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$5 Dinners | Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals

Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals and Cooking Tutorials for the Busy Home Chef

Save on Groceries in 2025

24 Budget Friendly, Inflation Proof Recipes for 2024

December 29, 2021 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 2 Comments

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With rising grocery prices and more inflation looming, here are tried and true, budget friendly recipes that we call “inflation proof!” 

We are all feeling the pinch at the grocery store right now. 

Personally, I’ve started buying less beef, adding in more “rice and beans” kinds of meals, and focusing more on homemade snacks and treats (vs. the more expensive convenient snacks.) While that does mean more time baking, it means less money spent at the grocery store. 

Here’s a look at the Consumer Price Index increases, as shared on Fox News in early December 2021…

(Photo from EOY 2021)

(I think the worst of this is the coffee price going up – LOL – kidding not kidding) 

With that increase in cost of beef…you can see why I’m buying less of it right now. It also means that I’m hunting down any sales and markdowns for ground beef or beef chuck roast too. 

Whatever your approach, it’s time to CRACK DOWN AND GET FOCUSED ON OUR FOOD SPENDING. 

Why These Recipes are “Inflation Proof” 

I spent quite a bit of time deciding on which recipes to include in this list.

22 recipes to try in 2022…that won’t break the bank.

22 because…2022. 

UPDATED: added 2 recipes to make it 24 for 2024!

And it’s almost enough to try 2 new recipes a month. Seems like just the right balance. 

If you really need to make drastic cuts to your grocery budget, then I suggest having at least 2 rice and bean style meals per week. They can cost as little as $2-$3 for a meal for 4 people. So you can see what an impact these kinds of meals can have in reducing your grocery spending.

And rice and beans meals don’t have to be boring and bland! You can jazz them up with all sorts of fun flavors! I’ve included some amazing “rice and beans budget” recipes first on this list, followed by other budget friendly recipes. 

Next, I included some popular and yummy vegetarian meals that won’t break the bank.

I mixed in some meals with chicken as the base protein – as chicken prices haven’t nearly as sharply as the beef prices have. 

I did include some hearty and filling ground beef recipes – ones that you can really stretch with the main meal and leftovers. 

Finally, I tossed in a pork chop and bacon recipe too! 

Other Helpful Tips for Fighting Grocery Price Inflation

  • Watch: Erin Sharing Saving Tips on Good Morning America
  • Read: How to Fight Rising Grocery Prices
  • Save: The “Let’s Fight Inflation” Weekly Meal Plan

24 Budget Friendly, Inflation Proof Recipes for 2024

24 Budget Friendly, Inflation Proof Recipes for 2024

1

Cuban Black Beans Recipe

2

Coconut Rice and Beans

3

Fiesta Beans and Rice

4

Black Beans with Mango & Cilantro

5

Curried Lentils & Rice with Caramelized Onions

6

Spicy Bean and Cheese Tacos

7

Black Bean & Corn Enchiladas

8

Southwest Macaroni 'n Cheese

9

Burrito Cups

10

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato & Chickpea Curry

11

Rice and Pinto Beans with Andouille Sausage

12

White Chicken Chili

13

BBQ Chicken Street Tacos

14

Ranch Chicken & Potatoes Casserole

15

Shredded Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches

16

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Skillet Dinner

17

Slow Cooker Chicken Philly Cheesesteak Recipe

18

Chili Pasta Bake

19

Doritos Taco Salad

20

Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti

21

Loaded Slow Cooked Potatoes

22

Pork Chops with Cranberry-Mustard Sauce

23

Cheeseburger Rice

24

Baked Ziti

 

 

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Filed Under: Grocery Savings

Comments

  1. Lisa M. says

    December 30, 2021 at 2:33 am

    Thank you! With impending snow, I am headed to the store in the morning. Several of these recipes will be on my new menu.

    Reply
  2. Simran Kaur says

    May 3, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    Fabulous ideas!! Many, many thanks….Beans are a great source of protein and really cheap….When I hear of people going without food I hope they know just one tin of beans goes a long way and can even be eaten cold. I hope the world governments wake up to the food crisis.

    Reply

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