7 Cheap Walmart Dinners for Picky Eaters That My Family Actually Eats

Need easy family dinners on a budget? This 7 Day Walmart Dinner Plan includes 7 cheap dinner ideas for picky eaters, with the affordable grocery list included!

If dinner time feels the most stressful part of your day, you’re definitely not alone!

Between more expensive groceries, hectic schedules, and picky eaters, figuring out what to make every night can feel overwhelming.

That’s exactly why I put together this simple 7-day Walmart dinner plan. 

These 5-ingredient or less meals use affordable staples, don’t have much prep at all, and are as picky-eater-friendly as it gets. 

The recipes feed 4-6, depending on how big the appetites are in your home.

Best of all, the entire grocery list can be purchased at Walmart for around $50-60, depending on your local prices, and less if you already have some of the ingredients on hand. 

If you’re looking for easy family dinners that won’t wreck your grocery budget, I hope this meal plan is helpful for you.

This Walmart Meal Plan Includes:

• Familiar kid-friendly foods
• 5-ingredient (or less) recipes
• Easy pantry staples
• Minimal prep time
• Simple side dishes
• Several meals that can provide leftovers for lunches

Let’s dive in!

Day 1: Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

The slow cooker creates the best tender, shredded chicken coated in sweet BBQ sauce.

I’ve also made nachos, quesadillas, and sliders with this recipe, and they’re all delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup BBQ sauce (or more if you like it extra saucy!)
• 8 hamburger buns
• 1 bag frozen fries

Directions:

1. Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker.
2. Pour BBQ sauce over the chicken.
3. Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
4. Shred chicken with forks and stir into the sauce.
5. Bake fries according to the directions.
6. Serve the shredded chicken on buns, with fries on the side.

Day 2: Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet

This easy recipe combines fun taco flavors with rice in a filling, cheesy one-pan dinner that my picky eaters love.

It’s quick to make and easy to customize with your family’s favorite toppings.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups cooked instant rice
• 1 cup salsa
• 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain excess grease if needed.
2. Stir in taco seasoning and ¼ cup water.
3. Add cooked rice and salsa.
4. Stir until heated through.
5. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
6. Cover for another 2–3 minutes, until cheese melts.

Day 3: Ham & Cheese Crescent Roll Bake

This comforting meal of delicious crescent rolls wrapped around melty cheese and ham honestly feels special without much effort.

My kids love the flavor and novelty of it, and of course I love how easy it is. We usually dip them in honey mustard.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans crescent roll dough
• 8 oz deli ham
• 8 slices cheddar cheese (American or Swiss cheese is good too!)
• 1 bag frozen green beans 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. Press one can of crescent dough into the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish.
3. Layer ham and cheese evenly over the dough.
4. Place the second can of crescent dough on top.
5. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
6. While baking, cook green beans according to the directions.
7. Slice into squares and serve with veggies.

Day 4: Slow Cooker Italian Chicken & Noodles

We love this creamy Italian chicken recipe, and serving it over noodles makes it all the more cozy and hearty.

Feel free to add in some veggies like frozen peas (or mixed vegetables) for the last 30 minutes of cooking, if your kids will eat it that way.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 8 oz cream cheese (it’ll mix best if you leave it out for 30 minutes before adding)
• 12 oz egg noodles

Directions:

1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Pour Italian dressing over the top.
3. Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours.
4. Shred chicken with two forks.
5. Add softened cream cheese and stir until smooth.
6. Cook egg noodles according to the directions.
7. Serve chicken and sauce over noodles.

Day 5: Sloppy Joes

We eat sloppy joes at least twice a month. It’s just a classic family dinner that’s budget-friendly, always tastes good, and is ready in minutes. We usually have tater tots with it too.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can Sloppy Joe sauce
• 8 hamburger buns
• 1 bag frozen corn

Directions:

1. Brown beef in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Drain grease if needed.
3. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Heat corn according to package directions.
5. Serve on buns with corn on the side.

Day 6: Sheet Pan Sausage & Potatoes

I love a simple sheet pan dinner, and this combines potatoes, smoked sausage, and vegetables for an easy all-in-one meal.

Sometimes we swap out different veggies (like fresh chopped bell pepper), and like to eat it with BBQ sauce for extra flavor.

Ingredients:

• 14 oz smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 lbs russet potatoes, diced
• 1 bag frozen broccoli

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F
2. Spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray.
3. Spread potatoes and sausage evenly on the pan.
4. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if you like it)
5. Bake for 20 minutes.
6. Add frozen broccoli and stir gently.
7. Bake another 10–15 minutes until potatoes are tender.

Day 7: Easy Baked Ravioli

This tastes so much like lasagna, but is much easier. We eat this on Sundays a lot, because it just feels extra special, and we can do something fun while it bakes.

You can also make it in the crockpot by layering the ingredients the same way and heating it on Low for about 3 hours. Sprinkle the cheese on for the last 30 minutes of cook time if you’re using your slow cooker.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag frozen cheese ravioli
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 loaf garlic bread

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. Spread ½ cup pasta sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
3. Layer half the ravioli, half the remaining sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella.
4. Repeat layers.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
6. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes until bubbly.
7. Bake garlic bread according to package directions.

Money Saving Tips:

• Use ground turkey instead of beef 
• Buy Walmart Great Value brand ingredients
• Purchase cheese blocks and shred them yourself 
• Serve the BBQ chicken, Sloppy Joes, or Italian chicken over baked potatoes, and save on buns and noodles
• Skip garlic bread and serve ravioli with extra green beans
• Buy chicken in family packs or use frozen chicken breasts

Walmart Grocery List

Here is the a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to make these recipes.

Meat & Protein:

• 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
• 14 oz smoked sausage
• 8 oz deli ham

Dairy:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 slices cheddar cheese
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

Bread:

• 16 hamburger buns (2 packages of 8)
• 1 package frozen garlic bread

Refrigerated:

• 2 cans crescent roll dough

Frozen Foods:

• 1 bag frozen fries 
• 1 bag frozen green beans 
• 1 bag frozen corn
• 1 bag frozen broccoli 
• 1 bag frozen cheese ravioli 
• 1 package garlic bread

Pasta, Rice & Grains:

• 1 package egg noodles 
• 1 box instant rice 

Pantry Items:

• 1 bottle BBQ sauce 
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 jar salsa 
• 1 bottle Italian dressing 
• 1 can Sloppy Joe sauce 
• 1 jar pasta sauce 

Produce:

•  3 lb bag russet potatoes

This was the total for all the ingredients at my local store 👇

Cheap Family Meal Ideas

Feeding your family on a budget doesn’t require spending hours cooking, or serving meals your kids refuse to eat. 

The best meal plans are the ones that use simple ingredients, kid-friendly recipes, and realistic expectations.

I hope this 7-day Walmart dinner plan will help make your week a little easier and your grocery budget stretch a little further. 

Save this meal plan for later, and come back whenever you need a week of easy, affordable family dinners.

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