Week 2 Family Meal Plan: Feeding a Family of 5 for $70

Hey Virtual Besties! I’m excited to share a budget-friendly meal plan with cheap family meal recipes that will keep your family of 5 satisfied for a whole week, all for just around $70. I picked up everything from Walmart, but feel free to explore other stores in your area for potential savings. Walmart is a convenient option for most people, so it worked well for me. With this meal plan, my main focus was on affordability and creating filling meals. While processed foods tend to be cheaper, I prioritized discounted produce to fit within the budget. Keep in mind that grocery prices can vary based on your location and the time of your shopping trip. But overall, this meal plan should give you a good estimate. The best part? Every meal I cooked had plenty of delicious leftovers, so my family could enjoy them for a couple of extra days.

Let’s jump into the recipes for each meal of the day

Breakfast

Baked Strawberry Pancakes Side with Fruit

You’ll need:

1 pound of strawberries ($2.24)
1 box of complete pancake mix ($1.98)
2 eggs ($0.34)
Vanilla (optional)
Water

Instructions

Follow the instructions on the pancake mix box
adding eggs, vanilla (if desired), and cut-up strawberries.
Bake the pancake batter in a preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.

This recipe makes approximately 15 servings, costing only around $0.31 per serving

Egg Muffins Side With Fruit

You’ll need:

12 eggs ($2.04)
Turkey sausage roll ($3.98)
Dry hash browns ($1.70)
Garlic salt
Black pepper

Instructions

Cook the turkey sausage according to the package instructions.
Beat the eggs in a bowl and add garlic, salt, and black pepper for seasoning.
Prepare the dry hash browns following the instructions on the box, then add them to the egg mixture.
Spray a muffin pan with non-stick spray and use a large spoon to fill each cup with the mixture.
Bake the muffins in a preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.

This recipe makes approximately 12 servings, costing around $0.64 per serving.

Lunch

Mac & Cheese / Hot Dogs

You’ll need

4 boxes of mac and cheese ($2.32)
2 packs of hot dogs ($3.24)
2 hot dog buns ($2.78)

Instructions

Follow the instructions on the mac and cheese boxes, boiling water and adding the macaroni.
Boil the hot dogs in water until heated through.
Serve the mac and cheese with the hot dogs on the side.

This recipe makes approximately 16 servings, costing around $0.52 per serving

Tuna Wraps Side With Fruit

You’ll need

4 cans of tuna in water ($3.46)
4 boiled eggs ($0.68)
2 tablespoons of mayo ($0.50)
2 tablespoons of sweet pickle relish ($0.50)
10 flour tortillas ($1.98)
Onion powder
Black pepper

Instructions

In a bowl, mix together the tuna, chopped boiled eggs, mayo, sweet pickle relish, onion powder, and black pepper. Season to taste.
Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of the tuna mixture onto each flour tortilla.
Wrap the tortillas like burritos, folding in the sides and rolling them up tightly.
Serve the tuna wraps with fresh fruit on the side.

This recipe makes approximately 10 servings, costing around $0.80 per serving.

Dinner

Cheesy Chicken Casserole with Side Salad

You’ll need

15 oz can of chicken ($3.15)
1 lb elbow macaroni ($0.98)
1 cup mayo ($0.50)
2 cups shredded cheese ($2.96)
1 cup of milk ($0.50)
Garlic salt
Black pepper

Instructions

Boil water and cook the elbow macaroni until tender.
Drain the cooked pasta and add it to a baking pan.
Add the canned chicken, mayo, 1 and 1/2 cups of shredded cheese, milk, garlic salt, and black pepper. Mix everything together.
Season to taste, then add the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top.
Bake in a preheated 250°F oven for 20-25 minutes.

This recipe makes approximately 20 servings, costing around $0.39 per serving.

Tuna Casserole with Side Salad

You’ll need

4 cans of tuna in water ($3.46)
1 can of peas ($0.64)
2 boxes of deluxe mac and cheese ($2.96)
Shredded cheese ($1)
Onion powder
Black pepper
Garlic powder

Instructions

Follow the instructions on the deluxe mac and cheese boxes, adding the drained tuna and peas to a baking pan.
Season to taste with onion powder, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes.

This recipe makes approximately 20 servings, costing around $0.40 per serving

Shopping List Breakdown

$1.88 Cookies
$2.32 total ($0.58 each) for 4 boxes of Mac & Cheese
$6.92 total ($3.46 each) for 2 packs of 4 cans of Tuna
$0.64 can of peas
$2.96 total ($1.98 each) for 2 boxes of Deluxe Mac & Cheese
$1.70 Dry Hashbrowns
$2.96 Applesauce
$2.16 Mayo
$1.69 Sweet relish
$0.98 Elbow Pasta
$3.15 can of Chicken
$3.98 Turkey Sausage Roll
$3.24 total ($1.62 each) for Hot Dogs
$9.34 total ($4.67 each) for Watermelons
$1.67 Lettuce
$0.44 Tomato
$2.24 1 pound of Strawberries
$1.38 Margarine
$1.43 1/2 gallon of Milk
$3.68 1 pound of Block Cheese
$3.14 18-count Eggs
$1.98 Complete Pancake Mix
$2.36 Pancake Syrup
$2.28 Drink Mix
$2.78 total ($1.38 each) for Hot Dog Buns
$1.98 10-count Flour Tortillas

Total: $69.06

I cooked everything in one day, except for the hot dogs and mac and cheese, to ensure a variety of meals throughout the week. Adjust the portions based on your family size and appetite. To make things even more convenient, I’ve created a FREE downloadable resource that includes the meal plan menu, grocery list, blank grocery list, meal plan, and recipes. Everything is printable, so you can easily keep track of your cooking adventure.

Feel free to get creative and make adjustments based on your personal preferences. With these recipes, you’ll be able to nourish your family while staying within budget.