It’s no secret grocery prices are crazy right now, but these $5 dinners prove you can still make real, filling meals without overspending. I’m sharing 9 easy, budget-friendly dinners that are simple, family-approved, and actually satisfying. From one-pan meals to hearty comfort food, these recipes help you stretch your grocery budget and keep dinner easy. Thanks for all the support 🌼💚
All of the written recipes from today’s video:
00:00 $5 Dinners
00:10 Creamy Veggie-Packed Zucchini Corn Pasta
02:28 Sweet Potato Hash
03:56 Pepperoni Pizza Bubble Up Bake
05:48 Red Beans and Rice
06:48 Lazy Burritos
08:28 One-Pan Sausage, Broccoli and Rice
09:24 Taco Potato Skillet
10:34 Spanish Rice and Pinto Beans
12:20 Black Bean Enchiladas
Up Next:
Eating for $2 a Day (Full Week) → https://youtu.be/6vPf9krVUa0
33 Comments
You and Dollar Tree Dinners have helped so many people with your budget friendly recipes. I live alone so I don’t even have the added concern of feeding my family, but I’ve still found I’ve had to make major changes to the way I shop at the grocery store with the way prices are these days. These healthy and filling meal options have been a godsend. Thank you!
With gas prices on the rise, I know that this will mean less money for other items like food. Using beans and ground turkey is definitely the way to go! I have found that the ground turkey at Aldi's is SO good. It comes in a tray and I get three pounds for around $9. I find myself shopping there more and more as their prices are comparable to Walmart's (Great Value), but with some items the quality is better. Their produce is incredible too. They also sell Flax and Oat Bran pita bread, which is comparable to the name brand we used to buy, but $1.50 less! (My husband takes these for lunch!) Thank you for more affordable recipes, Julia!
(Also, you can substitute four cans of black beans for 1 pound of the dried version. We buy ours from Costco in bulk!)
Thank you for very all your delicious creativity! I like creating recipes sometimes, too! The experiments! Please pamper yourself a little bit. Give yourself a tiny spa day. Do a facial mask, hand and foot mask. Put something wonderful smelling on your skin! You can wear the foot mask under your socks, while you are doing things around the house, because I know you like to keep busy!
Lots of great ideas. I would make that black bean enchilada dish while in college for everyone in the dorm. Even the non-vegetarians enjoyed it
Both my mom and dad cooked, I think they would have enjoyed your recipes, especially my dad, as he loved different styles of cooking!
Some of the grocery stores in my area are starting to offer a five for $25 deal. You can mix and match chicken breast, chicken thighs, both bone in or boneless, ground beef, pork chops, ground sausage , rope sausage and kielbasa. Each pack is 1 to 1/2 and sometimes 2 pounds. So as far as price per pound not that great of a deal but the fact that you can get a variety of meat for $25 is a good idea if you're cooking just for one or two people
And FROZEN pizzas too! Even the lowest quality frozen pizzas are very over priced. I am definitely going to make the Pizza Bubble Up.
Last week I had such a pizza craving, I made pizzas with Texas Toast. It was great. But I need more new ways to get my pizza fix.😄 Thanks Julia.
Oooh I'm gonna try the ground turkey and refried bean burritos with chopped green peppers added. Thank you for these wonderful recipes, sweetheart!💛💛💛
This is how I eat all the time, no meat. You can get all your nutrients without meat and it is soooo much cheaper. I cook one casserole, soup etc a week and it feeds me 4-5 dinners. Groceries is the one area of your budget that you can adjust.
Lionel, you are spot on👍🏻
Hi everyone! I just found out you can use your food processor as a meat grinder. Yiu can out boneless skinless chicken breast, boneless steak to make ground beef, boneless pork chops for sausage.
Julia, you always have the very best recipes ❤
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'm definitely making the layered black bean enchiladas.
HAPPY SUNDAY, JULIA!!! 😊 You are hitting it out of the park with more of these budget friendly recipes! Great job, as always!!! Especially with the additional tips you sprinkle in along the way! I am enjoying seeing your posts on facebook now that I found you there! Love your work! Blessed week ahead to all of you!!! Love from Virginia! 😊❤
Love julia❤
Thank you for providing us with such excellent (and helpful) content. Please take care of yourself, too.
We sell local at lower prices and have to say sweet lady you're doing a great job. Prices are going to get worse. Put away beans, rice and whatever you can afford. Things that can be shelf stable. God bless!
I made the red beans and rice and add it to a tortilla and make it into a taco . I love it with jalapeno sausage
I love your videos and your heart for cooking on a budget. I'm curious if you could do a video on receipes specifically for WIC. WIC offers a lot of cereal, peanut butter, whole grain tortillas/rice/bread, milk, cheese but no meat other than tuna now.
Great meals. I can see my self making all of these. It's just me so I will cut the recipes in half or eat leftovers. I'm like you. Taco flavors are amazing.
HEY SISTER, JON AND I ARE STILL SENDING PRAYERS UP FOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AND BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRLS …..YOU ARE OUR FAVORITE.! ❤
Thank you Julia for sharing these delicious and easy recipes to help us make for our families without spending so much at the store. And seasonings make such a huge difference in everything you cook! My husband fusses at me because I have so many seasonings, but I use them all! I have my go to 5, but theres way more you need to make for other dishes that don't on everything. I just tell him to leave my spices alone. Lol! I pray you're feeling better, and have a blessed week Julia! 💕
Making that pizza tonight. It looks so yummy!
Making that pizza tonight. It looks so yummy!
Making that pizza tonight. It looks so yummy!
Thank you so much ❤ I love your meals, it is different from what northern Germany normally cooks. My husband and I like this food so much! Normally, we would have to go out to the restaurant to enjoy such „exotic“ meals and now I can do better with home made delicious food. Prices have gone up over here, too. It’s so nice that your meals do not cost a fortune to make. Kindest greetings from Klevendeich dear Julia.
Nice idea with the pizza! Yes, takeout (or restaurant) pizza has increased in price something ridiculous….at my place you pay 16-18 Euros for one 😭
These all look fantastic! I will definitely share this video!!
Great recipes, Julia! I’ve been making the Red Beans and Rice with sausage for years. I also add a can of drained corn and a can of Rotel tomatoes. It stretches the meal to feed more hungry teenage boys!
I have 2 teenage boys that always want fast food. I started making them pay for it themselves! When I make meals like these and tell them how much money I spent, it sometimes makes them reconsider going out! Teaching frugality is important!
Yum. I'll be right over.😅 Thanks for the great ideas.