Cardiff Mum's £25 Meal Plan: Five Days of Family Dinners on a Budget
With food prices steadily rising across the UK, feeding a family without overspending has become a significant challenge for many households. Ashleigh Mogford, popularly known online as Cardiff Mum, understands this struggle intimately. Her new book, Cardiff.Mum’s 5 Meals For £25, offers a practical solution with budget-friendly recipes designed to stretch everyday ingredients into satisfying meals.
The book is structured around sets of five meal plans, each costing approximately £25 to feed a family of four. This approach ensures ingredients are shared across recipes, maximising value and minimising waste. What sets this collection apart is its focus on real-life cooking—no fussy or hard-to-find items, with plenty of slow-cooker, one-pot, and air-fryer options included.
Five Delicious and Affordable Recipes
Here are the five meals from the plan, each crafted to be easy, delicious, and cost-effective.
MEAL 1: Butter Chicken Naan Burgers
This fusion dish combines the flavours of butter chicken with the convenience of a burger. Using naan bread as buns, it features spiced chicken cutlets topped with a garlic mayonnaise and a fresh onion-tomato salad. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a quick family favourite.
MEAL 2: Creamy Chorizo Tortellini Soup
A hearty soup that makes a packet of fresh tortellini feed four hungry people. Chorizo adds a smoky depth, while cream and spinach create a rich, comforting bowl. Topped with Grana Padano cheese and chilli flakes, it’s perfect for a cosy evening meal.
MEAL 3: Garlic Chicken Alfredo Lasagne
A simplified take on lasagne, this version uses chicken mince and a creamy Alfredo sauce for a lighter twist. With layers of pasta, cheese, and a garlic-infused filling, it bakes to perfection in about an hour, offering a crowd-pleasing dinner option.
MEAL 4: Loaded Cheeseburger Bowls
All the fun of a cheeseburger in a deconstructed salad bowl. It includes seasoned beef mince, crispy potato chips, caramelised onions, and fresh veggies, all drizzled with a tangy burger sauce. A creative way to enjoy burger flavours without the bun.
MEAL 5: Sausage & Mash Pie
Comfort food at its best, this pie features sausages in a rich gravy with peas, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and melted cheese. Baked until golden, it’s an ideal Friday night treat that feels indulgent yet remains affordable.
Practical Tips and Shopping List
The meal plan emphasises using common store cupboard items like spices, oils, and condiments, alongside fresh ingredients. A full shopping list is provided, ensuring you can buy everything needed for the week without extra trips to the supermarket. This structured approach helps families stick to their budget while enjoying varied and nutritious meals.
Ashleigh Mogford’s book is currently available at a discounted price, making it an excellent resource for anyone looking to save money on groceries. By focusing on simple, shared ingredients, her recipes prove that eating well on a budget is entirely achievable for busy families.
