Feeding Teenagers Without Breaking Your Budget (100+ Ideas!)

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!

• Chili and Cornbread
• Taco soup with all the toppings and tortilla chips
• Cheese Broccoli soup or Cheesy Potato Soup
• Black Bean Soup
• Dave Ramsey Soup
• Hamburger Soup

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.

• Grilled Cheese
• Sloppy Joes
• Chili Cheese Dogs
• Hot Dogs
• Ham and Cheese Pockets
• Smashburgers
• Homemade Pepperoni Rolls
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

Pizzas

Hungry teens will eat anything pizza-ish at any time of the day!

• Little Caesar’s Pizza
• English Muffin Pizzas
• Homemade Pizza
• French Bread Pizza
• Homemade Pizza Pockets

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.

• Chicken Alfredo
• Spaghetti Pie
• Spaghetti Pizza
• Lasagna
• Buttered Noodles
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta
• Mac and Cheese

Breakfast

Breakfast is another winner when it comes to frugal meals all kids seem to love, and it’s so budget-friendly!

• Pancakes
• Breakfast Tacos
• Breakfast Pockets
• Biscuits & Gravy
• Omelets
• Homemade Pigs in a Blanket
• Lil’ Smokies in the crockpot
• Eggs and Toast
• Breakfast Casserole

Mexican

Use beans, rice, and corn to stretch all your Mexican favorites and make these frugal meals even more filling and affordable.

• Beans & rice
• Taco Bar
• Sheet Pan Nachos
• Rice Bowls
• Cheese Quesadillas
• Bean Burritos
• Walking Tacos
• Pork Carnitas with rice, salsa verde and avocado
• Southwest Roll-Ups
• Haystacks

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.

• Crackers and Peanut Butter
• Homemade Popcorn
• Potato Skins
• Homemade Potato Chips
• Homemade Crackers
• Homemade Trail Mix
• Chips & Salsa
• Pretzels
• Goldfish Crackers

Sweet Snack Ideas

Great for lunches, in-between meals, or a fun treat after meals.

• Homemade Rice Krispie treats
• Homemade Cookies and Brownies
• Homemade Protein Bars
• Energy Bars
• Oatmeal Bars
• Energy Bites
• White Chocolate Trail Mix
• Homemade Milkshakes
• Homemade Granola Bars
• Homemade Muffins
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Pudding and Graham Crackers
• Homemade Popsicles
• Toast with Jam
• Banana Bread or Muffins

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!

• 25 Budget-Friendly Snacks for Kids
• 25+ Cheap and Healthy Snacks for Kids
• 30+ Grab-and-go High Protein Snacks
• 10 Healthy, Cheap, Vegan Snacks for Kids
• 8 Healthy Freezer-Friendly Snack Ideas
• Cheap and Easy Meals for 30+ People
• Crowd-Pleasing Meals for 25+ People
• Easy Meals for Big Families
• Why I Made My Teens Buy Their Own Food
• How to Save on Groceries with a House Full of Teen Boys

Do you have any ideas to add to this list? Let us know!