal plan...

Roasted Rosemary and Lemon Chicken with Steamed Broccoli

1 (5 lbs.) whole chicken - $2.37 for a 4.84lb @ .49
1 medium onion, quartered - .25 approx.
2 T. dried rosemary - penny's buy in bulk package .05 approx.
2 garlic cloves, halved - .05 approx.
1 lemon, quartered - .25 approx.
2 lbs potatoes, peeled and quartered length wise - 10 lbs $3 = .60 approx.
1/4 cup olive oil - large bottle - .20 approx.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff the chicken with the onion, rosemary, garlic and lemon. Place the chicken in a roasting pan and surround with the potatoes. Rub the chicken with some of the olive oil and mix the remaining oil with the potatoes. Cover dish and bake/roast for an hour. Remove lid and stir potatoes and baste chicken with pan drippings and continue baking for another hour or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Cooking time will vary a bit depending on the size of the bird!

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2 lbs. fresh broccoli steamed - sale price $.59 lb = $1.18

Total cost of the meal and the soup for another time: $4.95

So what can you come up with???

 

[Taz]

Fat Free Burritos

1 can Walmart refried fat free beans .50
1pkg of fat free FLOUR tortillas, medium size .99
1 small carton of fat free sour cream .99
1/2 onion chopped .25
1 ripe tomatoe chopped .25
1 bunch of fresh cilantro cut with scissors .44

Heat the tortillas in micro wave between two paper plates. Spread with heated beans, top with onion, cilantro, tomato and sour cream. Can also add salsa.

I have given the cost of the items but sure wouldn't use all the cilantro or the sour cream. We usually don't serve this with anything else.

Taz

 

[Mountain Mike]

Kath,

Great thread topic. I love it! Below are a few recipes that we actually eat on a regular basis.

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HOT DOGS & MIXED VEGETABLES

1 pack hot dogs, generic $ .99
1 pack buns, store brand $ .99
Mustard & ketchup $ .50 (estimate)
1 pack frozen mixed vegetables $ .69 (sale)

$3.17 total cost


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Spam* & Noodles

1 can Spam $ 1.84 (from Costco)
8 oz. Noodles $ .34
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (store brand) $ .69
¼ cup milk $ .13

Cook noodles, drain. Add soup and milk. Cube Spam and add to the mix. Bring to desired temperature.

1 pack frozen lima beans (side dish) $ .79

$3.79 total cost

*or canned chicken, or tuna

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Lentil Soup

1 pack lentils $ .69
8 oz. Sausage, Farmer John $ .99
1 onion chopped $ .25
1 carrot, chopped $ .25
3 stalks celery, chopped $ .25
Salt & pepper $ .05

1 tube frozen bisquets $ .99

Soak lentils overnight, drain the next morning. Brown sausage. Add other ingredients and seasoning. Cook in crock pot all day. Serve with bisquets.

$3.47 total cost

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Spaghetti

1 Jar spaghetti sauce $1.50 (Prego, on sale)
1 pack spaghetti noodles $ .99
1 lb. Ground beef $ .99

1 bunch fresh broccoli $ .99

$4.47 total cost
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[Mountain Mike]

Pinto Beans


These taste just like the ones at Chevy's -

1 lb. pinto beans
1 large can of tomato sauce
ham pieces (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
One clove garlic, chopped

Soak beans in water overnight. Drain and Rinse beans. Put all
ingredients in crock pot, add black pepper, onion powder, cayenne,
garlic powder or whatever spices you like, and cook for 12 hours on low. Salt as needed after beans are cooked. Delicious.

Cost: beans $1.47, ham .25 (I buy on sale for .79 lb and freeze in small portions), tomato sauce .70, spices .35, garlic (free from garden).

Total Cost - under $3.00. Makes several meals, you can serve beans and cornbread for first meal, and use the left overs for burritos to freeze, or in other dishes.

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Taco Casserole

1lb ground beef
1 large can refried beans
1 pkg. taco seasoning
cheese (about 1 cup depending on tasted)
2 pkg. corn bread mix

Toppings - lettuce, tomato, onion, sour cream (pretty much whatever is on sale)

Make corn bread batter according to pkg. directions.Brown ground beef; drain fat. In 9 x 13 pan spread the beans along the bottom; then layer the ground beef and the cheese pour corn bread batter over the top. Bake at 425 for about 10 - 15 minutes (until cornbread is done) yummy! It will easily feed 4-6 people and costs around $5 depending on sales

 

[jeannie]

Enchilada Lasagne

1 lb ground beef $ 1.00
1 Small onion chopped $ .25
1 Can Enchilada Sauce $ 1.29
1/2 C Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese $ 1.00
1 small package (one doz.) flour tortillas $ .99

Brown meat & onion, drain fat.

Pour a small amount of sauce in bottom of glass baking dish (8 x 8 works really well) to keep tortillas from sticking.

Slice tortillas lasagne width, use the end pieces for corners.

Layer tortillas, meat, sauce. Top with shredded cheese.

Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 for approx. 30 - 40 min.

Total cost: Approx. $ 4.53