Budget-Friendly and Healthier Dollar Tree Dinner Recipes
If saving money on your food budget is on your to-do list this year, check out these cheap Dollar Tree dinner ideas.
Shopping at the Dollar Tree provides an inexpensive weeknight meal option. Budget-friendly does not have to mean unhealthy for your family. FamilyApp has easy dinner ideas that include hearty protein and veggie-friendly ingredients to share.
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A Cheap Dollar Tree Dinner That’s Good for You
When your food budget is tight, look for nutrient-dense and easy-to-make meals. The Dollar Tree offers dirt-cheap prices and surprisingly protein-packed meal prep options. In addition, you can find dried lentils, black beans, and perfectly good tortillas to make a veggie version of your favorite burritos or tacos.
Though you can sometimes find ground beef at the Dollar Tree, opting for veggie-heavy options will boost your fiber and give you more food for your money. All of the ingredients for these easy meal plan recipes below can be found at the Dollar Tree.
Buttered Pasta and Veggies Meal Ideas
The Dollar Tree always has pasta and spaghetti for a go-to easy dinner. However, an equally cost-effective meal is buttered egg noodles served with mixed veggies that you can find in the freezer-friendly section. This is a simple meal that you can feel good about serving because vegetables pack a punch for your health. Best of all, it’s still under $3!
Budget-Friendly Five-Ingredient Chicken Casserole
This oven-baked chicken dinner feeds a family for less than a drive-thru meal. All you need is 1 bag of egg noodles, 1 can chicken, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 can of drained peas, and 1 tablespoon of lemon pepper seasoning. Boil the noodles and drain. Combine drained noodles with the remainder of the ingredients and bake at 375F for 20 minutes to serve. All of these ingredients can be found at the Dollar Tree and won’t break your bank. If you want to use frozen mixed veggies instead of canned peas, heat and drain first before putting it in the casserole dish.
4 Ingredient Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Dollar Tree sells boneless chicken in the freezer section. You will need 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 can of drained and rinsed black beans, 1 packet of taco seasoning, and 1 can of Rotel Tomatoes. Place all the ingredients in the Crock-Pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred and serve over rice or in Dollar Tree tortillas. This one-pot dinner is an affordable and healthy meal for any day of the week.
Dollar Tree Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes are full of fiber and Vitamin A and provide comfort food for many families. Did you know that Dollar Tree has a big selection of recipes on their site? This sweet potato casserole dish requires 6 cups of canned yams, butter, eggs, and spices which the Dollar Tree sells all for a buck each. Check out this thrifty Dollar Tree favorite for your next crowd-pleaser, view the recipe here.
The Poor Man 3-Bean Salad
This classic American dish requires 1 can of cannellini beans, 1 can of kidney beans, and a can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained. If you also have 1/2 a chopped red onion, 2 stalks of diced celery, and a diced bell pepper, this will add to the flavor. However, if you only have the beans, just add the dressing to serve this old fashion classic. The vinaigrette calls for 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup of sugar, 3 tbs of olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp of salt, and 1/4 tsp of black pepper. Mix everything together to serve.
Kielbasas and Sauteed Pepper Stir-Fry Over Rice
Dollar Tree often carries John Morrell Polish sausage for the meat-eaters in your family. Sautee the kielbasas and the stir fry pepper mix found in the freezer section together in a hot skillet. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice or your favorite noodle for a super easy and budget-friendly meal that is a lot healthier than fast food options.
$6 Tex-Mex Inspired Vegan Enchiladas
This cheap dinner is easy to make and only has a few ingredients. Grab a bag of frozen sauteed pepper mix in the freezer section, 2 cans of pinto beans rinsed and drained, 1 large can of enchilada sauce, 1 pack of tortillas, and 1 bottle of Pace salsa.
Add 1 cup of enchilada sauce to the bottom of an oven-safe glass pan. Rinse the pinto beans, mash them with a potato masher and add 1/2 cup of salsa to your mix, and set aside. Sautee the stir fry pepper mix until the water cooks off. Place 3 tbsp of the mashed pinto beans and sauteed pepper mix into a flour tortilla and roll it up. Repeat, placing each roll into the glass pan. Once the pan is filled, pour the remainder of the enchilada sauce over the tortillas. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 F. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Pan-Fried Frozen Salmon and Broccoli
Fish doesn’t have to be expensive, especially at the Dollar Tree. The Ocean Market Wild Salmon brand found at the Dollar Tree gives you 4 oz of fish that you can bake or pan fry with lemon pepper seasoning. The cost for both the seasoning and the fish is $2. If you cook a bag of frozen broccoli as a side dish, you have a low-carb meal that’s both gluten-free and good for you.
Dollar Tree Chili Dinner
Do you need an easy dinner you can make ahead? This chili recipe is a huge crowd-pleaser and only costs around $1 per serving.
Dollar Tree Slow-Cooker Canned Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz) meat chili omit if you’re vegetarian
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes do not drain
- 1 can (10 oz) fire-roasted tomatoes do not drain
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 packet McCormick chili seasoning optional
Instructions
- Rinse and drain beans and corn and place in Crock-Pot.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Set slow cooker on low for 8 hours and serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Say No to Ramen Noodles and Yes to Easy Dollar Tree Dinner Ideas
Making delicious meals as a careful budgeter doesn’t mean you have to live on Ramen. With a family-friendly meal plan, you can move away from the default of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and create delicious budget meals. Cheap dinner ideas don’t have to mean unhealthy. All you need is a little bit of creativity, so definitely check out the Dollar Tree website for easy dinner ideas!
