7 Cheap & Easy Dollar Tree Dinner Ideas! (Some of my personal favorites!)
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
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Never knew that the Wolf Pit was your introduction to Dollar Tree…Larry would be so proud and you should do a collaboration with him…it would be the bomb!
That was so long ago! I don’t even know when he originally talked about dollar tree potstickers but he gave them a raving review and I purchased them immediately. That had to be at least 10 years ago
@@DollarTreeDinners damn you must have been a small child then because based on your looks 10 years ago was absolutely a preteen age for you! I mean this in the nicest way possible!
Great ideas and I'm glad you stumbled upon Larry's channel all those years ago!
I'm really thrilled you did this video. There's so many times my husband and I don't want the same thing for dinner. These recipes are going to so handy. Thanks 😊
@@sup4chan she most likely about 17+. I was 13, 10 yrs ago n im sure we're close in age so i doubt she was that young
These kinds of ideas keep exhausted people from going through the drive throughs & spending a fortune on fast food!
Totally 😊
Using her recipes saved me $90.00 at the store. My husband is disabled and our income is fixed. I just want thank her for great recipes.
@@angelaschaefer5883 That’s. Awesome!!! ❤️❤️❤️
You have the most imaginative creations that make perfect sense! So many times I've thought, "Why didn't that occur to me?" THIS is one of many reasons why I love your videos, Rebecca. Thanks for broadening my horizons!
Love that!
@@DollarTreeDinners ❤
You are the "Budget Meal Babe Ruth" because you always knock it out of the park! Looking forward to your next video.
Budget Meal Babe is a great tag line
This is the best channel on CZcams. I wish more people knew about it. The details shared here are practical and well presented. I shared with the son of a family friend about to head off to college. We will always need to feed ourselves. The dollar tree concept here is an excellent placeholder for whatever limitations exist in a person's own life. Limited stores. Limited budget. Limited cooking utensil and appliances. This channel brings back common sense kitchen economics in an entertaining format. Thank you.
@dollartreeDinners I found a way to help make those lil microwave sandwiches way better, Pop the buns off them, and put them in the toaster, let them go through one toaster cycle, then put the buns back on the sandwich, and back into the plastic sleeve, THEN microwave them, and add toppings to taste when its done, this will make the Bun come out a LOT better!
I have $15 to get me through until late next week, including laundry and transportation. I'll have to see if my DT has these items. Thanks so much. It's a huge help.
This one she is doing with the noodles. My husband and I are going to try. It is really cheap and it looks good.
@@angelaschaefer5883 Hope it works out for you!
You should do a Dollar Tree camping meals! DT has so many shelf stable and small portable items I think it would be great to get some ideas for camping on the cheap!
Great idea!!
Actually, that would be good for camping/hiking but also for those with less-than-ideal living arrangements who may not have ready access to a microwave or stove! ❤
Oh I LOVE this idea, please please do this!!!
@@DollarTreeDinnersPlease do! I’m a college student that hikes a lot and I’d love to get some ideas. 🩷
Please do! Camping meal videos please!
I live alone , have for 19 years , since my husband died .I love Dollar Tree .❤
❤❤
❤❤❤
❤ I’m thinking about you
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️
❤️❤️
This is great for me. I live alone and always looking for cheap ways to feed myself. Thanks
The bean and ham soup is my favorite canned soup! Also love it used as a “pot pie” base with a cornbread or biscuit topping. A can a chili combined with cooked elbow macaroni is also one of my quick favorites, as well as cheese quesadillas.
Oh with a cornbread topping I bet it’s kind of like pintos and cornbread ❤️ a classic comfort food
@@DollarTreeDinners Exactly! I grew up on pintos and cornbread, so definitely a comfort food for me.
You should know that I found your channel off of a group of people who suffer with the eating disorder called "ARFID". Your meals are so arfid friendly, so thank you so much for all you do for our community!
Wow that's awesome! I have arfid too
My child has suspected ARFID. We're still in the diagnosis/learning process. But YES these recipes are based on well known food items and usually are well received. 🥰
I didn’t find this video through an Ardis channel but I have arfid!!!! Haha!
i like to do what i call can cooking...LOL
finding canned foods that you combine to make meals...
1 i really like during cold or rainy weather is can chunky chicken noodle soup and a can of chicken ala king..make a creamy soup.
beef stew and chunky country vegetable soup.
condensed bean and bacon soup added to the chunky ham and bean soup...yummy with some nice warm cornbread 😋
another simple meal is canned chili and can diced tomatoes served over elbow macaroni, instant chili mac.
can chicken ala king, mixed veggies and a can of chicken( may need to add a bit of water/broth)
Those crispy tacos look terrific! Just frying some things (toasting the outside of a sandwich, pan-frying rice until it has a crispy bottom, etc.) can elevate a meal pretty easily.
I agree!
would love to see your take on easy meals with no microwave and minimal counter space 👀 living in a studio apartment is hard when you enjoy making your own meals
If you have access to a cooking element. Burritos with Refried beans with ground beef mixed in is a cheap and flavorful snack. All can be done with a single cooking element and 1 pot. I can send a pretty good recipe if you'd like.
She has done videos on this…look in her playlist
Beef stew over mashed potatoes
Or beef stew over rice! The clam chowder over rice is delicious as well.
That sounds good!!!!
@@angelaschaefer5883 it is!
I really like the Easy Lasagna made with Knorr Alfredo Pasta and the Broccoli and Cheddar soup made with the Pioneer County Gravy Mix, both really good. Love getting these ideas from you, it's really helpful! I never used to buy food at DT until watching your channel, thank you!
I ran out and bought the Knorr Alfredo Pasta as soon as I saw that video! The easy lasagna was a big hit!! 😄
Hi Rebecca!! You influenced my Meatless Taco Tuesday yesterday. Albeit I changed up a few things. I am not a big Black Bean eater. They have a strong flavor. So I made Taco Seasoned Pintos instead & made homemade Refried Beans. Then made a Corn Tortilla Pizza layered with my Refried Beans & Shredded Colby-Jack Cheese. Melted the cheese under my broiler in my toaster oven. Then added lettuce, tomatoes, & sour cream. I'm diabetic so I used corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas, but I'm sure those would be awesome too. 😄
As for the mac n' cheese cups I've doctored those up in many different ways too. Leftover hamburger for Cheeseburger Mac, Tuna Mac w/ a tuna pouch, etc. I live alone and disabled so fast & easy are my preferred way to go. lol
I look forward to your videos!! My hubby is a truck driver and I eat a lot of meals alone!! Love these ideas. When my kids were growing up, I would buy their cheap steaks, tortillas and cheese and make steak quesadillas. The kids loved it and they did not know it was “poor man’s” food. My daughter still asks for them today and she is married!! You’re a true gem to all who watch you!! Thank you!!❤️
The chicken ala king would be yummy over rice or leftover mashed potatoes.
One of my low spoons dinners is a box of the Ranch and Bacon Suddenly Salad, with some frozen broccoli, bell peppers and onion that I boil with the pasta--I add the veggies halfway through the pasta cooking time so they don't turn to mush, and mix with extra bacon bits (I'm not veggie but I honestly do love imitation bacon bits. It just feels nostalgic to me I guess) and shredded cheese. You do have to add extra ranch dressing to account for the veggies though. If I have some chicken or ham I'll dice that up and and add it in too. Or I'll spruce up canned chili (side note, the best brand of canned chili I've ever tried is Bryan's, it doesn't have as strong of a "canned chili" taste if you know what I mean) by mixing it with a can of Rotel, and making one of those Jiffy corn muffin mixes. Another one is to cook frozen or canned mixed veggies right in the pot with Rice-a-roni or those Pasta Sides. It's super filling even if you don't add meat to it, especially if you get chicken or beef flavor. I have multiple chronic illnesses and don't always have the energy to cook like I used to, and even less to clean up after, and the best thing with these is they create minimal dirty dishes as well.
I hear ya w the illness & ability to cook & clean up. It’s a chore for me too. These recipes are so helpful.
Afternoon ! I bought the Hamburger Helper TACO Crunch and the spiced Hamburger package . I also bought the the chips and made Taco Salad . My family loved it and it only cost $3.75 . I had all the toppings and the Taco Sauce . Love your Videos and helps me think on a budget . Have a Wonderful Day ! 😄
I grew up on chicken Ala King. We always served it over toast or biscuits. It wasn't ever considered a soup, but I can see where it could be a good base.
My husband loves the bean and ham soup along with a hearty sandwich.
This is how we ate it too growing up. Sometimes we’d it over those canned chef boy rdee canned chow main noodles that are crunchy. We never considered it a soup. Just chicken in a sauce.
I make sausage gravy and freeze in one cup portions. Make homemade biscuits and freeze. When I want a quick meal, sausage gravy over a biscuit and a fried egg. Yum!
Thank you for all your hard work. Great meal ideas!
I may have mentioned this one before, but my favorite Dollar Tree meal is a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, made according to box directions, add a can of drained tuna and a can of drained peas. It’s so tasty and really great comfort food.
I love tuna and Mac and cheese! No peas for me haha
I 💛 mine with lots of 🥦🥦🥦
I add a can of cream of mushroom soup and some sandwich cheese to this, the mushroom soup gives it more flavor and it thickens the dish!
@@DollarTreeDinners I bet mixed vegetables or another vegetable would be just as good.😊
sherryengel7095 - that’s one of my favorite comfort meals! Add a dollop of cream cheese or sour cream if you have it. So good.
It's just me, so I appreciate these ideas. I have the El Monterey Bean and cheese burritos. I could do that and ad Taco Bell sauce that I buy in the bottle.
I love doing a frozen burrito with some enchilada sauce and cheese for a single serve enchilada
Such great ideas! I like the get the microwave rice, frozen meatballs and jarred pasta sauce at dollar tree and make a meal from that.
For a long while now I have been cooking up a pound of burger, a tube of chorizo, and a tube of breakfast sausage each Saturday and putting it in a small casserole with a fitting lid in the fridge. So then I can dip into it through the week and make tacos, or rollups, or add it to biscuits and gravy, or spaghetti, etc. but I have been doing it for so long Im excited to see all these new ideas and ready to change it up a while!! Thanks for all these great ideas!
That's a good idea!
Those DT pot stickers are great! I always have them in my freezer!
The best!
My Dollar has not had them for awhile😢
I also make pot pie out of the cream of chicken soup and mixed vegetables. Get a pie crust and do the instant mashed potatoes on top. Like a shepherds pie. It’s delicious
I had a few-go to meals when I lived near a Dollar store and didn't have a car back about 25-30 years ago. A few ideas: Shepherd's pie using canned soups (meat or veg similar to your chicken ala king dish) and then instant mashed potatoes on top. Bake in a casserole to brown the top. The other one was a WIC-friendly Alfredo using Swiss cheese instead of parmesan (and all the milk you get on WIC). Grate it finely and use some butter and garlic, you can use any kind of milk (skim, 2%, whole), but thicken it with a roux. I'm not sure which cheeses are available at Dollar Tree now. If you can get canned artichoke hearts, you can make a really good dip with swiss cheese, cream cheese spinach, jar peppers, herbs. Of course, use some toasted bread or pita chips to dip.
I don't know for sure that you can get all the ingredients at a dollar tree, but a favorite cheap meal is the refrigerated crescent rolls, you take squares of the dough and put honey ham and American cheese in it, then fold them over and pinch them into little dough pockets, then just cook slightly longer than the called for time.
I like crescent rolls with hot dog in the center of the roll. With American cheese.
You have the best recipe and meal ideas ❤❤
Thank you so much 😊
I add can of chicken to th ala king , thank for the idea for black beans
Another budget cooking lady I watch here on CZcams does something similar with the beans/salsa but adds in a cup of potato flakes (or a pouch worth) to stretch it even further. She shapes the “dough” and serves it as a Vegan bean patty.
Love new ideas for one person meals! I end up doing the same thing over and over.
I thought I was frugal. But iam learning from you more ways to enhance my frugalness.
I literally had a mac & cheese cup with an add-in for lunch today! LOL I'd bought a cream cheese-based crab dip on markdown at the grocery store, but the "cajun" seasoning in it was overwhelming the other flavors... but a couple big spoonsful mixed into a mac & cheese cup was perfect! I often mix a tuna packet in with rice as a quick meal- but definitely going to try the chopped egg roll and rice soon! Thanks for more great ideas, Rebecca 😊❤
I watch your videos every night with my two year old son to help him sleep! He loves your videos!
Another thing is to use applesauce instead of eggs for some muffin mixes that require them. No churn ice cream recipes are good too if you have a freezer. It's good to have treats too.
Always enjoy your content. My favorite dollar tree dinner would be a nice pasta salad. I jazz up one of those pasta salad packs they have a little.
Thanks, that sounds great for spring & summer- I can imagine adding a pouch of chicken or tuna to it and possibly having enough for multiple meals! 😊
I made some of that classic suddenly salad with pepperoni, olives, and tomatoes and it tasted like a supreme pizza it was so good
@@DollarTreeDinners that is almost exactly my go to pasta salad lol keep being awesome Rebecca you are going good stuff here 👍
Eggroll over rice what a fun idea!
It’s so good!
I do a similar egg roll recipe. But I do lettuce/greens/salad bag instead of rice.
Thank you for all the great meal ideas. This is a very helpful video.
Glad it was helpful!
I never really shopped The Dollar Tree for food until I started watching your videos. I went into mine last week and was glad I did. I got a couple of the pizza crust to check out. I've used one letting my kids build it the way they wanted to. It was very good and crispy. They are so expensive everywhere else. I can make my own... but why? Lol. I'm going to make the next one like a bean chalupa. Your black bean smash would be good on it, add some cheese, and top it with some of the pepper stir fry, maybe some olives, jalapeños,etc. Then, after it's baked, the lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and such can be added. This could be a $5 meal with just the crust, beans, and cheese. I, for one, can't eat the whole thing. It makes 8 slices. I'm going to start going to one of mine to price check before I shop Walmart, Albertsons, Sam's, or Amazon. Their selection of food items available has truly grown big time. Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing your great meal deals!
That sounds wonderful- makes me want to run out and get those ingredients right now, LOL!
Do you have an Aldi store near you? Aldi bests out the grocery chains & WMart.
I love the cooking for one videos because it helps me with ideas but I also need more vegetables in my diet
I need to see if my local Tree has potstickers. The big bags at the grocery store crept up and I don't get them very often anymore. I usually only get dry goods at DT but I'll have to look in the freezer next time.
As an 80s kid I remember old ads with the chicken a la king on toast. IDK if it was considered fancy but I liked it. Buttered the toast to get real gourmet with it 😂
My go to for quick meals is the microwave Spanish rice. Leftover meat and some salsa and cheese and I can have a little ACP on a budget. The little bottles of Tajin are good for adding a hot and sour pick up to whatever I'm eating too.
I buy both the DT Spanish rice & the chicken flavor…always in my pantry…quick, easy, yummy!
@barbwall3678 My local DT started getting the name brand Chipotle flavored rice and I've been slowly stocking up. The Walmart brand is good but the other is better, plus I save a little (for candy 😂). I like to cook but sometimes I'm tired and just need to get some nourishment. A little extra oregano and I'm good for a while. Rice bowls are the way 👍
After I get the water boiling I drop one or two potstickers in with the ramen. When the ramen is done I add some sautéed veggies and sriracha. Super easy plussed up ramen!
I do the chicken ala king and mix it with cooked frozen peas and a little milk and then pour it over toast. It's one of my favorite meals. I'm gonna have to try it with the mixed veggies because that looks delicious.
Mac&cheese is almost a blank slate... besides seasoning mixes like Italian, there's paprika, garlic, or chili powder; taco seasoning is a good sprinkle; how about salsa? also leftover vegetables or frozen peas; don't forget canned tuna, chicken, or chili. I haven't tried it but dried ranch dressing mix is supposed to be good. ---- One of my all-time favorites is prepared mac&cheese in a skillet with butter or margarine, vegetables, and an egg or two -- get the mac&cheese brown and crunchy for a great meal!
Thank you I love these recipes. I also work at the Dollar Tree and I'm always sharing your recipes and channel with my coworkers. I always say you make good meals and highly cost effective.
Ummm. My kids won't eat any dollar tree food. They want expensive foods only
@@tv-21 Who cares about your kids no one ask you narcissist SMDH.
I really like that black bean and salsa filling for the crispy tacos. If you had leftovers, you could change it up by adding some rice or some cheese. These are all great ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Those black bean tacos are really good with the Spanish rice DT sells. Chili fries are easy, cheap, & delicious. Just the frozen fries, a can of chili & cheese if you want (optional). Another easy meal is Alfredo carbonara- the knorr Alfredo pasta & fry a package of the DT bacon. Add some of the garlic bread if you’re feeling fancy! I enjoyed this video!
Really enjoy all your meal ideas ❤
Gonna have to save this for when my daughter wants to cook for herself
I love these combos!! Simple easy things like this are the best lol.
A recent meal I made was combining a knorr Spanish rice packet with a can of black beans, a can of corn, and a couple of cooked and crumbled sausage patties. Oh and a can of Rotel, but that's probably optional lol. Idr what I seasoned with, probably Cajun seasoning because I use it on everything lol, but it came out really good!
These are FABULOUS ideas!! Thank you!
Glad you like them!
Thanks for these Ideas! 💡
Glad you like them!
I also do the chicken pot pie w/ 2 ala king, 1 mixed veg, and the biscuit mix on top. Following that same concept, I do 2 chili, 1 corn, and cornbread mix on top. Also, I do 2 beef stew, 1 mixed veg, and mashed potatoes on top. Chicken pot pie, chili pie, and shephards pie. All are pretty good.
Try black beans with potato flakes and make black bean patties out of them and put them in the air fryer
Absolutely love you & your Dollar tree dinners!!!!
I too love the Chicken Ala King - or the smaller cans of chicken and dumplings. I serve it on buttered toast and layer it with 2-3 slices of toast. Very filling, very quick and so yummy! Another thing I enjoy is making cornbread - in a small square pan vs. making muffins - then putting canned chili and hot dogs on slices. It is almost like a chili corn dog, plus you can add cheese.
The chicken Ala king is something I've wanted to try. Thanks for the ideas... I enjoy your content!
One of my go-to, comfort meals when just cooking for myself is macaroni noodles, a can of tomato sauce and cut up hot dogs (a little bacon grease if I have it)…..I know it sounds weird but it brings me back to childhood.
Yes yes yes yes yes yes they're egg rolls are fabulous😅❤
I love this video. Thank you. Everything looks great 😃
Thanks so much! 😊
i couldn't believe it! your first meal is my favorite. the shrimp is our favorite too and i've made this many times. i own a home-based bakery and on my busy baking days, this is a go to meal that is quick and easy. another is ramen with some soy sauce/ brown sugar/red pepper flakes and an over easy egg on top.
These are absolutely wonderful as usual! These ideas are great for camping as well!
Glad you like them!
I just love all your videos!
I've followed your lead and use those soups for casseroles. I like the ham and bean or the beef one. I usually use two cans, but I drain most of the liquid off and save. I put the soups in the bottom of a casserole dish, then I add bisquit mix spread on top. Bake for however long it seems to take - usually about 30 minutes. Then I cut the casserole into squares to serve and the extra liquid I saved I use as a gravy. It's a simple meal that comes out not looking simple! Thank you Rebecca for all your inspiration!
Great idea about saving the liquid for a gravy!
When I can find white beans I stock up. I just add a sauce or spice mix and heat. For a fast, simple, no fuss meal, it works a few times a month.
Egg roll and rice might just become my new easy grab and go lunch. Thank you for all the amazing videos!
Love all of these meals 😊
Always love your videos! I really like the vegetable spring rolls, when they have them . Great snack or meal with rice or noodles.
I appreciate you. You give me new creative inexpensive meal ideas, thank you ❤
Perfect for me cuz I live alone
Fantastic!!!
I love the egg rolls too
Wonderful ideas!
I love the Campbell's condensed bean and bacon soup. I used to add rice to different flavored soups.
I love the chicken a la king idea. I haven't had any in years. This is great, keep'em rollin.
I love Larry too!! I can see the influence. I swear, sometimes I watch your vids and you say "So I'm gonna try this and we'll see how it works out" and in my head I go 'for YOU, the people!' lol
Yay top 465 and top 47 likes and comments. Thanks for making this video. Best to you and your family.
Clicked on video 58 minutes after it was posted. 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 1st, 2024. Watching from Maryland.
Perfect! I broke my femur last year and though I'm heading I don't have the energy nor the mobility to cook like I used to. Kids grown and hubs a trucker so I'm cooking for myself. I've discovered to add 1 T of lemon juice to water when making rice. Doesn't change taste really but the fluffier rice is absolutely amazing. My Philipeno son in law is a rice snob and this blew his mind 😂😂
Thank you for this excellent tip!
This is wonderful since I love your videos and live all alone. 😆
Thank you!
You know I bet you could make taquitoes with those beans if you didn't want to do tacos. Could probably just roll up a few and put them in the oven.
I will try some of the microwaveable ones on my lunch breaks at work. Would love more ideas for this!
These are amazing! Thank you!! xoxo
Thank you so much for these recipe ideas. ❤
i really appreciate your creativity in mixing and mashing things together, because i sometimes get stuck in the mindset that i can only eat some things straight out of the package as they are. so seeing you cut up a whole egg roll to put on rice helps me keep my mind open and remember that actually i can do whatever i want!!
These are great to put together for hurricane prep food ideas. They are filling and easy during any weather emergencies.
Also my 15 year old son can easily put these together. Thank you so much. Keep these coming!! I need to show my son quick meal ideas rather than grabbing a bag of chips and energy drink. Lol
Thank you for this video. My husband passed 20 years ago, & it is still a struggle cooking for just myself. Your ideas are lovely, & I'm also enjoying all that I see here in the comments ~ ❤.
These are some incredible & tasty budget friendly meal ideas. Thank you.
I love the hamburgers. It makes a quick lunch when you don't want to cook.
When my daughter was small, we used to add sausage to whatever pasta we had on hand, and would dress it with olive oil or butter, parmesan, garlic powder, and basil. It was cheap, but it was delicious.
Ooo this is gonna be great for when i move out!
Great ideas!
I needed this tonight thank Rebecca brilliant yet again 👏 ❤
Thank you for doing these Rebecca. I'm on a fixed income and these are great!!!
Refired beans and taco fried ground beef is an amazing and cheap snack plan. Slap em in a burrito with cheese, fry em a little. Amazing.
Love Wolf Pitt too!!
My favorite dinner from Dollar tree is one I eat while traveling. I get the Spanish rice microwaveable pouch and choose a flavored tuna packet and I microwave them together, throw em in a bowl, and eat. It’s really good for hotels especially because I get the free breakfast, squirrel away some snacks, eat the dinner as lunch, and then usually we go out to eat somewhere in the area