Carrie Barnard creates affordable, family-tested meals for real life and follows clear recipe testing and editorial standards to ensure recipes work for busy families.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a purple blouse, stands in a kitchen holding a white pot with a lid, smiling at the camera. The kitchen background includes a stove and decor items on the counter.

Carrie Barnard creates affordable, family-tested meals for real life and follows clear recipe testing and editorial standards to ensure recipes work for busy families.

She is a professional recipe developer and food blogger with over 14 years of experience, helping millions of families simplify dinner with easy, budget-friendly recipes that actually work.

At a Glance

Carrie Barnard, with long dark hair, wearing a bright pink blouse and light blue jeans, sits on a modern kitchen counter, smiling and gesturing with both hands up amid white cabinets and hanging lights.

Name: Carrie Barnard

Role: Founder & Recipe Creator, Eating on a Dime

Experience: 14+ years professional food blogging, 25+ years home and restaurant cooking

Expertise: Recipe Development, Budget-Friendly Family Cooking, Slow Cooker & Freezer Meals, Restaurant Copycat Recipes

Education: B.S. in Mathematics Education, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Background: Former high school math teacher; lifelong restaurant-industry exposure

Location: Oklahoma

Carrie’s Background & Cooking Philosophy

Hi, I’m Carrie!

I come from a food-loving family — both of my parents owned restaurants, and I practically grew up in a kitchen. From sleeping in the back room as a toddler to helping manage my mom’s restaurant as a teenager, food has always been part of my life.

When I went to college, I started cooking at home to save money and quickly realized I hated complicated recipes. That’s when I began experimenting with how to make meals using simple ingredients that were affordable, easy, and still tasted great.

That approach stuck.

With over 25 years of experience cooking for family and friends, I now focus on recipes that are:

  • Simple and easy to follow
  • Budget-friendly
  • Realistic for busy schedules

I’m also a proud mom to 8 amazing kids, including children adopted through foster care. Feeding a big family on a budget isn’t theoretical for me — it’s everyday life.

About Eating on a Dime

Eating on a Dime is a trusted resource for busy home cooks who want meals their families will actually eat — without overspending.

With over 3 million fans on Facebook and recipe videos with more than 100 million views, Eating on a Dime has become a go-to site for affordable, family-friendly recipes that work in real kitchens.

You’ll find everything from:

  • Slow cooker and crock pot meals
  • Freezer-friendly dinners
  • Air fryer and stovetop recipes
  • One-pan and make-ahead meals

Whether you’re cooking for two or feeding a crowd, the goal is always the same: make dinner easier and stretch your grocery budget.

Recipe Development & Testing Process

At Eating on a Dime, recipes aren’t created once and published.

Every recipe is:

  • Developed and tested in real kitchens
  • Reviewed for clarity, timing, and results
  • Made with everyday, easy-to-find ingredients
  • Tested with real families for honest feedback

I personally test recipes in my own kitchen and in our studio, often multiple times. My children are our most honest taste testers, and if a recipe doesn’t pass with a big family, it doesn’t get published.

Recipes are then reviewed and tested further by our creative team, including photography and video production, which ensures instructions are clear and recipes are repeatable.

This multi-step process helps ensure our recipes are reliable, budget-friendly, and truly family-approved.

You can learn more about our standards on our Editorial Policy page.

Cuisines & Cooking Focus

I love simplifying a wide variety of recipes so families can enjoy eating at home more often. On Eating on a Dime, you’ll find:

  • Easy American classics
  • Family-friendly international recipes (including simplified Indian dishes)
  • Slow cooker meals
  • One Pot Dinners
  • Air fryer recipes
  • Easy grilling recipes
  • Budget-friendly dinners for busy nights

No matter the cuisine, the goal is always simplicity and affordability.

Digital Cookbooks

Carrie is also the author of several digital cookbooks designed to help families save time and money in the kitchen, including:

Each cookbook includes recipes that have been tested and enjoyed by Carrie’s family.

As Seen In

Carrie’s work and expertise have been featured by:

Eating on a Dime is trusted by millions of home cooks across the U.S. and beyond.

A Few Fun Facts About Carrie

Carrie, a woman with long dark hair in a bright pink shirt, smiles while serving food from a pan into a black plate in a modern white kitchen.
  • Former high school math teacher
  • Nicknamed “Betty” (as in Betty Crocker) growing up
  • College pom squad member
  • Loves traveling and seeing comedians
  • Dog mom to 3 very spoiled dogs
  • Foster care and adoption mom who loves encouraging other families
  • Believes anyone can learn to cook with the right guidance

Let’s Stay Connected

Carrie shares recipes, tips, and behind-the-scenes kitchen moments on:

You can also subscribe to the Eating on a Dime newsletter to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.

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