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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!

The Fruit Flag Dessert – July 4th, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day!

June 3, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 5 Comments

Fruit Flag - A Patriot Dessert for July 4th

If you're looking for a patriotic and uber healthy dessert, look no further! For Memorial Day, we headed to my dad's house for a backyard BBQ. Before I had both feet in the door, I'd been recruited to help with the fruit flag. It's not terribly time intensive, and with 2 of us working on it, I was surprised at how quickly it came together. And I learned quite a few tricks … [Read more...]

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix (Regular & Dairy-Free!)

November 23, 2020 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Perfectly simple and delicious Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix! This homemade mix is perfect for any hot cocoa lover, because there is a regular AND dairy free version. It makes a precious gift for your loved ones, neighbors, and besties too! Mix it - Store it - Gift it! :)   Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix A regular and dairy-free version of hot cocoa mix … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Black Bean Posole

April 24, 2019 by Seema Leave a Comment

Slow Cooker Black Bean Posole - A Vegetarian Twist on a Favorite Mexican Soup!

Y'all! It's a vegetarian version of a traditional Mexican soup, made with spices like chili powder and oregano, poblano peppers, and hominy corn. And it's SO SO SO SO SO GOOD!  I adore 'cheap and filling meals' like this one.  I'm often asked "how are you planning on feeding 4 teenage boys on a budget" - and the answer generally involves something along … [Read more...]

Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon

April 17, 2019 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

Fantastical. Yes, you read that right - FANTASTICAL. It's more than fantastic, so I made up "fantastical." As in...fantastical combination of flavors that coat and steam-cook the salmon in the foil pack. I adore "foil packs" and you will be seeing more of them over the coming weeks and months. They are great for the grill in the summer, but also the oven in the … [Read more...]

Lemon-Tarragon Cod

April 8, 2019 by Seema Leave a Comment

This simple yet powerfully flavored sauce, that marinates and coats this mild fish, is next level. It brightens the cod fillets and will make for your next enjoyable dinner!!  Lemon-Tarragon Cod Lemon and tarragon pair perfectly on this white fish dish! 4 4 oz. cod filletsSalt and pepper4 Tbsp olive oil4 Tbsp lemon juice2 Tbsp Dijon mustard1 Tbsp … [Read more...]

Instant Pot Coconut Lime Chicken

April 2, 2019 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

I adore a good curry meal - and my family does too. But I worked this one up as sort of a "spice-less" option. Curry powder or paste isn't always that spicy - depending on the brand and the amount that you use. This one is similar in nature - without the curry.  Perfect for anyone who just isn't all that into curry.  This meal has a delightful combination of … [Read more...]

How to Cook Brown Rice in the Instant Pot

March 27, 2019 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Learn to Cook PERFECT Brown Rice in the Instant Pot Brown rice can be a bear to cook on the stovetop. It doesn't always cook evenly, it takes a full hour, and it sometimes leaves a "crusted" layer on the bottom of the pot. Well - you don't have to worry about any of those things anymore. Enter "Instant Pot Brown Rice." It cooks and fluffs perfectly - in a fraction of the … [Read more...]

Carne Asada Tacos {Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Options}

January 10, 2019 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

carne asada tacos

Carne Asada is all about the marinade and this homemade marinade is perfect for steak that will be frozen! (Think - you find some flank steak on sale or special, and need to either cook it or freeze it right away. I usually opt for freezing it...especially when the marinade is acidic like this one. The acid will soften the meat fibers as it thaws and marinates...and then it … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Chicken Vindaloo

January 4, 2019 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

This fantastic Vindaloo sauce will take your dinner to the next level, and tempt your taste buds at the same time! The chicken and simple homemade sauce combo is phenomenal and can be served with rice, cauliflower rice, veggies, or salad...or whatever you prefer! Enjoy! Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Chicken Vindaloo Full of flavor and so easy to … [Read more...]

Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja

June 1, 2018 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

A few years back I was at a conference in Miami with a friend and colleague, and we ended up going on a Cuban food eating "tour." It started with a dive near the beach and I ordered the Ropa Vieja. And it ended with Cubano sandwiches, at a walk up food bar. We had a few other meals in between, but these two were my faves! And I knew that I needed to recreate the Ropa Vieja … [Read more...]

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