Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls ($10 Family Dinner Idea) and more...

There's nothing better than a big pot of homemade soup and a pan of freshly baked rolls for dinner! We've had some unseasonably cool days here in the Carolinas (mixed in with some unseasonably hot days, haha), and today was the perfect day for Cheesy ... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  View Online Here's what's new: Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls ($10 Family Dinner Idea) Hire a Registered Dietitian for Zero Out of Pocket + My Honest Review of Nourish Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls ($10 Family Dinner Idea) There’s nothing better than a big pot of homemade soup and a pan of freshly baked rolls for dinner! We’ve had some unseasonably cool days here in the Carolinas (mixed in with some unseasonably hot days, haha), and today was the perfect day for Cheesy Potato Soup. As a bonus, my 17-yr old is home for spring break, and his favorite dinner is soup. Any kind of soup. We had some leftover ham in the freezer from discounted ham I bought after Thanksgiving, so I substituted diced ham for the ground beef the recipe calls for. Every single person in our family loves this soup! It’s not as rich as traditional potato soup, which makes it filling but not heavy. I served the Cheesy Potato Soup with Crystal’s super easy Bread Machine Dinner Rolls, but feel free to throw in a different side. The soup also pairs well with a tossed salad or a fruit salad or, if you’re short on a time, just serve it with crackers! This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals. Cheesy Potato Soup and Dinner Rolls Menu: Cheesy Potato Soup Bread Machine Dinner Rolls Ingredients for Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup: 2 cups diced ham (used in place of 1-lb ground beef) (Aldi) — $1.49 1 onion, peeled and diced (Aldi — $2.09 for 2 lbs) — $0.30 2 carrots, peeled and diced (Aldi – $0.99 for 2lbs) — $0.35 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced (Aldi – $1.75 for 3-ct pkg) — $0.18 8 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (Aldi – $3.49 for 10-lbs) — $1.40 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning (substituted for basil and parsley) (Aldi) — $0.20 4 cups chicken broth (I used 4 chicken bouillon cubes and 4 cups water) (Aldi) — $0.30 2 cups milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon) — $0.38 1/3 cup flour (Harris Teeter – $1.99 for 5-lbs) – $0.04 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (Aldi — $3.29 for 4 cups) — $0.82 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (Aldi — $2.99 for 16-oz) — $0.37 Salt and pepper to taste, if needed (using ham adds extra salt, so I didn’t need any) Total: $6.13 (makes 6 servings) Ingredients for Bread Machine Dinner Rolls: 1 cup warm milk (Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon) — $0.19 1/2 cup butter, softened (Aldi – $3.49 for 4 sticks) — $0.87 1/4 cup sugar (Aldi – $2.86 for 9 1/2 cups) — $0.08 2 eggs (Aldi – $1.66 for 12) — $0.28 1 teaspoon salt 4 cups flour (Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups) — $0.40 1 Tablespoon instant (or rapid-rise) yeast (Sam’s Club – 2lbs for $6.88) — $0.08 Total: $1.90 (makes 20 rolls) Grand Total for Dinner: $8.03 How to Make Easy Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls: 1. Make the rolls in the bread machine, following the instructions here (or on the recipe card below). 2. While the dough cycle is running, prep all of the vegetables for the soup. Peel and dice the onion and garlic. Peel and cut the carrots into chunks. Peel and cube the potatoes. 3. Follow the instructions for making Cheesy Potato Soup (on the recipe card below). Since I substituted ham for the ground beef, I added a drizzle of olive oil while frying the vegetables (because I didn’t have fat in the pan from frying the ground beef). 4. Follow both recipes as written otherwise, and you’ll have an amazing homemade family dinner for less than $10! 5. Enjoy the finished Cheesy Potato Soup with the homemade rolls fresh out of the oven! We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc. Print Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup with Bread Machine Rolls There’s nothing better than a big pot of homemade soup and a pan of freshly baked rolls for dinner! This soup is not as rich as traditional potato soup, which makes it filling but not heavy. It also pairs well with a tossed salad or a fruit salad or, if you’re short on a time, just serve it with crackers! Course Bread, Main Course, Soup Cuisine American Keyword bread machine, brunch, easy dinner, family favorite, homemade, potatoes, rolls, soup, weeknight dinner Prep Time 30 minutes minutes Cook Time 45 minutes minutes Bread Machine Run Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes Servings 8 Calories 743kcal Author Brigette Cost $8.03 Ingredients Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup Ingredients: 2 cups diced ham used in place of 1-lb ground beef (Aldi) — $1.49 1 onion peeled and diced (Aldi — $2.09 for 2 lbs) — $0.30 2 carrots peeled and diced (Aldi – $0.99 for 2lbs) — $0.35 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced (Aldi – $1.75 for 3-ct pkg) — $0.18 8 medium potatoes peeled and cubed (Aldi – $3.49 for 10-lbs) — $1.40 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning substituted for basil and parsley (Aldi) — $0.20 4 cups chicken broth I used 4 chicken bouillon cubes and 4 cups water (Aldi) — $0.30 2 cups milk Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon — $0.38 1/3 cup flour Harris Teeter – $1.99 for 5-lbs – $0.04 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese Aldi — $3.29 for 4 cups — $0.82 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Aldi — $2.99 for 16-oz — $0.37 Salt and pepper to taste if needed (using ham adds extra salt, so I didn’t need any) Bread Machine Dinner Rolls Ingredients: 1 cup warm milk Aldi – $3.05 for 1 gallon — $0.19 1/2 cup butter softened (Aldi – $3.49 for 4 sticks) — $0.87 1/4 cup sugar Aldi – $2.86 for 9 1/2 cups — $0.08 2 eggs Aldi – $1.66 for 12 — $0.28 1 teaspoon salt 4 cups flour Harris Teeter – $1.97 for 19 cups — $0.40 1 Tablespoon instant or rapid-rise yeast (Sam’s Club – 2lbs for $6.88) — $0.08 Instructions Add dinner roll ingredients to your bread machine in the order listed. Run on dough cycle. While the dough cycle is running, prep all of the vegetables for the soup. Peel and dice the onion and garlic. Peel and cut the carrots into chunks. Peel and cube the potatoes. When the dough is complete, divide the dough into 20-24 equal portions and shape each into balls. Place dough balls on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 375º. In a medium-sized pot, combine a drizzle of olive oil with the onion, carrot, and garlic. Cook and stir until vegetables are softened. Once the vegetables soften, add the potatoes, Italian seasoning, and broth, and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce the soup’s heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. While the soup simmers, bake the risen rolls in preheated oven for 13-16 minutes, or until golden brown. Combine milk and flour for the soup until smooth (this only takes a few seconds in my Vita-Mix). Gradually pour the mixture into the soup, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until the soup is thickened and starting to boil. Add cheeses and continue cooking until cheese is melted (another minute or so). As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush them with melted butter. Add salt and pepper to the soup to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with additional cheese if desired. Serve alongside warm rolls, fresh out of the oven! Notes We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc. Nutrition Calories: 743kcal | Carbohydrates: 105g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 1458mg | Potassium: 1249mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 3319IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 357mg | Iron: 6mg FAQs about Cheesy Potato Soup and Homemade Dinner Rolls: Can you freeze cheesy potato soup? I don’t recommend freezing this soup because the potatoes will probably become grainy when thawed and the dairy might separate. Can you freeze bread machine dinner rolls? These easy dinner rolls do freeze nicely for several months. Simply cool them completely and store them in an air-tight container or freezer bag. What are some common toppings for cheesy potato soup? We eat this soup as is, but you could get creative and add toppings such as chives, chopped green onions, sour cream, etc. What will thicken my potato soup? My recipe’s flour thickens the soup (mix with milk first to prevent clumps). If it needs further thickening, mix a bit more flour with a splash of milk and add. How can I make this cheesy broccoli and potato soup? Once the potatoes are nearly tender and before adding the milk, flour, and cheese, add chopped broccoli and cook for another 5-7 minutes. How long does it take to make bread machine dinner rolls? These rolls take about 2 hours: The dough cycle is usually 90 minutes, plus 10 minutes to roll, 15 minutes to rise, and 15 minutes to bake. More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10: Homemade Chipotle Chicken Bowls Crustless Spinach Quiche and Whole Wheat Bread Easy Chicken Pot Pie Baked Chicken Chimichangas and Cilantro Rice Baked Potato Bar Whole Wheat Pancakes Chicken Alfredo and Roasted Carrots Breakfast Sandwiches Chicken Alfredo Soup and World’s Easiest Biscuits Lazy Lasagna Casserole Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here! If you make this easy family dinner, we’d love for you to leave a review and let us know how it turned out! FREE One Week Menu Plan! Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!       Hire a Registered Dietitian for Zero Out of Pocket + My Honest Review of Nourish Looking for a free dietitian online or online nutritionist consultation covered by insurance? I have been LOVING my Nourish dietitian and this is my completely honest review! Truly — it’s been life-changing for me! This One Small Step Has Been Transforming My Health (and It’s Covered by Insurance!) Are you wanting to make healthy changes in your diet but don’t know where to start? Struggling to hit your health goals or feeling overwhelmed by trying to stay on track? In the summer of 2025, I made a decision that I honestly didn’t expect to have such a big impact. I signed up to meet with a Nourish dietitian. Not because I had a big health goal or some drastic change in mind, but because I was feeling a little stuck. I had been working out more, trying to be mindful of what I was eating, and wanting to better support my body through this full season of life. I figured it couldn’t hurt to get a little expert insight, especially since Nourish is fully covered by insurance under our plan. Honestly, I expected to get a few helpful tips on calories and macros. I didn’t expect it to shift so much of how I view my body, my energy, my relationship with food, and even how I approach rest and recovery. But it has. And I’m so grateful. Let me tell you more about my honest experience with Nourish… What Is Nourish? Nourish is a virtual platform that connects you with an online registered dietitian — someone trained to help you with everything from emotional eating and hormone health to energy levels and gut issues — all from the comfort of your own home. Instead of handing you a one-size-fits-all meal plan or a strict list of foods to avoid, your Nourish online dietitian walks with you step-by-step. They listen to your goals. They help you build habits. They offer insight on how nutrition, sleep, stress, and movement work together. And they empower you to nourish your body well — without shame, restriction, or overwhelm. My Completely Honest (+ Very Vulnerable) Nourish Dietitian Review To be honest, I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure I needed an online nutritionist consultation. I wondered if my health goals were “big enough” or if it would be worth the time. But I also knew I wanted to take better care of myself. I felt a little foggy some days. I wanted accountability and clarity, and deep down, I wondered if I was giving my body what it needed to thrive. That first call with my Nourish dietitian? It blew me away. She helped me understand how the stress and depletion of the last few years — pregnancies, nursing, fostering, adopting a child with disabilities, caregiving, running a business, and raising six kids — had left me running on fumes. She walked me through how under-eating and under-sleeping were actually slowing down my metabolism and affecting my mood and hormones. She didn’t guilt me. She didn’t overwhelm me. She encouraged me and gave me clear, simple steps I could take that very week. What I’m Learning from My Nourish Dietician Every session has been eye-opening. Not because of some radical overhaul… but because of how freeing and healing it’s been to undo old beliefs. My dietitian has helped me: Identify and challenge long-held beliefs about food and weight. Realize how often I’ve equated worth with a number on the scale. Shift from restriction to nourishment. Take baby steps toward what she calls “food freedom” — where food supports your life, not controls it. It’s emotional work, too. But so, so worth it. Finding Food Freedom After I started eating more (at the encouragement of my dietitian), I discovered that it was a big struggle for me. I realized I had a lot of fear around food and had put a lot of stock into what the scale said. My joy or frustration for the day and how I felt about myself was often very tied to whatever number the scale showed that day. One of the big things my virtual dietitian encouraged me to do was to stop weighing myself. This was scary — but it ended up being SO freeing!! It took awhile to get used to, but once I did, I began to feel a whole new world open up for me! I discovered that I had spent years trapped in a cycle of so much food noise in my head — constantly analyzing calories, pushing myself to exercise more, thinking I needed to lose weight, chasing skinny, mentally beating myself up if I didn’t follow the diet plan I had come up with for myself. I did all of this under the guise of self-discipline when it actually was dysfunctional! I am slowly finding such freedom when it comes to food. My brain feels much quieter around food and it feels weird but also so amazing!! I love that I can find joy in food and eating without needing to constantly analyze, stress, or feel like I’m not where I need to be. I’m chasing strong not skinny, nourishing myself not a number on the scale — and it’s been incredible! Taking My Wellness Even Further Recently, my dietician has been challenging me with practical ways to prioritize more sleep and to prioritize play. She’s having me try out better bedtime routines and try out different hobbies. It has been so good for my soul… and I feel like meeting with her is therapy for my whole self! I’m also SO excited because Nourish is now offering lab work as part of their program and it’s covered by insurance for most people, as well! So just like you can hire a dietitian through Nourish and most insurance companies will pay for it, you can also now have lab work done as part of the program and it’s $0 cost to you if your insurance covers it! The Nourish Lab panel checks the most important data for your metabolic and heart health — cholesterol, blood sugar (A1C), kidney function, electrolytes, and thyroid hormones. This is all so helpful because this data enables you and your dietician to make more informed decisions as you collaborate to improve your diet and health, and it provides another way to measure your progress. These labs are done at a Quest Diagnostics location near you and are fully covered every 3 months at no cost to you, providing up to $200 per year in value.  I had a metabolic panel done and it was so easy to do, the results came quickly, and my dietitian went over it with me. Best of all, it was entirely covered by insurance! Making the Most of Your Free Dietitian Online If you decide to sign up (which I highly recommend if you’re curious!), here are a few tips to make the most of your online nutritionist consultation: Track your eating, movement, and sleep for a few days ahead of your first call (I used MyFitnessPal and my Oura ring). Bring questions or struggles you want help with — even small things like “I snack all day and feel tired after lunch.” Share your health history (I even brought my bloodwork to our second session!). Be honest and open — this isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. How Much Does a Session Cost with a Nourish Dietitian? If you’re wondering what a Nourish session might cost, here’s the exciting news: 94% of users pay $0 out of pocket when they use insurance! That’s right! You have a very good chance of being able to meet with a free dietitian online — right from the comfort of your own home. How cool is that?! I have been sharing about Nourish for the past few months or so as I have been using it and benefiting from it. Here’s what one my my readers had to say about their experience after giving it a try: “I tried Nourish because of you and it has helped me SO MUCH!! I’m overweight and I’ve never had anyone teach me how I’m supposed to eat to be healthy and fuel my body, until now…and I’m 45 years old. Any my insurance has been paying 100%!!! Thank you for sharing. It’s been life changing for me too. I’m so thankful.” I would say that number they give is quite accurate as the majority of my audience is also finding that Nourish is covered by their insurance, too. That said, every insurance plan is a little different — some may have a small copay or coinsurance — but Nourish does everything they can to keep your costs low and offers a simple insurance coverage calculator to help you know what to expect ahead of time. Here’s what you need to know: Most people pay nothing. Yes, really! The majority of users don’t pay anything out of pocket because Nourish is in-network with hundreds of insurance plans across all 50 states. You can check your coverage easily. Nourish makes it super simple to verify your insurance and see if there may be any copays or fees. No surprise bills. What your insurance says is what you’ll pay — no hidden costs or unexpected fees. All appointments are backed by the Nourish Guarantee to provide a no-surprise billing experience! Note: One of my followers was told that her insurance would cover Nourish and then that ended up not being the case. Nourish zeroed out her balance and didn’t charge her anything for the two sessions she had because of their Nourish Guarantee. Paying out of pocket? If your insurance doesn’t cover sessions, the self-pay rate is $145 per session — and you’ll know that up front. Why I Recommend It If you’re: Feeling stuck with your health goals Battling low energy or brain fog Walking through a tough postpartum season Wanting to build a better relationship with food Or simply needing some gentle accountability… I highly recommend checking out Nourish. This is one of the most grace-filled, personalized things I’ve done for myself in a long time. What Others Are Saying As you can see, I’ve really enjoyed Nourish but you don’t have to just take my word for it! Here are some messages and feedback I’ve received on social media and email from those who tried Nourish for themselves and shared the experience: Ready to try Nourish? Head here to check if your insurance covers it: Nourish Dietitian Program If it does, you’ll get access to a caring, credentialed online dietitian covered by insurance who will walk with you, encourage you, and help you create a life that feels vibrant, nourished, and whole. Nourish FAQ How much does a Nourish session cost? 94% of users pay $0 out of pocket when they use insurance! Is Nourish really free with insurance? Yep! Most insurance plans cover it 100% and you’ll pay nothing out of pocket! Saying yes to that first call with the Nourish dietitian is changing my life in the best of ways and I am so thrilled and grateful! Go here to sign up and see if Nourish is covered by your insurance. More Links You’ll Love: 5 Steps to Start and Stick With Better Habits Greek Yogurt Bowl with Protein Powder (Easiest High-Protein Snack That is Delish!) 6 Tips to Find Motivation to Work Out Every Morning How to Find Time to Work Out Multiple Times Each Week 6 Strategies to Kickstart Your Morning Success (and get my habit tracker FREE!) If you’ve ever tried an online nutritionist consultation or free dietitian online, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below! FREE Goal Setting Worksheets!  Let me help you set, track, and actually accomplish your goals this year!       Latest finds on Pinterest This Easter candy is SO easy to make and SO tasty! Make it a family-fun Easter activity or package it up for Easter baskets! Get the easy recipe here. These easy spring dessert recipes can be made ahead, are perfect for Easter, and are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth! Looking for unique and different Easter basket ideas this year? This super easy homemade Easter candy recipe is sure to be a hit with your kids! Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz® • 650 E. Palisade Avenue Ste 2, PO Box 173 • Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632