Family Meals for Under $5 - Tater Tot Casserole

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Family Meals for Under $5 - Tater Tot Casserole

"...Weekly grocery circulars often read “feed a family of 4 for under $10!”. I’m sure most of you have laughed at this as I did. As a result, I began to wonder what does dinner really cost for my family of 8? So I set a challenge for myself and I figured if I kept it under $5, I was doing good..."

This weeks meal is Tater Tot Casserole. I have fond memories of friends bringing me this dinner after I'd had a baby and again when I was pregnant and just didn't feel like cooking. The kids loved it too. I hope your family will like it as well.

I had thought of this recipe back when I started doing this but the cost of the tater tots combined with the meat just wouldn't let me keep it under $5. So when I saw them both on sale at Winco a couple of weeks ago I knew it would be possible. I made a full tossed green salad to go with it.

Tater Tot Casserole = $3.70

Tossed Green Salad = $1.21

Total = $4.91

Tater Tot Casserole
1 1/2 lb ground turkey @ .79 lb = $1.18
1/2 c chopped onion = .13
1 can cream of mushroom soup = .50
1 15 oz can green beans = .54
2 lb bag frozen tater tots (on sale @ Winco) = .99
1 c grated cheddar cheese - $1.98lb @ Winco = .36

Normally I'd use ground beef but since I saw the great deal on ground turkey I couldn't pass it up. I have been using ground turkey a lot more lately because I can usually find it cheaper than the ground beef.

Brown the ground turkey with the onion till no longer pink. Season well with salt & pepper. Stir in the soup and drained green beans. Spread into a 13 x 9 baking dish. Top with bag of tater tots. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hr @ 350. Uncover, top with cheese and place back in oven for 5 more min or till cheese melts.

Tossed Green Salad
1/2 head Romaine lettuce @ 1.50 = .75
1/2 cucumber @ .50 = .25
1 Roma tomato, diced = .12
1 carrot, shredded = .09

Total = $1.21

Remember when the garden is in the salad is even cheaper, so make sure you plant a garden. For great gardening tips checkout our raised bed gardening blog.

Live less, live more
--Renee

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