You Can Feed a Family of Four for Less Than $20 [Recipies]

Yesterday our morning show had a discussion about eating out in restaurants and a new study which indicated that it 'May' be cheaper to eat out, than to prepare your own meals at home. I think that studies tend to be skewed a certain way for whatever purpose they intend to promote.

Can you eat out in a restaurant cheaper than making the meal at home? In my opinion, maybe, sometimes. When you factor in gas to get to the dinner and tipping... I'm guessing the above theory gets a little thinner. I looked at some of the the data in the study and I understand what they are trying to convey. I just don't buy it everything in it.
In any event, I got to wondering what types of meals people could fix for a family of four that would cost 20-dollars or less. And would these meals cost less than going to a restaurant. So I did my own 'extensive' research, by asking that exact question on my Facebook Page. Here are the results. (not all of which make sense cause some of my FB friends don't row with both oars in the water...) bon appetit....

Fran G.......... Pasta and meatballs for less than $20
John M........................ Pasta---Italian sauce--half pound of ground meat--Loaf of italian bread ovened with butter and garlic salt----
Jessica D..............  Roaster chicken, potato salad and dessert from price chopper... 12.71 last night!
Nicole A..................  I just cooked BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes and corn for my family of 4 and it was about $7 and we have leftover chicken. Something similar in a restaurant maybe $28-30 for the family of four?
Dean G............... deer meat and its the best meat for you
Fran G..................  Macaroni and cheese !!!!
Kathy D LOL...................... Price Chopper on Monday or Wednesday!
Kathy D............................. There are a lot you can make for under 20 that would cost 2 or 3 times that at a restaurant
Kathy D......................... Spaghetti & meatballs or sausage, plus a huge salad
Mike M.................... ravioli, meatballs, sauce, texas toast,11.00 at aldi, around 30.00 at rest.
Gary J................... tuna fish caserole and toss salad
Mike M.................... love tuna casserol
Wally W..................... Pizza dough, sauce, sausage, cheese, salad, soda... 10 dollars.... Restaurant.... $ 30 plus?
Mike M............ dont forget the rolling rock wally
Rob V............. roll, used to be my favorite school lunch! Sliced American cheese melted on 1/2 a hamburger bun with prego
Katy M........................ mac and cheese!
Paula  E................. Sloppy joes on hard rolls. Mixed salad greens, and fresh fruit.
Michael P............................. Chicken Fajitas, Salsa, and Tortilla Chips!
Michelle P..........................Baked chicken with roasted veggies and baked potato - with baked apples for dessert I think it would go just over 20. No idea in a restaurant
Carol B................. (Cook all day)Dry beans in a crock pot with water. The last few hours, add a can of diced tomatoes with chillies. One cup of dry, long grain brown rice, cook. Taco shell, stuff with spinach leaves, bean mixture, and rice mixture. Add cheers if you want to. Cheap and plenty!!!!
Carol B................ Cheese, not cheers.
Teri B............................... taco pie
Jeffrey T............... Goulash,  Spanish Rice,meatloaf,fettuccine Alfredo, tuna noodle casserole are easy "go-to's" in our house
Donna N...............I liked the cheers Carol I was gonna add wine lol.
Christina S........................... Canned spaghetti and hamburger. It's not bad
James A.................................... Chili. Walmart has a "Darn Good Chili" mix for $4, a pound of ground beef is $3, 2 boxes of Cornbread mix is $1 and a couple eggs are maybe .40? Makes enough for 8 people or 4 people 2 meals. Same deal in a restaurant would easily be $6-$8 per person for one meal.
Jessica P.................................. We went to Denny's just 3 of us though and all ate dinner, and the 2 guys got dessert for 27. So.. I guess you could minus dessert and throw another 2-3 meal on and hit 20.00. They have a decent 2-4-6 menu
Jessica P................................. At home 2 pkgs crescent rolls from Aldi's, shredded cheese from Aldi's, and ground beef or turkey, Aldi's, salad mix, and diced tomatoes-- a very Delish taco meal I posted last week all under maybe 15-20
Michelle P..............................Did you post this question to give us all ideas on different dinners we could make? I am going to try some of these. Thanks
Jeff F .................     SOS..... r u old enough to know that one lol
Stevejozie.......................... I can do authentic Hungarian Beef Stroganoff (you've met my Mom) for 8 Bucks, including bread and veggie.