Thrifty Thursday | Themed Dinner Ideas
Meal planning is such a great way to save time and money. And planning your meals can happen so much quicker when you use themed dinner ideas. Today I’m sharing some great ideas for your next Thrifty Thursday themed dinner. I hope you love this collection of budget friendly meal ideas!
This list of Thrifty Thursday or budget friendly meal ideas will help you save money on your grocery budget and plan this week’s menu!
I love themed meal planning because it helps me come up with ideas without thinking too hard and long about it. For instance, when planning your menu for the week, your thought process might look like this:
This Thursday our themed dinner menu will be Thrifty Thursday. What can I make that’s a favorite meal from my childhood?
Be sure to check out The Ultimate List of Themed Dinner Ideas here.
I became a vegetarian in 1998 and my family is vegetarian. In fact a large majority of my extended family is vegetarian as well. Sometimes I make vegetarian dinners that are just you know, naturally vegetarian. However, sometimes I take recipes that call for meat and replace the meat with a vegetarian option.
Being a vegetarian has many health benefits.
Vegetarian substitutions for meat:
You’ll find these products in the freezer aisle or health food section of your local grocery store. You can also find these products at most health food stores like Whole Foods.
- ground beef or turkey > vegetarian burger crumbles
- chicken > Quorn Meatless Pieces
- chicken breast > Quorn Meatless Filets
- shredded chicken or pork > canned jackfruit
- beef, chicken, or pork > black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas
- deli meats > Lightlife Deli Slices
- sausage > Gimme Lean Breakfast Sausage, Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage
- tuna > chickpeas
- bacon > Morning Star Farms Veggie Bacon
- pepperoni > Veggie Pepperoni
Thrifty Thursday Themed Dinners
How to plan your menu in 4 easy steps:
- Select your main dish.
- Choose 2 – 3 side dishes that compliment your main dish.
- Think about variety of food groups. Try to choose something from each of the main food groups.
- Focus on providing well rounded, nutritious meals.
45 Thrifty Thursday Recipes | Budget Friendly Meal Ideas
Main Dishes
Here are 45 budget-friendly meal ideas for your next Thrifty Thursday-themed dinner.
Side Dishes Ideas
Use two or three of of these budget-friendly side dish options to round out your Thrifty Thursday meal.
- steamed frozen vegetables (corn, broccoli, etc.)
- white or brown rice
- baked potatoes, fried potatoes , or boiled potatoes
- beans or peas
- fruit salad or sliced fruit
- garden salad
- bread, rolls, or toast
- lima beans
- macaroni and cheese
- buttered noodles
- corn on the cob
- mashed potatoes and gravy
- sweet potatoes
- tater tots, French fries
Theme Day Menus: Thrifty Thursday
Let’s put it all together. I’ll show you how I would create menus based on the Thrifty Thursday-themed dinner ideas (budget-friendly meal ideas) I’ve shared above.
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8 Thrifty Thursday Menu Plans
These budget friendly meal plans will help you figure out what to cook this week!
Themed Dinner Idea #1
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- macaroni and cheese
- frozen broccoli
Themed Dinner Idea #2
- Vegan Chickpea Nuggets
- mashed potatoes and gravy
- frozen peas
Themed Dinner Idea #3
- Sweet Potato Curry
- brown rice
Themed Dinner Idea #4
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- mashed potatoes
- garden salad
Themed Dinner Idea #5
- Tater Tot Casserole
- frozen broccoli
- sliced fruit
Themed Dinner Idea #6
- Corn Chowder Recipe
- yeast rolls
Themed Dinner Idea #7
- Easy Tuna Casserole
- frozen broccoli
- frozen corn on the cob
Themed Dinner Idea #8
- One Pot Pasta
- garden salad
- garlic toast