Eating for $3.50 A Day | $25 for 7 Days | EASY Budget Meal Plan

I’m sticking to a $25 budget this week and I’m making breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. With the rising prices of groceries, I’m finding that I have to be more creative to keep my grocery bill low. I frequently get recipe ideas from the internet – some from viral recipes I’ve seen, from new cookbooks, and from searching recipe sites. I simply take those ideas and modify them to fit my budget and tastes. It’s been really fun!

This meal plan is for inspiration and I encourage you to adjust it to suit your needs.

Groceries

I went to ALDI and another local grocery store to pick up these groceries but I encourage you to find the cheapest store near you to find the best value. The total for these groceries will vary based on many factors, including location, store, and specific brands.

I’m also using s few items from my pantry for these recipes: salt, pepper, oil, garlic powder, and chili powder.

Recipes

For step-by-step instructions for these recipes, watch here on YouTube:

Homemade Nut Bars

Homemade Nut Bars

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Servings: 10 Bars

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 10 oz Trail Mix or Any Nut Mix about 1¼ cup
• ¼ cup Maple Syrup, Rice Syrup, or Honey

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the nut mixture and syrup until completely combined.
3. Pour into prepared baking dish and smooth into one even layer, making sure to push the mixture firmly into the pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden.
5. Remove and allow to cool for about 1 hour before slicing. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for best results.

Notes

If using a mixture of unsalted nuts, seeds, fruit, etc, add ⅛ tsp Salt, if desired.

Easy Black Beans

These black beans are so easy to make and can be modified based on what you have on hand.

Easy Black Beans

Super Easy Black Beans that will change your mind about buying canned ever again!

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Prep Time 6 hours hrs

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 7 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Cups

Course: prep, sides

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb Dried Black Beans
• 4 cloves Garlic cloves peeled and smashed
• ¼ Red or Yellow Onion diced, optional
• Salt to taste
• 6-8 cups Water

Method

 

1. In a large pot or bowl, add dry beans and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Allow to soak overnight or at least 6 hours. Strain.
2. Add soaked and drained beans to a large pot and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Add garlic, red onions, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 60-90 minutes or until beans can easily be smashed with a fork.
3. Once beans are cooked, smash garlic with a fork and stir. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or separate into 2 cup portions and freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Feel free to double the recipe and freeze the beans in 2 cup portions for later.

If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder instead. I recommend 1 Tbsp of garlic powder for 1 lb of dried Black Beans. 

Black Bean and Barley Soup

This delicious, comforting soup is FULL of flavor!

Black Bean and Barley Soup

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Servings

Course: dinner

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 2 Tbsp Oil or Butter
• 1 cup Onion diced
• 2 cups Carrots chopped or diced
• 1 cup Celery diced (Optional)
• 3 Roma Tomatoes diced or chopped (or 1 15oz can Diced Tomatoes)
• 2 cups Cooked Black Beans drained and rinsed (or 1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed)
• 1 cup Barley rinsed
• 8 cups Chicken Broth, Vegetable Broth, or Water
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• 8 oz Fresh Spinach

Method

 

1. In a large stock pot, heat oil or butter over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute until soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes, black beans, barley, broth, and garlic powder. Stir, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer covered for 45 minutes or until barley is cooked through and tender.
3. Add spinach and stir. Continue to cook for about 2-3 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Sloppy Janes

A fun spin on a classic dish, this recipe takes sloppy Joe’s to a whole other level! Sweet potatoes add sweetness to the savory sloppy Joe filling, making it the perfect balance of flavors. Add cheese, hot sauce, or any toppings you love to really make this your own.

Sloppy Janes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 Servings

Course: dinner

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 Tbsp Oil
• ½ Onion diced
• 1 Bell Pepper diced
• 4 Tomatoes cubed, about 2 cups
• 2 cups Black Beans cooked, about 1 can
• 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1 tsp Mustard
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• ½ tsp Salt or to taste
• ¼ tsp Pepper
• 4 Sweet Potatoes

Method

 

1. In a pot, boil about 1 inch of water. Place steamer basket on top of pot and place sweet potatoes in the basket. Cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are fork tender. Remove and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and saute until onions are soft and translucent.
3. Add tomatoes, black beans, maple syrup, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook, uncovered for about 10-15 minutes or until tomato juices have reduced and the mixture has thickened.

Notes

Sweet Potatoes can also be steamed in the instant pot with a trivet or in the microwave.

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

This recipe is my all-time favorite way to eat sweet potatoes! There’s so many ways to modify this dish to suit your tastes – substitute the black beans for chili beans, add salsa and hot sauce, add cheese, use grape tomatoes instead of diced, red onions instead of yellow, sour cream instead of Greek yogurt, and the list goes on. These loaded fries are sure to satisfy, any way you load them!

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Servings: 4 Servings

Course: dinner

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• Fries:
• 3 Sweet Potatoes
• 1 Tbsp Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• 2 cups Black Beans cooked, drained, and rinsed (or 1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed)
• Toppings:
• ⅛ cup Onion diced
• 1 cup Tomatoes diced
• 1 Avocado diced or smashed
• Greek Yogurt

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 425° F
2. Peel the sweet potatoes, slice them into fries (slice them to the thickness you prefer), and place them in a large mixing bowl.
3. Coat the fries with oil and then season with salt, pepper, and chili powder, tossing in between seasonings.
4. Place in the oven at 425° F and bake for about 30-45 minutes, tossing halfway through (baking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fries). Once golden brown and crispy, remove from oven and set aside.
5. Place about 1 cup of fries onto an oven safe dish and top with beans. Place in the oven and bake until cheese is melted. Alternatively, fries can be left on the baking sheet, then the beans can be added and baked.
6. Add any toppings and enjoy!

Notes

*Cheese can be added with the beans to add extra flavor and heartiness.

*Leftover cooked meat can be added, if desired. 

Spanish Barley with Black Beans and Crispy Sweet Potato Skins

This recipes is a fun way to use the sweet potato skins from the previous recipe! The barley shines through this Spanish rice recipe and creates a fun, balanced dinner with lots of flavor!

Spanish Barley

Spanish Barley

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Resting Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 4 Servings

Course: Side Dish

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 Tbsp Oil
• ½ cup Onions diced
• 1 cup Barley rinsed
• 1 cup Water
• 1 (8-oz) can Tomato Sauce
• ¼ tsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Pepper

Method

 

1. In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add barley and cook, stirring frequently, until toasted and golden, about 4-5 minutes more.
2. Add water, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 45 minutes or until barley is cooked through and tender. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Spanish Barley with Black Beans and Crispy Sweet Potato Skins

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Servings: 4 Servings

Course: dinner

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 3 cups Spanish Barley cooked
• 2 cups Black Beans cooked
• 2 cups Crispy Sweet Potato Skins

Method

 

1. If needed, heat ingredients on the stove top or in the microwave until heated through.
2. Portion ingredients equally on 4 plates, serve, and enjoy!

Chocolate Black Bean Brownie Cupcakes

This is a bonus recipe you can use if you have a cup of black beans left over and the following ingredients in your pantry: nut butter, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and chocolate chips.

Chocolate Black Bean Brownie Cupcakes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Resting Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert, Snack

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup Black Beans drained and rinsed
• ¼ cup Peanut Butter or any Nut Butter
• 2½ Tbsp Maple Syrup or any sweetener
• 1 Tbsp Flour
• 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• Pinch Salt
• ¼ tsp Baking Powder
• 1-2 Tbsp Neutral Oil or Applesauce
• 2 Tbsp Chocolate Chips

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F and line a cupcake tin with liners or grease lightly with butter, if desired.
2. Blend all ingredients except chocolate chips in a blender or food processor.
3. Fold chocolate chips into the batter and then pour evenly into prepared cupcake tin.
4. Bake at 350° F for 30-35 minutes or until batter is cooked through and toothpick comes out mostly clean.
5. Cool for 10 minutes and serve!

I hope you enjoy the recipes and at least get a few ideas for meals to make in your home! Please let me know if you try anything and what you thought!

Happy Cooking!

Disclaimer: This post is the opinion of the author. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise plan or changes to your lifestyle or diet. The information provided in this post is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal, or other professional advice. Read and/or use any of the information from this post at your own risk. Some or all of the links displayed on this site may be affiliate links.