15 Cheap One-Pan Dinners for Busy Families (Easy Meals Under $5 Per Serving)

Scope Scoop THE EVERYDAY EDITION Need quick, budget-friendly family dinners? Try 15 simple one-pan meal ideas, plus a realistic $5-per-serving cost check and smart grocery tips. TAP TO EXPLORE →

How to keep dinner below $5 per serving

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 01 For a four-person dinner, $5 per serving is a $20 ingredient budget. Check unit prices, use what is already in your pantry, and compare frozen vegetables with fresh. A $6 bag of chicken used across two meals is not a $6 cost for each meal; price the actual quantity used. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 2/9

1. One-pan chicken, rice and peas

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 02 What you need: Chicken thighs, rice, frozen peas, broth, onion and seasoning. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 3/9

2. Black bean and sweet potato skillet

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 03 What you need: Diced sweet potato, canned black beans, onion, canned tomatoes, cumin and a little cheese. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 4/9

3. Creamy tomato spinach pasta

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 04 What you need: Pasta, canned crushed tomatoes, frozen spinach, garlic and a little cream cheese. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 5/9

4. Taco rice and beans

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 05 What you need: Rice, canned kidney or pinto beans, frozen corn, tomato sauce, taco seasoning. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 6/9

5. Sausage, cabbage and potatoes

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 06 What you need: A small amount of smoked sausage, cabbage, diced potatoes and mustard. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 7/9

6. Egg fried rice with vegetables

Scope Scoop A SMARTER EVERYDAY 07 What you need: Cooked refrigerated rice, eggs, frozen mixed vegetables, soy sauce and oil. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 8/9

7. Chickpea curry skillet

Scope Scoop THE TAKEAWAY 08 What you need: Canned chickpeas, canned tomatoes, frozen spinach, curry powder and onion. SCOPESCOOP.COM · 9/9 Read the full guide & sources