Easy and Cheap Family Meals Under $10

Introduction

Nothing brings a family together like a hearty, home-cooked meal—especially when it’s simple to prepare and easy on the budget. These Easy and Cheap Family Meals Under $10 pack in flavor, appeal to all ages, and leave you feeling accomplished for feeding the whole crew without breaking the bank. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to make the most of your grocery budget, these recipes make mealtime a breeze.

Why You’ll Love These Budget-Friendly Meals

Imagine delicious, filling dinners that come together in well under an hour and keep grocery costs low. These meals focus on affordable pantry staples—think rice, beans, pasta, and seasonal vegetables—and maximize both nutrition and taste. Ideal for family meal planning, these dishes will quickly become your go-tos on nights when time and money are tight but you still want to serve something wholesome.

One-Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Creamy, flavorful, and family-approved, this meal combines tender chicken, rice, and vegetables in a single skillet. It’s quick, satisfying, and all about minimal mess. The cheese sauce brings everything together for a comforting dinner that’s ready in less than 40 minutes.

Ingredients

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to CookifyAI to instantly create a well-organized shopping list with all your ingredients grouped by store section—making meal planning and grocery shopping easier, faster, and more budget-friendly!

Instructions

1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 2–3 minutes.
2. Add minced garlic and diced chicken. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink on the outside (about 4–5 minutes).
3. Add the rice, frozen vegetables, and chicken broth. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover with a lid.
4. Let cook for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Once cooked, turn off the heat, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, and cover with a lid for 2 minutes to melt.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions and Customizations

This one-pot meal is delicious on its own but you can easily customize by swapping in different vegetables (like broccoli, bell peppers, or spinach), or using canned beans instead of chicken for a tasty vegetarian option. Serve with a side salad or a slice of crusty bread if your budget allows.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 hearty servings, averaging around 400–450 calories per portion. With protein, veggies, and grains, it’s a complete meal for the whole family—delicious and balanced!

Easy and Cheap Family Meals Under $10 (Recap)

Full of flavor and family-friendly ingredients, this meal delivers taste and nutrition without stretching your food budget. One pan, quick clean-up, and under $10 for dinner—it doesn’t get better!

Weekly Meal Planning

These budget meals aren’t just quick fixes—they’re perfect additions to your weekly meal rotation. Save and schedule this recipe in CookifyAI to organize meals for the week, generate a smart shopping list that consolidates ingredients across multiple recipes, and budget better for family dinners.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredients for all your planned recipes
– Sorts shopping lists by grocery store section
– Flags overlapping ingredients to reduce costs and prevent waste
– Streamlines weekly prep—saving both time and money

Pro tip: Plan multiple meals with CookifyAI and see how core staples like rice, veggies, and cheese overlap, maximizing your groceries’ value and keeping costs under control.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes

With these Easy and Cheap Family Meals Under $10, dinner is always within reach—delicious, satisfying, and easy on your pocketbook!