Welcome to 2025, where millions of Americans are putting groceries on credit cards because the rising cost of foods feels like it is slowly drowning us all.

But fear not — budget friendly AND healthy meal plans CAN be attainable still — it just takes a little bit of planning and elbow grease — errr olive oil grease (bad mom joke?) to get it done.

And I’m not talking hours in the kitchen. I chose super simple recipes for this meal plan that can be accomplished easily on a week night and don’t require too much advanced skills to get done.

If that sounds good to you, let’s talk through this meal plan! If you want to watch the meals be made, you can scroll to the bottom of this blog and watch my entire YouTube video on this meal plan.

Grocery List

Pound of Butter
10 Lb Bag Potatoes
1/2 Gallon Milk
1 Pound Ground Pork
Whole Chicken
2 dozen eggs
2 10 Oz Cheddar Cheese
1 Bag Frozen Brocoli
Bag Cilantro
5 Lbs Flour
3 Bell Peppers
3 Pounds White Rice
Can of Corn
Can of Diced Tomatoes

Meal #1: Mexican Fried Rice

I absolutely love Mexican fried rice, it’s a great alternative to a Chinese fried rice and super flavorful.

You’ll want to use 2 of your peppers from this grocery list for this recipe. 2 cups of your rice and half of your whole chicken. I recommend making bone broth from your whole chicken and cooking your rice with it for added flavor an nutrition.

You can find the recipe for the Mexican Fried Rice here.

Meal #2: Tortilla de Patata

Tortilla de patata is a delicious Spanish omelet that incorporates simple ingredients for maximum flavor. It is a potato, egg and onion based dish that you will absolutely be adding to your weekly rotation once you try it. The Spanish always eat it for lunch or dinner, but you could also make it a breakfast food if you wish (though the Spanish may give you some side eye).

You can find the recipe for the Tortilla de Patata here.

Meal # 3 Chicken and Rice Cheesy Casserole

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably also grew up on casseroles. I love them, but I also love making healthier versions without all the processed ingredients. This recipe will utilize the other half of your chicken, and I also recommend using the bone broth from cooking the chicken to add more flavor and protein.

You can find the chicken and broccoli cheesy rice casserole here.

Meal #4 Biscuit Egg and Sausage Breakfast Sandwich

This biscuit egg and sausage breakfast sandwich is the high protein breakfast your body needs to sustain its energy throughout the day.

I love that this sandwich is hearty, tasty AND can be made affordably. You can use your remaining pepper here, and it’s also a great way to use up other veggies in your fridge by chopping them up and adding them to the egg mixture.

You can find the recipe for this egg and sausage biscuit here.

What’s left after the end of the week?

After the end of the week, I still had most of my potatoes left, a half a bag of flour, 4 eggs and some cilantro.

Eating on a Tight Budget in 2025 - A $42 Weekly Meal Plan