What If You Meal Prepped With Only Dollar Store Ingredients?

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Cooking at home is the first step to slimming down the budget. But, what if the budget could come down even more by shopping for groceries entirely at Dollar Tree? The good news is that it’s totally possible. Here’s a look at a week’s worth of meal prepping for a family of four that comes entirely from ingredients shoppers can buy at Dollar Tree. 

Breakfast 

Carnation Breakfast Essentials Rich Milk Chocolate Nutritional Drink

• Weekly price: $35

At Dollar Tree, fresh fruit and yogurt are not available. However, this protein-packed drink gets the morning off to a good start, while saving money. Every drink has vitamins and minerals and can be consumed on the go. 

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Cup Apple and Cinnamon

• Weekly price: $35

Oatmeal is a classic breakfast and this apple cinnamon recipe won’t disappoint. Each serving is made with whole-grain oats and without artificial flavoring or preservatives. It’s ready in minutes to keep early morning prep easy. 

Lunch

Two Kids’ Lunches 

• Weekly price: $15   

For $1.25, parents can grab a package of 20 Del Barrio Corn Tortillas. Paired with a week’s worth of Lunchables Ham and Cheddar Cracker Stackers, parents can make ham cheese wraps. Plus, kids will have crackers to nibble as a side. Pick up four packs of Juicy Juice Apple Juice (which come with four juice boxes in each package) and the kids are set for the week. 

Spaghetti 

• Weekly price: $3.75

Pick up a package of Columbia Spaghetti for $1.25. After cooking, pour some Hunt’s Traditional Pasta Sauce on top. With two cans, a person should be set for at least a week of lunches for under $5 total.

Bean and Cheese Burritos 

• Weekly price: $6.25

Get another package of 20 Del Barrio Corn Tortillas, two cans of La Sierra Premium Refried Beans and two cans of Pace Medium Nacho Cheese Sauce. Simply assemble the burrito in the morning (or at the beginning of the week). Heat up at work and enjoy. 

Dinner

Beef Stew and Mashed Potatoes 

• Weekly price: $4

A family of four could eat this dinner two nights in a row for under $10. For each meal, simply prepare two cans of Southgate Beef Stew for the entree and one batch of Idahoan Four Cheese Instant Mashed Potatoes on the side. 

Green Bean Casserole 

• Price: $6.25

Mix two cans of Del Monte Harvest Cut Green Beans with two cans of Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup. Finish it off with a sprinkling of Colonna Japanese Style Panko Bread Crumbs on top. 

Chicken Alfredo

• Price: $6.25

For one meal for a family of four, grab two cans of Crider Deluxe Canned White Chicken in Water, a box of Columbina Penne Pasta and a jar of Ragu Classic Alfredo Sauce. This leaves extra pasta and sauce so it can be made again during the week. 

Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.

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