Made by Hannah

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Feeding a family of six for five full days on a $120 budget takes planning, flexibility, and a whole lot of simple meals that actually fill everyone up. Hannah keeps things realistic with easy breakfasts, leftover lunches, homemade bread, frozen veggies, budget proteins, and comforting dinners that prove affordable meals can still feel warm and satisfying.

Enchilada Pasta Bake

This cheesy enchilada-style pasta bake turns inexpensive rotini into a full family dinner. Ground beef adds protein, corn and olives stretch the filling, and enchilada sauce brings big flavor without needing a full spice rack.

Ingredients

• Rotini pasta
• Ground beef
• Frozen corn
• Sliced black olives
• Enchilada sauce
• Tomato, chopped
• Shredded cheese
• Salt, pepper, and oil

Directions

1. Cook the rotini pasta until just tender.
2. Brown the ground beef in a pan with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in corn, sliced olives, chopped tomato, and enchilada sauce.
4. Mix the beef mixture with the cooked pasta.
5. Transfer to a baking dish and top with shredded cheese.
6. Bake until hot, melty, and bubbling.

Yogurt & Fresh Watermelon Breakfast

This breakfast is simple, refreshing, and kid-approved. Sweet watermelon helps stretch the meal and adds hydration, while yogurt brings protein, calcium, and a creamy base that keeps breakfast easy.

Ingredients

• Fresh watermelon
• Plain yogurt

Directions

1. Slice the watermelon into kid-friendly pieces.
2. Scoop yogurt into bowls.
3. Serve the watermelon on the side or spoon it over the yogurt.
4. Add more fruit as needed for hungry kids.

Cheese Quesadillas with Fresh Fruit

When leftovers are limited or kids want something simple, cheese quesadillas are a fast lunch that still feels satisfying. Paired with strawberries and mandarins, this meal balances comfort with fresh fruit.

Ingredients

• Flour tortillas
• Shredded cheese
• Mandarins
• Strawberries
• Oil, optional

Directions

1. Place cheese inside each tortilla.
2. Warm in a skillet or microwave until the cheese melts.
3. Slice into wedges.
4. Serve with mandarins and washed strawberries.

Homemade Sourdough Bread

Homemade sourdough is one of Hannah’s biggest budget savers. With flour, water, salt, and starter, she makes fresh bread for sandwiches, grilled cheese, and simple meals throughout the week.

Ingredients

• Sourdough starter
• Bread flour
• Water
• Salt

Directions

1. Mix sourdough starter with water.
2. Add flour and salt.
3. Mix into a dough and let it rise.
4. Shape the loaf and bake until golden and crisp outside.
5. Cool before slicing for sandwiches or toast.

Turkey Vegetable Ramen Soup

This soup is Hannah’s budget pivot meal. Instead of relying on ramen seasoning, she simmers ground turkey with vegetables, salt, and pepper to create a simple broth that still feels hearty and comforting.

Ingredients

• Ramen noodles
• Ground turkey
• Frozen vegetables
• Water
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Cook the ramen noodles and set aside.
2. Cook the ground turkey with water, salt, and pepper.
3. Add frozen vegetables and simmer until the broth becomes flavorful.
4. Stir in the noodles.
5. Serve warm.

Cream of Wheat Breakfast

Cream of Wheat is warm, simple, and filling enough for busy mornings. Hannah keeps it basic with milk and a little salt, making it a low-cost breakfast that her kids already love.

Ingredients

• Cream of Wheat
• Milk
• Salt

Directions

1. Prepare the Cream of Wheat according to package directions.
2. Use milk for a creamier texture.
3. Add a small pinch of salt.
4. Serve warm.

Almond Butter & Jam Sandwiches on Homemade Sourdough

These sandwiches are simple, soft, and kid-friendly. Homemade sourdough keeps the bread cost low, while almond butter and jam make lunch feel familiar and satisfying.

Ingredients

• Homemade sourdough bread
• Almond butter
• Jam
• Bunny grahams, optional side

Directions

1. Slice the homemade sourdough bread.
2. Spread almond butter on one slice.
3. Spread jam on the other slice.
4. Close the sandwich and slice.
5. Serve with a small snack if desired.

Grilled Cheese on Homemade Sourdough

This grilled cheese keeps lunch simple and comforting. Since Hannah did not have butter, she used oil to toast the bread, proving that budget meals are often about making what you have work.

Ingredients

• Homemade sourdough bread
• Shredded cheese
• Oil
• Mandarins or fruit, optional side

Directions

1. Add cheese between slices of sourdough bread.
2. Heat a little oil in a skillet.
3. Toast the sandwich until golden on both sides.
4. Cook until the cheese is melted.
5. Serve warm with fruit if available.

Chicken Sausage Rice-A-Roni Skillet with Riced Cauliflower

This skillet uses a boxed rice mix for built-in seasoning, then stretches it with chicken sausage and riced cauliflower. It is filling, flavorful, and sneaks in extra veggies without much fuss.

Ingredients

• Rice-A-Roni
• Chicken sausage
• Frozen riced cauliflower
• Water
• Oil

Directions

1. Toast the Rice-A-Roni according to package directions.
2. Add the water and seasoning packet.
3. Stir in riced cauliflower.
4. Slice and add the chicken sausage.
5. Cook until the rice is tender and everything is hot.

Chicken Sausage Pasta with Tomato Sauce

This dinner is basic in the best way: pasta, sausage, veggies, and tomato sauce. It is filling, familiar, and proof that a meal does not have to be extravagant to satisfy a big family.

Ingredients

• Pasta
• Chicken sausage
• Frozen vegetables
• Tomato sauce
• Salt, pepper, and oil

Directions

1. Cook the pasta until tender.
2. Slice and brown the chicken sausage.
3. Add frozen vegetables and cook until warmed through.
4. Stir in tomato sauce.
5. Combine with pasta and serve warm.

Bean & Cheese Enchilada Burrito Bake with Green Beans & Corn

This final dinner turns frozen bean and cheese burritos into a bubbly enchilada-style bake. Leftover enchilada sauce, olives, and cheese make it feel more homemade, while green beans and corn round out the plate.

Ingredients

• Frozen bean and cheese burritos
• Enchilada sauce
• Black olives
• Shredded cheese
• Frozen green beans
• Frozen corn

Directions

1. Place the bean and cheese burritos in a baking dish.
2. Pour enchilada sauce over the top.
3. Add sliced black olives and shredded cheese.
4. Bake until hot, bubbly, and melty.
5. Serve with warmed green beans and corn.

Complete Shopping List

Ingredients:

0.5x

1x

2x

4x

 

•   2 large watermelons
•   2 lbs strawberries
•   5 lb bag mandarins
•   3 large onions
•   1 large tomato
•   2 bags frozen corn
•   2 bags frozen mixed vegetables
•   1 bag frozen riced cauliflour
•   1 bag frozen green beans
•   2 lbs ground beef
•   2 lbs ground turkey
•   2 packages chicken sausage
•   3 large tubes plain yogurt
•   1 container cottage cheeese
•   2 lbs shredded Mexican cheese blend
•   1 gallon milk
•   sourdough (can get starter free from bakery)
•   10 lb bread flour
•   2 lbs rotini
•   2 boxes ramen noodles (family packs or about 12 individual packs)
•   2 boxes Rice-A-Roni
•   1 box Cream of Wheat
•   2 large cans enchilada sauce
•   2 cans sliced black olives
•   2 packages frozen bean & cheese burritos
•   1 jar almond butter
•   1 jar jam
•   1 box Bunny Grahams
•   salt
•   black pepper
•   cooking oil

Ingredients are subject to availability at local stores. Unavailable items will be automatically substituted at best-effort.