Stop spending a fortune on takeout every night, don’t call that Doord*sh right now. That junk food is bad for you and is making a whole in your pocket, dude. If you’re in the search to change that unhealthy lifestyle, well, Trader Joe’s might help on that. Or maybe you’re looking for ways to impress your friends and family with your culinary skills. TJ’s has a gigantic stock of affordable, colorful, and nutritious ingredients to make five delicious dinners at home for under $50. With a little creativity and these easy-to-follow recipes, you’ll be whipping up mouthwatering meals in no time.
Since we’re on the quest to make up to five meals on a tight budget of $50, and it’s possible in any Trader Joe’s. Let’s star with an Italian classic, because nothing beats a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, and with Trader Joe’s ingredients, it’s easy to make this dish on a budget. You’ll need a pound of ground beef ($7.49/1 Lb), a pack of spaghetti ($0.99/1 Lb), a jar of Bolognese style tomato & beef pasta sauce (4.49/24 Oz), and some spices like garlic powder or Italian seasoning. Roll the beef into meatballs and cook them in a pan before adding the sauce. Serve overcooked spaghetti for a filling and satisfying meal. So far, we’ve spent $12.97, and these ingredients will make up to 4 servings.
Vegetarian protein powerhouse: lentil and sweet potato curry with Trader Joe’s ingredients
If you’re looking for a vegetarian option with plenty of protein, this lentil and sweet potato curry is the way to go. You’ll need a can of coconut milk ($1.69/13.5 FL. OZ), a sweet potato, a pack of steamed lentils ($3.29/17.63 Oz), an onion, and some spices like curry powder and cumin. Cook the diced onion and sweet potato in a pan with the spices before adding the lentils and coconut milk. Serve over some vegetable fried rice ($2.99/16 Oz for a flavorful and hearty dinner. In this recipe, you’ll spend $7.97, and it will make up to 4 servings.
Adding the spaghetti budget, it’s $20.94, so we still have $29 for the rest of the dishes, so let’s keep going. For the last and the next dishes, you’ll also need some vegetables, and they’re also affordable, so your budget won’t be that much impacted. For a lighter option, try making a salad with grilled chicken. You’ll need a bag of organic baby spinach & spring mix blend ($1.99/5 Oz), a chicken breast (Organic free-range boneless skinless chicken breasts is $6.99/1 Lb), some cherry tomatoes (the Campari tomatoes pack is $3.49/1 Lb), and a dressing of your choice (or just olive oil or lemon juice). Here you have $12.47, for a subtotal of $33.41.
Caprese panini sandwiches or tacos: your favs on a budget
At this point, you don’t have to get adding up since you still have $16.59 left for keep buying Trader Joe’s delicious groceries, so keep going. If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, try this twist on a classic caprese. You’ll need a loaf of ciabatta bread, some sliced mozzarella cheese, a tomato, and some basil leaves. Assemble the sandwich with the cheese, tomato, and basil before grilling it in a panini press or on a pan. Serve with a side of chips or a small salad for a delicious and easy dinner.
For a twist on taco night, try making these turkey and black bean tacos. You’ll need a pound of ground turkey, a can of black beans, some tortillas, a lime, and some spices like chili powder and cumin. Cook the turkey in a pan with the spices before adding the black beans. Serve in tortillas with a squeeze of lime for a tasty and unique dinner.
And there you go: not only you are spending less than $50, but also you’ll have left a lot of ingredients for the next meals. That “greenback” is gonna buy more food at Trader Joe’s that you actually think.