My Household Runs On A Strict Grocery Budget Each Week; Here Are The 22 Meals That Everyone Can Agree On

Although I aim to try new recipes each week, there are several trusted favorites that I come back to again and again.

Hi! I'm Sydney, a stay-at-home mom of three, and I make homemade meals for my Colorado family every week. My household runs on a $120 weekly grocery budget that — due to a severe peanut allergy — needs to cover almost every meal and snack for the week. (We don't rely on much takeout for this reason.)

Sydney Martin

Although I aim to try new recipes each week, there are several trusted staples — breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks — that I make again and again because my entire family loves them, and because they deliver on taste, ease, and budget. Here are 22 of those favorites!

Sydney Martin

(I'm also always looking for new recipe ideas and would also love to hear about any of your household's favorites. Tell me about them in the comments below or DM me on Instagram!)

1. Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Sydney Martin

This is an Instant Pot favorite. (But no need to stress if you're without one — this recipe gives cooking instructions for the stove and oven, too.) I love a good lasagna, but it can be a feel a little too involved at times. I like this option when you're on the run, feeling unmotivated, or in need of a "set it and forget it" meal.

Recipe: Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

2. Chicken & Veggie Stir Fry

Sydney Martin

Another one pan wonder. I love that you can really customize this recipe with different vegetables — and the broccoli and mushroom combo really works well for my family. The mushrooms absorb all the great flavors of the sauce, and my kids love the "mini trees."

Recipe: Chicken & Veggie Stir Fry

3. Stuffed Bagel Balls

Sydney Martin

These bites are a regular breakfast go-to in my house. I especially love these for my kids because it takes out the additional hassle of the cream cheese mess that a traditional bagel 'n' schmear often leaves us. These also reheat well so I can make a big batch on the weekends for the week ahead.

Recipe: Stuffed Bagel Balls

4. Chipotle-Style Chicken

Sydney Martin, tasty.co / Via tasty.co

This is a go-to when I need something that's easily customizable for different palates — and it works equally well with chicken breasts or chicken thighs. (If you want a true replica of Chipotle's version, you need to go with the thighs.)

I don't do well with spicy food, and neither do my kids. So, instead of chopping up the chiles, I leave them whole as the chicken marinades and then remove them for the cooking process. This allows the chicken to soak up a bit of the heat without going overboard (for us).

Recipe: Chipotle-Style Chicken

5. Italian Chopped Brussels Sprout Salad

Sydney Martin

Perfect for prepped lunches. Because of the heartiness of the Brussels sprout base, this salad doesn't get soggy even if you make it well in advance. Every ingredient in this salad really highlights itself. I make this one exactly as written.

Recipe: Italian Chopped Brussels Sprout Salad

6. Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Sydney Martin

I went through a Friday night slider phase for awhile — and this one was my favorite. I was a bit hesitant when reading the recipe and saw that it called for deli roast beef, but one bite had me convinced.

Recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

7. Pizza Gnocchi

Sydney Martin

In my house, it's not always realistic to grab pizza from our favorite local place every time the craving hits. On a whim once, I gave this recipe a try, and it was an instant hit! Its also much easier for my smallest kids to eat than a traditional piece of pizza.

Recipe: Pizza Gnocchi

8. Hash Brown Breakfast Cups

Sydney Martin, tasty.co / Via tasty.co

These cups start with a layer of frozen hash browns that the recipe instructs you to thaw ahead of time. However, I've made these many times now and have never actually taken the extra time to thaw them — and they still always turn out great! One trick for these is to make sure you grease your muffin tin to prevent sticking — and be careful not to overcook the egg.

Recipe: Hash Brown Breakfast Cups

9. Paprika Chicken & Rice

Sydney Martin

I absolutely love this recipe. I grew up with my mom making a chicken bake that was a favorite amongst everyone in the family. Now, she refuses to share the recipe. That led me to finding my own favorite — and this one doesn't disappoint.

The entire recipe is made in one (oven safe) skillet or Dutch oven. I always switch up the vegetables I serve with. I have tried making this with chicken breasts before as well, but it just didn't yield the same result as the chicken thighs that the recipe calls for. I do think that the amount of oil called for in this recipe is a little much, so I cut back a bit when I make my own.

Recipe: Paprika Chicken & Rice

10. Soft & Fluffy White Bread

Sydney Martin, Plated Cravings / Via platedcravings.com

The best part about this recipe (and bread in general) is that you likely have all the ingredients you need already. This means you don't need spend your valuable grocery budget money on a simple staple. We all love this with classic butter and jam, or with butter and sea salt as a side with a hearty soup. In short, it's appropriate for any occasion. The only hard part? Waiting for it to be ready.

Recipe: Soft & Fluffy White Bread

11. Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes and Breadcrumbs

Sydney Martin

So simple — but flavorful and fresh all at once. This pasta might be the one recipe that I've been making for the longest period of time (around a decade now!), yet it still ranks near the top of my list.

Recipe: Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes and Breadcrumbs

12. BLT Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

Sydney Martin, Simply Recipes / Via simplyrecipes.com

There have been times when I've made this BLT salad multiple times a week. (Also, I had been making this salad for months before I even realized it calls for the green beans to be cooked. I still haven't done that, as I love the crunch and sweetness of the fresh beans!) If you were wanting to meal prep this salad, I would switch out the lettuce for kale to prevent sogginess. Add the dressing as you go!

Recipe: BLT Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

13. Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

Sydney Martin, Every Last Bite / Via everylastbite.com

A complete, well-rounded meal — all on one pan. I love sheet pan meals because they are typically easy to prep AND easy to clean up, and the fresh flavors and vegetables really stand out in this particular one. Mediterranean food is also one of my favorite cuisines, so this meal is a no-brainer staple in my house.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

14. Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls

Sydney Martin

Pretty much any time there's a football game, these are standard! I love the crunch and crisp of the egg roll wrapper with the traditional football flavors of buffalo chicken. The blue cheese inside is enough for a subtle nod, but not overwhelming. For my house, I typically do half of the batch with no blue cheese at all (for the non-lovers), and then half with it included!

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls

15. Instant Pot Ramen

Sydney Martin

Before this recipe, I had never made my own ramen before. (I'm talking real ramen — not college dorm room microwave ramen.) I couldn't believe how easy it was, and I loved that I can vary it just a bit each time depending what veggies I want to include. One thing I did learn is that I much prefer the baby bok choy to regular bok choy for this one. The baby bok choy is a touch sweeter.

Recipe: Instant Pot Ramen

16. Ground Beef Stroganoff

Sydney Martin, Simply Whisked / Via simplywhisked.com

This recipe is on my son's request list every single week. (I'll even do double batches to make sure he has plenty for his school lunches!) For a lighter take to traditional stroganoff, this recipe leads with a flavorful Dijon-based cream sauce that happens to be dairy-free. Although my family isn't a dairy-free household, this is still my favorite stroganoff recipe due to its lightness and that Dijon base.

Recipe: Ground Beef Stroganoff

17. Chili Con Carne

Sydney Martin

Beer. Bacon. Chili. I started making this recipe for my husband and his friends on football Sundays — before we had kids. The chili has a nice, smoky base and also utilizes cocoa powder to make the flavors even more bold. Three kids later and this chili is still a favorite! I love to serve this with a nice cornbread.

Recipe: Chili Con Carne

18. Lighter Baked Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Sydney Martin

I love a great mac & cheese, but sometimes, my stomach does not. This one always helps to fill the cozy, comfort need without the afterpains. I've even done with one with cauliflower, and it still tastes delicious.

Recipe: Lighter Baked Broccoli Mac & Cheese

19. Easiest Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Sydney Martin, All Things Mama / Via allthingsmamma.com

Think of this as one of the best ways to stretch a $5 Costco rotisserie chicken into a full meal. I'll turn to it when I truly need a dinner in 20 minutes or less. It's also a crowd-pleaser with minimal effort. By the time the oven is preheated, you will have pulled apart the rotisserie chicken, mixed it with some buffalo sauce and ranch, and scooped it all onto Hawaiian rolls. (And yes, it really is that easy.)

Recipe: Easiest Buffalo Chicken Sliders

20. Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken & Potatoes

Sydney Martin

Think of a hot pretzel with mustard, but make it a dinner. This is one of the most-requested family recipes that I discovered in 2022. I use a food processor to make a nice crumb coating out of the pretzels in seconds!

Recipe: Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken & Potatoes

21. Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

Sydney Martin, All The Healthy Things / Via allthehealthythings.com

This is one of my all-time favorite recipes I made all through last year. Sometimes, I serve these meatballs as part of a huge bowl with rice, greens, veggies, etc. Other times, just on their own with sautéed peppers. To save even more time and effort, swap in store-bought tzatziki.

Recipe: Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

22. Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sydney Martin, Spend With Pennies / Via spendwithpennies.com

This is the one chocolate chip cookie recipe I always come back to. After the kids go to bed, you can typically find me cozied up with my Kindle in one hand and a cookie in the other. (Or: My husband and I's favorite Netflix show and a cookie for each hand.) Needless to say, I've tried quite a few different recipes, and this one is my favorite. The cornstarch allows the cookie to stay relatively soft, but the edges are still perfectly crisp. I also really like the deeper flavor of the brown sugar.

Recipe: Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more family recipe ideas, follow me on Instagram at @sydneyinsuburbia or check out all of my past weekly meal plans here!

Instagram: @sydneyinsuburbia