How to Survive Off Dollar Store Food for 10 Days

Ever wonder what a week of meals from Dollar Tree really tastes like? I stocked my cart with everything from Jimmy Dean breakfast sticks and Hungry Jack hash browns to Gorton’s fish sticks and even frozen shrimp—then cooked, tasted, and rated them all.

Some finds, like canned peaches and Texas toast, were surprisingly delicious, while others (looking at you, Vienna chicken sausages) were barely edible.

Here’s my honest, dollar-by-dollar breakdown of the hits, misses, and unexpected standouts from a full Dollar Tree grocery haul.

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sticks — $1.25

• Microwavable sausage-in-bread stick

• Very dry, “bread substitute” texture; 2/10 taste

Brunswick Canned Chicken Salad w/ Crackers — $1.25

• Ready-to-eat kit

• Bland chicken salad; stale crackers; 4/10

Hot Sausage (link) — $1.25

• Used in multiple skillet meals

• “Good, not great” flavor; worked well with noodles/veggies

Stir-Fry Vegetables — $1.25

• Mixed veggies for skillet meals

• Generally fine; one mix had off-tasting carrot chunks

Egg Noodles — $1.25

• Base for sausage/veg skillet dishes

• Performed as expected

Hungry Jack Hash Brown Potatoes (box mix) — $1.25

• Hydrate in box, then fry

• Tasty but convenience-only edge vs. frozen; 6.5/10

Basic Black Tea — $1.25

• Everyday blend

• Smelled nice, slightly bitter; 6.4/10

Tony’s Meat Trio Frozen Pizza — $4.00

• Easy oven pizza

• Solid frozen option; 8/10 (watch budget impact)

Tortillas — $1.25

• Used for tacos/wraps; gas-stove char recommended

• Improves flavor/texture of simple fillings

Beans (canned) — $1.25

• Taco/“tostada” builds with sausage + veg

• Helped deliver a 9/10 meal (with salsa/hot sauce desired)

Gorton’s Fish Sticks — $5

• Oven-baked for fish tacos

• Good with pineapple + jalapeños; dish 9/10

Pineapple (canned) — $1.25

• Taco topping/snack

• Sweet, reliable; 9/10

Jalapeños (jarred) — $1.25

• Taco/wrap topper

• Bright heat; 9/10

Heinz Hot Sauce — $1.25

• Condiment for tacos/pizza/etc.

• Standout flavor; 10/10 keeper

Vienna Chicken Sausages (canned) — $0.89

• Breakfast test item

• “Old chicken in hot dog water”; 1/10

Toast’em Pop-Ups — $1.25

• Toaster pastries

• Reliable sweet breakfast; 8/10

Deli Ham “Selects” (lunch meat) — $3

• Wraps/griddled

• Tasted like standard lunch meat; 7.7/10 (wrap 8/10)

Hunt’s Pasta Sauce (Garlic & Herb / Traditional) — $1.25

• Below-average out of jar

• With breakfast sausage + garlic/herb spices became 5/10 (from 3/10)

Cavatappi / Thin Spaghetti — $1.25

• Various pasta bases

• Performed well in simple butter/garlic or veg builds

Texas Toast (frozen) — $1.25

• Side with pasta

• Crowd-pleaser; 9/10

Canned Peaches — $1.50

• Breakfast fruit

• Classic, tasty; 9/10

Teriyaki Tuna (pouch) — $1.25

• Tortilla snack

• Mostly tuna flavor, light teriyaki; 6/10

Mrs. T’s Pierogies — $3

• Pan-fried with sausage/veg

• Pierogies 8.5/10; dish 9/10 (hurt by bad carrots in mix)

Raw Shrimp (frozen, Indonesia; from $5 freezer case) — $5

• Boiled/peeled at home

• Overcooked/not great quality; 4/10

Arby’s Curly Fries (frozen) — $5

• New stock item

Cheese Singles (American) — $1.25

• Used on pizza

• Standard flavor; 6/10

Butter

• Later restocked essential

• Improves boxed/pan dishes notably

Jimmy Dean Sausage & Cheese English Muffin

• Frozen breakfast sandwich

• “Ran over by a car” vibes; 2.5/10

Mango Fruit Cups

• Sweet snack

• Nostalgic favorite; 8/10

XXL Chimichanga (bean & cheese, spicy)

• Microwavable

• Doughy, underfilled; 4/10

Tortilla Chips

• Side for dips

• Standard; paired with guac dip

“Guacamole” Dip (shelf-stable)

• Not guac-like; odd aftertaste

• 6/10