20 meals for $150 or less.

How do you feed a family of four for less than $200/month? Many would say it's impossible, but it's not. I have a menu that will feed a family of four 20 meals for $150. My family eats one of these meals each week night, and has a leftover day on Saturday. This leaves only 5 days per month that must rely on the $50 surplus. Often times, we have dinner with family on that last day per week. By swapping meals with family, we are able to maximize that $50.

Here's my shopping list. I choose to make most of my purchases at Costco, because it is where I can maximize my budget.

NOTE: There are always leftovers from my shopping list. I always have excess potatos and rice, as well as other ingredients.

1 big package of chicken breasts (contains 6 – 1 lb packages)

1 big package of ground beef (about 5 1/2 to 6 lb)

1 package of beef for stew (about 4 lbs)

1 - 5 lb bag of baby carrots

1 - 15 lb bag of gold potatoes

1 - 6 ct package of avocados

1 - 40 ct bag of 6″ tortillas

1 - 36 ct bag of Costco bakery dinner rolls

1 - 4 lb package of frozen broccoli

1 - 18 ct package of eggs

1 - 6 lb package of spaghetti noodles

2 pack Prego pasta sauce

2 pack Kirkland salsa

1 - 24 oz. container Parmesan cheese

1 - 4 lb bag of rice

1 - 8 ct package of canned corn

1 - 8 ct package of canned black beans

1 - 8 ct package of canned tomatoes

1 - 6 pack fresh peppers

1 box mangos

And, here are my recipes.

NOTE: I do reuse recipes through out the month. Many of the inredients are interchangeable, so you do have some freedom with which recipes you reuse.

Rice with Corn & Black Beans

• Quinoa (or rice)
• Can corn
• Can tomatoes (subbed for the diced tomatoes and green chilies)
• Can black beans
• optional – diced pepper
• Optional – garlic, lime, cilantro

Beef & Broccoli Stirfry

• 1 lb. stew beef
• 1 lb. frozen broccoli
• Baby carrots on side, or cut up and mixed in with the stirfry
• Quinoa or rice on side
• Mangoes on side

Note: to package for freezer, combine all ingredients except rice/quinoa and add to gallon size freezer baggie. Freeze. Let thaw overnight in fridge before adding to slow cooker.

Meatballs & Spaghetti

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 Egg
• Spaghetti sauce
• 1 lb spaghetti noodles
• 4 dinner rolls

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken & Potatoes

• 1 lb. chicken breast (chopped)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 4-6 potatoes
• 4 dinner rolls

Note: to package for freezer, combine all ingredients except the dinner rolls and add to gallon size freezer baggie. Freeze. Let thaw overnight in fridge before adding to slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

• 1 lb. beef stew
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 4-6 potatoes
• 4 dinner rolls

Note: to package for freezer, combine all ingredients except the dinner rolls and add to gallon size freezer baggie. Freeze. Let thaw overnight in fridge before adding to slow cooker. Add enough water to cover, then slow cook.


Potato & Egg Breakfast Tacos

• 8 eggs
• 4-6 potatoes
• 8 Tortillas
• Salsa
• 1 Mango
• 1 Avocado, on side or mixed in

Ranchero Chicken – makes 2 meals worth

• 2 lb. chicken breasts
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 8 tortillas for 1 meal and rice/quinoa on side for other meal
• Side dish, can black beans
• Avocado, on side or mixed in

Note: to freeze, let the cooked chicken cool and then add to freezer baggie. Freeze, then thaw and use at a later time.

Beef and Bean Soft Tacos

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can tomatoes
• 1 avocado
• Salsa
• 8 Tortillas
• Rice or quinoa on side

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

• 1 lb. ground beef
• optional – diced pepper
• 1/3 jar of Prego pasta sauce
• 1 lb. spaghetti noodles

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesean

• 1 lb. chicken breast
• Pasta sauce
• Parmesan cheese
• 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
• 1 egg
• optional – mozzarella slices
• 4 dinner rolls

Grilled Chicken with Mango & Avocado Salsa

• 2 chicken breasts (sliced into tenders)
• 1 avocado
• 2 mangoes
• optional – diced peppers
• 4 dinner rolls