Trying to feed teenagers at home without breaking your budget? It can be tough, but this list of 100 ideas will come to your rescue!
Are ravenous appetites threatening to derail your grocery budget? If so, we put together a long list of quick, easy, healthy, AND frugal foods we know your teens will enjoy.
A big thanks to all the input from our Facebook community — so many great suggestions and ideas that helped us compile this list!
Frugal Meal Ideas for Hungry Teens
Are you feeding a large crowd (or just your own teens)? Here are a bunch of easy, delicious, and frugal meal ideas!
Soups and Stews
Add some extra veggies and broth to stretch your meat even further, and be sure to include bread or rolls as another good filler!
Sandwiches
Bread and buns freeze wonderfully, so stock up when it’s on sale and always keep a loaf (or 7) on hand for sandwiches.
Pizzas
Hungry teens will eat anything pizza-ish at any time of the day!
Pasta
Pasta is an excellent way to fill up hungry teens without breaking your grocery budget — especially if you go meatless with the sauce and add some salad and garlic bread.
Breakfast
Breakfast is another winner when it comes to frugal meals all kids seem to love, and it’s so budget-friendly!
Mexican
Use beans, rice, and corn to stretch all your Mexican favorites and make these frugal meals even more filling and affordable.
Other
- Loaded Tater Tots
- Baked Potato Bar
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Stirfry and Rice
- Casseroles
Frugal Snack Ideas for Hungry Teens
If you’re the after-school or after-game hangout place, you’ll want to stock up on lots of these easy, frugal snack ideas. (And homemade is always more budget friendly!)
Produce Snack Ideas
These healthier options are great for before or after sporting events, after school, or whenever you’re craving a snack but don’t necessarily want “junk food”.
- Fruit & Veggies with homemade dip
- Apples & Peanut Butter
- Carrots with Homemade Hummus
- Bananas with Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chips
- Fruit with Whipped Cream
- Homemade Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
- Apple Nachos
- Peanut Butter Banana Rollups
- Celery with Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese
- Air-Fried Sliced or Cubed Sweet Potatoes
- Yogurt with Fruit and/or Granola
- Dill Pickles (buy the gallon jar!)
- Smoothies
- Frozen Grapes
- Watermelon (when it’s in season)
Salty Snack Ideas
These easy on-the-go snacks will fill them up for less than other options. Save even more by purchasing bulk family-size bags and portioning them out in your own zip-top bags.
Sweet Snack Ideas
Great for lunches, in-between meals, or a fun treat after meals.
Savory Snack Ideas
When you’re not quite ready for another full meal, but a smaller snack just won’t cut it!
- Sourdough Bread with dipping oil
- Quesadillas
- Ramen Noodles
- Mac & Cheese
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Charcuterie Board (Summer Sausage or Ham, crackers, grapes, and cheese)
- Pasta Salad
- Frozen Chicken Nuggets
- Bagel Bar
- Taco dip or Pizza dip with chips and crackers
- Cheesy Rice Balls
- Bagels with Cream Cheese
Looking for more ideas?
Here are even more frugal meal and snack ideas to fill up your hungry kids without breaking the bank!
Do you have any ideas to add to this list? Let us know!
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Meal time just got so much easier!
