This week i’m covering some tasty meals like shrimp and grits and chicken ranch pasta, but by far our family favorite was a simple version of beef wellington! My mouth is watering just thinking about it again. Yum! The apple cider margarita at the end is a delicious bonus, so don’t forget to try one too!
When it comes to meal planning dinners, the budget can be blown QUICK! Why does healthy food have to cost so much more? Why do i get in the grocery store and need ALL the food? Grocery shopping is a necessary evil, and I’ve got a few tips and tricks on keeping your costs for the week at $60 or less. Thats right, 5 meals to feed a family for $60 or less! What can i say? Its a gift.
This is my weekly meal plan on $60 or less! (my average prices do not include common spices, butter, oil, etc)
Monday
Roasted Sausage & Peppers (@$11.75)
- Italian Sausage $3.50 (Kroger, Manager’s Special)
- Onion $0.33
- Bell Peppers $3.17 (2 Red &1 Yellow)
- Hoagie Buns $1.50
- Provolone Cheese $1.24
- Fries $1.99
(recipe) I always love meals that I can put in the oven and just walk away, I mean, what mom doesn’t right?. If you are not a sandwich person, the sausages can be served over pasta instead. We used hoagie rolls and toasted them to melt the cheese. Drooool. Cheese is my love language.
Tuesday
Turkey Meatballs (@$6.75)
- Ground Turkey $0.50 (Kroger, Manager’s Special)
- Ricotta $0.67
- Parmesan $0.88
- Egg $0.08
- Polenta $1.99
- Canned Whole Tomatoes $2.58 ($1.29 x2, can)
(recipe) I was a little wary about turkey meatballs since sometimes turkey can turn out very dry and the texture is more tough. However,i was pleasantly surprised when these came out amazing! The ricotta in the turkey mixture really helps with the moisture and kept them from drying out. I had more trouble with the polenta than with the meatballs, why is it so tricky? Sheesh! Anyway, these are lower calorie and just as tasty so give them a try.
Wednesday
“Beef Wellington” (@$16.50)
- Ground Beef $4.55 ($2.99lb, Fresh Market)
- Onion $0.33
- Mushrooms $1.79
- Puff Pastry Sheets $4.59
- Eggs $0.16
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese $0.62
- Green Beans $3.29
- Brown Gravy $1.00
(recipe) OMG! These were absolutely amazing! A little pricey overall, but the cost could be reduced if you made your own puff pastry or went with a cheaper side item. We also had dinner guests this evening so this meal was 8 servings. Mark this one as a MUST TRY! It was a huge hit and super easy to throw together.
Friday
Shrimp & Grits (@$11.25)
- Shrimp (frozen) $6.99
- Bacon $1.99 (½ package)
- Onion $0.33
- Grits $0.55
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese $1.25
(recipe) Southern comfort food at its finest! I have wanted to make shrimp and grits for awhile now, but could not find a recipe that sounded good to me. I like this one the best but I made a few small changes. Well one change, I used diced onion instead of sliced scallions because I prefer that taste. I sauteed the onion in the bacon grease after adding the shrimp and it was super quick and easy and turned out yummy!
Saturday
Chicken Ranch Pasta(@$9)
- Chicken Breast $3.18 ($2.99lb, Fresh Market)
- Rotini Pasta $0.88
- Bacon $1.99 (½ package)
- Ranch Seasoning $0.99
- Shredded Colby Jack Cheese $0.84
- Chicken Broth $0.90 (½ carton)
(recipe) Sometimes I think one pot dishes save my life on busy weekends, evenings or just in general. HA! I cooked the chicken in the morning during breakfast so it was ready to use come dinner time to get that step out of the way. (I just bake chicken breasts instead of using leftover chicken, i prefer it to be fresh). My only adjustment for next time is I would use a little more cheese, ok…a lot more cheese. We love cheese!
5 meals for under $60
**Bonus**
I figured we need a new yummy drink to try that was not pumpkin related, my taste buds are so over that. This Apple Cider Margarita is where its at y’all! Oh my gooooooodness. (recipe) I use Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider for my drinks because it’s o tasty and very flavorful.
