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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!

Christmas Tree Charcuterie Boards – Brunch & Appetizer

November 24, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

christmas brunch charcuterie

What happens when you combine Christmas parties, Christmas morning brunch, Christmas trees, and the latest charcuterie board trends?! THIS... It's time to have a little creative food fun with holiday gatherings and meals.  When the invite says bring an appetizer... When your aunt says you're in charge of Christmas morning brunch... Here's what you … [Read more...]

Save Money: Make These Homemade Spice Mixes

October 27, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

best homemade spice mixes

Skip the prepared packets and dressings - make these homemade spice mixes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! Mixing up your own spice mixes will help you save money on your grocery bill - because what not use what you already have?! My guess is you have most (if not all) of the ingredients you would need to mix up these different homemade spice mix … [Read more...]

How to Make Homemade Buttermilk in 5 Minutes

October 3, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Never Buy Buttermilk Again! This 2-Ingredient Homemade Version is Budget-Friendly & Easy Out of buttermilk or don't want to buy a whole carton for just one recipe? Learn how to make your own buttermilk at home with just two simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. This quick DIY substitute is perfect for pancakes, biscuits, and baked goods—and it'll … [Read more...]

Homemade Freezer PBJs vs. Store-Bought Uncrustables

July 24, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

How to make homemade freezer peanut butter & jelly sandwiches - save time and money in the back to school season!   During a recent livestream video, I kept having this thought flash through - I need to do a cost comparison of making these yourself vs. buying them in the store. Yes, you have to weigh cost and convenience...but this one is one where cost wins … [Read more...]

Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe

May 20, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Best Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe – Simple, Authentic & Full of Flavor This homemade marinara sauce is rich, robust, and made with just a few classic ingredients for an authentic Italian taste. Simmered with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and herbs, it’s the perfect base for pasta, pizza, or dipping. Whether you're cooking a quick weeknight dinner or prepping for a … [Read more...]

VIDEO: Things I Never Buy & What I Use Instead

May 15, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

4 Everyday Items I Stopped Buying to Save Money (And What I Use Instead) Cutting back on everyday expenses doesn't mean sacrificing convenience or flavor—it just takes a few smart swaps. I've stopped buying paper towels, seasoning packets, pre-cut fruits, and tomato-based sauces because they’re simply too expensive for what they offer. Instead, I've found affordable, … [Read more...]

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

April 28, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Store-Bought vs. Homemade LAUNDRY SOAP: Is It Really Worth It to Make Your Own Homemade Powder Laundry Soap?! Is it worth it to make your own homemade laundry powder soap, or should you just buy it pre-made at the store? In this video and series, we will analyze the cost, convenience and ingredient comparisons between homemade and store-bought powder laundry soap. I will … [Read more...]

Homemade Philly Cheesesteak Seasoning

April 14, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Bold and Savory Homemade Philly Cheesesteak Seasoning for the Ultimate Sandwich Experience! Take your cheesesteaks to the next level with this bold, flavorful homemade seasoning blend. This unique combo of perfectly balanced spices brings out the savory, juicy goodness in every bite. Say goodbye to bland and hello to Philly-style cheesesteak sandwich perfection at … [Read more...]

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Instant Oatmeal Mix

January 6, 2025 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Eating Gluten Free Can be Expensive and It's Important to Look for Easy Hacks and Ways to Save As Much As Possible - Making Instant Oatmeal Mix Can Help Stretch Those Gluten Free Dollars! My youngest eats 100% gluten-free due to severe food allergies. I'm always on the hunt for ways to hack the costs of eating exclusively gluten-free and most recently, I've been tackling … [Read more...]

VIDEO: Save Money When You Buy & Brown Ground Beef in Bulk

September 29, 2024 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

I Browned 8 lbs. of Ground Beef and Made These 6 Meals - Learn How to Brown Large Batches of Ground Beef & Freeze to Use Later VIDEO: Save Money When You Buy & Brown Ground Beef in Bulk Perfectly Seasoned Ground Beef Recipe Use these 2 common spices to make perfectly seasoned browned ground beef recipes that works perfectly for most recipes that call … [Read more...]

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