Best "cheap" vacation meals??

[ajwomic]

We are going to the beach for a week with other family members. We are each responsible for 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner. We are feeding 6 adults and 5 kids. Help me think of some yummy but relatively inexpensive meal ideas without a ton of prep. Thanks!!!
Alicia

 

[AUzeta]

Dinner- Red Beans with Sausage/ Brown Rice/ French Bread and Salad
Lunch- Tuna or Chicken Salad in whole Wheat Pitas with Fruit and Chips.

Both are really easy and I can PM u a recepie for the Red Beans.

 

[pixiewings71]

Breakfast, eggs, toast, fruit. Or instead of toast do pancakes or waffles. Lunches just do some good sandwiches, not everyone likes tuna (my girls won't eat it) but PB is always good to have on hand. Dinner, do a huge baked ziti, add some salad and garlic bread and dinner is ready!

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

We are going to the beach for a week with other family members. We are each responsible for 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner. We are feeding 6 adults and 5 kids. Help me think of some yummy but relatively inexpensive meal ideas without a ton of prep. Thanks!!!
Alicia

We're going to the beach soon, and so far I've decided that I'm going to cook a chicken in the crockpot - similar to a rotisserie chicken - and there are lots of directions to go after that. We could actually eat it as a meal, but I'm thinking I'll just pull the meat off the bones and use it in chicken caesar salad and chicken quesadillas, or chicken sandwiches - all solid lunch or dinner choices.

I'm also going to do a pork roast in the crockpot - just pour a bottle of BBQ sauce over a pork roast - and shred it when it's done. We could have that as a meal or make sandwiches.

We're going to have hamburgers & hotdogs one night, with baked beans and chips, and I was going to make an oven brisket recipe using London Broil one night. Also a pork loin; not sure yet how I'm going to prepare that, but it will be in the oven as well, because the house where we're staying only has an electric grill - not too crazy about that.

Another night we're going to go to the pier and get fresh shrimp, and make boiled shrimp.

Breakfasts are going to be cereal and bacon or sausage - no fussing with breakfast on vacation for me! If I wanted to put forth the effort, my family loves breakfast pizza.

As you can see, I've kind of planned on lunches with what I'm cooking for supper, and we'll get sandwich supplies as well. I'll make a big bowl of tuna salad - a favorite of my older son's - and maybe pasta salad. I'm bringing several boxes of brownie mix, which I will bake first thing in the morning (while it's cool) for dessert and snacks. We'll also get popsicles and ice cream treats to help keep the kids cool.

Have a great trip!

Edited to add: I realize you said "cheap" and I didn't explain myself - I've been buying meats on sale and freezing them in preparation for our trip.

 

[pjlla]

Sloppy joes or Manwich sandwiches are relatively cheap and easy to prepare ahead of time and freeze. Then bring it along, put it in the crockpot in the morning and by evening dinner is done. Add a salad or veggie on the side and you are done. Same with the BBQ pork (or beef) sandwiches someone else mentioned. I can get a pork loin (huge one) for under $2/lb on sale sometimes. I cut it into meal size roasts and wrap and freeze. Our local bread store has great stuff on sale sometimes. I recently got a 6 pack of whole wheat bulkie rolls for $1.

Breakfast for dinner is fun, cheap and usually fast. Pancakes are SUPER cheap. I can find the "complete" mix on sale for $1/box sometimes (store brand). I can make LOTS of pancakes from that one box. Not sure what a good inexpensive side would be.... eggs, sausage (too expensive?). Coffee and juice and milk and you are ready to go!

Homemade pizza can be cheap if you can find the cheese on sale. Or buy a premade crust and work from there.

Baked potato night is quick and cheap. Wash up the potatoes, poke them a bit, throw them in the oven. Cheese sauce, canned chili, sour cream, steamed broccoli, bacon bits all make nice toppings. Make a potato bar and everyone can help themselves. Salad on the side if you feel the need for more veggies.

HTH........................P

 

[semo233]

Somewhere I saw a thread about packing meals for a Disney trip. There were lists of everything they made ahead of time and they packed it all in dry ice for the car trip. If I can find it, I will come back and post a link to it.

Also, someone mentioned having thier hubby take a trip to Olive Garden and picking up sauce and bread sticks. They boiled the past and made a quick salad. Four people ate for less than $14...with little cooking.

 

[D&DDisney]

We camp a lot and get these from the KOA website http://www.koa.com/recipes/

Crock Pot Breakfast
Ingredients
32 oz. frozen shredded hash browns
1 pound(s) cooked ham, cubed
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 1/2 c shredded cheese
12 eggs
1 c skim milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Directions
Divide hash browns, ham, veggies and cheese so you can create several layers of each in the crock pot. Start with the hash browns, then ham, onions peppers and last cheese. Repeat until you have several layers. Beat eggs, milk salt & pepper pour over layers in the crock pot cover and turn on low. Cook for 10-12 hours overnight.

Easy Campfire/Grill Pizza
Ingredients
flour tortillas
pizza sauce
shredded mozzerella cheese
pizza toppings: pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, pineapple etc.
Directions
Cover one side of a flour tortilla with pizza sauce, cheese and topping. Fold tortilla in half or place another tortilla on top. Wrap gently with foil and place in wire handheld campfire basket or on grate over hot coals until cheese is melted. It doesn't take long and you've got a meal kids and adults alike will love.

Lazy Bobs
Ingredients
your favorite meats
vegetables
fruit
pita bread or soft tortillas
Directions
Lazy Bobs is a variation of shiskabobs. Set out the ingredients and everyone loads up their own skewers just the way they like 'em. Bamboo skewers make easy clean up, just remember to soak them in water for at least an hour before using so they don't burn.

Cut up your favorite meats into bite size (marinaded if you like). Cut up the vegetables and fruit, such as pineapple, cantalope and even grapes. If you use pita bread or soft tortillas you don't even need utensils.

 

[threecrazykids]

Sloppy joes or Manwich sandwiches are relatively cheap and easy to prepare ahead of time and freeze. Then bring it along, put it in the crockpot in the morning and by evening dinner is done. Add a salad or veggie on the side and you are done. Same with the BBQ pork (or beef) sandwiches someone else mentioned. I can get a pork loin (huge one) for under $2/lb on sale sometimes. I cut it into meal size roasts and wrap and freeze. Our local bread store has great stuff on sale sometimes. I recently got a 6 pack of whole wheat bulkie rolls for $1.

Breakfast for dinner is fun, cheap and usually fast. Pancakes are SUPER cheap. I can find the "complete" mix on sale for $1/box sometimes (store brand). I can make LOTS of pancakes from that one box. Not sure what a good inexpensive side would be.... eggs, sausage (too expensive?). Coffee and juice and milk and you are ready to go!

Homemade pizza can be cheap if you can find the cheese on sale. Or buy a premade crust and work from there.

Baked potato night is quick and cheap. Wash up the potatoes, poke them a bit, throw them in the oven. Cheese sauce, canned chili, sour cream, steamed broccoli, bacon bits all make nice toppings. Make a potato bar and everyone can help themselves. Salad on the side if you feel the need for more veggies.

HTH........................P

FYI...you can also do Baked Potatoes in the crock as well!

Just wash the potatoes, poke, wrap in tin foil (maybe add some salt and butter on the outside if you choose). Just pile all the potatoes in the crock all wrapped up, turn on low and let em' go! On low I've let them go up to 10 hrs and they are PERFECT! Potato bar is one of our favortites on quick cook dinner nights.

 

[semo233]

I'll keep looking for that frozen food thread, but you could freeze LOTS of things since you are driving. Here are some ideas to get you thinking....


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2170258&highlight=dry+ice

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2182693&highlight=dry+ice

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=275509&highlight=dry+ice

 

[MrsPooh]

When we used to do beach vacations I had all of our meals planned ahead of time to make things easy and I was always trying to keep things cheap.

For breakfast: an egg casserole that can be prepped the night before and just tossed in the oven is great. I have a great Baked French toast recipe that is also easy and just a little different. For us on vacation we always just did cereal, toast, bagels with cream cheese and fruit.

I also went simple for lunch. Lunchmeat sandwiches or hotdogs are easy. You can even warm the hotdogs in a crockpot so they are ready whenever someone wants one. Make a quick pasta salad or slaw or chips and add fruit for a quick easy meal. Really at the beach we always wanted something cool at lunchtime.

For one evening I made Lasagna ahead of time at home, froze it and put it in a foodsaver bag. We traveled with it on ice and made it the first night we arrived with some French loaf bread and a tossed salad. Any pasta dish can be made easily and it is easy to cook meatballs or brown meat ahead of time to cut the work and cook time.

One evening we made a ranch pasta salad and added grilled chicken. I had grilled and cut the chicken at home and frozen it. For the pasta salad I just used a box of pasta and a bottle of ranch dressing. I added some bacon bits, chopped a couple of carrots and added some cheese, chopped tomatoes and frozen peas. Again it was served with rolls.

Another easy idea that can be inexpensive is a taco bar although it does take a bit more work.

Have a great time!

 

[taitai]

While I love it, I just can't imagine eating lasagna at the beach.

I would go for more beachy fare....at least for dinners....

Anything you can bbq would be good. Turkey burgers, dogs, chicken, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches etc. are all fun food to eat outside.
Chicken fajitas...do the chicken on the grill and have a bar with all the fixings
Hearty salads
Summery pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil, bread and a salad
Chicken lettuce wraps
Grilled salmon with a grilled veggie platter
Dessert can be simple. Ice cream. Fresh berries. Peaches

For lunch I agree with all the others that say sandwiches. Wraps. BLTs

Breakfast. Fresh fruit and yogurt.

Have fun

 

[ajwomic]

These are some great ideas! Thanks and keep them coming!
Alicia

 

[AF_Judy]

When we took family trips when I was little, we always packed breakfast tacos with us. They were quick to make and easy to eat. You can make scrambled eggs with bacon, potato, etc and put that into flour tortillas. If you don't want to make them that morning, you can cook everything the night before and have the tacos ready for the morning, then you can just put them in an oven/crock pot/microwave to heat up. I don't like egg, so I always had tacos with just potatoes or beans and cheese. You can put pretty much anything in a taco!

 

[lovehoney]

We are also going on a family beach vacation. The night that our family prepares dinner we are doing tacos. The kids love them and everyone can put them together how they want.

taco shells
taco meat
lettuce
cheese
red kidney beans
onions
tomatoes
black olives
salsa
sour cream

I like to mix all of my ingredients together with thousand island dressing for a yummy taco salad.

 

[It's A Small World]

Breakfast - Coffee Cake - Google for easy cake mix recipes

Dinner - Throw boneless chicken breast (enough to feed everyone), 2 cans of tomatoes with chilis and a pack of taco seasonings in a crock pot, cook on low all day. By dinner, shred the chicken in the crock pot, mix in 2 cans of black beans, and set the table with all the mexican fixings link mexican rice, lettuce, sour cream, shredded cheese and tortillas. Every one can help themselves. I love this meal. Mix up a blender of margaritas and you're good to go!

Lasagna always a crowd pleaser.