In my previous post, I shared how you can eat at home to save money and time. Now I want to share with you my recipes for the week. Let's feed a crowd for only about $1 per serving.
Shopping List
Ground turkey (1 lb) $3.88
Cooked Rotisserie chicken (2 whole chickens) $9.96
Turkey sausage (3-13 oz links) $10.44
Brown rice (2 lbs) $1.18
Dry Pinto beans (2 lbs) $1.88
Chicken stock (3-32 oz boxes) $7.44
Cream of mushroom soup (2 cans) $1.76
White beans (2 cans) $1.36
Black beans (2 cans) $1.84
Diced green chile (1 can) $0.58
Rotel (1 can) $0.98
Diced tomatoes (1 can) $0.72
McCormick chili mix (1 packet) $0.84
Yellow onion (1 large onion) $0.88
Green onions (1 packet) $1.00
Sweet peppers (16 oz bag) $2.98
Baby spinach-organic (5 oz package) $3.28
Broccoli (1 head, or large bunch) $1.78
Green beans-frozen (2 bags) $1.96
Grocery Total $54.74
(for 5 dinners with leftovers)
Dinner Average $10.95
(Grocery total divided by 5)
Cost per serving $1.10
(50 servings total)
Monday: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli
1 pre-cooked rotisserie chicken...$4.98
2 cans cream of mushroom soup...$1.76
2-1/2 cups uncooked brown rice...$1.18
4 cups chicken stock...$2.48
fresh broccoli (1 head)...$1.78
Salt & Pepper, to taste
- In a pot, add rice and chicken stock. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through.
- While rice cooks, preheat your crock pot on Low. Remove skin and bones from rotisserie chicken. Cut into bite-size pieces and add to crock pot.
- Rinse and cut up broccoli into bite-size pieces. Add to crock pot.
- Add cream of mushroom soup to crock pot and stir.
- Once rice is fully cooked, transfer to crock pot. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, stir, and cover.
- Allow to cook 1 hour on Low, or 30 minutes on High in your crock pot. Of course, you may let it sit longer before serving (just keep your crock pot on Low).
Yields 12 servings
Meal cost $12.18
cost per serving $1.02
Tuesday: Chicken, Rice & Sausage, served with Green Beans
1 rotisserie chicken...$4.98
turkey sausage, 13 oz link...$3.48
1-1/4 cups brown rice...$0.59
2 cups chicken stock...$1.24
5 mini sweet peppers...$0.99
3 green onions...$0.25
2 bags frozen green beans...$1.96
Salt, pepper, & garlic powder, to taste
1 Tbs lemon juice (optional)
- In a pot, add rice and chicken stock. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through.
- While rice cooks, preheat your crock pot on Low. Remove skin and bones from rotisserie chicken. Cut into bite-size pieces and add to crock pot.
- Cut turkey sausage into bite-size pieces, and chop sweet peppers and onions. Add to crock pot.
- Once rice is fully cooked, transfer to crock pot. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste, stir, and cover.
- Meal will be heated through within an hour, or 30 minutes if crock pot is set to High. Serve when ready to eat.
- Frozen green beans are prepared according to package instructions (either stove top or microwave), and seasoned with salt, pepper, and a splash of lemon juice before serving.
Yields 10 servings
Meals cost $13.49
cost per serving $1.35
Wednesday: Turkey Chili
1 lb. ground turkey...$3.88 (meat purchased on sale)
2 cans black beans...$1.84
1 sm can diced green chile...$0.58
1 can Ro-Tel...$0.98
1 can diced tomatoes...$0.72
McCormick Chile seasoning mix...$0.84
- Preheat your crock pot on Low.
- On your stove top, brown ground turkey over Medium heat in a pan until cooked through.
- Add browned turkey and all ingredients to crock pot. Cover.
- Meal is ready to serve after an hour. May be left longer. Serve when ready and enjoy.
Yields 9 servings
Meal total cost $8.84
Cost per serving $0.98
Thursday: Pinto Beans and Sausage
3 cups dry pinto beans*...$1.41
turkey sausage, 13 oz link...$3.48
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped...$0.44
4 cups chicken stock...$2.48
3 cups water, plus extra for soaking
Black pepper, mexican oregano, garlic powder, and salt**(see note before adding) to taste.
- *VERY IMPORTANT: The night before, separate beans (to remove any rocks), add to a bowl and soak dry pinto beans in water over night. Water should full cover beans.
- The next morning, turn on your crock pot to Low. Rinse and drain beans, and add to crock pot.
- Cut turkey sausage into bite-size pieces, and add turkey, onion, chicken stock, and 3 cups of water to crock pot. Season with pepper, mexican oregano, and garlic powder. Stir to combine, cover, and allow to cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or High 3-4 hours.
- Add salt after beans are cooked through, right before serving. **If salt is added too early, it can lengthen cooking time. Wait to add salt until after beans are cooked.
Yields 10 servings
Meal total cost $7.81
Cost per serving $0.78
Friday: White Bean and Sausage Soup
turkey sausage, 13 oz link...$3.48
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped...$0.44
2 cups chicken stock...$1.24
2 cans white beans...$1.36
organic baby spinach, 5 oz package...$3.28
2 cups water
Salt, pepper, thyme, garlic powder, to taste
- Preheat crock pot on Low.
- Cut turkey sausage into bite-size pieces. Add sausage, onion, chicken stock, white beans, water, and seasonings to crock pot. Cover.
- Cook at least 3 hours on Low, or 1-1/2 hours on High (can be cooked longer depending on when you plan to serve).
- About 5-10 minutes before serving, add baby spinach to crock pot and allow to soften and wilt. Serve and enjoy.
Yields 9 servings
Meal total cost $9.80
Cost per serving $1.09
Don't default to eating out when you don't have to. Cook at home! With just a little bit of prep work, you and your family are fed hearty, healthy, hot meals for less than the dollar menu.
Be on the look out for Part 2. I'll show you another week of budget friendly, healthy meals for to feed your crowd.
I love to hear from my readers! Please comment below and let me know what you think. And remember to share this post with your friends so they can enjoy these recipes, too.
UPDATE! This post has gained me a lot of interest on Facebook. I shared how I pack lunch for my hubby, avoiding sandwich sack lunches, and still maintain keeping costs low.
This week he's eating
•baked Spicy Honey Chicken
•brown rice with carrots and squah
•steamed edamame
-Each portioned meal only costs $1.60.
-Each has about 24 grams of protein.
-I prepared this all at the same time on Sunday evening to save me time and stress during the week.
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