Simply On A Budget

Easy As $1 $2 $3

Food can be expensive, which is why we put together this collection of budget-friendly recipes that you can feel good about. We'll show you how you can eat each meal for around $1, $2 or $3 per serving!

Many of these recipes share ingredients, so make the most of your money by choosing meals where you can use leftover items. If you can’t, we’ll also show you how to freeze them for later!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Feed a family of four for a week on a $60, $80 or $100 budget without compromising on flavor.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Shake up your week with these flavorful ramen upgrades that will satisfy your taste buds AND go easy on the wallet.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Throw our boneless pork chop, boneless skinless chicken breast and fresh ground chuck patty value packs in your cart and you’ll have 44 servings of family favorites.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly, Dinner

Finish your day with tasty, budget-friendly dishes the entire family will crave.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly, Lunch

These hearty sandwiches can be made in minutes, will fill you up and won’t break the bank!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Breakfast, Budget Friendly

Frugal is for budgets, not flavors. These easy, low-cost breakfasts will get your days started off right!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to host a successful tailgate! With a bit of creativity and some helpful tips, you can host a party your friends won’t be able to stop talking about!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Savor the savings with our Great Low Prices! By utilizing our best deals on the items you buy most, each of these recipes can feed a family of four for $10 or less!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Flexible recipes that let you cook with what you have are key to maximizing your budget year-round. Start with these simple, crowd-pleasing favorites!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly, Dietitian Pick

Trying to eat healthy on a budget? Don’t worry; Full Circle beans are here to save the day—because nothing is better than beans when it comes to being budget-friendly and high in protein!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Our customers voted on their 20 Fan Favorite items from across the store. Below is just a sample of the goodness that awaits you!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

These recipes can be made using five ingredients or fewer, meaning you can enjoy fresh fall flavors without breaking the bank!

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Less really is more; a smaller grocery bill, minimal meal planning and fewer hours in the kitchen. Stretch your dollar (and your time) further while cooking up five distinct, delicious meals that the whole family will love.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

Conquer cravings and your budget with the most important meal of the day! Not only are these breakfast foods affordable from the get-go, but thanks to their dense nutrient profile, they also keep you full longer.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

The secret to nutritious meals on a budget? Make the most of produce during its peak season —when it’s at its cheapest. Whether you’re a vegetarian or just looking to add more fresh ingredients to your meals, we’ll show you how to do both affordably.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly

These 10 budget-friendly foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will keep your body in tip-top shape without breaking the bank.

ARTICLES, TIPS & HOW-TO'S, Budget Friendly, Produce

Freezing produce is an easy way to make your groceries (and budget) go further.

5 meals for $50 or less

Start with a stocked pantry, add a great meal plan and carve out some prep time to feed a family of four all week. And because these recipes utilize nextovers, you won’t eat the same thing twice!

SAVVY WAYS TO SAVE AT SCHNUCKS

Cooked

Seafood

Have Schnucks cook your fresh seafood FOR FREE! You get to choose the dry rub or marinade and we will cook it while you shop. You don’t need to purchase seasonings or cooking oil and we do the dishes!

Manager's

Specials

Look for manager’s specials—typically food we’ve made or bought too much of, that comes with a great price! They’re the perfect choice for dinner tonight—Or stock up and enjoy for the next couple of days while reveling in the savings!

Schnucks Brand

Swaps

Start with one easy swap (our most popular is Schnucks shredded cheese) and before you know it, you will be trying many of our thousands of Schnucks brand products and saving LOTS of money along the way. Just look for the red dot!

Schnucks

Rewards

From money-saving Rewards Points and exclusive coupons to our time-saving shopping list, the Schnucks Rewards app will change the way you shop! With Schnucks Rewards, for every $100 you spend, you’ll get $2 to use on your next shopping trip! Be sure to keep an eye out for Points events and ways to earn extra Points.

DIGITAL

DEALS

Discover hundreds of weekly, exclusive digital coupons! Look for over 100 new coupons every week that can be searched and sorted by category. Clip, shop and save with a single touch. Shopping will never be the same.

Donuts

After Dark

Go (do)nuts for Donuts after Dark! Purchase donuts, bagels and rolls after 8 p.m. for just 50 cents. Don’t worry about freshness because these goodies are made fresh in store daily!

'Tis The

Seasoning

In addition to seafood, we will also season your meat for you! Stop by the butcher counter and choose your seasoning— then cook or grill at home and feast!

A Price

That Rocks

Use The Big Box to plan your menu for the week. For only $19.96, each box is packed with a variety of fresh, never-frozen meats prepared daily by our butchers. You can always freeze the extra!

Weekly

Promos

Watch for weekly promos in our print and digital ad. Every week you will find special promotions that will keep extra money in your pocket. Better yet, plan your meals around what is on sale at your local Schnucks.

Winesday

Wednesday

Say “Cheers” to Winesday! Mix or match any six or more 750 ml bottles and save 15% on Wednesdays, fondly referred to as Winesday at Schnucks. If you can’t make it in on Wednesday, don’t worry! Our mix-or-match deal is 10% off every day!

Never defrost food at room temperature.
Use the refrigerator, submerge in cold water or defrost in the microwave depending on how quickly you need to thaw your food.
You can refreeze food once it has been cooked. However, you should never place an uncooked item back in the freezer after thawing.

STORAGE TIPS

Divide leftovers among individual containers and freeze for quick meal options later. Simply Done storage bags and containers are a budget-friendly option for freezer storage!
Label everything with the date and type of food so you know what it is and when to use it by.
Wrap meat and seafood in plastic wrap for a tight seal.
Cut down on prep time later by adding uncooked meat to a marinade before freezing.
Freeze produce in a single layer on a sheet pan before adding to containers so it doesn’t freeze together.
The earlier you freeze, the better—you can’t save food that’s past its prime. Chop large produce and freeze in small quantities, but leave a little room inside the container (food will expand).

TO FREEZE
OR NOT
TO FREEZE?

These foods do not fare as well as others in the freezer.

Gravies and creamy sauces
Fruits and vegetables with high water content: celery, cucumbers, lettuce, watermelon, etc.
Fully cooked pasta
Dairy products such as yogurt, soft cheeses and sour cream
Raw and hard-boiled eggs
Anything carbonated
Soft herbs like cilantro and basil (can still be frozen in water, oil or butter.)

HOW LONG
WILL IT LAST?

Select an item from the dropdown and see how long it can last in the freezer.