20 Dinners Under $2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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