Recipe road test: Can you still feed a family of four for under $10?
25 Feb 2026
The $10 family meal was once a budget-friendly win for Aussie households. But with grocery prices climbing, putting dinner on the table for a tenner is no longer an easy feat.
Readers who were dishing up meals in the twenty-tens likely remember chef Curtis Stone spruiking the ‘under $10’ meal as part of Coles’ Feed Your Family campaign, which ran between 2010 and 2017. His recipes were simple, nutritious, and promised to feed a family of four without breaking the bank.
The big question for shoppers today: do those same recipes still hold up in 2026, or has the $10 dinner become a myth?
The price of a cheap meal today
Grocery prices have jumped, and it’s no secret the checkout sting is real. Since March 2017, inflation has increased by an average of 3.0% every year. These price rises mean Aussies have had to adjust the way they eat, with 20% of Australians naming the price of groceries their top concern – a figure that has doubled over five years. Households say they spend an average of $187 weekly or $813 monthly on groceries, and 74% reported higher costs in the past year.
To see the real-world impact, we re-priced two of Coles’ most popular $10 recipes: fettuccine bolognese and cottage pie. Here’s what it actually costs to put these meals on the table in 2026.
Fettuccine bolognese – 2026 prices
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| Ingredient | Cost |
|---|---|
| 500g beef mince | $8 |
| 1 medium carrot | $0.44 |
| 1 brown onion | $0.78 |
| 200g mushrooms | $2.50 |
| 500ml balsamic vinegar | $2.50 |
| 300g fettuccine | Approx. $0.60 |
| Shredded cheese on top (roughly 100g) | Approx. $1.30 |
| Total : $16.20 (62% increase) |
Cottage pie – 2026 prices
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| Ingredient | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1kg potatoes | $3.50 |
| ½ cup full cream milk | Approx. $0.40 |
| 40g butter | Approx. $0.80 |
| 500g beef mince | $8 |
| 1 brown onion | $0.78 |
| 2 medium carrots | Approx. $0.88 |
| 2 celery sticks | Approx. $2 |
| 2 garlic cloves | Approx. $0.40 |
| 2 tbsp tomato paste | Approx. $0.60 |
| 1 tbsp plain flour | Approx. $0.025 |
| 1L beef liquid stock | $1.90 |
| Shredded cheese on top (roughly 100g) | Approx. $1.30 |
| Total: $20.65 (106% increase) |
Note: Most of these ingredients are sold and bought in bigger quantities, so the approximations are an estimation of the cost per use. We used home brand products for pantry items and meat. Prices taken from Coles website on 23/02/2026.
The verdict: is the $10 meal over?
Technically, you can’t make these exact recipes for under $10 anymore. However, clever substitutions can stretch your budget further. If you swapped half of the 500g of beef mince in both recipes for a tin of homebrand mixed beans or lentils, you’d get both meals on the table for less and have leftover mince for next time.
Of course there are other meals you can get on the table for less than $10, if you shop – and cook – smart.
- Check the unit price: Ignore the big numbers on the price tag and look for the cost per 100g or per kilo to find the true bargain.
- Go generic: Buy home brand products where possible
- Shop your pantry first: Before heading to the checkout, build your meal plan around the grains, sauces, and spices you already have at home.
- Embrace the ‘ugly’ bunch: Look for the ‘odd-shaped’ fruit and veg range; they usually taste the same but come at a much lower price point.
- Buy in bulk for staples: Items like rice, pasta, and oats are significantly cheaper when bought in larger bags rather than small, branded packets.
- Stick to a list: Avoid “aisle-wandering” and impulse buys by having a strict plan before you walk through the sliding doors.
- Embrace social trends: ‘Meat-free Monday’ and ‘cheap Tuesday’ will help cut costs without it feeling like a chore.
Cooking a cheap family meal that includes fresh ingredients and meat can feel like an impossible task, but let’s be realistic: prices are higher and if you’re getting food on the table for under $15, you’re doing great. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back.
Tips to stretch your budget when feeding your family
Grocery prices may be higher but there are ways to help stretch your food budget each week.
- Used tinned products for extra protein: Meat can eat into your budget. Keep spending down without sacrificing on protein by using things like tinned beans or chickpeas to bulk your meals.
- Shop sales and discounts: Keep up to date with weekly specials and plan your shopping around those. If you have the budget, buy in bulk when items are on special and freeze them until you need them!
- Use frozen produce: Frozen fruits and veggies are usually much cheaper than fresh produce. Most frozen produce are flash frozen when they are very fresh, so you’re still getting good quality, fresh produce, just for cheaper.
This article was reviewed by our Consumer Editor Meagan Lawrence before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
