Cooking for a Family of Four? This P3,000 Weekly Meal Plan Only Uses 30-Minute Recipes

Cooking for a family is no easy feat. Picky eaters aside, a home cook must shop smart and cook smart to make the most of his or her weekly grocery haul. We cross-checked prices among several grocery stores in Manila (we have tips on where to find the cheapest prices!) to come up with a nutritious, delicious meal plan to get you through the week. 

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One Week of Budget Meals: 4 People, 3 Meals a Day for P5000

It's possible! We rounded up a whole week's worth of budget recipes for you.

Choose your cuts of meat well: splurge on the essential sirloin and tenderloin cuts for super-quick stir-fried dishes, but save money on cheaper cuts of pork belly and fish fillets, too. 

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Cooking This Sunday's Family Lunch on a Budget? Follow This Meal Plan!

You can make a special lunch with simple ingredients for under P700!

Here is a weekly meal plan that covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner using only 30-minute recipes. A quick tip for prepping breakfast: either make it the night before, or maximize a large loaf of bread and get creative with toast toppings! Can you believe we kept this meal plan under P3,000, too? 

MONDAY

Breakfast: Bangus Salpicao

You can whip up this flavorful breakfast in only 15 minutes! 

Cost for 4 servings: P223.00

Bangus Salpicao Recipe

Swap out beef tenderloin for a bangus fillet for a new take on the Pinoy favorite.

Posted by The Cookery Place

IMAGE Majoy Siason

Lunch: Pepper Steak Stir-Fry

No time to marinate? Flavor your stir-fried dishes with lots of spices and pepper. 

Cost for 4 servings: P256.00

Pepper Steak Stir-Fry Recipe

This easy stir-fry dish is peppery and oh-so easy to make!

Posted by Mira Angeles

IMAGE Patrick Martires

Dinner: Pan-Fried Sole Fillets

Keep dinner light with quick and easy pan-fried fish fillets.

Cost for 4 servings: P190.00

Pan-Fried Sole Fillets Recipe

Serve this 15-minute fish recipe over steamed brown rice or al dente noodles.

Posted by Joey De Larrazabal-Blanco

TUESDAY 

IMAGE Michael Angelo Chua

Breakfast: Avocado Toast

This breakfast is packed with carbs, protein, and healthy fat. Power through the day! 

Cost for 4 servings: P167.30

Breakfast Avocado Toast Recipe

Avocados are a great way to start your morning!

Posted by Sharlene Tan

IMAGE Dairy Darilag

Lunch: Fried Calamansi Pork Chops Recipe 

Squeeze calamansi over your chops for a quick but effective marinade.

Cost for 4 servings: P152.50

Fried Calamansi Pork Chops Recipe

A splash of calamansi gives these pork chops a surprising tartness.

Posted by Roselle Miranda

IMAGE Toto Labrador

Dinner: Chicken with Tausi Sauce Recipe

Looking for creative ways on how to use black beans? Make a sauce out of them. 

Cost for 4 servings: P150.00

Chicken with Tausi Sauce Recipe

This simple chicken recipe highlights how salted black beans can bring out the flavor of simple dishes.

Posted by Mira Angeles

WEDNESDAY 

Breakfast: Dulong Omelet Recipe (Tortang Dulong)

This breakfast packs a flavor punch because of the salty fish. 

Cost for 4 servings: P144.75

Dulong Omelet Recipe (Tortang Dulong)

Dried silverfish, otherwise known as dulong, makes this omelette burst with the flavors of the sea!

Posted by Lhas Alvarez

IMAGE Miguel Nacianceno

Lunch: Pan-Fried Chicken with Calamansi Sauce

There's nothing quicker than putting together a pan-fried dish! Plus, who doesn't love fried chicken?

Cost for 4 servings: P188.80

Pan-Fried Chicken with Calamansi Sauce Recipe

This creamy, tangy, savory, 30-minute pan-fried chicken recipe is perfect for weeknights.

Posted by Zee Castro-Talampas

IMAGE Toto Labrador

Dinner: Fried Pork Adobo Recipe

This adobo doesn't need hours to come together on a stove. All this needs is a quick fry over the stovetop.

Cost for 4 servings: P186.00

Fried Pork Adobo Recipe

With only four main ingredients. this quick fix can be ready in only a few minutes!

Posted by Mira Angeles

THURSDAY

IMAGE Aldwin Aspillera

Breakfast: Cinnamon French Toast Rolls

Looking for a fun way to serve breakfast? Make these French toast rolls!

Cost for 4 servings: P113.00

French Toast Rolls Recipe

Breakfast is a lot more fun when the kids are in on the prep!

Posted by Roselle Miranda

IMAGE Patrick Martires

Lunch: Liempo with Garlic Honey Marinade Recipe

Here's a tip: you can keep the meat marinated in a bag in the refrigerator up to 3 days before you need to cook it. 

Cost for 4 servings: P185.80

Liempo with Garlic Honey Marinade Recipe

This pan-fried liempo recipe is packed with lots of garlicky flavor!

Posted by Rofel Balbuena

IMAGE Miguel Nacianceno

Dinner: Pinoy-Style Crispy Fried Chicken

One whole chicken can feed up to 4 to 6 people and doesn't cost much, either. 

Cost for 4 servings: P159.50

Chinese-style Beef with Broccoli Recipe

Turn to this easy beef recipe on busy days. You only need a few pantry staples!

Posted by Mira Angeles

FRIDAY

IMAGE Louie Aguinaldo

Breakfast: PB & J Toast with Apples

Keep breakfast simple. Apples add a refreshing crunch to toast and sandwiches. 

Cost for 4 servings: P118.90

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast with Apples

A PBJ french toasted stuffed with apples!

Posted by Choppin' Chef

IMAGE Patrick Martires

Lunch: Chicken Teriyaki with Sweet Corn Rice Recipe

This recipe is baon-friendly because of the sweet chicken marinade. 

Cost for 4 servings: P188.40

Chicken Teriyaki with Sweet Corn Rice Recipe

Pair your favorite chicken dish with sweet corn rice!

Posted by Roselle Miranda

IMAGE Majoy Siason

Dinner: Pork and Scallion Stir-Fry Recipe

Keep your Friday night dinner quick, simple, and tasty. Pork tenderloin makes a great option for stir-fries because the meat stays soft even when cooked over high temperatures.

Cost for 4 servings: P219.00

Pork and Scallion Stir-Fry Recipe

Use pork tenderloin for this quick stir-fry!

Posted by Lhas Alvarez

Pantry Staples:

Salt (500 g) = P11.50

Ground black pepper (16 g) = P16.00

Cooking oil (620 ml) = P56.00

White vinegar (200 ml) = P40.00

Soy sauce (1 L) = P49.50

Total Estimated Cost: P2,812.95

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