Family Meal Plan: 7 Dinners Under £50
Feeding a family on a budget is not about giving up flavour. It is about planning smart, buying simple ingredients, and stretching them across meals. Here is a full 7 day dinner plan that comes in at under £50 using UK supermarket prices in 2025. Copy it, use it, and save yourself the stress.
Simple, affordable meals that work in real life. No fuss, no expensive extras, just dinners that feed the family for under £50.
How this meal plan works
Prices are based on current averages from UK supermarkets in September 2025. Some prices vary by region and shop, but sticking to own brand and frozen items keeps costs down. Each recipe serves four. Adjust for your family size by doubling or halving. Use leftovers for lunches where possible.
The plan uses overlapping ingredients to save money. For example, one large pack of chicken thighs is split across two meals, and one bag of frozen mixed veg stretches across three. That way nothing goes to waste.
The £50 weekly dinner plan
| Day | Meal | Main Ingredients | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Spaghetti Bolognese | 500g mince, 1 tin tomatoes, onion, pasta, herbs | £6.20 |
| Tuesday | Chicken Traybake | Chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, frozen peas, garlic | £7.10 |
| Wednesday | Veggie Stir Fry with Noodles | Frozen mixed veg, soy sauce, noodles, egg | £5.30 |
| Thursday | Shepherd’s Pie | 500g mince, carrots, onion, frozen peas, potatoes | £6.80 |
| Friday | Homemade Pizza Night | Flour, yeast, tinned tomatoes, cheese, toppings | £6.50 |
| Saturday | Chilli with Rice | 500g mince, kidney beans, tinned tomatoes, spices, rice | £6.40 |
| Sunday | Roast Chicken Dinner | Whole chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, gravy | £9.80 |
Total: £48.10 (based on supermarket own brand prices, rounded up for simplicity).
Shopping list for the week
- Proteins: 1.5kg chicken thighs, 1 whole chicken, 1.5kg beef mince, 1 tin kidney beans, 6 eggs
- Carbs: pasta, rice, noodles, potatoes, flour, yeast
- Veg: onions, carrots, frozen peas, frozen mixed veg, tinned tomatoes (x4)
- Dairy: cheddar cheese, milk, butter
- Pantry: garlic, herbs, soy sauce, spices, gravy granules
Optional extras like fruit, yoghurts, and snacks will add to the total but dinners alone stay under £50.
Tips to stretch your food budget further
- Swap fresh for frozen. Frozen veg and meat are cheaper and last longer.
- Cook once, eat twice. Make extra bolognese or chilli and freeze for a second dinner.
- Shop reduced sections in the evening. Meat and bread freeze well.
- Batch cook staples like rice and pasta. Use across meals to save time.
- Use leftovers for packed lunches. Chilli wraps, pasta salads, and roast chicken sandwiches reduce waste.
Why this matters
UK food inflation has pushed the weekly shop higher than ever in 2025, and families are feeling the pinch. Keeping dinners under £50 a week gives breathing room for other costs and shows that simple meals can still feel good. No extras, no gimmicks, just food that works in real life.
About the Author
Heather is the founder of Darling Mellow, a UK parenting and home education platform. She combines over a decade of parenting experience with modern digital tools to create real, relatable content for mums.
She’s completed accredited courses in Childhood in the Digital Age and Positive Parenting Strategies to ensure every article blends personal insight with evidence-based information.