Looking for budget dinner recipes in Australia? These 7 easy meals feed a family of 4 for under $100 using simple ingredients from Coles.
Groceries are out of control right now.
Every time I go to the supermarket, I feel like I’m spending more and coming home with less 😅
So I set myself a challenge…
feed my family of 4 for a week for under $100 at Coles.
I’ve done this before with Aldi and Woolworths, and it actually helped so much… so I wanted to see if it was still possible.
And yes… people didn’t believe me 👀 (which made me want to do it even more, of course!).
💸 The total
Total spend: $95.39
A quick note: prices can vary a little depending on your store and location, but this is what I paid at my local Coles.
I didn’t buy pantry staples that I had at home – these include some oil, little bit of butter, salt and pepper, and some dried herbs.
And, I made two mistakes when shopping. I forgot to get one French Onion Soup mixes so used one I had at home ($0.55) and I also thought I was buying more chicken drumsticks but only got 6, so I would double that next time ($4.61), meaning the total would more likely be $100.55.
🛒 The shopping list
I tried to keep this really simple, and used mostly home brand where I could.
Produce
- Potatoes x 3
- Carrots x 2
- Zucchini
- Onion x2
- Garlic
- Cauliflower
- Lime
- Green beans
- Pumpkin
- Broccoli
Meat
- Chicken drumsticks
- Whole chicken
- 500g Beef mince
- 200g Bacon
- 6 eggs
Pantry
- Pasta
- Rice
- 2 minute noodles
- French onion soup mix x 2
- Laksa paste
- Tinned coconut milk
- Tinned tomatoes (optional swaps)
- Apricot nectar
- Chicken stock x2
- Corn chips
- Rice noodles
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Bread stick
- Baked beans
Dairy
- Tasty cheese
- 300ml thickened cream
- Garlic and parsley butter
Frozen
- Frozen corn, carrot and peas
🍽️ The meal plan
Here’s what I made for the week:
- Veggie laksa
- Bogan nachos
- French onion savoury mince
- Cauliflower soup + garlic bread
- Slow cooker apricot chicken + rice
- 2 minute noodle carbonara with peas
- Herb + garlic chicken tray bake
Nothing too fancy. Just good, filling, family dinners.
🍝 The dinners
Day 1: French onion savoury mince
This one is such a throwback… and honestly, still so good.
Cheap, filling, and proper comfort food.
👉 Get the full recipe for French Onion Savoury Mince here.
Quick idea:
Mince + onion + French onion soup mix, served with pasta.
Make it work for you:
- Serve with rice instead
- Add extra veggies to bulk it out
- Add chilli if you like a bit of heat
Day 2: Bogan nachos
These caused a bit of chaos online 😅
But they’re cheap, easy, and the kids will eat them.
👉 Get the full recipe for Bogan Nachos here
Quick idea:
Baked beans layered with chips and cheese, baked until melty.
Make it your own:
- Add mince to stretch it further
- Add salad on top, to give some freshness
Day 3: Veggie laksa
This feels a bit fancy for a budget meal, but it’s actually super affordable.
👉 Get the Veggie Laksa recipe here.
Quick idea:
Laksa paste + coconut milk + stock + veggies + noodles.
Tips:
- Add tofu or chicken if you have it
- Use whatever veggies you’ve got in the fridge
Day 4: Herb + garlic chicken tray bake
Everything in one tray = minimal effort.
Quick idea:
Chicken and veggies roasted together with herbs and garlic.
Tips:
- Swap veggies based on what’s cheap
- Add extra potatoes to make it go further
Day 5: Cauliflower soup + garlic bread
One of the cheapest meals of the week… and surprisingly good.
👉 Get the recipe for Cauliflower Soup here.
Quick idea:
Cauliflower simmered with stock, then blended until smooth.
Tips:
- Add garlic or onion for extra flavour
- Serve with garlic bread to make it more filling
Day 6: Apricot & bacon chicken + rice
A recipe that tastes like childhood.
👉 Get the Apricot Chicken Recipe here.
Quick idea:
Chicken + apricot sauce cooked until tender.
Make it stretch:
- Serve with rice
- Add veggies on the side
Day 7: 2 minute noodle carbonara
This one surprised me — it’s so good.
👉 Get the recipe for Noodle Carbonara here.
Quick idea:
Noodles tossed with bacon, egg, cheese and peas.
Tips:
- Use the flavour sachet or skip it
- Add extra veg if you like
💡 How I kept it under $100
This is where the magic happens:
- I chose home brand where possible
- I used in-season vegetables
- I reused ingredients across meals (nothing wasted)
- I bulked meals with rice and pasta
- I mixed meat and meat-free meals
It’s not about being perfect… it’s just about being a bit more intentional.
💛 Final thoughts
This isn’t about eating perfectly.
It’s about feeding your family, saving some money, and taking a bit of pressure off during a time where everything feels expensive.
And if nothing else… I hope it gives you a few easy dinner ideas for the week.
