WePlateBlog · 2026-11-13
21 cheap family dinners for $2.50 a serving or less
Feeding a family on a budget gets easier when you know what a dinner really costs before you shop. These 21 dinners come from the WePlate recipe catalog, sorted from the cheapest up. Each one shows an estimated cost per serving at typical US grocery prices.
Prices are estimates from average US prices for each ingredient, for the amount the recipe uses. Your store, region and sales will change them, so read them as “about”.
Under $1 a serving
Boxty (Irish potato pancake)
About $0.57 a serving · 55 min
Potatoes, Wheat flour, Buttermilk, Baking soda, Butter
photo, CC0
Tortang kalabasa
About $0.65 a serving · 35 min
Pumpkin (winter squash), Eggs, Wheat flour, Onions, Garlic, Vegetable oil
photo, CC0
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Bubble and squeak
About $0.80 a serving · 40 min
Potatoes, Savoy cabbage, Onions, Butter, Black pepper
photo by Kolforn, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Ezogelin soup
About $0.80 a serving · 50 min
Dried lentils, Bulgur wheat, White rice, Onions, Garlic, Tomato paste (purée)
photo by Matt Krause from Istanbul, Turkey, CC BY 2.0
Simple Spaghetti
About $0.87 a serving · 30 min
Pasta, Pasta sauce (tomato), Vegetable oil
photo, CC0 (Foodiesfeed)
Grilled cheese sandwich
About $0.92 a serving · 6 min
White sandwich bread, Butter, Cheddar
photo by Willis Lam, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Between $1 and $2 a serving
Reibekuchen (German potato pancakes)
About $1.04 a serving · 40 min
Potatoes, Onions, Eggs, Wheat flour, Vegetable oil, Applesauce
photo by Martin van Baal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Telur balado (eggs in red chili sambal)
About $1.17 a serving · 40 min
Eggs, Fresh red chillies, Shallots, Garlic, Tomatoes, Sugar
photo by D.W. Fisher-Freberg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Corn Dogs
About $1.19 a serving · 30 min
Fine cornmeal (corn flour), Wheat flour, Milk, Eggs, Vegetable oil, Frankfurters (hot dogs)
photo, CC0
Fettuccine Alfredo
About $1.48 a serving · 20 min
Pasta, Butter, Parmesan, Black pepper
photo by Civa61, CC BY 4.0
Trenette with Pesto
About $1.58 a serving · 40 min
Pasta, Green beans, Potatoes, Basil pesto, Grana Padano
photo by Ettorre, CC BY-SA 4.0
Macaroni Pie
About $1.87 a serving · 50 min
Pasta, Eggs, Grated hard cheese, Evaporated milk, Onions, Carrots
photo, CC0
Omurice
About $1.90 a serving · 35 min
White rice, Chicken breast, Onions, Frozen peas, Ketchup, Butter
photo by Kanesue, CC BY 2.0
Cream of broccoli soup
About $1.92 a serving · 45 min
Broccoli, Onions, Butter, Wheat flour, Vegetable broth, Milk
photo by Alpha from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sloppy Joes
About $1.95 a serving · 30 min
Lean ground beef, Ketchup, Barbecue sauce, Garlic powder, Chili powder (US spice blend), Onions
photo by Buck Blues, CC BY 2.0
Between $2 and $2.50 a serving
Chalupas
About $2.14 a serving · 45 min
Vegetable oil, Corn tortillas, Refried beans (canned), Queso fresco, Onions, Tomatoes
photo by alex lines, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Sweet and sour pork with pineapple (gu lou yuk)
About $2.16 a serving · 50 min
Pork loin, Eggs, Cornstarch, Soy sauce, Pineapple, Bell peppers
photo by Walter Grassroot, CC BY-SA 3.0
Coronation chicken
About $2.18 a serving · 35 min
Chicken breast, Mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Curry powder, Mango chutney, Lemon juice
photo by James F. Carter, CC BY-SA 2.5
Pumpkin risotto
About $2.30 a serving · 35 min
Vegetable broth, White rice, Pumpkin (winter squash), Leeks, Olive oil, Butter
photo, CC0
Chicken Pot Pie
About $2.43 a serving · 50 min
Cream of chicken soup (condensed, canned), Cream of mushroom soup (condensed, canned), Frozen mixed vegetables, Canned chicken breast, Shortcrust pastry
photo, CC0
How to keep cheap dinners cheap
- Plan the whole week before you shop: one list means fewer extra trips and fewer impulse buys.
- Pick recipes that share ingredients, so a bag of potatoes or a block of cheese gets used up.
- Cook once, eat twice: a pot pie or a risotto makes tomorrow’s lunch.
- Check the pantry first. Rice, pasta and spices you already have are free tonight.
- Add a cheap side (rice, bread, a salad) to stretch a dinner for growing kids.