Making 6 One Person Walmart Meals For $8.45 | Extreme Grocery Budget Challenge 

So many "budget-friendly" meal options are designed for families of 4 or more, and the primary way they cut costs is to buy and cook in bulk. For a single person (or even a couple), that's not always practical or cost-effective, because the food goes bad before you can eat it all, you don't have the pantry/freezer space, and/or you eat the same thing over and over for days. I appreciate that you provide budget-friendly meals geared towards a single person, and there's also a variety of options. Thank you!

I am 76 years old and do not have alot of money so your videos are helping me alot. Keep them coming please

Forget about sharpening the knife - put the legs (or any meat you want to cut raw) into the freezer for about 30 mins. it will become firm and very easy to cut or slice.

New subscriber here…….I am an empty nester senior and I love your approach to cooking for one!!! These days we all need all the ideas for healthy, single, economical meals that we can get……keep ‘em coming please 😄

I tend to stick to the cheaper frozen veggies. You have shown how to use the bigger bags and have more variety in meals. I really like that! I probably would not have thought to do that, thanks!!

I m a senior that lives alone. Thanks for sharing these recipes with us.

This is one of the most creative budget meal plans I've seen. Nice work!

So appreciate your thoughtfulness and honesty. God bless you and yours. I pray your endeavors grow and prosper.

Rachel you have the best meal ideas at the right budget 😊

I really like that you say when you think the meal comes out good AND when you think it didn’t. Ppl won’t feel bad if every meal that make are not “ WOW”. Budget meals are creative but they don’t alway win a prize. That’s real life. Thanks

You can brown the raw ramen in a dry skillet to add back crunch and a nutty flavor. Makes a nice topping. Thanks for the recipe ideas!

Just found ur channel tonight. Love the idea of single serving foods on a budget. I live by myself and i get tired if having to eat the same thing 3 or 4 times. Thanks for doing these videos.

i just found your channel when ths video popped into my feed. It's unusual to see one-person meals videos, and I just became an empty nester, so I'm loving watching this, and look forward to catching up on your channel!

On the last recipe, I think a cornbread pancake on the side and then having more of a hearty soup with the rest. This whole video was great! I am a first time watcher so I just subscribed 😊 💙

I really like the idea of buying a bag of mixed veggies to use in many different meals.

Quite interesting…i find so much food is wasted today by many …mostly because people make way too much….very creative separating prepared foods into several meals….I love to see budget meals especially those for one! Subscribed! 😊

Very impressive! The way you mixed and matched was amazing, thx for the ideas and experimenting

There is a packet of biscuit mix that just needs water. It can be used just like your jiffy. Great ideas with your ingredients.

Terrific! Those of us who aren't millionare's appreciate you.

New here and so happy to find you! Single and cooking for one is a pain, you're amazing! I'm super stoked to be a new follower!

You're very creative with your dishes! They all look great!

Always so excited to see a new video from you. You're so gosh darn creative!🥰

I really enjoyed this video! Meals for one or two are often challenging, you have provided some interesting ideas.

You always do awesome! I think you're truly helping some folks with your ideas. Great work

Love your creative uses for simple Ingredients! Keep these coming😊

I wish my husband would eat chicken, I like it, but he won’t touch it-thank you for sharing!!!

Great options. I might add another ramen package and frozen veggies to bulk it up but your recipes are appetizing and well planned. ❤❤❤

Brilliant out of box cooking! Thank you!

Wow you knocked those straight out of the park. That last one I don't know what I would have done different. Thank you for sharing these great ideas!!!

As always, love your creativity and how you share the good, the bad, and the ugly! Lol! Seriously, so important to share the process and inspire others to take some risks with combinations of flavors!

Very creative and all the meals looked delicious!

If you put a lid on the dumplings they would’ve steamed and probably resembled more of a dumpling🤷🏼‍♀️😊

Thank you for the ideas.

Love it! It's just me and my daughter, so I love to see the smaller budget friendly meals!!

New subscriber! Love the single serving meals. Thank you for this video!!

You are so creative!! That last meal could've been a chicken noodle soup with a muffin on the side.

You do such a great job of making one set of ingredients into such different meals. I agree we eat with our eyes, and you do a great job of mixing it up. I think I would have changed the dumplings by not making them. A+ for effort though! Hushpuppies would be good. You could fry them or bake them and they would be a delicious side for any of these meals. I enjoy your videos no matter when you post them. 😊

New subscriber here. Thank you so very much for these one person meals which are very hard to find. I am looking forward to trying all of them. The last one although you didn't think turned out asxwell, looked delicious to me. Nice meeting you and I will be looking forward to all your upcomming videos. Sincerely, from Debbie and Dexter-Dog my sweet tiny rescued Chihuahua companion living a quiet crafty life in southern California. 🙋🧑‍🦽🐾🎃❤️🥑😯🌻🤞🐝🏡🏠🇺🇸😘

Good job, Rachel! I subscribed. Beans are good, cheap protein also. Good value if dried beans. Interesting use of mixed vegetables!

For You, who is really into budgeting, I highly recommend to get a boning knife. I didn't know how good it is to have one until I got mine. The use of the proper knife makes the whole process so much easier especially if you look up the method for it. :) I love your food creations and ideas. 👌

I have watched about a million food videos on you tube and you by far are one of the most creative and and food waste conscious of any other channel!!❤👌🏼great job!!!🌟

Excellent video. Don't like cornbread but your ideas were great. I am single and do buy too much food so looking for videos like this. I have in the past bought and baked family size chicken leg package at one time. Divided them into 2 leg servings and froze them. I have subscribed.

Great job, Rachel! I shared your channel on Kate Kaden’s channel in a recent video about being frugal and single. I thought your content was perfect plus really wanting to see your channel grow.

You are helping so many in crises, but most of your honesty!,

I love the idea to deconstruct the veg pack. Brilliant!. Really happy about the cornbread too. I do not like "light and airy" cornbread in the first place. Now to find an unsweetened small mix. You are correct, your technique was off on the dumplings. I think it comes down to 3 points: 1. Put the extra liquid in at the outset. Dumplings go on soupy type bases; 2. Keep your mitts off. Don't mess with them while they're cooking. 3. Put a cover on. I don't know how it will work with cornbread dumplings, but for traditional fluffy dumplings, it's 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off with the lid and you leave them alone. I'm anxious to give them a try. I think your videos are absolute genius.

I have no creativity! Your execution is fine. I learned a lot and will certainly try these meals. Love budget friendly. Thanks

To tweek the last meal I would have tried adding herb's maybe garlic and onion powders to add flavor. I think your cooking for one and on the cheep is so great and it was pretty healthy too. Such good and creative idea's and I'm happy that you are taking care of yourself . Thank you for these 😉

More of these meals please! This is Awesome!!👏🏼

Awesome budgeting my friend!

I generally add sausage to my beans for flavor & extra protein.

Great mini tips here. I don’t eat any type of meat or poultry but I could easily make these meatless meals. I have a bag of frozen veggies is the freezer and I never remember to use it with noodles, not just rice. I make a small batch of brown rice and veggies with coconut aminos (taste like teriyaki sauce) I could totally make that cornbread over some veggie chili. Yum 😊❤

That last meal looked especially tasty-a kind of "mush" meal. It really appealed to my old taste buds, lol. Amazing recipes, all of them, but I found that last one to be the star!

This is the most creative meal planning video that I have seen. Although I am single, I buy and cook in bulk and tend to freeze extra portions, so that I do not have to cook each day. However you have provided some great ideas. Now I will binge watch your other videos. Subscribed!

It was really nice to see smart use of the cornbread mix and mac and cheese! Chicken thighs instead of legs? Could brown the one just before putting in the packet and baking maybe. So very nice! Thank you.

Just saw your video. Very creative. I’m looking for low cost single meals for my sister who lives on her own. I wonder if any of these would work as freezer meals that she could just microwave or reheat on the stove. You’ve got my creative juices flowing. I subscribed to see more ideas.

Fantastic Video ! I cook just for myself and am.always looking for ideas for nutritious, and frugal meals thanks

I always overmake meals so I'm learning that a little bit of food can go a long way. I love these videos❤

Yummy! 😊 it's easy to use a paper towel to pull skin off chicken in one good tug!! Also like the Great Value brand small box of meltn cheese..a little goes a long way! Ty for the great ideas! Just subscribed😊😊😊

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.

Great job Rachel❤

I like your ideas!

How very clever you are! LOve this video!

New to your channel loved it! I wonder if you would have put a lid on your "dumpling" meal the texture would have been different.

Thanks for including what doesn’t work or we might all have been trying it. But then again- cornmeal, chicken and veggies are a good base for a Tex-mex soup, especially if you had any cheese sauce left.

Thank you for doing these recipes for one. Hope you will do more of them. I'm not very creative when it comes to cooking. I usually have to follow a recipe.

put a lid on the pot and the dumplings would steam on the top

Very creative, love your channel ❤

I have a family of four but I thoroughly enjoyed this video! Great ideas! I love budget videos and this was great! Good job!

I really enjoy your videos you are very creative. Thank you

$1.41 per meal. Very well done! Looks delish, as well as versatile.

You are so clever! Thanks for the inspiration!

Rachel you always amaze me with your recipe ideas on a budget. Your brilliance always shines through. I will be giving these a shot. Love your channel. I hope you continue to do RU-vid. Blessings from above 💐

great meal ideas and I love that there was no dairy in them

Also new subscriber. Just recently became a widow and am very interested in your content. Thanks for sharing this. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.

another great video. A tip for using the Ramen as a garnish, break the Ramen up, toast it in a pan with a tiny bit of olive oil, and whatever spices you have on hand.

Love your channel!

toast the dry ramen in a fry pan to crisp it Use a small pot for the chicken and dumplins

I always have a packet of mayo on hand so I would've added it too bind the dumplings together and cooked them in just the broth and covered with lid for 15 minutes then add everything else back in.

Hi Rachel: Your channel just found me. Loved the recipes. The last one doesn't look bad. It looks like a chunky soup.

You could use tuna or canned chicken in the first one either one would be delicious

I always keep self rise flour on hand for biscuits,shortbread biscuit for strawberries,and dumplings. I always keep a master list of all basics on hand at all times. I have too stock up on my canned meats again. But this time I will canned my own meats so they don't have the metal can taste. And all the tomato sauces and stewed tomatoes. For tomes when I don't have onions and peppers. And different veggies. For ready made pantry meals,just heat and serve. I just use chicken leg quarters because in my area they are the cheapest for now but I still buy chicken tenders for chicken and home made egg noodles.

What a great tutorial! I think those are sugar snap peas 😊 I feel so inspired!! ❤

I loved this video....great ideas!! My husband works out of town a good bit so it's nice to see one person meals. For the last meal, I think I would have possibly used the cornbread mix as a batter to make chicken nuggets...make the rest of the meal while you fry the chicken separately and when the chicken is done, serve it on top of the veggie mix...stir in before eating so that it doesn't get soggy......... or when you were making the sauce for the dumplings....I think I would have boiled the chicken to make broth...you were going to cook it anyway....It would have been another element you could have used for flavor especially adding garlic and onion powder to it. It seems like they may sell packs of biscuit mix...kind of like the Jiffy....That would have been nice to have used for the dumplings....might be a nice idea for another try at budget chicken and dumplings...hint, hint. (Yes, I would love to see another video.) My favorite thing to make....and I'm probably weird, is make the Jiffy muffins, and I love to take 2 of them and pour a can of Margaret Holmes triple succotash, or the can with the tomatoes, okra, and corn on top....Holy cow does it hit the spot. lol! Not that expensive especially if you can find the veggies at Dollar Tree.... Probably less than 2.00 for the meal, and I have cornbread left over for another meal.

I love your videos! The only thing I could think off to do differently is maybe make some cheesy shredded chicken over corn cakes. We mix the jiffy with water until it’s a thin pancake batter consistency and the cook like pancakes! Cook and shred the meat from a chicken leg and mix a little of the cheese powder with some of the broth to make cheese sauce.

Best, healthiest meal plan for 1 person I have seen here. Most are rice and beans and very spicy, which I can't eat too much of for various reasons. Chicken is ideal and relatively inexpensive, but I also appreciate the way you spread the one bag of vegetables over all the various meals. I thought the last meal was fine. Dumplings tend to be a little soft anyway, or at least they were when my mother made them years ago. I don't eat dumplings much. lol Thanks so much for the creative, For One, meal plan!

These are great meal ideas! I absolutely need to try the ramen noodle dish; looks so yummy and creamy chicken flavor is my favorite

Thank you for the cooking for one tips.

❤ I cook my dumplings with the lid on and don't touch or peek. Then they firm up on top too. Don't know if that would help.

new subscriber here. Found you from a comment mentioning you on Kate Kaden's channel.

Great video! You are amazing.

Hello Rachel I too am an empty nester and cook only for myself.thank you❤

Love it! I would Make the whole cornbread,Bake 1/2 your chicken, make 1/2 box Mac & cheese, sauté half your veggies For 2-3 nights, ramen chicken stir fry for 3 more nights. Use The broth from chicken legs make soup with one chicken leg and add 1/4 box of noodles from Mac n cheese Serve cornbread every night with your meals. ( I would get rice from DT instead of ramen) I would use my spices that I have at home

Been waiting an wanting a channel that devoted videos to recipes for 1 or 2 👏👏👏👏new sub here

I started watching the Food Channel when it started and all those past PBS Saturday cooking shows with Julia and Jacque and learned early on how to debone a bird. Pain in my arse to do. I'm Not saying I'm a fantastic cook, but, oh boy, do I know How to cook. Do I? No. Will I now that I've found your channel? The chances are high! Thanks for taking on the single, broke-a$$ (okay, "thrifty") cook and giving us some solutions.

I would have put a lid on the last dish. Dumplings need to steam.

that pot pie is so smart, i always have that issue with boxed mac n cheese where its too thick or gloopy and i never use the whole packet, but then i never know what to do with it after!!

I enjoyed your video. All the other budgets videos are for family. Being single, its hard sometimes to use them

I have those Corningware sauce pans. Handy little things. Great for baking large deli buns like homemade Schlotzsky sandwiches. The squash and cornbread would be sort of like squash fritters. Wonder if processing the cornmeal finer would help the dumplings hold together better and pan fry or bake. Good to see the chicken bones used. I'd have also baked or fried the chicken skin into chicharrons for that little bit of crunch to top a dish. If baked, the chicharrons would render some fat to also maybe hold the dumplings together.

This is great thank you. I'm live alone and always try to come up with ideas for just one also

I think your last meal would have worked better if you had more broth in the chicken noodles and Veg mixture. When u make chicken and dumplings you need a lot of broth when you drop your dumplings in so they might have cooked easier it here was more broth. Also, I know you were trying to use only what u bought but if you could afford some flour, which you can get at dollar tree for $1.25 you can mix flour and water dumplings but again need more broth. I really enjoyed your ideas and plan to try them!! Great ideas!!