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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

Deck the Freezer in 2025!

What We Ate This Week – Budget Dinner Ideas for Your Meal Plan

October 26, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

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INTRODUCING – What We Ate This Week!!! Use this List of Ultra Budget Recipes that Our Family Enjoyed Last Week for Your Meal Plan Inspiration

In 2025, I want to share with you more of what happens in the Chase family kitchen, and how I think about food, feeding my boys healthy dinners that don’t break the bank…day in and day out. (Yes, it gets old sometimes…even for me!) 

At the end of each week, I’ll share the list of recipes along with any helpful tips and tricks with you. I will post the recipe links here on the blog, as well as share a short recap video with more details on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. 

The idea here is simple: give you ideas for dinners to feed your family…that won’t bust your budget. 

You probably have already figured this out, but I’m HYPERAWARE of how much I spend on groceries and on each meal (it’s a weird brain-numbers thing) and sharing with you helps us both stay accountable to our food budgets and grocery spending. If you’re new here, welcome…take a look around and find a new recipe to try with your family.

As we continue to sludge through higher than we are used to grocery prices, I think we could all use a little help and inspiration. And this is my way of doing that. 

I hope throughout this year, you find some new favorite budget recipes and ideas for your family meal plan. Happy planning and more importantly, happy saving on groceries this year! 

 

If you need more meal planning ideas, or want the meal plans done for you, please check out the 2 meal planning resources that we have developed to help you plan and cook budget meals for your family day in and day out… 

  • Tap to learn more about MyFreezEasy freezer cooking meal plans!
  • Tap to learn more about $5 Meal Plan and how to get a weekly meal plan emailed to you every Friday!

Now, tap the recipe link below to get the full detailed recipe. You can print, save, or pin each recipe for your future meal plan inspiration. 

This Week’s Budget Dinner Ideas for Your Meal Plan

What We Ate This Week - Week 51

Skillet Boursin Chicken

This easy Skillet Boursin Chicken dish is the perfect combo of comfort and gourmet, making it perfect for any weeknight feast.

Slow Cooker Gold BBQ Shredded Beef

The seasonal Gold BBQ sauce from Trader Joes makes the best ever beef roast and shredded beef - best flavors slow cooked to dinner perfection

BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

Quick and Easy Recipe for BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza. Homemade pizza is the absolute best with the bbq chicken flavors!

Loaded Hashbrown Bake

You will love this easy, budget-friendly Loaded Hashbrown Bake - it's quick to prep and is perfect for busy weeknights!

Cajun Sloppy Janes

Spice Up Your Weeknight Dinner with These Easy Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes, aka "Cajun Sloppy Janes", made with mirepoix and sloppy joe sauce.

What We Ate This Week - Week 50

Chicken Pineapple Curry

Garlic Beef Bites with Baby Potatoes

Mississippi Beef Quesadillas

Pesto Chicken Bake

Fettuccine with Ham and Peas

Photo Credit: www..com

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

What We Ate This Week - Week 49

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Poblano Breakfast Scramble

Photo Credit: www.5dollardinners.com

Ground Beef & Rice Dump Casserole

Dump and Bake Tuscan Chicken with Pasta

Macaroni & Cheeseburger Soup

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins

What We Ate This Week - Week 48

Instant Pot Cheesy Sausage Grits

Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

Breakfast Slider Bake

Slow Cooker Beef Ravioli

Chicken & Ranch Mac n Cheese

What We Ate This Week - Week 47

Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Air Fryer Tacos

One-Dish Penne & Ham Skillet

Burger Quesadillas

What We Ate This Week - Week 46

Alfredo Tortellini Bake

Greek Chicken Bake

Beef Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce

Sheet Pan Meatloaf & Potatoes

Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

What We Ate This Week - Week 45

Nashville Hot Chicken – Slow Cooker, Instant Pot & Grilled

Amish Cinnamon Bread

Sloppy Joe Mac n Cheese

Fettuccine with Ham and Peas

Beef & Bean Oven Tacos

Sheet Pan Chicken Bites with Veggies

What We Ate This Week - Week 44

Nugget & Fries Nachos

Beef Taco Hashbrown Bake

Slow Cooker Root Beer Chicken

Italian Meatball Slider Bake

Sausage and Zucchini Soup

Pumpkin Swirl Breakfast Casserole

What We Ate This Week - Week 43

Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti with Sauce

$1 Loaf Dinner: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos

Slow Cooker Ratatouille

Skillet Italian Chicken with Tortellini

What We Ate This Week - Week 42

Beef Coconut Curry

Instant Pot Cowboy Chili

Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

VIRAL: Beef Ravioli Bake

Tuscan Chicken Fettuccine

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins

What We Ate This Week - Week 41

Sloppy Joe Slider Bake

Slow Cooker Cilantro-Lime Shredded Chicken

Eggroll Skillet Dinner

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Slow Cooker Mustard Beef Roast

Make Ahead Smoothie Packs

What We Ate This Week - Week 40

Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos

French Dip Slider Bake

Fettuccine with Ham and Peas

COPYCAT Chick-Fil-A Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich

Breakfast Nachos Recipe

Apricot Dump Cake

What We Ate This Week - Week 39

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Pizza Tortellini Bake

English-Style Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Black Bean Fajita Bowls

Salsa Verde Layered Chicken Enchiladas

Sausage Pancake Muffins

What We Ate This Week - Week 38

Burger Quesadillas

Copycat Chicken Pineapple Curry Recipe

Air Fryer Tacos

Garlic Beef Bites with Baby Potatoes

Chicken & Ranch Macaroni

Freezer Cooking Workshop

What We Ate This Week - Week 37

Skillet Boursin Chicken

Macaroni & Cheeseburger Soup

Rosemary Salmon

Dump & Bake Chicken and Rice

Mediterranean Beef Skillet

Mango Raspberry Baked Oatmeal

What We Ate This Week - Week 36

Mason Jar Salad

Tuscan Chicken Fettuccine

Mississippi Beef Quesadillas

Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Blackberry Dump Cake with Cream Cheese

What We Ate This Week - Week 35

The 3 + 3 Packet Beef Roast

Sheet Pan Salmon & Veggies

Fettuccine with Ham and Peas

Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

Budget Beef Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Zucchini

What We Ate This Week - Week 34

Slow Cooker Gold BBQ Shredded Beef

Slow Cooker Peach Chicken

Loaded Hashbrown Bake

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Cajun Sloppy Janes

Blueberry Lemon Baked Oatmeal

What We Ate This Week - Week 33

Sloppy Joe Slider Bake

Nugget & Fries Nachos

BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

Slow Cooker Mustard Beef Roast

Dump & Bake Chicken and Rice

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Instant Oatmeal Mix

What We Ate This Week - Week 32

Sausage and Zucchini Soup

Sheet Pan Chicken Bites with Veggies

VIRAL: Beef Ravioli Bake Recipe

Pesto Chicken Bake

Alfredo Tortellini Bake

What We Ate This Week - Week 31

Dump and Bake Tuscan Chicken with Pasta

Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Instant Pot Beef Burgundy

What We Ate This Week - Week 30

Open-Faced Smoky Provolone Sloppy Joes

Slow Cooker Root Beer Chicken

Slow Cooker Black Bean Fajita Bowls

$1 Loaf Dinner: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Skillet Boursin Chicken

What We Ate This Week - Week 29

Nugget & Fries Nachos

Chicken & Ranch Macaroni

Nashville Hot Chicken - Slow Cooker, Instant Pot & Grilled

Sheet Pan Salmon & Veggies

Copycat Chicken Pineapple Curry Recipe

Hawaiian Banana Bread

What We Ate This Week - Week 28

Summer Spaghetti Pasta

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos

COPYCAT Chick-Fil-A Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich

Eggroll Skillet Dinner

Sausage Pancake Muffins

What We Ate This Week - Week 27

Slow Cooker Beef Ravioli

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Breakfast Slider Bake

Slow Cooker Ratatouille

What We Ate This Week - Week 26

Patriotic Red, White & Blue Charcuterie Board

Fruit Flag Dessert Recipe

Greek Chicken Bake

Sweet n Sour Meatballs

One-Dish Penne & Ham Skillet

Amish Cinnamon Bread

What We Ate This Week - Week 25

Summer Spaghetti Pasta

Breakfast Nachos

Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos

The 3 + 3 Packet Beef Roast

Italian Meatball Slider Bake

ULTIMATE FUDGY BROWNIES

What We Ate This Week - Week 24

Pesto Chicken Bake

Eggroll Skillet Dinner

Stovetop Mac n Cheese

Mason Jar Salad

Beef & Bean Oven Tacos

Rhubarb Dump Cake Recipe

What We Ate This Week - Week 23

Sloppy Joe Mac n Cheese

Antipasto Pasta Salad

Chicken Nugget Slider Bake

Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

Overnight Granola

Blackberry Dump Cake with Cream Cheese

What We Ate This Week - Week 22

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Open-Faced Smoky Provolone Sloppy Joes

Beef Coconut Curry

100 Days of Summer Freezer Meals with MyFreezEasy

Slow Cooker Peach Chicken

Blueberry Lemon Baked Oatmeal

What We Ate This Week - Week 21

Tzatziki Chicken Salad Recipe

Slow Cooker Gold BBQ Shredded Beef

Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Dump & Bake Chicken and Rice

Cinnamon Roll French Toast with "Cream Cheese Syrup" Recipe

Apricot Dump Cake

What We Ate This Week - Week 20

Mississippi Beef Quesadillas

Best Ever Chicken Marinade for the Grill

$1 Loaf Dinner: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Eggroll Skillet Dinner

Mango Raspberry Baked Oatmeal

Layered Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas

What We Ate This Week - Week 19

Mississippi Meatballs

Mediterranean Beef Skillet

VIDEO: Everything You Need to Know about Dinners that Cook Themselves

Summer Spaghetti

Sheet Pan Meatloaf & Potatoes

What We Ate This Week - Week 18

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Pepperoni Pizza Bagels

Budget Beef Skillet with Sweet Potatoes and Zucchini

Layered Chicken Enchiladas

VIRAL: Beef Ravioli Bake Recipe

What We Ate This Week - Week 17

Greek Chicken Bake

COPYCAT Chick-Fil-A Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich

Instant Pot Cheesy Sausage Grits Recipe

Ham and Potatoes with Baked Eggs

Sheet Pan Carrot Cake

What We Ate This Week - Week 16

Macaroni & Cheeseburger Soup

Copycat Chicken Pineapple Curry

Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos

Alfredo Tortellini Bake

Colorful Instant Pot Rice Pilaf

Mini Egg Easter Cookie Bars

What We Ate This Week - Week 15

Sloppy Joe Slider Bake

Stovetop Mac n Cheese

Dump & Bake Meatball Casserole

Skillet Italian Chicken with Tortellini

French Dip Slider Bake

What We Ate This Week - Week 14

Burger Quesadillas

Skillet Boursin Chicken

Sloppy Joe Mac n Cheese

Dump & Bake Chicken and Rice

Make Ahead Smoothie Packs

Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal

What We Ate This Week - Week 13

Cheesy Beef Garlic Loaf Bread

Slow Cooker Gold BBQ Beef Roast

Sheet Pan Chicken with Apples and Cabbage

Fettuccine with Ham and Peas

Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos

Photo Credit: www.5dollardinners.com

What We Ate This Week - Week 12

Slow Cooker Taco Hashbrown Bake

Tuscan Chicken Fettuccine

Dump & Bake Meatball Casserole

Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

English-Style Pot Roast

What We Ate This Week - Week 11

Rainbow Chicken Curry

Pizza Tortellini Bake

Sheet Pan Salmon & Veggies

Instant Pot One-Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Beef Stirfry - Video!

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins

What We Ate This Week - Week 10

Slow Cooker Ratatouille

Beef Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce

Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Loaded Hashbrown Bake

What We Ate This Week - Week 9

Slow Cooker Mustard Beef Roast

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Instant Oatmeal Mix

Tater Tot Egg Bites

Slow Cooker Root Beer Chicken

Ground Beef & Rice "Dump Casserole"

What We Ate This Week - Week 8

Valentine's Day: Family Charcuterie Board & Game Night

Sheet Pan Chicken Bites with Veggies

Shepherd's Pie Nachos

Dump and Bake Tuscan Chicken with Pasta

Rice & Beans Yellow Curry

What We Ate This Week - Week 7

Buffalo Ranch Mac n Cheese

Garlic Beef Bites with Baby Potatoes

BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken

Beef Taco Hashbrown Bake

Hawaiian Banana Bread

What We Ate This Week - Week 6

Slow Cooker Root Beer Chicken

Overnight Granola

Pumpkin Swirl Breakfast Casserole

Cajun Sloppy Janes

Slow Cooker Black Bean Fajita Bowls

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

What We Ate This Week - Week 5

Nashville Hot Chicken - Slow Cooker, Instant Pot & Grilled

Gluten Free Sausage Alfredo Pasta Bake

Ranch Mac n Cheese

COPYCAT Chick-Fil-A Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich

Sausage Pancake Muffins

What We Ate This Week - Week 4

Sausage and Zucchini Soup

Baked Mississippi Chicken

Open-Faced Smoky Provolone Sloppy Joes

Beef and Bean Oven Tacos

Tater Tot Egg Bites

What We Ate This Week - Week 3

French Onion Meatloaf

Slow Cooker Beef Ravioli

Breakfast Slider Bake

Eggroll Skillet Dinner

What We Ate This Week - Week 2

Breakfast Lasagna Bake

Sausage Tuscan Pasta Skillet

Slow Cooker Ratatouille

Instant Pot Beef Burgundy

Slow Cooker Baja Shredded Chicken Tacos

What We Ate This Week - Week 1

The BEST Egg-Free Chicken Salad

Ground Beef & Rice "Dump Casserole"

Nugget & Fries Nachos

Rosemary Salmon

Beef and Bean Oven Tacos

Eggnog Bread

 

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Filed Under: Budget Friendly Meal Plans, Budget Friendly Recipes, Freezer Recipes and Freezer Meal Plans, Grocery Savings, MyFreezEasy Freezer Meal Plans, The $5 Meal Plan

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