Dollar Store Recipes: 16 Frugal Meals for You
These frugal recipes can come straight out of your local Dollar store!
You don't have to shop at a fancy market to make delicious home-cooked meals for your family. Sometimes the best dinner recipes are the ones made with just the basics. In this collection of Dollar Store recipes, find 16 frugal meal ideas for you and your loved ones to enjoy without having to worry. Cooking is so much more fun, and so much easier, when you know you're not going to break the bank doing it!
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Table of Contents
Frugal Recipes for Soup and Chili
There's a reason that soups and chilis are popular budget recipes -- they're inexpensive while still being utterly delicious! These frugal soup recipes taste like they came straight out of a restaurant.
For example, you've just gotta try this Dollar Store Black Bean Soup. Black bean soup is a hearty and comforting dish to enjoy as a main dish or as a starter. This easy soup recipe is great to make especially during the cold weather months.
This recipe for Southwest Chicken Soup is one of the tastiest chicken soup recipes you'll find this side of the Mississippi! This soup is packed to the brim with peppers, shredded chicken, onions, sweet corn, and more.
This hearty bean and beef chili recipe is a mouth-watering one pot meal. A variety of seasonings give it a rich flavor, so if you're looking for a new chili recipe to try out, this one is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
If you're looking for more wonderful quick and easy frugal recipes, check out these12 Delicious Budget Pork Chop Recipes, Plus 2 New Fried Pork Chops
Cheap and Easy Casserole Recipes
Casseroles are one of the best routes for frugal recipes! There's plenty of budget-friendly casserole recipes out there for you to take advantage of.
This Dollar Store Cowboy Casserole is definitely one you don't want to miss out on! If you love the taste of cowboy recipes, you have to try this awesome recipe for a Southwestern-inspired main dish that's chocked full of hearty ingredients like beans, corn, tomato, pepper and more. All we can say about this cowboy recipe is "yum!"
Dollar Store Chicken Casserole
You can find most, if not all, of the ingredients needed for this easy chicken casserole recipe at your local dollar store. A version of the classic tuna noodle casserole recipe, this chicken version has a great homey flavor that will please everyone at the table!
Dollar Store Ranch Chicken Casserole
Ranch chicken casserole is one of those dishes that we just never get tired of. This version, one of our favorite dollar store food ideas, is a great option for families on a budget because many of the necessary ingredients can be found at the local Five and Dime.
Cheesy, beefy and crunchy, this cheap casserole recipe has three great things going for it. If you're a fan of Fritos, this is definitely one of the best easy frugal recipes for you. Don't miss out on this guilty pleasure casserole that so many of our readers love.
Easy Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
Served warm and fresh out of the oven, this cheesy chicken casserole recipe is pretty hard to beat. Add this to your list of great dollar store food dishes because your family is sure to love the combination of flavors in this chicken dinner!
Hungry for more affordable recipes? Try these delicious picks from our test kitchen!16 Best Cheap Easy Meals
Dollar Store Food Main Dishes
It might sound unbelievable that you can make Dollar Store food main dishes, but you really can! Each of these simple recipes will be so cheap that you won't believe it.
One of our favorites is this Easy Pantry Tuna Penne recipe. As its name suggests, this cheap pasta recipe can be made from items most likely already residing in your pantry at home. This is one of those frugal recipes that's great because it's inexpensive, but also because it's incredibly fast to make. In just 30 short minutes you'll have a delicious dinner on the table.
Frugal recipes are great when you need ideas for simple, low-cost weeknight meals. This version of a classic chili mac recipe is easy on the wallet and satisfying for the taste buds. It's a win-win!
With just three simple ingredients, many of which can be purchased at your local dollar store, this cheap and easy recipe for quesadillas is a winner in our book. This recipe for two is one of those frugal recipes you'll want to keep handy because it makes a great lunch, snack or dinner; it's so versatile!
Crispy, pillowy, and loaded with flavor, this pan-fried gnocchi is going to be a new favorite meal at your house! Gnocchi is a great ingredient to pick up at the Dollar Store. It easily transforms into an easy dinner like this, or you can load it up with other goodies like pasta sauce, veggies, and cheese.
Speedy Santa Fe Black Beans and Rice
Grab a package of rice, a few cans of your favorite beans and veggies, and whip up a delicious dinner in no time! This Dollar Store recipe is packed with flavor and endlessly adaptable.
Frugal Recipes for Sides & Desserts
To finish off your Dollar Store meal plan, check out these frugal recipes for sides and desserts! They'll taste even better knowing how little money you had to spend on them.
Your Dollar Store meal simply isn't complete without these Dollar Store No Bake Cookies. Dollar store food doesn't stop at casseroles and main dishes. If you're looking for a cheap dessert recipe, look no further than these delicious no bake cookies. Made with oats, raisins and jam, this easy dessert recipe proves that frugal recipes can still be rich in flavor.
This old-fashioned recipe puts a twist on traditional cornbread recipes -- a twist you're going to love. Don't miss out on this sensational side dish... it's one of our favorite dollar store food ideas.
This recipe for 2-Ingredient Nutella Cake is rich and full of amazing flavor. All you need are eggs, Nutella, and powdered sugar! Nothing beats a simple dessert recipe.
Some foods are so fun to make at home that we're willing to skip the convenience of buying them. Cook up a batch of your very own Doritos using tortillas from the Dollar Store and a delicious spice blend. You won't be disappointed!
No one will guess that this scrumptious dessert was made using only a few simple ingredients. Cake mix and pumpkin puree combine for a dessert that is light, fluffy, and the perfect home for a layer of gooey frosting.
Don't let your frugality end here! Make the most of your money and your kitchen with these22 Ways to Reuse Old Food Containers & Other Frugal Ideas