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