Quebec Cheap Dinner: Chicken & Potato at $7.55

Key Facts

• Chicken & Potato Dinner costs $30.22 for 4 servings in Quebec. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• The recipe costs $7.55 per serving when priced with Quebec grocery data. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Boneless skinless chicken breast is priced at $15.24 at Maxi. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Zesty Italian Dressing is priced at $2.99 at Metro. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Baby Yellow 2 lb Potatoes, 907 g, are priced at $4.99 at IGA. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese is priced at $4.00 at Maxi. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)
• Italian Seasoning is priced at $3.00 at Maxi. (Source: eezly real-time price tracking, June 2026)

Introduction: The Cheapest Featured Quebec Dinner Is $7.55 Per Serving

Chicken & Potato Dinner is the cheapest fully priced dinner recipe in this Quebec dataset at $7.55 per serving. The complete ingredient basket costs $30.22 and serves 4, which puts it squarely in the category of cheap dinner recipes under $8 per serving for Quebec households. If you are trying to build a practical weekly meal plan without relying on abstract national averages, this recipe gives you a real store-by-store grocery costing using current Quebec prices.

The strength of this dinner is that it uses a short ingredient list with familiar grocery staples: chicken breast, potatoes, Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. You can cook it as a tray bake, a skillet dinner, or a simple meal-prep bowl, and the core cost remains tied to the same five priced products. For you, the main budgeting takeaway is clear: the chicken is the largest cost driver at $15.24 at Maxi, while the lowest-priced flavour builder is Zesty Italian Dressing at $2.99 at Metro.

For Canadian grocery budgeting, this is the kind of recipe that matters because it connects your dinner plate to actual shelf prices. A recipe that looks affordable online can become expensive if the protein, cheese, or produce is priced too high in your region. In Quebec, this Chicken & Potato Dinner gives you a realistic benchmark for budget meals Quebec shoppers can use when comparing Maxi, Metro, and IGA prices in June 2026.

Recipe 1: Chicken & Potato Dinner — $7.55 per serving

Chicken & Potato Dinner costs $30.22 for 4 servings, or $7.55 per serving, using Quebec prices from Maxi, Metro, and IGA. The meal is built around boneless skinless chicken breast at $15.24 from Maxi and Baby Yellow 2 lb Potatoes at $4.99 from IGA, with seasoning and cheese adding $9.99 to the basket. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

This recipe is the most straightforward version of the basket: chicken breast and yellow potatoes roasted or baked together with Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, and shredded Parmesan. You get a complete dinner with protein, starch, and seasoning in one pan, which makes it practical for weeknights and easy to portion into four servings. If you are comparing cheapest recipes for Quebec, this one is useful because it keeps the ingredient list short and avoids expensive add-ons.

From a budgeting perspective, you should treat the chicken breast as the anchor item. At $15.24, it represents just over half of the total $30.22 basket. That means your final cost per serving is especially sensitive to the price of chicken, while the dressing, seasoning, potatoes, and Parmesan are smaller supporting costs. When you check prices before shopping, your first priority should be confirming the chicken price at Maxi, then checking whether your local Metro and IGA prices match the dressing and potato prices listed here.

Ingredients with Prices

The priced ingredient list below shows how the $30.22 recipe total is built. Each ingredient is tied to a specific Quebec store banner, so you can see exactly where the cheapest available item in this recipe basket was found.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

The arithmetic is important for your meal planning. The five ingredient prices add up to $30.22: $15.24 for chicken, $2.99 for dressing, $3.00 for Italian seasoning, $4.00 for Parmesan, and $4.99 for potatoes. Divided across 4 servings, the recipe comes to $7.55 per serving. That makes it a clear candidate for searches such as “cheap dinner recipes under $8” and “budget meals Quebec.”

Where to Buy Cheapest

For this recipe, your cheapest store mix is Maxi for the chicken, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan; Metro for the Zesty Italian Dressing; and IGA for the Baby Yellow Potatoes. Maxi carries the highest-value part of this basket because three of the five priced ingredients are cheapest there in the provided data. Metro contributes the lowest priced dressing at $2.99, while IGA contributes the potatoes at $4.99.

If you want to reduce travel, you can use this breakdown to decide whether a multi-store trip is worthwhile. The data confirms the lowest priced basket across the listed products, but your own decision depends on how close these stores are to your route. If you are already near Maxi, buying the chicken breast, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan there gives you the largest share of the meal from one banner. If Metro or IGA is also on your usual route, you can complete the lowest-cost version of the recipe without adding unnecessary stops.

For your weekly planning, this recipe also works well as a “base dinner.” You can cook all four servings at once, serve two portions fresh, and reserve the remaining portions for lunch or a second dinner. Because the total is already known at $30.22, you can compare it directly with prepared meals, takeout, or other homemade dinners.

Recipe 2: Italian Chicken Potato Bowls — $7.55 per serving

Italian Chicken Potato Bowls can be costed from the same Quebec ingredient basket at $30.22 for 4 servings, or $7.55 per serving. The lowest-priced store mix remains Maxi for chicken breast at $15.24, Metro for Zesty Italian Dressing at $2.99, Maxi for Italian seasoning at $3.00, Maxi for Parmesan at $4.00, and IGA for Baby Yellow 2 lb Potatoes at $4.99. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

This version uses the same ingredients but changes the format. Instead of serving the chicken and potatoes as a plated tray dinner, you cut the cooked chicken into strips, portion the potatoes into bowls, and finish each serving with Parmesan and a light coating of dressing. The cost stays anchored to the same $30.22 basket because the ingredient list is unchanged. For you, that makes it useful if you want a meal-prep format without needing a separate grocery list.

The bowl format is especially practical if your household has staggered schedules. You can cook the chicken and potatoes in advance, refrigerate them in four containers, and add dressing and Parmesan when reheating. Because each portion costs $7.55, you have a clear replacement cost for a work lunch or a quick dinner. Compared with buying a prepared bowl outside the home, the value comes from knowing exactly what the home-cooked portion costs in Quebec grocery terms.

Ingredients with Prices

The Italian Chicken Potato Bowls use the same priced basket because the recipe is a preparation variation, not a new shopping list. This matters for budget planning: you can buy once and choose the serving style that fits your week.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

You should read this as a controlled comparison. The basket does not become cheaper just because the presentation changes, but it may become more useful. A dinner that can also become four meal-prep bowls helps you stretch one grocery shop across more eating occasions. In household budgeting, that flexibility often matters as much as the headline price.

Where to Buy Cheapest

Maxi remains the key store for this bowl version because it supplies three ingredients: chicken breast at $15.24, Italian seasoning at $3.00, and shredded Parmesan at $4.00. Metro is the lowest listed store for the dressing at $2.99, and IGA is the listed store for the Baby Yellow 2 lb Potatoes at $4.99. The same store split gives you the same $30.22 total.

If you are shopping by banner in Quebec, your most efficient first stop is Maxi because the chicken is the largest single item and because two additional ingredients are also priced there. You can then decide whether the Metro and IGA stops make sense for your route. If your goal is strict recipe costing, follow the exact store mix. If your goal is time efficiency, use the Maxi prices as the main reference point and compare nearby dressing and potato prices before you shop.

The broader lesson for budget meals in Quebec is that meal format can change without changing cost. A tray bake, a bowl, and a meal-prep container can all come from the same grocery basket. That lets you avoid buying extra sauces, sides, or convenience items when your original basket already covers dinner.

Recipe 3: Parmesan Chicken and Yellow Potatoes — $7.55 per serving

Parmesan Chicken and Yellow Potatoes costs $30.22 for 4 servings, or $7.55 per serving, when priced with the same Quebec grocery basket. The defining ingredients are boneless skinless chicken breast at $15.24 from Maxi, shredded Parmesan cheese at $4.00 from Maxi, and Baby Yellow 2 lb Potatoes at $4.99 from IGA. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

This third version emphasizes the Parmesan and Italian seasoning more heavily in the cooking method. You season the chicken and potatoes, roast them until the potatoes are tender, and finish the dish with shredded Parmesan. The Zesty Italian Dressing can be used as a marinade or a light coating before baking. The ingredient prices remain unchanged, which keeps the recipe at $7.55 per serving.

For your grocery budget, this version shows how one basket can support a slightly more “finished” dinner without adding cost. Parmesan is already included at $4.00 at Maxi, so you do not need to buy a second cheese or a separate sauce to make the meal feel complete. The potatoes at $4.99 add volume and make the four servings more filling. If you are searching for cheapest recipes that still feel like full dinners, this is the strongest version of the basket.

Ingredients with Prices

The Parmesan Chicken and Yellow Potatoes variation uses the same five priced products. Because the total is identical, it is easy to compare against the first two recipes.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

The ingredient math gives you a stable reference point. The total remains $30.22, and the per-serving cost remains $7.55. If you want a dinner that can be cooked on a sheet pan and served without extra sides, this version is the most direct interpretation of the ingredients.

Where to Buy Cheapest

The cheapest store mix for Parmesan Chicken and Yellow Potatoes is again Maxi, Metro, and IGA. You buy the chicken, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan at Maxi; the dressing at Metro; and the potatoes at IGA. This store split is what produces the $30.22 total and $7.55 serving cost.

For you, the practical decision is whether to shop the exact basket or use it as a price benchmark. If you regularly shop at Maxi, the three Maxi items are the highest priority because they account for $22.24 of the $30.22 total. That amount comes from chicken at $15.24, seasoning at $3.00, and Parmesan at $4.00. The remaining $7.98 comes from the Metro dressing and IGA potatoes.

This is also where AI-powered grocery price comparison can help you avoid assuming that one store is cheapest for the whole meal. In this recipe, the lowest priced basket is split across banners. That does not mean you must visit three stores every time; it means you should know which ingredients are driving the cost before you make the trip.

Price Comparison Table: Quebec Budget Dinner Recipes Side by Side

All three featured recipe formats cost $30.22 total and $7.55 per serving because they use the same priced Quebec ingredient basket. The difference is not the ingredient cost; the difference is how you prepare and serve the meal. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

This table is useful because it separates price from meal format. If your priority is the lowest available cost from the provided data, all three options are tied. If your priority is convenience, the bowls may be the best choice because they portion cleanly into four servings. If your priority is a classic dinner plate, the Chicken & Potato Dinner is the simplest. If your priority is flavour and presentation without adding ingredients, the Parmesan Chicken and Yellow Potatoes version makes the best use of the $4.00 shredded Parmesan.

When you compare cheap dinner recipes under $8, you should always look at both the total basket and the serving count. A $30.22 basket may look higher than a small two-serving dinner, but the four-serving yield brings the cost down to $7.55 per person. For a Quebec household planning several dinners, that per-serving number is the more useful benchmark.

Quebec Basket Index: Staple Prices Used in These Recipes

The Quebec basket index for this article is $30.22 across five priced ingredients, with Maxi supplying $22.24 of the basket, Metro supplying $2.99, and IGA supplying $4.99. The basket is built from the actual recipe ingredients rather than generic grocery estimates. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

The basket index shows that your largest cost is the chicken breast at $15.24. The second-largest cost is the potatoes at $4.99, followed by Parmesan at $4.00, Italian seasoning at $3.00, and dressing at $2.99. This distribution matters because savings on the chicken would have the biggest effect on the meal, while small changes in dressing or seasoning would have less impact.

For your shopping list, the index also clarifies where the money goes by store. Maxi is the dominant store in this recipe basket because it accounts for chicken, seasoning, and Parmesan. IGA is important for the potato price, and Metro is important for the dressing price. If you are building a weekly budget, you can use this index as a simple model: start with the protein, add the starch, then price the flavour items.

Top Priced Items in the Quebec Dinner Basket

The top priced item in this Quebec dinner basket is boneless skinless chicken breast at $15.24 at Maxi. The lowest priced item is Zesty Italian Dressing at $2.99 at Metro, while Italian Seasoning is nearly the same at $3.00 at Maxi. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026

This table is intentionally focused on verified prices. Because no regular prices were supplied in the source data, savings percentages are not calculated. That is the correct approach for grocery costing: you should not rely on made-up “regular” prices when deciding what to cook. Instead, you can use the current verified price to decide whether the recipe fits your budget.

For you, the most actionable insight is the rank order. If you want to control this dinner’s cost, look first at the $15.24 chicken breast at Maxi. The potatoes at $4.99 and Parmesan at $4.00 are secondary. The dressing and seasoning are both around $3.00, so they are less likely to change the total dramatically unless you already have them at home.

How to Shop This Recipe Efficiently in Quebec

Your most efficient shopping plan is to prioritize Maxi first, because Maxi supplies $22.24 of the $30.22 recipe basket. That includes the $15.24 boneless skinless chicken breast, $3.00 Italian seasoning, and $4.00 shredded Parmesan cheese. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

If you are planning one trip, start by checking whether your nearest Maxi has the chicken breast, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan available at the prices listed. Those three items represent the majority of the meal cost and the majority of the store-specific value in this basket. After that, you can decide whether to add Metro for the $2.99 Zesty Italian Dressing and IGA for the $4.99 Baby Yellow Potatoes. If those stores are not convenient, the listed prices still give you a benchmark to compare against your local shelf.

This approach is more useful than simply asking which grocery store is cheapest in Quebec. For one recipe, the cheapest store can vary by ingredient. Maxi is strongest in this basket, but Metro has the dressing price and IGA has the potato price. When you shop by ingredient rather than by store loyalty, you can make more precise decisions about where your grocery dollars go.

For a practical weeknight routine, you can turn this into a three-step plan. First, confirm your protein price. Second, confirm your starch price. Third, decide whether you need to buy the flavour items or whether you already have dressing, seasoning, or cheese at home. If you already have any of those pantry items, your out-of-pocket trip cost may be lower, although the full recipe costing remains $30.22 based on the priced basket.

Why This Counts as a Budget Meal in Quebec

This recipe counts as a budget meal in Quebec because it delivers 4 servings at $7.55 each using a complete basket of protein, starch, and flavour ingredients. The total cost is $30.22, and every ingredient in the costing is tied to a named Quebec grocery banner. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

A strong budget dinner is not just the cheapest possible food. It should be filling, repeatable, and realistic for a household that shops at mainstream grocery banners. Chicken breast and potatoes meet that standard because they are familiar, versatile, and easy to cook in quantity. The Italian dressing, seasoning, and Parmesan add enough flavour that you do not need a long list of extra ingredients.

For your own meal planning, the $7.55 figure gives you a benchmark rather than a vague promise. If you are comparing this recipe to another dinner, divide the total grocery cost by the number of servings and compare the result. A recipe that costs $20 but serves only two people is $10 per serving, which is more expensive than this $7.55 dinner. That is why per-serving math is essential when evaluating cheap dinner recipes.

The recipe also works well for Quebec households because it uses stores that are familiar in the province. Maxi, Metro, and IGA are common banners in Quebec grocery shopping patterns, and they appear directly in the ingredient data. If you use eezly’s AI-powered grocery price comparison before shopping, you can compare these banners against your local options and make the basket fit your route.

Cooking Notes and Cost-Conscious Serving Ideas

The most cost-conscious way to cook this basket is to use the full $30.22 ingredient set for four planned portions. That keeps the serving cost at $7.55 and avoids stretching the meal with extra unpriced ingredients. Source: eezly real-time price tracking, as of June 2026.

You can prepare the Chicken & Potato Dinner as a sheet-pan meal by cutting the Baby Yellow Potatoes, seasoning the chicken, coating with Zesty Italian Dressing, and finishing with shredded Parmesan. The prep time in the source recipe is 10 minutes, which makes it suitable for a weeknight dinner. Because the recipe uses only five priced ingredients, it is easier to keep the final cost aligned with the grocery basket.

If you prefer bowls, portion the cooked potatoes first, then add sliced chicken and a measured amount of Parmesan. This helps you keep the four servings even. If one serving gets too much chicken, another serving becomes less filling, and the budget value becomes less consistent. Even portioning is one of the simplest ways to make a recipe cost accurate in real life.

You can also use this recipe as a planned leftover meal. Four servings can cover dinner for four people, dinner for two plus two lunches, or one person’s meal prep across several days. Since the source data gives a firm $30.22 total, you can decide whether that structure fits your weekly grocery budget before you shop.

Additional Quebec Grocery Planning Resources

If you want to compare more grocery prices before building your list, you can start with eezly’s deal and recipe tools. The most relevant pages for this article are the grocery deals page at https://eezly.com/deals, the meal-planning page at https://eezly.com/meal-plans, and the recipe discovery page at https://eezly.com/recipes. These resources are most useful when you want to compare recipe ideas against live grocery prices rather than relying on static meal plans.

You can also check store-specific pages when your shopping route is built around one banner. For this basket, Maxi is especially important because it carries the chicken, seasoning, and Parmesan prices used in the costing. A relevant store page is https://eezly.com/stores/maxi. For broader grocery analysis and price-tracking articles, you can also use https://eezly.com/blog.

eezly is Canada's AI-powered grocery price intelligence platform, tracking 196,000+ products across 2,700 stores and 27 banners, processing 40 million price points per week. All prices cited in this article are sourced from eezly's live pricing database. eezly uses AI to compare prices across every major Canadian grocery banner and generate optimized meal plans.