How I Made 39 Meals with Just $21 at Walmart — Emergency Budget Skillet Recipes

These tasty one-pan meals were made with a grocery budget of $22. They’re simple, satisfying, and perfect when money is tight.

When your grocery budget is almost gone and you still have mouths to feed, one-pan meals can save the night. These six ultra-affordable skillet dinners are some of my most reliable go-to recipes—made with simple, budget-friendly ingredients, minimal prep, and almost no cleanup.

Only Eating Dollar Tree Food for a Full Week

Groceries List

(Bought for $21.90 Before Tax at My Local Walmart in Utah)
This is the full list of ingredients used across all six skillet meals. With smart shopping (buying store-brand, using pantry staples, and pulling from freezer or canned goods), this entire grocery haul came out to $21.90 before tax:

Protein:

• Ground turkey (1 lb total)
• Canned cooked chicken (10–12 oz)
• Diced ham (1 lb total)

Grains & Pasta:

• Brown rice (dry, ~2 cups total)
• Elbow pasta (1/2 lb)
• Rotini, penne, or lasagna noodles (1/2 lb)
• Cheddar Broccoli Rice Mix (5.7 oz bag)
• Carton of dry hashbrowns (4.2 oz)

Canned & Jarred Goods:

• Tomato paste (12 oz total)
• Diced tomatoes with green chiles (1 can)
• Black beans (1 can)

Frozen Items:

• Green beans (~2.5 cups total)
• Broccoli (~2.5 cups total)
• Frozen seasoning blend or onions (~1.5 cups total)

Dairy:

• Cream cheese (~10 tbsp total or ~5 oz)
• Milk (16 oz total)
• Butter (1/4 cup)

Pantry Staples:

• Olive oil
• Flour (3 tbsp)
• Garlic (minced, ~3 tbsp total)
• Brown sugar (1 tbsp)
• Salt, pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder, onion powder
• Paprika, cayenne, chili powder, cumin, oregano, basil

✅ Tip: Having a stocked pantry for seasonings and staple dry goods makes this kind of extreme budget cooking doable. Stretch ingredients by reusing protein and rice across multiple meals.

Step-by-Step Recipe Video

Full Written Recipes

1. One-Pan Lasagna Skillet

Creamy, comforting, lasagna-inspired flavor—no layering or baking needed.

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 lb ground turkey
2. 1/2 lb pasta (rotini, penne, or broken lasagna noodles)
3. 6 oz tomato paste
4. 1 tbsp minced garlic
5. 2 1/4 cups water (plus more if needed)
6. 1 tsp Italian seasoning
7. 1 tsp salt
8. 1/2 tsp black pepper
9. 1 tbsp brown sugar
10. 4 oz cream cheese
11. 1 cup frozen green beans

Instructions:

1. Brown turkey in a skillet.
2. Cook pasta separately until al dente.
3. Stir tomato paste, garlic, water, seasoning, and green beans into the skillet. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add cooked pasta and cream cheese. Stir and heat through until creamy.

I Ate for $12 a Week | Dirt Cheap, Easy & Healthy Meals

2. Burger Rice Skillet

Tastes like a cheeseburger in a skillet—hearty and comforting.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup diced onions (fresh or frozen)
2. 1/2 lb ground turkey
3. 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
4. 6 oz tomato paste
5. 2 1/2 cups water
6. 1 tbsp minced garlic
7. 1 tsp salt
8. 1/2 tsp pepper
9. 1 tsp Italian seasoning
10. 1 cup frozen green beans
11. 3 tbsp cream cheese

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet, sauté onion and brown the turkey.
2. Add rice, tomato paste, water, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir well.
3. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add green beans and continue to simmer another 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
4. Stir in cream cheese and serve.

Cheap Family Meals Under $10

3. Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Rice

Creamy Alfredo-style rice loaded with chicken and broccoli.

Ingredients:

1. 1/4 cup butter
2. 1 tbsp minced garlic
3. 3 tbsp flour
4. 10 oz milk
5. 1/2 tsp salt
6. Dash pepper
7. 1 tsp Italian seasoning
8. 4 tbsp cream cheese
9. 1.5 cups frozen broccoli
10. 1 can cooked chicken (10–12 oz), drained
11. 1 cup cooked brown rice

Instructions:

1. Cook rice separately and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Whisk in flour to create a roux.
3. Slowly pour in milk while whisking. Simmer to thicken.
4. Stir in salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, cream cheese, broccoli, and chicken. Simmer until broccoli is tender.
5. Add cooked rice and stir to combine.

The Best $5 Dinners for Extreme Budgets

4. Black Bean Pasta Skillet (Meatless!)

Bold Southwest flavor, full of fiber and protein—no meat needed.

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 cup frozen seasoning blend or 1 diced onion
2. 2 cups water
3. 1/2 lb elbow pasta
4. 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
5. 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
6. 1 tsp salt
7. 1/2 tsp pepper
8. Garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, chili powder, cumin (about 1 tsp each)
9. 6 oz milk

Instructions:

1. In a skillet, sauté onions until soft.
2. Add water, pasta, beans, tomatoes, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.
3. Stir in milk and cook for another 2–3 minutes until creamy.

Dirt Cheap Easy Family Dinner Ideas
Meatless Meals That Won’t Break the Bank

5. Hearty Hashbrown Skillet

Breakfast-for-dinner favorite—crispy, savory, and filling.

Ingredients:

1. 4.2 oz carton dry hashbrowns (rehydrated)
2. 1 tbsp olive oil
3. 1/2 lb diced ham
4. 1/2 cup frozen seasoning blend or 1 onion
5. 1/2 cup frozen green beans
6. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, basil to taste

Instructions:

1. Rehydrate hashbrowns according to package directions.
2. In a skillet, heat oil and cook diced ham, onion, and green beans until soft.
3. Spread hashbrowns evenly in the pan and cook 3–4 minutes until crispy.
4. Season to taste and continue cooking until golden brown.

Healthy Dump & Go Slow Cooker Recipes

6. Broccoli Rice Ham Skillet

Quick, cheesy comfort meal using a pantry-friendly rice mix.

Ingredients:

1. 1 tbsp olive oil
2. 1/2 lb diced ham
3. 1 cup frozen broccoli
4. 1 (5.7 oz) bag of Cheddar Broccoli Rice
5. 2 cups water

Instructions:

1. In a skillet, sauté diced ham in olive oil until lightly browned.
2. Add broccoli and cook 2–3 minutes until thawed.
3. Stir in rice mix and water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 8–10 minutes or until creamy.

30+ Easy Crockpot Recipes

Emergency Grocery Budget Recipes on my Youtube Channel

ULTRA Budget-Friendly Family Meals Playlist

Eating For $1 A Day (Full Week)

70 Meals For $25

25 DINNERS FOR $5

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a big grocery budget or a sink full of dirty dishes to enjoy comforting, home-cooked meals. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or stretching meals for a small family, these one-pan dinners are a smart, satisfying way to make the most of what you’ve got.

❤️ If you’re in a tough spot—maybe you only have $20 to feed yourself this week—I hope these recipes give you a little hope and a lot of nourishment.

Ham Broccoli Rice Skillet

Chicken Broccoli Rice ($5 Dinner)

Creamy Chicken Skillet with Tomatoes and Zucchini

FAQ’s

How many people do these meals feed?
Each recipe makes about 4–6 servings, so the total haul provides approximately 39 single-serving meals.

Can I swap out proteins or veggies?
Absolutely. Use what you have—ground beef, canned tuna, frozen corn, or peas can all work.

Can these meals be made gluten-free?
Yes! Use gluten-free pasta or rice mixes, and always double-check canned or packaged items for hidden gluten.

Do I need to cook the rice or pasta ahead of time?
Some recipes do call for pre-cooked rice or pasta, which you can batch cook and store in the fridge.

Can I meal prep these?
Definitely. These skillet meals reheat well and make great leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day.