10 Dollar Store Meals That Are Better Than Takeout
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Even as people struggle with rising costs and economic uncertainty, people still love ordering takeout in today’s busy world. According to recent research by PriceListo.com, McDonald’s and Taco Bell are amongst the favorite restaurants for dining in or takeout, with the average meals costing between $6 and $13.50.
But many TikTokkers have made it their mission to find healthy meals at Dollar Tree that cost a lot less than take-out. We spent some time scrolling to find their best recommendations.
Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup and Quesadillas
- Total cost: $3.75
A 15.2-ounce can of Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup is just $1.25 at Dollar Tree, compared with nearly $2 at other stores for a smaller can. Pair it with a grilled cheese quesadilla using quesadillas from Dollar Tree and shredded cheese and you have a satisfying meal for two people for just $3.75.
Pancakes, Syrup and Sausage with Gravy
- Total cost: $5
TikTok account DollarTreeDinners aimed to buy groceries for a week with just $35. The TikTokker says she hesitates to call it a “challenge,” because that makes a game out of what is a reality for many people.
Some of her finds included Hungry Jack pancake mix, which she could pair with maple syrup, strawberry jam or Nutella and Farmer John Pork Sausage, plus gravy for a hearty breakfast.
Cheesy Broccoli Egg Bites
- Total cost: $3.75
Dollar Tree shared this recipe on its website. If your Dollar Tree sells eggs, you can make this healthy takeaway breakfast meal for just $3.75. Combine 12 eggs, a bag of frozen broccoli and one cup of shredded cheddar. You can also add a splash of milk, heavy cream or sour cream to help your egg bites fluff up more.
Defrost broccoli and then mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour into a non-stick muffin tin and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes until firm.
Tuna Salad on a Wrap
- Total cost: $3.75
Put together a tasty chicken salad wrap in water using quesadillas from Dollar Tree, Hellmann’s mayonnaise and StarKist Chunk Light Tuna. If your Dollar Tree sells fresh produce, you can add chopped celery or carrots for extra crunch.
Chicken Stir Fry
- Price: $5
Crider canned white chicken in water is a dollar store staple you can use to make a variety of meals. TikTokker DollarTreeDinners recommended pairing the chicken with TJ Farms Pepper Stir Fry or any frozen vegetables of your choice from the frozen food section, Valetti’s Teriyaki marinade and rice for a quick and easy stir-fry.
‘Lazy Enchiladas’
- Price: $6.25
DollarTreeDinners isn’t just great at creating meals for less. She is the queen of adding a twist to ordinary convenience foods. She grabbed some El Monterey XXL Burritos, pepper jack cheese, enchilada sauce and rice on the side for a tex-mex lunch or dinner.
Chicken Ala King over Rice
- Price: $2.50
This Swanson Chicken à la King is the same one in grocery stores for $1.98 or more. Pair it with rice for the ultimate comfort food. For $1.25 more, you can also choose from Dollar Tree’s selection of frozen veggies as a side dish.
Double Cheeseburgers and Fries
- Total cost: $6.25
Still craving that burger? Feed a family of two for less than the price of one McDonald’s Big Mac. SensationalFinds discovered frozen burgers at Dollar Tree. Grab some cheddar or pepper jack cheese from the refrigerated section to melt on top. Dollar Tree stores also sell Gold Medal hamburger buns and TJ Farms Steak Cut French Fries to complete your meal.
Chipotle Bowls at Home
- Total cost: $5.35 per bowl
Instead of spending $12.40 per bowl at Chipotle, DollarTreeDinners found a way to make this takeout favorite at home for less than half the price. The total cost for ingredients was $32.21 and she was able to make six bowls from it.
Her ingredient list included an 8-ounce block of Monterrey jack cheese ($2), 24-ounce block of sour cream ($2.89), 1-pound white rice ($1.19), two cans of seasoned black beans ($1.72), Chipotle marinade ($1.25), 2.5 pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs ($12.31), one red onion ($1.20), six Roma tomatoes ($1.68), two optional jalapeños (44 cents), bundle of cilantro ($1.89), bag of six avocados ($4.49) and a bottle of lime juice (99 cents).
Spicy Sesame Noodles
- Total cost: $1.25
Quick, easy and cheap, Dollar Tree shared the recipe for Spicy Sesame Noodles on its website. Chances are, you may already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.
The base ingredient is a 16-ounce box of spaghetti and a 20-ounce box of Columbia Spaghetti is $1.25 at Dollar Tree. You’ll also need soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, salt, chile oil and dried chives.
Anything you don’t already have is likely just $1.25 at Dollar Tree. For example, you can get Supreme Tradition Chopped Chives and Pantry Basix Soy Sauce for $1.25 each.
Jennifer Taylor contributed to the reporting for this article.
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