Cheap Summer Family Meal Plan | Budget Meals for the Holidays

Cheap Summer Family Meal Plan | Budget Meals for the Holidays

The summer holidays can make food shopping feel more expensive, with everyone at home and eating more throughout the day. This meal plan is for families who want easy, low-cost meals without spending hours cooking. 

It’s a cheap weekly family meal plan filled with simple summer recipes that are quick to make and use affordable ingredients. The meals are light, flexible, and perfect for busy days, whether at home or out and about.

In need of more ideas for the holidays? Why not head to our seasonal hub, or check out our guide to the Top UK picnic spots!

How to Keep This Meal Plan Cheap

Before we jump in, here are a few quick money-saving tips:

  • Use seasonal ingredients: they’re cheaper and taste better
  • Bulk out meals with rice, pasta, beans, or lentils
  • Cook once, eat twice (leftovers are your best friend!)
  • Swap expensive meat for chicken thighs, mince, or veggie options
  • Buy supermarket own brand foods
Monday

Chicken & Veg Wraps

Serves 4 Approx. £4.20

Ingredients

  • 8 tortilla wraps
  • 300g cooked chicken
  • ½ iceberg lettuce
  • ½ cucumber
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp mayo or yoghurt

Method

  1. Warm wraps.
  2. Fill with chicken and veg.
  3. Add sauce and roll up.
  4. Serve immediately.
Tuesday

Easy Cacio e Pepe

Serves 4 Approx. £3.25

Ingredients

  • 400g spaghetti
  • 50g butter
  • Black pepper
  • 100g grated pecorino

 

recipe inspired by BBC good food

Method

  1. Cook the spaghetti and save a mug of pasta water.
  2. Fry butter, add pepper in and toast over a low heat for a few minutes
  3. Add pasta and 100 ml  of water.
  4. Add in cheese, wait for 30 seconds for it to melt and toss until creamy.
Wednesday

Air fryer Rice Bowls

Serves 4 Approx. £1.75

Ingredients

  • 500g cooked rice
  • 2 eggs scrambled
  • 200g mixed Frozen veg
  • 80 ml Soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Oil 

Method

  1. Add cooked rice into a bowl with veg 
  2. Add in scrambled eggs, oil and soy
  3. mix well
  4. Air fry at 160 c for 15 mins, stirring thrice.
  5. option to add in leftover chicken (from wraps on monday)
Thursday

Watermelon feta salad 

Serves 4 Approx. £4.00

Ingredients

  • 360 g Watermelon
  • 1 cucumber
  • Mint
  • 1 red onion
  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic
  • 200g feta 

Method

  1. Chop cucumber, melon and red onion
  2. drizzle over oil and balsamic 
  3. crumble feta
  4. option to serve with warm bread
Friday

Pizza Night

Serves 4 Approx. £5.50

Ingredients

  • Pizza bases (store bought)
  • Passata
  • Cheese
  • Toppings of choice

Method

  1. Add sauce to base.
  2. Top with cheese.
  3. Add toppings.
  4. Bake until golden.
Saturday

Picnic Tea

Serves 4 Approx. £7.50

Ideas

  • 1 loaf of bread
  • Cheddar cheese
  • 1 pack mini Sausage rolls
  • Ham slices
  • Multipack crisp bag
  • 1 cucumber 
  • 1 punnet grapes

Serve

  1. make sandwiches.
  2. Slice the cucumber into sticks.
  3. Add sausage rolls, crisps and fruit to a plate or picnic basket.
  4. Serve cold.
Sunday

Chicken & Leek Pie 

Serves 4 Approx. £7.20

Ingredients

  • 3 Chicken breasts
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 leeks
  • Stock cube (vegetable)
  • 250g cream cheese
  • 1 tsp mustard 
  • Puff pastry sheet

 

recipe inspired by bbc good food

Method

 

    1. Preheat oven to 190c (170 fan)
    2. Heat a little oil in a pan and cook the chicken until lightly browned.
    3. Add the leek and garlic and cook for a few minutes until soft.
    4. Stir in the cream cheese, mustard, stock cube and 200ml boiling water. Mix until smooth.
    5. Pour everything into an ovenproof dish.
    6. Lay the puff pastry over the top, trim the edges and brush with a little milk.
    7. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Cheap Summer Snack Ideas

With the warmer weather and lots of running around, comes more snacking! Best to be prepared with cooling, affordable and delicious options. What is better, getting the kids involved can make keeping the kids entertained and preparing food easy!

Why not check out our guide to no churn ice cream recipes!

Frozen Yogurt Cups

Serves 6 £1.20

Ingredients

  • 250g Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ⅓ cup raspberries
  • ⅓ cup blueberries

Method

  1. Line muffin tin
  2. Mix ingredients
  3. Spoon into cases
  4. Add berries
  5. Freeze 2–3 hrs

Ice Lollies

Serves 6 ~£1

Ingredients

  • 500ml fruit juice
  • Optional fruit

Method

  1. Pour into moulds
  2. Add fruit
  3. Insert sticks
  4. Freeze 4–6 hrs
  5. Run under warm water

Snack Plate

Serves 4 £3.80

Ingredients

  • Hummus (200g)
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 cucumber
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Breadsticks

Method

  1. Slice veg
  2. Wash tomatoes
  3. Add hummus
  4. Arrange plate

 Final thoughts

Feeding a family during the summer holidays doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a bit of planning and a focus on simple, affordable meals, it’s possible to keep food costs down while still enjoying a variety of tasty dishes.

Keeping meals simple, flexible, and budget-friendly is the key to getting through the holidays without overspending.

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