Cheap Dinner Ideas: 30 Easy Family Meals Under $2 a Serving (2026)

Quick answer: The cheapest dinners we priced were egg fried rice ($0.64 a serving), ramen stir-fry with egg ($0.76), potato and onion frittata ($0.81), peanut noodles ($0.89) and spaghetti with lentil sauce ($0.95).¹ All 30 cheap dinner ideas below cost $0.64 to $1.88 a serving for a family of four, using online prices from one Walmart in Sacramento, California, on October 14, 2026. Half cost $1.23 a serving or less.¹

If you are feeding kids on a tight budget, see our guide to food assistance for families with children. No money for groceries this week? Find a food pantry or get emergency food help.

How we priced them: We priced the 30 recipes from 47 Walmart.com listings for store #3081 in Sacramento, California, on October 14, 2026, and counted only the share of each package a dinner uses.¹ Every recipe is a family dinner for four. Prices differ by store and change often.

Your first trip costs more, because you buy whole bags and jars. Buying every package for the lentil soup cost $14.73 at this store, but the leftover lentils, onions, carrots, cumin and oil go into later dinners.¹ Plan 3 or 4 dinners that share the same staples, such as rice, onions, beans and cheese.

What are the cheapest meals to make at home?

Eggs, rice, noodles and lentils make the cheapest meals. These 10 cheap meal ideas cost the least per serving, and 8 of the 30 dinners cost under $1 a serving.¹

Dinner	Per serving	For 4	Main protein
Egg fried rice	$0.64	$2.55	Eggs
Ramen stir-fry with egg and vegetables	$0.76	$3.03	Eggs
Potato and onion frittata	$0.81	$3.25	Eggs, cheese
Peanut noodles with cabbage and carrots	$0.89	$3.56	Peanut butter
Eggs simmered in spicy tomato sauce, with toast	$0.95	$3.78	Eggs
Spaghetti with lentil sauce	$0.95	$3.80	Lentils
Chicken and rice soup	$0.95	$3.82	Chicken
Lentil soup	$0.97	$3.87	Lentils
Tomato soup and grilled cheese	$1.01	$4.05	Cheese, milk
Sheet-pan chicken drumsticks with potatoes and carrots	$1.12	$4.48	Chicken

Source: PantryPath price check of Walmart.com prices for store #3081, October 14, 2026.¹ Tap a dinner to jump to its recipe.

What are cheap dinner ideas for a family of 4 under $5?

18 of these 30 cheap meals for families cost under $5 to make for four.¹ Besides the 10 in the table, they are these 8 family dinners:

• Pasta e fagioli: $4.65 for four.¹
• Red beans and rice: $4.70 for four.¹
• Chickpea curry: $4.71 for four.¹
• Bean burritos: $4.84 for four.¹
• Mac and cheese with broccoli: $4.93 for four.¹
• Chicken, broccoli and rice casserole: $4.93 for four.¹
• Black bean bowls: $4.95 for four.¹
• Creamy potato soup: $4.96 for four.¹

The most expensive, beef and bean tacos, cost $7.53 for four.¹ Meat is the costly part.

Ground beef cost $5.94 a pound, while chicken drumsticks cost $1.19 a pound, and three of the four dinners over $1.50 a serving use ground beef.¹

For six people, make 1½ times a recipe. Egg fried rice then comes to about $3.84, and a $1.23-a-serving dinner to about $7.38 (cost per serving × 6).¹ Whole cans and packages make scaling less exact.

Cheap vegetarian dinners with beans, lentils and rice (not just pasta)

Four of these six are vegetarian as written: the chickpea curry, bean burritos, black bean bowls and two-bean chili. Use vegetable broth in the lentil soup to make five. A cup of dried pinto beans cost $0.42, and a 15-ounce can of beans cost $0.92.¹

Lentil soup

$0.97 a serving, $3.87 for 4.¹

You need: 1 cup dry lentils, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp oil.

Make it: Soften the chopped onion and carrots in the oil. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth and cumin, and simmer until tender. For bigger appetites, serve it with 8 slices of wheat bread for about 62 cents more.¹

Red beans and rice with smoked sausage

$1.17 a serving, $4.70 for 4.¹

You need: 2 cans dark red kidney beans, half a 13-oz smoked sausage, 1½ cups uncooked rice, 1 onion, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 tsp each garlic powder and chili powder, 1 tbsp oil. We priced Eckrich andouille sausage at $3.46 a package.¹

Make it: Cook the rice. Brown the sliced sausage and onion in the oil, add the drained beans, broth and spices, and simmer.

Chickpea and tomato curry over rice

$1.18 a serving, $4.71 for 4.¹

You need: 2 cans chickpeas, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, 1 onion, 1 tbsp curry powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp oil, 1½ cups uncooked rice.

Make it: Cook the rice. Soften the onion with the oil and spices, add the chickpeas and tomatoes, and simmer until thick.

Bean, rice and cheese burritos

$1.21 a serving, $4.84 for 4.¹

You need: 1 cup dry pinto beans, 1 cup uncooked rice, 8 burrito-size flour tortillas, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1 cup salsa, 1 tsp cumin.

Make it: Start the day before: soak the pintos overnight, then simmer them in fresh water as the bag directs until soft. Mash them with the cumin, and fill the tortillas with beans, cooked rice, cheese and salsa, two per person. Short on time? Use 2 cans (15.5 oz) of pinto beans, which cost $1.84 against $0.42 for the dry beans.¹

Black bean and rice bowls

$1.24 a serving, $4.95 for 4.¹

You need: 2 cans black beans, 1½ cups uncooked rice, 1 cup salsa, 1 cup shredded cheddar, ¼ head cabbage, 1 tsp cumin.

Make it: Top cooked rice with the beans warmed with cumin, shredded cabbage, salsa and cheese.

Two-bean chili (no meat)

$1.37 a serving, $5.47 for 4.¹

You need: 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can black beans, 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, 1 onion, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp oil, ½ cup shredded cheddar.

Make it: Soften the onion in the oil with the spices. Add the beans and tomatoes, simmer until thick, and top with cheese.

Cheap pasta and noodle dinners

Spaghetti cost $1.00 a pound, elbow macaroni $1.36 and a 24-ounce jar of pasta sauce $2.14.¹ These nine simple, budget-friendly meals are built on pasta or noodles.

Ramen stir-fry with egg and vegetables

$0.76 a serving, $3.03 for 4.¹

You need: 4 packs ramen, 4 eggs, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oil.

Make it: Boil and drain the noodles, going light on the flavor packets. Stir-fry the vegetables, scramble in the eggs until firm, and toss with soy sauce.

Peanut noodles with cabbage and carrots

$0.89 a serving, $3.56 for 4.¹

You need: 1 lb spaghetti, ½ cup peanut butter, ¼ cup soy sauce, ½ head cabbage, 2 carrots, 1 tsp garlic powder.

Make it: Cook the spaghetti. Whisk the peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic powder and a splash of hot pasta water, then toss with the noodles, sliced cabbage and grated carrots.

Spaghetti with lentil sauce

$0.95 a serving, $3.80 for 4.¹

You need: 1 lb spaghetti, 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce, ½ cup dry lentils, 1 onion, 1 tbsp oil.

Make it: Simmer the lentils in water until tender and drain. Add them to the softened onion and the sauce, and serve over the spaghetti.

Pasta e fagioli (bean and pasta soup)

$1.16 a serving, $4.65 for 4.¹

You need: 8 oz elbow macaroni, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can diced tomatoes, 4 cups broth, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp oil.

Make it: Soften the onion and carrots in the oil. Add the broth, tomatoes, beans and garlic powder, bring to a boil, and cook the macaroni in it.

Stovetop mac and cheese with broccoli

$1.23 a serving, $4.93 for 4.¹

You need: 1 lb elbow macaroni, 2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar, 2 cups milk, 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen broccoli.

Make it: Cook the macaroni, adding the broccoli near the end. Make a sauce of butter, flour and milk, stir in the cheese, then the pasta.

Cabbage and egg noodles (haluski) with fried eggs

$1.29 a serving, $5.16 for 4.¹

You need: 12 oz egg noodles, 1 head cabbage, 1 onion, 4 tbsp butter, 4 eggs.

Make it: Fry the sliced cabbage and onion in the butter until browned. Toss with the cooked noodles and top each plate with a firm fried egg.

Baked tuna and egg noodles with peas

$1.43 a serving, $5.70 for 4.¹

You need: 12 oz egg noodles, 2 cans (5 oz) tuna, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas, ½ cup milk, ½ cup shredded cheddar.

Make it: Mix the cooked noodles with the soup, milk, tuna and peas, top with cheese, and bake until bubbling.

Spaghetti with meat sauce

$1.58 a serving, $6.32 for 4.¹

You need: 1 lb spaghetti, 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce, ½ lb ground beef, 1 onion.

Make it: Brown the beef and onion to 160°F and drain the fat.² Add the sauce and serve over the spaghetti.

Cheeseburger macaroni (homemade "helper")

$1.68 a serving, $6.71 for 4.¹

You need: 1 lb elbow macaroni, ½ lb ground beef, 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, 1 cup milk, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1 onion.

Make it: Brown the beef and onion to 160°F.² Stir in the tomato sauce and milk, then the cooked macaroni and the cheese.

Cheap egg dinners (breakfast for dinner)

Eggs cost $1.67 a dozen at this store, about 14 cents each.¹ The national average was $2.27 a dozen in September 2026, down from $3.49 a year earlier.³ Cook egg dishes such as frittata to 160°F, and cook whole eggs until the whites and yolks are firm.²

Egg fried rice

$0.64 a serving, $2.55 for 4.¹

You need: 1½ cups uncooked rice, 6 eggs, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp garlic powder.

Make it: Cook the rice the day before and refrigerate it within 2 hours,⁴ or cook it now and spread it on a plate to cool before frying. Scramble the eggs in a little oil until firm and set them aside. Stir-fry the vegetables and rice in the rest, then add the soy sauce, garlic powder and eggs.

Potato and onion frittata

$0.81 a serving, $3.25 for 4.¹

You need: 8 eggs, 2 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 tbsp oil, ½ cup shredded cheddar, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas for a side.

Make it: Cook thin-sliced potatoes and onion in the oil, covered, until tender. Add the beaten eggs and cheese, cover, and cook on low until it reaches 160°F.²

Eggs simmered in spicy tomato sauce, with toast

$0.95 a serving, $3.78 for 4.¹

You need: 8 eggs, 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, 1 onion, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tbsp oil, 8 slices wheat bread.

Make it: Simmer the onion and spices in the oil with the tomatoes until thick. Crack in the eggs, cover, and cook until the whites and yolks are firm,² then serve with toast.

Egg and potato breakfast burritos

$1.40 a serving, $5.62 for 4.¹

You need: 8 eggs, 2 potatoes, 8 burrito-size flour tortillas, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1 cup salsa, 1 tbsp oil.

Make it: Fry the diced potatoes in the oil until tender, scramble in the eggs until firm, and roll up in the tortillas with cheese and salsa.

What are cheap dinner ideas with chicken?

Drumsticks cost $1.19 a pound in a 5-pound bag. A 10-pound bag of leg quarters at the same store was cheaper still, at $8.64 (about 86 cents a pound), if you can freeze the extra. A chicken-thigh value pack cost $1.87 a pound.¹ Cook all poultry, and casseroles that contain it, to 165°F.²

Chicken and rice soup

$0.95 a serving, $3.82 for 4.¹

You need: 1¼ lb chicken drumsticks (about 4), 1 cup uncooked rice, 2 carrots, 1 onion, 4 cups broth plus 4 cups water, 1 tsp garlic powder.

Make it: Simmer the drumsticks with the broth, water, chopped vegetables and garlic powder until the chicken reaches 165°F.² Take out the drumsticks, shred the meat off the bones, and return it to the pot with the rice. Simmer until the rice is tender, adding water if it gets thick, and add 8 slices of wheat bread for about 62 cents more if you need it.¹

Sheet-pan chicken drumsticks with potatoes and carrots

$1.12 a serving, $4.48 for 4.¹

You need: 2½ lb drumsticks (about 8), 4 potatoes, 4 carrots, 2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp chili powder.

Make it: Toss everything with the oil and spices on a sheet pan. Roast until the chicken reaches 165°F and the vegetables are tender.²

Chicken, broccoli and rice casserole

$1.23 a serving, $4.93 for 4.¹

You need: 1¼ lb drumsticks, 1½ cups uncooked rice, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen broccoli, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1 cup milk.

Make it: Simmer or roast the drumsticks until they reach 165°F,² let them cool, and pull the meat off the bones. Cook the rice. Mix the rice, chicken, soup, broccoli and milk in a dish, top with cheese, and bake until the center reaches 165°F.²

What are cheap dinner ideas with ground beef and sausage?

Ground beef (73% lean) cost $5.94 a pound, about five times the price of drumsticks.¹ So two of these recipes use only half a pound and stretch it with beans, lentils or potatoes. Cook ground beef to 160°F.²

Smoked sausage, cabbage and potato skillet

$1.40 a serving, $5.61 for 4.¹

You need: 1 package (13 oz) smoked sausage (we priced Eckrich andouille, $3.46),¹ ½ head cabbage, 3 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 tbsp oil.

Make it: Cook the diced potatoes in the oil, covered, until nearly tender. Add the sliced sausage, onion and cabbage, and cook until soft.

Beef and lentil cottage pie

$1.50 a serving, $5.99 for 4.¹

You need: ½ lb ground beef, ½ cup dry lentils, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, 1 onion, 1 cup broth, 4 potatoes, 2 tbsp butter, ½ cup milk.

Make it: Simmer the lentils in water until tender and drain. Boil the peeled, cut potatoes until soft, then mash them with the butter and milk. Brown the beef and onion to 160°F,² add the lentils, vegetables and broth, and simmer.

Spread the filling in a baking dish, top with the potatoes, and bake until hot. It is a shepherd's pie made with beef.

Beef and bean tacos

$1.88 a serving, $7.53 for 4.¹

You need: ½ lb ground beef, 1 can black beans, 1 packet taco seasoning, 10 taco-size flour tortillas, ¼ head cabbage, ½ cup shredded cheddar.

Make it: Brown the beef to 160°F,² then add the beans, seasoning and the water the packet calls for. Fill warm tortillas and top with cabbage and cheese.

Cheap soup and potato dinners

Potatoes cost $1.98 for a 5-pound bag, about 40 cents a pound.¹ These easy recipes stretch a little protein across a big pot.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese

$1.01 a serving, $4.05 for 4.¹

You need: 2 cans condensed tomato soup, 2½ cups milk, 8 slices wheat bread, 8 slices American cheese, 2 tbsp butter.

Make it: Heat the soup with the milk. Toast buttered cheese sandwiches in a skillet until golden.

Creamy potato soup

$1.24 a serving, $4.96 for 4.¹

You need: 6 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, 4 cups broth, 2 cups milk, ½ cup shredded cheddar, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas for a side.

Make it: Soften the onion in the butter and stir in the flour. Add the broth and diced potatoes, simmer until soft, then add the milk, mash a little, and top with cheese.

Vegetable, bean and macaroni soup

$1.33 a serving, $5.31 for 4.¹

You need: 1 bag (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can kidney beans, 2 potatoes, 1 onion, 4 cups broth, 4 oz elbow macaroni, 1 tsp garlic powder.

Make it: Simmer the onion, diced potatoes, broth, tomatoes and garlic powder until the potatoes are nearly soft. Add the beans, vegetables and macaroni, and cook until tender.

Tuna melts with a side of peas

$1.43 a serving, $5.72 for 4.¹

You need: 3 cans (5 oz) tuna, 8 slices wheat bread, 8 slices American cheese, 2 tbsp butter, ½ onion (minced), 1 bag (12 oz) frozen peas.

Make it: Mix the tuna with the onion, make sandwiches with the cheese, and toast them in the butter until the cheese melts.

Baked potatoes topped with bean chili and cheese

$1.53 a serving, $6.12 for 4.¹

You need: 4 large potatoes, 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1 bag (12 oz) frozen broccoli for a side.

Make it: Bake or microwave the potatoes until soft. Simmer the beans with the tomato sauce and chili powder, and spoon over the split potatoes with the cheese.

Can you make cheap dinners in a slow cooker (crockpot)?

Yes. Two-bean chili, lentil soup, chicken and rice soup, and red beans and rice made with canned beans make good crockpot meals; add the rice to the soup near the end. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) suggests high-moisture foods such as chili, soup and stew.⁵

• Before you start: always thaw meat or poultry first, and put the vegetables in first, because they cook slower than meat.⁵
• Settings: if you can, use the highest setting for the first hour, then low or your recipe's setting. Cooking on low the whole time is also safe. Keep the lid on.⁵
• Leftovers: refrigerate them in shallow covered containers within 2 hours. Reheat them to 165°F on the stove, in a microwave or in an oven, not in the slow cooker.⁵

Do not cook dried red kidney beans in a slow cooker, which doesn't get hot enough to destroy the bean toxin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says to boil the beans for at least 30 minutes, and cites British studies that recommend soaking them at least 5 hours and draining before boiling.⁶ The chili recipes here use canned beans.

What are some cheap healthy meal ideas you can make?

Build each dinner around a protein and a vegetable. Lentil soup ($0.97 a serving), chicken and rice soup ($0.95), sheet-pan drumsticks with potatoes and carrots ($1.12), chickpea curry ($1.18) and two-bean chili ($1.37) all do that.¹

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, from USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), say every meal should prioritize protein from animal or plant sources.⁷ They call for 3 servings of vegetables and 2 of fruit a day.⁷ They encourage 2 to 4 servings of whole grains a day and say refined grain products should be limited; oats, rice and true sourdough are preferred when eaten whole or traditionally prepared.⁷

• High-protein in every dinner: each of the 30 dinners has beans, lentils, eggs, chicken, beef, sausage, fish, cheese or peanut butter.¹
• Cheap vegetables: 12-ounce bags of frozen vegetables cost $0.94 to $0.98, a head of cabbage was about $2.68 (88 cents a pound), and a 2-pound bag of carrots cost $2.26.¹
• Brown rice: swapping brown rice for white adds about 2 to 3 cents a serving, since a 5-pound bag cost $4.33 against $3.52 for white.¹
• SNAP bonus for produce: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) healthy incentive programs at some stores and markets give a coupon, discount or extra funds for healthy foods.⁸ These include fruits, vegetables (including beans and peas), whole grains such as brown rice and oats, and dairy. Canned or frozen produce counts only without added sugar, fat, oil or salt.⁸

What are cheap meals for one person?

Cook the four-serving recipe and save the rest. The cost per serving stays the same, and you get three more meals.

Put leftovers in shallow containers and refrigerate them within 2 hours. They keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge or 3 to 4 months in the freezer. Reheat them to 165°F.⁴

You can halve most recipes, but whole cans and packages make halving less exact. For fiscal year 2027, the SNAP maximum for one person in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. is $306 a month.⁹

Cheap lunch ideas from tonight's dinner

The cheapest lunch is a planned leftover. Bean burritos (wrap them one at a time), egg fried rice, peanut noodles, pasta e fagioli or lentil soup in a thermos, and two-bean chili all pack well for work or school. Each costs the same per serving the next day.¹

Pack lunches the night you cook and eat them within 3 to 4 days.⁴ For a full week of planned meals, see our guide to meal planning on a budget.

What does $2 a serving mean on a SNAP budget?

It leaves room for the rest of the day. The Thrifty Food Plan is USDA's estimate of a nutritious, low-cost diet with all meals and snacks made at home, and its cost for a family of four sets the SNAP maximum.¹⁰ In August 2026 it cost $236.30 a week for a family of four, about $2.81 per person per meal ($236.30 ÷ 4 people ÷ 21 meals).¹⁰

For fiscal year 2027, which began October 1, 2026, the SNAP maximum for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. is $1,023 a month.⁹ At the maximum, that is about $2.80 per person per meal over a 30.4-day month. Most households get less, because SNAP expects a household to spend about 30% of its net income on food and subtracts that from the maximum.¹¹

At $0.64 to $1.88 a serving, these dinners leave money for breakfast, lunch and snacks.¹ Restaurant prices also rose faster than grocery prices: 3.4% against 2.2% in the year to August 2026.¹²

Learn how SNAP benefits work, or see how to stretch your SNAP benefits each month.

Is one store's price typical? Walmart vs. the national average

No, this store ran low. Walmart store #3081 was below the U.S. city average on all 12 staples we matched to a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) series.³¹

Staple	U.S. average, Sept. 2026	Walmart #3081, Oct. 14, 2026
White rice, per lb	$1.12	$0.70
Dried beans, per lb	$1.67	$0.99
Spaghetti and macaroni, per lb	$1.38	$1.00 (spaghetti); elbows $1.36
Large eggs, per dozen	$2.27	$1.67
Whole milk, per gallon	$4.11	$3.68
Ground beef, per lb	$6.79	$5.94
Chicken legs, bone-in, per lb	$1.74	$1.19
Potatoes, per lb	$0.99	$0.40
Cheddar cheese, per lb	$6.13	$3.94
Bread, per lb	$1.83	$1.22
Flour, per lb	$0.55	$0.39
Butter, per lb	$3.96	$3.06

Sources: BLS Average Price Data, U.S. city average, September 2026; Walmart.com prices for store #3081 on October 14, 2026, converted from package prices.³¹ BLS bread is white pan bread, and we priced a 20-ounce wheat loaf. We priced 73% lean ground beef and drumsticks for the BLS beef and chicken-leg rows.¹

Not every item ran low: lentils, used in three recipes, cost $1.92 a pound, above the BLS dried-bean average of $1.67.¹³ If you reprice the 12 staples at the national averages, 28 of the 30 dinners still cost under $2 a serving, and half cost $1.45 or less.¹³ The two that cross $2 are baked potatoes with bean chili ($2.15) and beef and bean tacos ($2.06).¹

How do you cut the cost of any dinner?

1. Buy the bigger bag when you can store it, but check the label. Pinto beans cost 6.8 cents an ounce in a 1-pound bag, 6.2 cents in a 2-pound bag and 5.2 cents in a 20-pound bag, but the 8-pound bag cost 9.0 cents.¹ Lentils cost 12.0 cents an ounce in a 1-pound bag and 9.3 cents in a 4-pound bag.¹
2. Compare the unit price, not the package price. Walmart.com shows a price per ounce or per pound for most items, which is how we compared bag sizes.¹ In a store, look for the unit price on the shelf tag.
3. Stretch meat with lentils or beans. The cottage pie uses half a pound of beef plus ½ cup of lentils and costs $1.50 a serving.¹
4. Choose leg quarters or drumsticks over thighs or ground beef. Leg quarters cost about 86 cents a pound in a 10-pound bag and drumsticks $1.19, against $1.87 for thighs and $5.94 for ground beef.¹
5. Use frozen vegetables. A 12-ounce bag cost $0.94 to $0.98, and you can pour out only what you need.¹
6. Get staples free. Find a food pantry or browse pantries that list canned goods; the FAQ below shows what pantries give out.
7. Out of food today? See emergency food help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I make when I have no money for groceries?

Start with free staples. Of 5,338 confirmed pantries in PantryPath's directory that list what they give out, 63% list fresh produce, 57% canned goods and 52% dry goods and grains.¹³ Find a food pantry, then cook from the bean, lentil and egg dinners above. For meals built from what a pantry bag usually holds, see our canned beans recipes.

How can I eat for $5 a day?

It is tight but possible on these dinners. Leftover bean burritos for lunch ($1.21) plus egg fried rice for dinner ($0.64) cost $1.85, which leaves about $3.15 for breakfast and snacks.¹

Build breakfast and snacks on eggs, oats, rice and beans.

What are budget-friendly dinner ideas for two people under $10?

Any dinner on this list works. The most expensive costs $7.53 to make for four, so two people get dinner plus a lunch of leftovers for under $10.¹

What cheap dinner can I make with ground beef and potatoes?

Try the beef and lentil cottage pie at $1.50 a serving, or swap the sausage in the cabbage and potato skillet ($1.40 a serving) for browned ground beef.¹ Cook ground beef to 160°F.²

Can I buy these ingredients with SNAP or EBT?

Yes. SNAP benefits, spent with an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, cover food for the household, such as produce, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread and cereal. They cannot buy foods that are hot at the point of sale.¹⁴

What is the cheapest protein for dinner?

Eggs, beans and bone-in chicken. At the store we checked, eggs cost $1.67 a dozen, chicken leg quarters about 86 cents a pound, drumsticks $1.19 a pound, a can of beans $0.92 and dried pinto beans about $0.99 a pound.¹ Ground beef cost $5.94 a pound, five times the price of drumsticks.¹

Which budget meals last a week or two if you freeze them?

Leftovers last only 3 to 4 days in the fridge but 3 to 4 months in the freezer.⁴ Freeze soups, chili, burritos and cottage pie in meal-size portions.

What are cheap and easy dinners when I'm too tired to cook?

Pick a dinner with no chopping. Ramen stir-fry costs $0.76 a serving and tomato soup with grilled cheese $1.01, and both are made from packaged, canned or frozen food.¹

How we checked this

On October 14, 2026, we priced the 30 recipes from 47 Walmart.com listings for store #3081 in Sacramento, California. We also compared 7 other package sizes and cuts from the same store's search results, reading prices online, not in the store.¹ We converted cups, spoons and "one medium" produce to package weights with USDA FoodData Central portion weights.¹⁵

We compared 12 staples with BLS average prices for September 2026.³ We queried the PantryPath directory the same day (confirmed listings with a state, name and city, n=7,566).¹³ We read federal pages on food safety, SNAP, the Thrifty Food Plan, the dietary guidelines and food prices.

Salt, pepper and water are not counted, and a serving is a quarter of each recipe. We did not cook these dinners in a test kitchen.

Next step: find a food pantry to cover your staples, or see more food help for families with children.