20 Dinners Under $2

Spicy Chicken & Broccoli

Velvety jasmine rise soaks up all the sweet and spicy flavors of sriracha and hoisin sauce.

Price Check:

• Chicken breasts: $1.50
• Garlic: $.15
• EVOO: $.33
• Broccoli: $.78
• Hoisin sauce: $1.07
• Sriracha sauce: $.12
• Jasmine rice: $.81
• Total: $4.76
• Price per plate: $1.19

Recipe: Try our Spicy Chicken & Broccoli

Caribbean Chicken

This dish costs way less than a Caribbean vacation, but tastes just as good.

Price check:

• Canned pineapple chunks: $1.07
• Red onion: $.41
• Cilantro: $.20
• Chicken breasts: $2.98
• Jerk seasoning: $.60
• EVOO: $.17
• Total: $5.43
• Price per plate: $1.36

Recipe: Try our Caribbean Chicken

White Chicken Chili

This chili is made with chicken thighs, which are roughly 25 percent cheaper than breasts.

Price Check: 

• Green bell pepper: $.69
• Onion: $.47
• Garlic: $.22 
• Jalapeno: $.16 
• Dried oregano: $.06
• Cumin: $.03
• EVOO: $.17 
• Cannellini beans: $1.50 
• Chicken stock: $.90 
• Chicken thighs: $1.99
• Total: $6.19
• Price per plate: $1.55

Recipe: Try our White Chicken Chili

Chicken Skillet Noodles

A great way to bulk up your dinner plate is by adding light-as-air egg noodles.

Price Check: 

• Chicken thighs: $1.99
• Garlic: $.15
• EVOO: $.33
• Canned diced tomatoes: $.50
• Egg noodles: $1.19
• Chicken stock: $.67
• Italian seasoning: $.15
• Shredded mozzarella: $1.16
• Fresh parsley: $.20
• Total: $6.34
• Price per plate: $1.59

Recipe: Try our Chicken Skillet Noodles

Tuna Puttanesca

Briny olives and capers add pops of flavor in every bite of this seafood pasta.

Price Check:

• Garlic: $.15
• EVOO: $.33
• Canned crushed tomatoes: $.50
• Kalamata olives: $.92
• Capers: $.60
• Canned tuna: $1.70
• Spaghetti: $.68
• Fresh parsley: $.20
• Total: $5.08
• Price per plate: $1.27

Recipe: Try our Tuna Puttanesca

Shrimp Po'boy Toasts

Bring the Big Easy to your dinner table any night of the week!

Price Check:

• Garlic: $.15
• Butter: $.62
• Shrimp: $4.49
• Worcestershire sauce: $.52
• Lemon juice: $.09
• Cajun seasoning: $.06
• Small baguette: $1.49
• Chives: $.22
• Total: $7.64
• Price per plate: $1.91

Recipe: Try our Shrimp Po'boy Toasts

Lime Tilapia & Rice

Cornmeal makes for a crunchy coating that still keeps the tilapia light and flaky.

Price Check: 

• Cornmeal: $.16
• Flour: $.03
• Paprika: $.02
• Tilapia: 3.33
• EVOO: 0.33
• White rice: $.74
• Cilantro: $.40
• Lime: $.34
• Total: $5.35
• Price per plate: $1.34

Recipe: Try our Lime Tilapia & Rice

Shrimp Enchiladas

Imagine this: tortillas stuffed with shrimp, creamy cheese and chile-studded tomatoes, then baked to perfection. Plus, the homemade salsa verde is super authentic!

Price Check: 

• Shrimp: $3.00
• EVOO: $.17
• Canned diced tomatoes with chiles: $.69
• Monterey jack cheese: $1.20
• Flour tortillas: $1.43
• Onion: $.42
• Jalape?o: $.16
• Chicken stock: $.15 
• Cilantro: $.20
• Total: $7.42
• Price per plate: $1.86

Recipe: Try our Shrimp Enchiladas

Spinach & Feta Quesadillas

You won't miss the meat in these cheesy, nutrient-packed, Tex-Mex dippers.

Price Check:

• Roasted red peppers: $1.90
• Crushed red pepper: $.02
• Frozen spinach: $1.16
• Shredded mozzarella: $1.16
• Feta: $1.74
• Garlic: $.15
• Flour tortillas: $.72
• Total: $6.85
• Price per plate: $1.71

Recipe: Try our Spinach & Feta Quesadillas

Parmesan Polenta with Mushrooms & Chard

Talk about a bowl of pure comfort, with all your favorite flavors and textures.

Price Check: 

• Vegetable stock: $2.49
• Polenta: $1.60
• Garlic: $.15
• EVOO: $.33
• White mushrooms: $.75
• Swiss chard: $1.99
• Parmesan: $.55
• Total: $7.86
• Price per plate: $1.97

Recipe: Try our Parmesan Polenta with Mushrooms & Chard

Squash & Ricotta Pizzette

Turn a regular baguette into a crowd-pleasing meal by piling on plenty of cheese and vegetables.

Price Check: 

• Small baguette: $1.49
• Ricotta: $1.75 
• Dried oregano: $.05 
• Yellow squash: $.64 
• Zucchini: $.66
• Tomato: $.95
• Shredded mozzarella: $1.16
• Total: $6.70
• Price per plate: $1.68

Recipe: Try our Squash & Ricotta Pizzette

Pesto Tortellini Salad

Frozen tortellini and store-bought pesto help this dish come together in minutes.

Price Check:

• Frozen tortellini: $2.50
• Pesto: $1.34
• Greek yogurt: $.24
• Lemon juice: $.05
• Arugula: $.66
• Total: $4.79
• Price per plate: $1.20

Recipe: Try our Pesto Tortellini Salad

Cheesy Sausage Subs

The holy trinity of sub sandwiches has to be sausage, peppers and onions.

Price Check:

• Smoked sausage: $2.50
• EVOO: $.17
• Onion: $.42
• Green bell pepper: $.69
• Garlic: $.14
• Chicken stock: $.11
• Hot sauce: $.13
• Baguette: $1.79
• Provolone: $1.06
• Total: $7.01
• Price per plate: $1.76

Recipe: Try our Cheesy Sausage Subs

Chorizo Rice Skillet

This meaty rice dish has all the same flavors of paella, but will cost way less and take half the time.

Price Check:

• Chorizo: $1.60
• Onion: $.47
• Green bell pepper: $.69
• Chili powder: $.20
• EVOO: $.17
• Canned diced tomatoes: $.50
• White rice: $.74
• Scallions: $.17
• Total: $4.54
• Price per plate: $1.14

Recipe: Try our Chorizo Rice Skillet

Kielbasa & 'Kraut

Discover the flavors of Germany for just $1.60 per plate.

Price Check:

• Kielbasa: $2.50
• Red onion: $.82
• Apple: $.40
• EVOO: $.34
• Red potatoes: $1.30
• Dijon mustard: $.07
• Sauerkraut: $.95
• Total: $6.38
• Price per plate: $1.60

Recipe: Try our Kielbasa & 'Kraut

Sausage Farfalle

Your kids will never notice the eggplant hidden throughout this sausage-studded dish.

Price Check:

• Italian sausage: $2.33
• Eggplant: $.75
• Farfalle: $.63
• Pepperoncini: $.62
• Parmesan: $.41
• Lemon: $.40
• Fresh parsley: $.20
• Total: $5.34
• Price per plate: $1.34

Recipe: Try our Sausage Farfalle

Teriyaki Meat Loaf

Take meat loaf to a new level by adding Asian flavors like ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil.

Price Check:

• Ground beef: $3.44
• Egg: $.22
• Breadcrumbs: $.27
• Fresh ginger: $.10
• Garlic: $.07
• Soy sauce: $.13
• Sesame oil: $.12
• Teriyaki sauce: $.72
• Green beans: $1.50
• Total: $6.57
• Price per plate: $1.64

Recipe: Try our Teriyaki Meat Loaf

Pizza Sliders

This pizza-burger hybrid is great to make for friends.

Price Check:

• Tomato sauce: $.69
• Italian seasoning: $.30
• Ground beef: $2.58
• Onion: $.10
• Slider buns: $1.69
• Shredded mozzarella: $.29
• Pepperoni: $1.78
• Basil: $.50
• Total: $7.93
• Price per plate: $1.98

Recipe: Try our Pizza Sliders

Meaty Mushroom Ragu

Here's a money-saving tip: Buying family-size packages of ground beef saves nearly 25 percent per pound. Freeze what you don't use.

Price Check: 

• Fettuccine: $.50
• White mushrooms: $2.99
• Garlic: $.22
• Butter: $.31
• Ground beef: $1.72
• Red wine: $.67
• Tomato paste: $.09
• Parmesan: $.41
• Total: $6.91
• Price per plate: $1.73

Recipe: Try our Meaty Mushroom Ragu

Beef & Mango Tostadas

Open-face tortillas leave room for a beautiful presentation that's basically effortless!

Price Check:

• Ground beef: $1.72
• EVOO: $.17
• Canned black beans: $.90
• Chili powder: $.30
• Mango: $1.00
• Red bell pepper: $1.33
• Scallions: $.17
• Lime: $.17
• Corn tortillas: $.64
• Total: $6.40
• Price per plate: $1.60

Recipe: Try our Beef & Mango Tostadas