Feeding a family of four for under $10 sounds completely bonkers – we know! But we decided to take the challenge and come up 10 family-friendly recipes for those times when the budget is super stretched but we still need a hearty meal on the table.

We’ve put together these cheap and cheerful (and really easy) recipes using ingredients from the major supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths and ALDI) and we’ve based the costs on current prices. Are these recipes fancy? No. But they can be jazzed up and bulked out with other ingredients you may already have – vegetables that need to be used up or sauces your family likes. It’s also really easy to make double quantities so you have enough to freeze for another night.

There’s also a handy shopping list, with costs, so if you need to shop for everything to make the 10 meals, you’ll know what to get and roughly how much it should cost. And we’ve included the nutritional information as well.

We’d also love your input so we can keep growing this collection of budget-beating recipes, so if you have any that your family love, please include them in the comments.

$10 Meals For A Family Of Four

The aim of these recipes is to give your family a variety of different flavours and proteins, while keeping the cost under $10 for a family of four. These recipes also assume you already have some pantry staples like oil, salt and pepper.

Creamy Tuna Pasta

Approx cost: $9.50

Ingredients:

• 500g pasta spirals – $1.30 (Coles brand)
• 1 can tuna in springwater (425g) – $4.50
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup – $2.00
• 1 cup frozen peas – $1.00
• Sprinkle of grated cheese (optional, small handful)

Method:

1. Cook pasta according to packet directions.
2. Drain pasta, return to pot. Add drained tuna, cream of mushroom soup, and frozen peas. If you have any other veggies that need to be used up, toss them in as well.
3. Stir over low heat until heated through and creamy.
4. Top with a sprinkle of cheese if you like.

Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 350–400 kcal
Protein: 25g
Carbs: 50g
Fat: 12g
Fibre: 5g
Sodium: 800mg

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Chicken Fried Rice

Approx cost: $9.00

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white rice – $1.20
• 300g chicken thigh fillets – $5.00
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables – $2.00
• 2 eggs – $0.80
• Soy sauce (from pantry)

Method:

1. Cook rice and let it cool (best if made earlier).
2. Dice chicken, fry in a little oil until cooked through.
3. Push chicken aside, scramble eggs in the pan.
4. Add frozen veggies, cook 3 minutes.
5. Toss in cooked rice and splash with soy sauce. Stir fry for a few minutes until heated through.

Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 400–450 kcal
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 50g
Fat: 12g
Fibre: 5g
Sodium: 600mg

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Beef and Vegetable Tacos

Approx cost: $10.00

Ingredients:

• 500g beef mince – $5.50 (on special)
• 1 packet taco shells – $3.00
• 1 tin diced tomatoes – $1.00
• 1 carrot, grated – $0.50

Method:

1. Brown mince in a pan, drain fat.
2. Add diced tomatoes and grated carrot. Simmer 5–10 minutes.
3. Warm taco shells as per packet.
4. Spoon mince mix into shells. (Optional: top with a little cheese if you have it.)

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 Taco):
Calories: 250–300 kcal
Protein: 20g
Carbs: 30g
Fat: 12g
Fibre: 5g
Sodium: 500mg

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Pumpkin & Feta Pasta

Approx cost: $8.00

Ingredients:

• 500g pasta – $1.30
• 500g pumpkin, diced – $2.50
• 100g feta cheese – $4.00

Method:

1. Add black pepper or herbs if you have them.
2. Roast diced pumpkin with a little oil until golden (about 25 min at 200°C).
3. Cook pasta.
4. Toss pasta with roasted pumpkin and crumbled feta.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 350–400 kcal
Protein: 15g
Carbs: 45g
Fat: 12g
Fibre: 6g
Sodium: 700mg

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Sausage and Veg Tray Bake

Approx cost: $9.50

Ingredients:

• 6 sausages – $5.00
• 500g potatoes – $2.00
• 2 carrots – $1.00
• 1 onion – $1.00

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Chop potatoes, carrots, onion into chunks.
3. Spread veggies and sausages on a baking tray, drizzle with oil.
4. Roast for 40–45 minutes, turning once, until golden.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 400–500 kcal
Protein: 20g
Carbs: 40g
Fat: 25g
Fibre: 4g
Sodium: 850mg

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Zucchini and Corn Fritters

Approx cost: $8.50

Ingredients:

• 2 zucchinis, grated – $2.00
• 1 can corn kernels – $1.20
• 1 cup self-raising flour – $0.50
• 2 eggs – $0.80
• 1/4 cup milk – $0.30

Method:

1. Squeeze moisture out of grated zucchini.
2. Mix zucchini, corn, flour, eggs, and milk into a batter.
3. Fry heaped tablespoons in a pan over medium heat until golden on both sides.
4. Serve with a dollop of yoghurt or sour cream if you have it.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 Fritters)
Calories: 200–250 kcal
Protein: 10g
Carbs: 30g
Fat: 8g
Fibre: 5g
Sodium: 400mg

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Simple Vegetable Stir Fry with Noodles

Approx cost: $9.00

Ingredients:

• 1 packet instant noodles (4 pack) – $2.00
• 2 cups frozen stir fry veg – $3.00
• 1 block tofu (optional) or 2 eggs – $3.00
• Soy sauce, garlic (pantry staples)

Method:

1. Cook noodles, drain.
2. Stir-fry veggies in a splash of oil.
3. Add tofu (cubed) or scramble in eggs.
4. Toss in cooked noodles, add soy sauce to taste.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 350–400 kcal
Protein: 10–15g
Carbs: 50g
Fat: 12g
Fibre: 7g
Sodium: 700mg

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Cheesy Baked Potatoes

Approx cost: $9.00

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes – $4.00
• 1 can baked beans – $1.50
• 1 cup shredded cheese – $3.50

Method:

1. Bake potatoes at 200°C for 45–60 minutes until soft.
2. Heat baked beans.
3. Split open the potatoes, spoon over baked beans, top with cheese.
4. Grill until cheese is melted.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 400–450 kcal
Protein: 12g
Carbs: 50g
Fat: 20g
Fibre: 7g
Sodium: 600mg

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Egg and Veggie Fried Rice

Approx cost: $7.50

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice – $1.20
• 3 eggs – $1.20
• 2 cups frozen peas, corn, carrot mix – $2.00
• Soy sauce (pantry)

Method:

1. Scramble eggs and set aside.
2. Stir fry frozen veg in a little oil.
3. Add rice and stir through.
4. Return eggs to pan, season with soy sauce.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 300–350 kcal
Protein: 12g
Carbs: 40g
Fat: 12g
Fibre: 6g
Sodium: 650mg

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Chickpea Curry with Rice

Approx cost: $8.50

Ingredients:

• 1 tin chickpeas – $1.20
• 1 tin diced tomatoes – $1.00
• 1 onion – $1.00
• 2 cups rice – $1.20
• Curry powder (pantry)

Method:

1. Cook rice.
2. Fry diced onion until soft.
3. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, and a spoonful of curry powder.
4. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve with rice.

Nutritional Information Per Serving
Calories: 350–400 kcal
Protein: 15g
Carbs: 55g
Fat: 10g
Fibre: 12g
Sodium: 750mg

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Bonus Tips:
Buy in bulk: Big rice, pasta, and frozen veggie packs save money long term.
Watch specials: Chicken thighs, beef mince, and sausages often go on sale.
Stretch meals: Add extra veggies or rice to bulk out meals cheaply.
You can also mix and match meals to reduce cost in the first week. For example, use the same rice for multiple meals, or bulk up dishes with frozen veggies or extra potatoes.

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🛒 $10 Family Meals – Shopping List

Here’s a break down of the approximate costs for the whole shopping list based on typical prices at Coles, Woolworths, or ALDI at the moment:

Meat

• 500g beef mince – $5.50
• 300g chicken thigh fillets – $5.00
• 6 sausages – $5.00
• 1 block tofu (optional) – $3.00

Total (Meat): $20.50 (or $17.50 if skipping tofu)

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Vegetables & Fruit

• 500g pumpkin – $2.50
• 4 large potatoes – $4.00
• 2 carrots – $1.00
• 2 zucchinis – $2.00
• 1 onion (x2) – $2.00
• 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables – $2.00
• 1 bag frozen stir fry vegetables – $3.00
• 1 cup frozen peas – $1.00

Total (Veggies/Fruit): $17.50

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Pantry Items

• 1 packet pasta spirals (500g) – $1.30
• 1 packet pasta (500g) – $1.30
• 2 cups white rice (1kg) – $2.40
• 1 packet instant noodles (4-pack) – $2.00
• 1 can tuna (425g) – $4.50
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup – $2.00
• 1 tin diced tomatoes – $1.00
• 1 tin chickpeas – $1.20
• 1 can baked beans – $1.50
• 1 can corn kernels – $1.20
• 1 packet taco shells – $3.00
• 1 cup self-raising flour – $0.50
• Curry powder – $1.00
• Soy sauce – $2.00

Total (Pantry): $22.50

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Other (Dairy / Extras)

• 2 dozen eggs – $4.00
• 1 block feta cheese (100g–150g) – $4.00
• 1 bag shredded cheese – $3.50

Total (Other): $11.50

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Estimated Total: $71.00

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Now it’s over to you! We’d love you to share your budget-friendly meal recipes in the comments below, and we’ll add some of the best to this article.

Want even more great meals? Check out these member recipes:

• Chicken Patties
• Cheesy Veg Soup
• Quick Chicken Tenders
• Easy, Cheat’s Cottage Pie