7 Cheap Dollar Tree Dinners That Actually Taste Good

Cheap 7-Day Dollar Tree Meal Plan! Make a week of easy dollar store dinners when you’re broke and need affordable food.

If you’re feeling extra broke these days, you’re definitely not alone. 🙋‍♀️

Eating on a budget is harder than ever, but maybe we can get creative.

That’s why I put together this list of simple dollar store meal ideas!

This 7-Day Dollar Tree Dinner Meal Plan shows that you don’t need a fancy grocery list or a ton of ingredients to make dinner. 

Every “recipe” on this meal plan:

• Uses ingredients usually found at Dollar Tree
• Has five ingredients or less
• Is easy enough for even beginner cooks to make 
• Can feed 3-4 people, depending on appetite size

So whether you’re trying to stretch your budget until payday, can’t get to your regular grocery store, or just need some super easy dirt cheap dinners, I hope these simple meals will help.

I’ve included the shopping list too, in case you want to grab all the ingredients for this weekly meal plan.

Let’s dive in!

Day 1: Cheesy Chili Mac

This hearty one-pot meal is pure comfort food, with pasta, chili, and melted cheese. You could also use a box of macaroni and cheese instead of the plain noodles.

Ingredients:

• 1 box macaroni
• 1 can chili
• 1 package shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions, then drain.
2. Stir in canned chili and heat through.
3. Sprinkle cheese on top and stir until melted.

Day 2: Chicken Fried Rice

This quick and filling “fried” rice with chicken and veggies has some Asian flair thanks to the soy sauce.

Ingredients:

• Instant rice
• 1 can chicken, drained
• 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (or a can, drained)
• Soy sauce

Directions:

1. Cook rice according to package directions.
2. Heat vegetables in a skillet.
3. Add chicken and cooked rice.
4. Stir in soy sauce and cook for 3–4 minutes.

Note: If your dollar store sells frozen eggrolls, that would be a nice addition!

Day 3: BBQ Chicken & Potato Skillet

Easy-to-use canned potatoes, chicken, and BBQ sauce cook together in one skillet for a tangy sweet and savory meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans sliced potatoes, drained
• 1 can chicken, drained
• BBQ sauce
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Drain the potatoes and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Cook potatoes in a skillet for 8–10 minutes until lightly browned, adding a little oil or butter and salt and pepper if you have it.
3. Stir in chicken and BBQ sauce.
4. Cook until heated through.
5. Sprinkle with cheese and cover until melted.

Day 4: Taco Rice Bowls

This flavorful taco-inspired bowl is simple and inexpensive, but tastes good too.

Ingredients:

• Instant rice
• 1 can chili
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Salsa

Directions:

1. Prepare rice according to package directions.
2. Heat chili in a saucepan.
3. Place rice in bowls and top with chili.
4. Add salsa and shredded cheese.

Day 5: Creamy Tuna Pasta

Creamy, comforting pasta with tuna and peas is a classic, nostalgic combination. Just like grandma used to make!

Ingredients:

• 1 box pasta (egg noodle, macaroni, or your favorite shape works!)
• 1 can (or packet) tuna, drained
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 bag frozen peas (or a can, drained)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions and drain.
2. Heat soup in a saucepan.
3. Stir in tuna and drained peas.
4. Toss with cooked pasta.
5. Heat until warmed through and serve.

Note: If you don’t like cream of mushroom soup, you can used a box of macaroni and cheese and add the tuna and peas to that instead.

Day 6: Cheesy Vegetable Rice Skillet

This simple one-pan dinner is packed with vegetables and cheesy goodness. Feel free to add a can of chicken for more protein if you’d like.

Ingredients:

• Instant rice
• 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables (or a can, drained)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Cream of mushroom soup

Directions:

1. Cook rice according to package directions.
2. Heat vegetables and soup together in a skillet.
3. Stir in cooked rice.
4. Add cheese and stir until melted.

Day 7: Chili Cheese Potato Skillet

Crispy potatoes topped with chili and melted cheese gives all the flavor of a chili-topped baked potato, but with pantry ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans sliced potatoes, drained
• 1 can chili
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Drain potatoes well and pat dry.
2. Brown potatoes in a skillet for 8–10 minutes, adding a little oil or butter and salt and pepper if you have it.
3. Heat chili separately, or add directly to the skillet after potatoes cook.
4. Pour chili over potatoes and stir gently.
5. Top with cheese and cover until melted.

🛒 Dollar Store Shopping List

Grains & Starches:

• 2 boxes macaroni/pasta
• 3 packages instant rice

Proteins:

• 2 cans chicken
• 1 can (or packet) tuna
• 3 cans chili

Vegetables:

• 2 bags frozen mixed vegetables (or 2 cans)
• 1 can peas

Dairy:

• 2 packages shredded cheddar cheese

Pantry Items:

• 1 bottle BBQ sauce
• 1 bottle soy sauce
• 1 jar salsa
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
• 4 cans sliced potatoes

If you bought all of these ingredients for $1.50 each at your Dollar Tree, you could make a week of dollar store dinners for $37.50. Not bad!

If you want to swap out any of the meals above, here are a few more ideas:

Individual Pizzas – Use pizza crusts, shredded cheese, a jar of pizza sauce, and pepperoni (or any other toppings you can find). If your store doesn’t have pizza crusts, tortillas work as well.

Bean Quesadillas – Spread refried beans over a tortilla, then sprinkle with cheese and top with a second tortilla. Lightly brown on each side in a skillet, or microwave if you’re in a pinch.

Breakfast for Dinner – Buy pancake mix and cook according to package directions. You can add eggs or bacon on the side if your store sells them.

Note: These ingredients aren’t included in the grocery list above.

Dollar Store Recipes

Even if you’re eating on a budget, you can still have tasty meals and a convenient place to shop. 

With a little creativity and some affordable ingredients, you can still have a week of flavorful dinners for a few dollars each.

I hope this Dollar Tree meal plan helps make cooking and eating a little easier and more enjoyable this week, and stretch your grocery budget a little further. 

You may also like:

Cheap Aldi Meal Plan for Picky Eaters

7 Frugal Dinners from One 10-Ingredient Grocery List

25 Easy Dump-and-Go Crockpot Soups