30 dinners under under $30 the whole family will love (2024)

We all know eating in season saveson cash, but there are many other ways to go thrifty on dinner, without the compromise. Introducing our favourite please-everyone dinners you can turn to when the purse strings are a little tight.

Pumpkin soup

Warm up this winter with our easy, creamy pumpkin soup. When you're looking for simple and quick lunch or dinner ideas, this traditional recipe ticks all the boxes. All you need are five ingredients, and it’s ready to eat in around 30 minutes.

Risotto carbonara

If you thought cream in carbonara was controversial, just wait until you meet our cheesy carbonara risotto. If eating it is wrong, then we don't want to be right.

Cauliflower soup

Cauliflower adds texture and creaminess to hearty winter dishes, plus it’s cheap as chips and great for your health. Warm up to this beaut brassica tonight with a big bowl of our creamy cauliflower and potato soup. A family friendly way to add vegetables to weeknight dinners, and leftovers make a top workday lunch.

Spanakorizo (Greek spinach rice)

"Rice may be one of the simplest ingredients, but it can take on a host of textures and flavours, from rich and creamy to light and fresh", says Phoebe Wood.

Colin Fassnidge's ultimate carbonara

Put that bacon away – if you want to make an authentic carbonara, you need guanciale. Colin Fassnidge gets cheeky with the classic Italian pasta dish.

15-minute corn alfredo

Use up that frozen corn with this super-easy, super-fast and super-tasty corn alfredo recipe.

Cheesy kimchi corn pasta bake

This is Khanh Ong's ode to the classic Korean side. Kimchi is the magic ingredient in your fridge. Use it to make cheesy bakes like this beauty, perfect for feeding hungry hordes, add it to salads or soups, or pop it on a toastie for something super-special and delicious.

The Wood family's puttanesca

“This dish has become my pasta-loving family’s go-to for a fast weeknight meal. We make it so much, it’s become a staple!” – Phoebe Wood.

30 dinners under under $30 the whole family will love (2024)

FAQs

30 dinners under under $30 the whole family will love? ›

With $30 in groceries, I was able to come up with 7 dinner options and 2 to 3 breakfast options. These recipes are easily modified depending on what you have on hand. If you don't have butter or oil, use water to cook with instead, if needed. If you have extra spices on hand, add those to any recipe to add more flavor.

How many meals can you make with $30? ›

With $30 in groceries, I was able to come up with 7 dinner options and 2 to 3 breakfast options. These recipes are easily modified depending on what you have on hand. If you don't have butter or oil, use water to cook with instead, if needed. If you have extra spices on hand, add those to any recipe to add more flavor.

What is the cheapest food that can feed a lot of people? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  • Mexican Lasagne. A spicy lasagne for those of us who love Mexican and Italian food. ...
  • Cheese Cob Dip. ...
  • The Best Burger in Oz. ...
  • Kangaroo Casserole. ...
  • Sausage Casserole. ...
  • Nanna's golden sausage casserole. ...
  • Quiche Lorraine. ...
  • Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne.

How to live on $30 dollars a week for food? ›

Here's how I keep my grocery bill under $30 a week
  1. Breakfast: Cheerios with milk and a banana, plus the free coffee I get from my office.
  2. Mid-morning snack: Granola bar or orange.
  3. Lunch: Whole wheat pasta dressed up with butter and salt.
  4. Dinner: Fried eggs, a side of rice, and a glass of milk.
Jan 13, 2017

How to eat for $20 dollars a week? ›

Your Shopping List
  1. 1 bag of dried beans: $1.49.
  2. 2 pounds of chicken breast: $3.76.
  3. 1 jar of peanut butter: $1.98.
  4. 1 jar of jelly: $1.79.
  5. 1 loaf of whole wheat bread: $1.63.
  6. 1 dozen eggs: $1.26.
  7. 1 container of oatmeal: $1.35.
  8. 1 bag of dried lentils: $1.39.

What cheap food makes you full? ›

Filling Fruits

Bananas, apples, oranges, and kiwi are not only cheap but filling. Bananas and apples we recommend adding a heavy dollop of your favorite nut butter or peanut butter for an even more filling treat or snack.

How can I feed my family on a very small budget? ›

How to feed your family for less - Experts tips for shopping and cooking on a budget
  1. Don't feel pressured to always buy fresh. ...
  2. Eat seasonally. ...
  3. Substitute pricey lettuce. ...
  4. Meal plan with the catalogue in hand. ...
  5. Top trick to find the lowest priced groceries. ...
  6. Learn how to stretch your food further. ...
  7. Shop the 'dodgy' bin.

What is the cheapest food that lasts the longest? ›

10 Cheap (and Healthy) Foods that Last a Long Time
  • Dried Beans and Lentils. Average Price: Under $2 for a 1-pound bag. ...
  • Brown Rice and Other Whole Grains. Average Price: About $2 (depending on where you purchase) for a 1-pound bag. ...
  • Frozen Vegetables. ...
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Canned Tuna. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Whey Protein. ...
  • Apples.

What do low income people eat? ›

Lower-income households purchase more cereals, pasta, potatoes, legumes, and fatty meats. Their vegetables and fruits are often limited to iceberg lettuce, potatoes, canned corn, bananas, and frozen orange juice.

What is the cheapest food to live off of? ›

10–16: Grains and legumes
  • Brown rice. Brown rice is a fantastic, cheap food that provides fiber, vitamins and minerals. ...
  • Oatmeal. Oatmeal is another nutrient-dense whole grain that is typically affordable at about $2 a pound. ...
  • Canned beans. ...
  • Dried Lentils. ...
  • Edamame. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Air-popped popcorn.

How do you cook on a low budget? ›

Top tips for cooking on a budget
  1. Plan a weekly menu with some budget dinner ideas. ...
  2. Put leftovers to good use. ...
  3. Start batch cooking on a budget. ...
  4. Use your kitchen space smartly. ...
  5. Cook seasonally. ...
  6. Don't be afraid to swap out ingredients. ...
  7. Pick imperfect vegetables. ...
  8. Pad recipes out with pulses and grains.

What is the cheapest way to cook a meal? ›

Using slow cookers, microwaves and air fryers when you can, are all great options for low-maintenance, low-cost, low-carbon cooking. Microwaves: When it comes to cooking quickly and cheaply, microwaves are going to be your best friend.

How to cook good food for cheap? ›

31 Insanely Smart Ways To Save Money When You Cook
  1. Respect the whole roasted chicken. ...
  2. Cook less meat, in general. ...
  3. Cook dried beans instead of buying canned. ...
  4. Learn to love eggs. ...
  5. Use your slow cooker. ...
  6. Buy big cuts or packages of meat and stretch it out over multiple meals.
Apr 5, 2015

How much is $30 full time? ›

How much is your salary? $30 hourly is how much per year? If you make $30 per hour, your Yearly salary would be $62,400.

How much is $30 a day? ›

How much is your salary? $30 daily is how much per year? If you make $30 per day, your Yearly salary would be $7,800. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

How many meals can you make for $50? ›

Planning out your meals so you use all of the ingredients, both raw and cooked, plus pantry staples and frozen goods means you can make a week's worth of dinners for around $50 in groceries.

Is $300 a month enough for food for one person? ›

For an average person, it should be plenty as long as you're reasonable with your expectations on groceries and make some attempts to be frugal, buying things on sale, bulking up expensive things like meat with cheap things like rice or potatoes or beans.

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