A Sainsbury's shopper has demonstrated that feeding a family of seven a hearty, home-cooked meal can cost as little as £3.75 per person. Shania King-Soyza spent just £26.28 on ingredients for a lasagne dinner, proving that even at a supermarket not known for budget pricing, savvy shopping and homemade preparation can yield significant savings.
Choosing the Right Meal
King-Soyza, who shares a home with nine people, typically shops at Asda, Iceland or Lidl for monthly groceries but often turns to Sainsbury's for evening meals due to its proximity. To keep costs down, she selected lasagne as the main dish – a meal that is both filling and affordable to prepare from scratch. The most expensive ingredient was minced beef, which she bought in three 500g packs at £5.19 each, totalling £15.57.
By opting for basic ingredients and making sauces from scratch, she avoided pricier pre-made options. Two tins of plum tomatoes at 47p each replaced a jar of pasta sauce, and a jar of mac and cheese sauce for 69p served as the white sauce. Dried lasagne sheets cost 75p, and the cheapest grated cheese was £2.80. The core ingredients came to £20.75.
Additional Flavour and Sides
To enhance the dish, King-Soyza purchased a pack of four garlic bulbs (87p), fresh basil (90p), three large brown onions (95p), and dried Italian herb seasoning (£1.25). For sides, she chose two bags of sweet leaf salad at 78p each and recommended Sainsbury's frozen garlic bread (two baguettes for 85p). Excluding a 40p carrier bag, the total was £26.28 – just £3.75 per person for seven servings.
Step-by-Step Lasagne Recipe
The recipe serves seven but can be scaled down. Ingredients include three 500g packs of beef mince (or two 750g packs), one packet of lasagne sheets, one jar of white sauce, two tins of plum tomatoes, cheese, fresh basil, dried Italian herbs, garlic, onions, salt, pepper, oil, and optional paprika and all-purpose seasoning. To prepare, fry chopped onions in oil, add mince and season, then stir in tomatoes, basil, and herbs. Layer mince, lasagne sheets, white sauce, and cheese in a baking dish, repeating until ingredients are used. Bake at 180°C for 25–30 minutes until golden. Serve with salad and garlic bread.
