Welcome to Week 1 of a budget eats meal plan! If you happen to’re simply getting began, you’re in for per week of flavorful, filling meals—all for beneath $3 per serving. We’ve stored issues easy, reasonably priced, and family-friendly. These meals make use of the pantry staples you stocked up on this week, setting the tone for the remainder of the month.
This plan is supposed to be versatile. You don’t have to make each recipe within the precise order and even make all of them. Wish to swap one out? Skip an evening and eat leftovers? Go for it. You’ll be able to combine and match with out messing something up. We’ve additionally bought a free customization device in beta that’ll allow you to modify serving sizes, swap out recipes, and get a brand new procuring listing constructed only for you. It’s not fancy, but it surely will get the job executed.
Want a bit assist in the kitchen? Each recipe on this week’s plan comes with a video tutorial proper on our website so you possibly can prepare dinner with confidence, even when you’re new to it.

Make sure to try your entire information, an summary of the pantry staples, and the opposite week’s menus. You’ll be able to at all times customise every week to fit your private style preferences and swap in your favorites.
Fast Tip
For the hen salad sandwiches, you’ll purchase grapes however solely want a couple of for the precise recipe. Serve the remainder on the aspect all through the week as a snack or a simple fruit possibility with one other meal.
Grocery Haul
The haul this week focuses totally on contemporary substances—proteins, produce, dairy, and bread objects. You’ll be constructing off the pantry staples you’ve already stocked, so that you’ll discover plenty of the core objects (like oil, flour, spices, and condiments) aren’t included on this listing.
Needless to say some substances are used throughout a number of meals, so nothing goes to waste.
Don’t neglect to obtain the Week 1 Shopping List PDF to make your grocery run simpler.


Receipt


Whole Spent: $130.92
Whole Servings: 44
Common Price Per Serving: $2.97
This whole displays a full week’s value of dinners for a household, utilizing common grocery retailer costs with out coupons, bulk shopping for, or sale procuring. It’s based mostly on shopping for precisely what you want for this week’s menu, utilizing pantry staples you’ve already stocked. As at all times, costs will range from area to area and retailer to retailer, however this could get you fairly shut.


Price range Saver
Grocery shops typically promote rotisserie chickens as a “loss chief,” the place they actually promote it for lower than it prices them. Purchase a rotisserie hen and shred your personal meat, and benefit from the financial savings. Use most of your shredded hen within the hen salad on Tuesday, and save the remainder for the cilantro-lime quesadillas on Friday.
The Recipes


Proper above, you’ll see all seven meals from this week laid out so you may get a visible sense of what a serving appears to be like like for every recipe. We all know serving sizes will be subjective, so we needed to indicate you precisely how a lot meals you’re getting with this plan.
There’s additionally a brief video that walks by every meal in additional element. You’ll see the ultimate dishes plated and portioned, so there’s no guessing—simply actual meals, clearly proven.
Now let’s break it down day-to-day:
Monday
It is a meatless meal that’s mild, but gained’t depart you hungry. It’s loaded with mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. Add a bit heavy cream and a few purple pepper flakes, and you’ve got a restaurant-quality dish with out the restaurant costs.
Penne Rosa
A creamy tomato pasta with a spicy kick! This traditional Penne Rosa is packed stuffed with contemporary veggies and prepared in quarter-hour.
Tuesday
Make hen salad sandwiches! Or serve them up your personal type by stuffing it into an avocado or tomato, or serving it up on a mattress of lettuce for an old-school hen salad.
This recipe requires a small quantity of grapes. You’ll be able to both depart them out or get pleasure from the remainder of the grapes as a aspect dish. We factored in a purchase order of 1 pound of grapes both manner.
Traditional Chicken Salad
This traditional hen salad is simple to make and attractive by itself, on lettuce, or served as a sandwich. You’re going to like this household favourite!
Wednesday
Stroganoff is a traditional consolation meals, and this recipe makes it even simpler. You’ll be able to change issues up and serve this over mashed potatoes, or go the normal route and serve with egg noodles.
Ground Beef Stroganoff and Rice
Home made Floor Beef Stroganoff and Rice make a fast, 30-minute dinner that’s each healthful and family-approved.
Thursday
A simple pasta dish that tastes connoisseur and takes lower than half-hour to make! This recipe makes use of easy pantry substances that you simply (and your youngsters) know and love, and will have already got readily available.
American Carbonara
Carbonara with an American twist! We use bacon and the normal velvety cheese sauce. Then throw in peas for a pop of sweetness!
Friday
Your new favourite quesadilla recipe. Loading these quesadillas up with hen makes them a complete meal. This recipe makes use of 1 boneless, skinless hen breast, however you possibly can at all times use rotisserie hen. It is a nice possibility that’s not solely handy but in addition wallet-friendly!
Cilantro-Lime Chicken Quesadillas
These hen quesadillas are loaded with gooey cheese and all of the cilantro-lime taste we may pack in! Good for a fast lunch or dinner.
Saturday
Deplete that floor beef and make these cheesesteaks! This one is a good possibility whenever you’re craving these Philly cheesesteak flavors, however don’t need to order takeout.
Ground Beef Cheesesteak
Floor beef cheesesteaks have all the enduring Philly flavors you like in a extra reasonably priced format that also brings all the flavour.
Sunday
For Sunday, we’re providing you with a complete yard barbecue feast. All three recipes offer you a whole meal, and every serving continues to be beneath $3.
Make It Work for You
This plan is versatile. If seven dinners per week is an excessive amount of to your schedule, skip a pair and simply use leftovers or repeat your favorites. If one in every of these recipes isn’t your factor, it’s completely advantageous to swap it out.
We’ve bought a customization tool in beta that allows you to do precisely that—modify servings, swap meals, and generate a brand new procuring listing based mostly in your adjustments. It’s not fancy, but it surely will get the job executed.

Price range Suggestions & Notes
Coleslaw Combine: Seize a bagged coleslaw combine to save lots of time and scale back waste, particularly when you’re not planning to make slaw greater than as soon as.
Croissants: Be happy to swap for sandwich rolls or sliced bread to convey the fee down additional.
Cheese Technique: Shred your personal cheese as an alternative of shopping for pre-shredded—it’s generally cheaper and melts higher too.
Stretching Protein: For the quesadillas and cheesesteaks, you possibly can bulk issues up with further veggies if you want to stretch the meat a bit additional.
Trending Merchandise
Der Rose 4 Pack Fake Plants Small Artificial Faux Potted Plants for Living Room Home Office Farmhouse Bathroom Kitchen Decor Indoor
Ceramic Spoon Rest for Stove Top, Large Spoon Holder for Kitchen Counter, White Coffee Spoon Rest, Heat-Resistant Cooking Utensil Rest, Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Décor
Umite Chef Kitchen Cooking Utensils Set, 33 pcs Non-Stick Silicone Cooking Kitchen Utensils Spatula Set with Holder, Wooden Handle Silicone Kitchen Gadgets Utensil Set (Khaki)
HuggieGems Metal 4 Pack Magnetic Spice Storage Rack Organizer for Refrigerator and Oven, Black Fridge Organizers and Storage
StepRite Kitchen Mats, 2PCS Kitchen Rugs, Cushioned Anti Fatigue Kitchen Mats for Floor, Non-Slip Standing Desk Mat, Waterproof Kitchen Rug Set for Kitchen, Floor, Office, 17.3″x30″+17.3″x47″, Black
Billbotk 7″ Trivets for Dishes, Pots and Pans, 4 Heat Resistant Hot Pads, Pot Holders for Kitchen, Plate Mats for Countertops, Table, Home Essentials, Farmhouse Decor
Sullivans White Ceramic Vase Set, Farmhouse Decor, Home Decorative Vase, Vases For Your Kitchen, Bedroom, Office, Living Room, Bathroom, & Shelf Centerpiece Table Decorations (CM2333)
BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Toaster, T2569B, Extra Wide Slots, 6 Shade Settings, 850 Watts, Crumb Tray, Cancel Button






