Dollar Tree Meals in a Bag: 10 High Protein Dinner Kits

BySabah A.

These 10 Dollar Tree meals in a bag have 28 to 35 grams of protein per serving. Each kit is a list of shelf-stable groceries you can bag up ahead of time, so dinner is just open, cook and serve.

Meals in a bag are a simple idea: buy everything for one dinner, put it in one bag, and grab it on a busy night.

Dollar Tree is a great place to build them because canned chicken, tuna, beans, pasta and sauces are all cheap. For more cheap protein ideas, see our cheap bean and lentil dinners.

Each kit serves 4. Shelf-stable items go in the bag, and you add any cold items (cheese, eggs, milk) on the day. If you like budget cooking, the cheap dinner ideas for families are another good list.

Here are the kits.

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🛒 5 Must-Haves for Meals in a Bag

These make it easy to build and store your dinner kits.

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👜 How to Build a Kit

Put the shelf-stable items in a gallon bag, label it with the meal name and steps, and note any cold items to add. Build 5 on the weekend.

🥫 Best Dollar Tree Protein

Canned chicken (about 20g per can), tuna (about 26g per 5 oz can), canned salmon, beans, lentils, peanut butter and pasta.

🧊 Cold Items to Grab Separately

Shredded cheese, eggs and milk. Dollar Tree stores with a freezer section often carry cheese too.

#RecipeProteinCaloriesProtein Source
1Chicken Taco Rice Kit28g429Canned chicken
2Tuna Pasta Bake Kit34g462Tuna
3Chicken Noodle Soup Kit32g370Canned chicken
4Bean and Cheese Burrito Kit29g709Mixed
5Chili Kit35g435Canned chicken
6Chicken Alfredo Kit30g488Canned chicken
7Salmon Patty Kit30g280Salmon
8Chicken and Dumplings Kit30g478Canned chicken
9Peanut Noodle Kit34g464Canned chicken
10Sloppy Joe Lentil Kit31g598Lentils

Estimates per serving. Values vary by brand and portion size.

DOLLAR TREE MEALS IN A BAG

1. Chicken Taco Rice Kit (28g Protein)

Canned chicken, rice, black beans and taco seasoning bagged together for a one-pan dinner.

Write the water amount on the bag so anyone can make it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans (5 oz) chicken
  • 1 cup dry rice
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese (add at dinner)

Instructions:

  1. Add rice, tomatoes and 2 cups water to a skillet.
  2. Simmer covered 18 minutes.
  3. Stir in chicken and beans.
  4. Top with cheese.

2. Tuna Pasta Bake Kit (34g Protein)

Pasta, tuna, cream of chicken soup and peas in one bag.

Keep the cheese in the fridge until dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 3 cans (5 oz) tuna
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can peas
  • 1 bag (6 oz) cheese

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta.
  2. Mix with tuna, soup and peas.
  3. Top with cheese.
  4. Bake at 375°F 20 minutes.

3. Chicken Noodle Soup Kit (32g Protein)

Canned chicken, broth, egg noodles and mixed vegetables for a 20-minute soup.

Add the chicken at the end.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
  • 8 cups broth
  • 8 oz egg noodles
  • 1 can mixed vegetables

Instructions:

  1. Boil broth and vegetables.
  2. Add noodles for 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in chicken.
  4. Season.

4. Bean and Cheese Burrito Kit (29g Protein)

Refried beans, rice, cheese and tortillas bagged for quick burritos.

Freeze extras for lunches.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans refried beans
  • 1/2 cup dry rice
  • 1 bag (6 oz) cheese
  • 8 flour tortillas

Instructions:

  1. Cook rice.
  2. Warm beans.
  3. Fill tortillas with beans, rice and cheese.
  4. Roll and toast.

5. Chili Kit (35g Protein)

Three cans of beans, tomatoes and chili seasoning in one bag.

Add canned chicken for more protein.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cans beans
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 2 cans (5 oz) chicken
  • 1 bag (6 oz) cheese
  • Chili seasoning packet

Instructions:

  1. Add beans, tomatoes, chicken and seasoning to a pot.
  2. Simmer 20 minutes.
  3. Top with cheese.
  4. Serve.

6. Chicken Alfredo Kit (30g Protein)

Pasta, jarred Alfredo and canned chicken bagged with frozen broccoli on the side.

Thin the sauce with pasta water.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 1 jar Alfredo
  • 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
  • 1 bag frozen broccoli

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta and broccoli.
  2. Warm Alfredo with chicken.
  3. Toss together.
  4. Serve.

7. Salmon Patty Kit (30g Protein)

Canned salmon, crackers and seasoning for crispy patties with instant mashed potatoes.

Chill the patties before frying.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cans (5 oz) salmon
  • 1/2 sleeve crackers
  • 2 eggs (from fridge)
  • 1 box instant mashed potatoes

Instructions:

  1. Mix salmon, crackers and eggs.
  2. Form patties and chill.
  3. Fry 3 minutes per side.
  4. Serve with mashed potatoes.

8. Chicken and Dumplings Kit (30g Protein)

Canned chicken, cream of chicken soup and canned biscuits for easy dumplings.

Cut the biscuits into quarters.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 4 cups broth
  • 1 can biscuits
  • 1 can mixed vegetables

Instructions:

  1. Simmer broth, soup and vegetables.
  2. Drop in biscuit pieces.
  3. Cover and cook 15 minutes.
  4. Stir in chicken.

9. Peanut Noodle Kit (34g Protein)

Spaghetti, peanut butter, soy sauce and canned chicken for a fast peanut noodle dinner.

Whisk the sauce with hot pasta water.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz spaghetti
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 bag frozen stir-fry vegetables

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta and vegetables.
  2. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce and hot water.
  3. Toss with chicken.
  4. Serve.

10. Sloppy Joe Lentil Kit (31g Protein)

Lentils, tomato sauce and seasoning bagged with buns.

Cook the lentils fully soft.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups dry lentils
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 8 buns
  • 1 bag (6 oz) cheese
  • Sloppy joe seasoning

Instructions:

  1. Simmer lentils 20 minutes and drain.
  2. Add sauce and seasoning.
  3. Simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Serve on buns with cheese.

Build five kits on the weekend and the busiest weeknights are already handled.

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