20 Dollar Tree Meals With Real Protein (Cheap Family Dinners)

These 20 Dollar Tree meals use canned chicken, tuna, salmon, beans, eggs and cheese to get 22 to 43 grams of protein per serving, from a Canned Chicken Enchilada Bake to Tuna Melt Quesadillas and Bean and Cheese Burritos.

Dollar Tree is better for dinner than most people think. The canned meat aisle, the beans, pasta, rice, tortillas and the cheese in the cooler cover almost everything you need.

If your budget stretches a little further, our Aldi high protein meals under $5 per serving use the same idea with fresh meat.

Each recipe feeds 4 and leans on a real protein source, so these aren’t just pasta and sauce. For more canned chicken ideas, see our meals with canned chicken. Here are the recipes.

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• Easy Canned Tuna Recipes

DOLLAR TREE MEALS WITH PROTEIN

🍗 Canned Chicken Dinners

Canned chicken is one of the best protein buys at Dollar Tree.

1. Canned Chicken Enchilada Bake (43g Protein)

Tortillas layered with canned chicken, black beans, enchilada sauce and cheese. Every ingredient is on the Dollar Tree shelf.

Drain the chicken well and break it up with a fork before mixing.

Ingredients:

• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken breast, drained
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheddar

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix chicken, beans and half the sauce.
3. Layer tortillas, filling and cheese in a baking dish and top with the rest of the sauce and cheese.
4. Bake 20 minutes.

2. Canned Chicken Fried Rice (32g Protein)

Rice, canned chicken, eggs and frozen vegetables stir-fried with soy sauce.

Day-old rice works best, so cook it the night before if you can.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups dry rice, cooked and cooled
• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken, drained
• 4 eggs
• 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
• 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oil

Instructions:

1. Scramble the eggs in a little oil and set aside.
2. Cook the vegetables and chicken 3 minutes.
3. Add rice and soy sauce and stir-fry 5 minutes.
4. Fold in the eggs.

3. Canned Chicken Alfredo (30g Protein)

Pasta tossed with jarred Alfredo sauce, canned chicken and frozen broccoli.

Thin the sauce with pasta water so it coats everything.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz pasta
• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken, drained
• 1 jar Alfredo sauce
• 1 bag frozen broccoli
• Garlic powder, pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, adding the broccoli for the last 3 minutes.
2. Warm the Alfredo with the chicken.
3. Toss with pasta and a splash of pasta water.
4. Season and serve.

4. Chicken Taco Rice Skillet (37g Protein)

Canned chicken, rice, beans and corn simmered with taco seasoning and topped with cheese.

Use broth or water with bouillon for more flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry rice
• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken, drained
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans
• 1 can corn
• 1/2 bag (3 oz) shredded cheese
• 1 can diced tomatoes, taco seasoning

Instructions:

1. Add rice, tomatoes, taco seasoning and 2 cups water to a skillet.
2. Cover and simmer 18 minutes.
3. Stir in chicken, beans and corn.
4. Top with cheese and cover until melted.

5. Buffalo Chicken Pasta (39g Protein)

Pasta in a creamy buffalo sauce with canned chicken and cheese.

Start with a little hot sauce and add more to taste.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz pasta
• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/3 cup hot sauce
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta.
2. Warm the soup with hot sauce and half the cheese.
3. Stir in chicken and pasta.
4. Top with the rest of the cheese.

6. Refried Bean Tostadas (36g Protein)

Crispy tortillas topped with refried beans, canned chicken, cheese and salsa.

Bake the tortillas until crisp so they hold the toppings.

Ingredients:

• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 can refried beans
• 2 cans (5 oz) chicken
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese
• 1 cup salsa

Instructions:

1. Bake the tortillas at 400°F for 5 minutes per side.
2. Spread with beans.
3. Top with chicken and cheese and bake 5 minutes.
4. Add salsa.

🐟 Tuna and Salmon Dinners

Canned fish adds a lot of protein for very little money.

7. Tuna Noodle Casserole (34g Protein)

Pasta, tuna, peas and cream of chicken soup baked under cheese and crushed crackers.

Undercook the pasta by 2 minutes so it doesn’t get soft in the oven.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz pasta
• 3 cans (5 oz) tuna, drained
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can peas, drained
• 1/2 bag (3 oz) shredded cheddar

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F and cook the pasta.
2. Mix pasta, tuna, soup, peas and half the cheese with 1/2 cup water.
3. Top with the rest of the cheese and crushed crackers.
4. Bake 20 minutes.

8. Canned Salmon Patties (29g Protein)

Crispy salmon patties made with canned salmon, eggs and crushed crackers.

Chill the patties for 15 minutes before frying so they hold together.

Ingredients:

• 4 cans (5 oz) salmon, drained
• 2 eggs
• 1 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 tbsp oil
• Onion powder, lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Mix salmon, eggs, crackers and seasoning.
2. Form 8 patties and chill.
3. Fry 3 to 4 minutes per side.
4. Serve with rice or a salad.

9. Tuna Melt Quesadillas (42g Protein)

Tuna salad and melted cheese in crispy tortillas. A fast lunch or dinner.

Mix the tuna with a little mustard so it isn’t heavy.

Ingredients:

• 4 cans (5 oz) tuna, drained
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese
• 8 flour tortillas
• 2 tbsp mayo, mustard

Instructions:

1. Mix tuna, mayo and mustard.
2. Spread on 4 tortillas, top with cheese and the other tortillas.
3. Cook 3 minutes per side.
4. Cut into wedges.

10. Tuna Mac and Cheese (38g Protein)

Stovetop mac and cheese with tuna and peas stirred in.

Use a sharp cheese so a little goes a long way.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz elbow pasta
• 3 cans (5 oz) tuna
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheddar
• 1 can peas
• 1/2 cup milk, 1 tbsp butter

Instructions:

1. Cook and drain the pasta.
2. Stir in butter, milk and cheese until melted.
3. Fold in tuna and peas.
4. Season with pepper.

🌯 Bean, Egg and Cheese Dinners

Beans, eggs and cheese stretch any meal and keep it filling.

11. Black Bean and Cheese Quesadillas (28g Protein)

Mashed black beans, cheese and salsa in crispy tortillas. A meatless dinner that still fills you up.

Mash half the beans so the filling holds together.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans (15 oz) black beans, drained
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 cup salsa

Instructions:

1. Mash half the beans and mix with the rest and some salsa.
2. Spread on 4 tortillas, add cheese and top with the other 4.
3. Cook in a dry skillet 3 minutes per side.
4. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa.

12. Lentil Sloppy Joes (31g Protein)

Lentils simmered in a tangy tomato sauce and piled on buns. They taste a lot like the classic.

Cook the lentils until soft but not mushy.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups dry lentils
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 8 hamburger buns
• 1/2 bag (3 oz) shredded cheese
• Ketchup, mustard, onion powder

Instructions:

1. Simmer lentils in water 20 minutes and drain.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard and seasoning.
3. Simmer 10 minutes.
4. Serve on buns with cheese.

13. Bean and Cheese Burritos (29g Protein)

Refried beans, rice and cheese rolled up and toasted. They freeze well too.

Warm the tortillas first so they roll without tearing.

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

1. Warm the beans with a little salsa.
2. Fill each tortilla with beans, rice and cheese.
3. Roll up tightly.
4. Toast seam-side down in a skillet until golden.

14. Peanut Butter Ramen with Eggs (23g Protein)

Instant ramen noodles in a quick peanut sauce, topped with soft eggs.

Toss the seasoning packets and use soy sauce instead, which keeps the salt down.

Ingredients:

• 4 packs ramen noodles
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 8 eggs
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 bag frozen stir-fry vegetables

Instructions:

1. Boil the eggs 7 minutes and peel.
2. Cook the noodles and vegetables together.
3. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce and hot water.
4. Toss the noodles with sauce and top with halved eggs.

15. Three Bean Chili (22g Protein)

Black, pinto and kidney beans in a spiced tomato chili. Cheap, filling and easy to freeze.

Mash a few beans against the pot to thicken it.

Ingredients:

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans
• 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1/2 bag (3 oz) shredded cheese
• Chili powder, cumin, onion powder

Instructions:

1. Add beans, tomatoes and spices to a pot.
2. Simmer 20 minutes.
3. Mash a few beans to thicken.
4. Top with cheese.

16. Egg and Bean Breakfast Burritos (38g Protein)

Scrambled eggs, refried beans and cheese wrapped in tortillas. Good for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Make a batch and freeze them wrapped in foil.

Ingredients:

• 10 eggs
• 1 can refried beans
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup salsa

Instructions:

1. Scramble the eggs.
2. Warm the beans.
3. Fill tortillas with beans, eggs, cheese and salsa.
4. Roll up and toast in a skillet.

🍲 Soups and Casseroles

One-pot and one-dish meals that feed a family of four.

17. Canned Chicken Noodle Soup (32g Protein)

Chicken noodle soup made with canned chicken, broth and egg noodles in 20 minutes.

Add the chicken at the end so it doesn’t fall apart.

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

1. Bring broth and vegetables to a boil.
2. Add noodles and cook 7 minutes.
3. Stir in the chicken.
4. Season and serve.

18. Pasta e Fagioli with White Beans (25g Protein)

A thick Italian bean and pasta soup with tomatoes and parmesan.

Stir in a handful of shredded cheese at the end for more protein.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans (15 oz) white beans
• 6 oz small pasta
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• 4 cups broth
• 1/2 bag (3 oz) shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Simmer beans, sauce and broth 10 minutes.
2. Add pasta and cook until tender.
3. Stir in half the cheese.
4. Top with the rest.

19. Canned Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits (29g Protein)

Creamy chicken and vegetable filling baked under canned biscuits.

Make sure the filling is hot before adding the biscuits so the bottoms cook.

Ingredients:

• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cans mixed vegetables
• 1 can (8 count) biscuits

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Heat chicken, soup and vegetables in an oven-safe skillet.
3. Arrange biscuits on top.
4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes until golden.

20. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole (36g Protein)

Rice, canned chicken and cream of chicken soup baked with cheese and broccoli.

Use instant rice to cut the bake time.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry rice
• 3 cans (5 oz) chicken
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 bag frozen broccoli
• 1 bag (6 oz) shredded cheese

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix rice, soup, 2 cups water, chicken and broccoli in a dish.
3. Cover and bake 45 minutes.
4. Top with cheese and bake 10 minutes more.

Stock up on canned chicken, tuna and beans and you can pull together a filling Dollar Tree dinner on any night of the week.