Making Dinner for Ten Dollars is Easier Than You Think

Making dinner for ten dollars and feeding a family of four with it really is possible! I have shopping tips and a delicious fish recipe to share that will show you just how easy it is.

Most people probably never take the time to break down the cost of each meal they prepare.  I do it often.  I just like to know…maybe justify to my husband a little when he sees the grocery receipts.

I was recently challenged to use the Kroger ad and only buy what was on sale to spend no more than $10.00 on a dinner for my family of 4.  I really thought this would be a piece of cake, but when you break it all down it seemed a little more daunting.

So, Kroger ad in hand, my youngest son and I set off on our quest.  I never realized what a good lesson in budgeting your money this could be.  My son was such a good helper and he scanned the shelves for the cheapest items as well as kept the running total so I was sure not to go over.
Here is what making dinner for ten dollars bought us, and the breakdown in cost:

1 lime= $.75
2 small mangoes= $2.00 (I know, it’s a splurge)
1 bag of long grain brown rice= $1.00
1 can of black beans= $.60
1 can of pineapple tidbits = $1.09
2.23 lb bag of fresh frozen Tilapia = $4.44

 Total bill = $9.88
Total per serving (2 adults, 2 kids) = $2.47
Not too bad, really.  I had hoped to get a red pepper but I just really refuse to spend over $2.00 for one this time of year and that’s what they were going for.

See? Making dinner for ten dollars really isn’t that difficult!

The recipe that we made for dinner is Fruit Tilapia with Black Beans and Brown Rice.

 

Step by step instructions are shown below. Click this link for the printable recipe –> fruity tilapia with black beans and brown rice.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of pineapple tidbits, juice and all
1 lime juice and zest
Tilapia, a little over 2 lbs, frozen
2 small mangoes, peeled and diced
2 tsp cumin
salt/pepper to taste
a drizzle of olive oil
*cooked brown rice*

Use 4 cups of water and 2 cups of rice on a low boil for 45 minutes or until water is absorbed and rice is fluffy.

While that is cooking, heat a large skillet on a medium heat.  Add a drizzle of olive oil and add the Tilapia. Sprinkle them with salt, pepper and the cumin.

In a bowl, add the remaining ingredients.  You could also add all of these things to the skillet when the fish is cooked, but I like to let it sit for a minute and come together a little bit.

This fruity salsa is actually really good by itself ????

When the fish is done cooking, reduce heat and add the contents of the bowl.

Let heat through and reduce just a little.
Serve immediately over a bed of brown rice.

This was a very simple dish to put together.  Other than the time of the rice cooking it would have only taken about 20 minutes.  You could use a quicker cooking brown rice but this was what was on sale and I couldn’t pass up $1.00 rice!

This post can also be found at: Amee’s Savory Dish