Cheap easy family meals for those who hate to cook.

[mhsjax]

Unstuffed Cabbage rolls


This is so much easier to assemble than traditional stuffed cabbage rolls because there is no steaming of the leaves, and rolling meat & rice mixture up. My daughter (22 year old college student) says this recipe is easier to eat too because the cabbage is not slippery and easier to cut than when it's rolled.


Make the rice days before and freeze. That way, everything is ready when it's time to put the dish together. When I make rice, I usually have leftovers and it freezes really well. I have made this recipe with 2 cups of rice, and the end result is soupier.

If you do put this in the crock pot, check to make sure there is enough liquid half way through. If it looks like it's getting to dry, add more water.


Ingredients:
1 head of cabbage
2-4 cups of cooked rice (more rice stretches the dish. Also, rice can be made before and frozen until needed. Just thaw before using)
2 sweet Italian sausages (remove from casings)
1 pound ground beef
1 egg lightly beaten
1 onion, divided (slice half & chop other half or dice if you like it finer)
4 tablespoons minced garlic, divided (I have a big jar of minced garlic, bought cheap at Wal Mart, in my fridge. Any time I need garlic it's ready to go)

2 tablespoons Oregano
2 tablespoons Basil
½ tablespoon coarse sea salt
1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
1 can Campbells condensed tomato soup (family size is easiest. Or use 2 cans of tomato soup)
½ can of water
2 tablespoons olive oil


Can be cooked in a large slow cooker on low all day, or in a 7qt dutch oven, in a 325ºF oven for 2 hours.

1. Remove outer leaves from cabbage. Chop into chunks, about 2-3 inches, wash and drain in colander.
2. Drizzle olive oil into skillet or dutch oven and heat on medium temperature.
3. Add sliced onions. About 2 minutes later, add 2 tablespoons of garlic. Saute until the onions are translucent. Turn off heat under dutch oven. If sautéed in skillet, transfer to slow cooker. Otherwise continue to step 4.
4. While onions are cooking, mix the sausages, ground beef, rice, garlic, chopped/diced onions, spices, salt & pepper, and egg together in a big bowl.
5. Spread 1 layer of cabbage chunks over the sautéed onions.
6. Add a layer of meat & rice mixture.
7. Spread another layer of cabbage.
8. Add another layer of meat & rice mixture.
9. End with layer of cabbage on top.
10. Pour can of soup over top of final layer of cabbage.
11. Add ½ can of water to soup can. Make sure to get the rest of the soup out of can. Pour over cabbage.
12. Cover and cook required amount of time. No need to lift lead, or stir, if using a dutch oven, until it's time to serve. (Any leftovers freeze very well)
13. Serve with mashed potatoes.

This sounds yummy. DH loves stuffed cabbage but I have never attempted it because it sounded to difficult and time consuming to me.

 

[TnTWalter]

chicken tacos...


1 jar of salsa and about 2 pounds chicken [I like boneless skinless breasts frozen or not]. Slow cooker. Cheese, Sour Cream, Lettuce, Tomatoes, whatever you like to top tacos with.

Dump chicken and salsa into slow cooker and cook on low all day or higher for a few hours. if chicken is frozen do not add any water, otherwise you may want to add a little for moisture. When ready to eat, just make sure chicken is done and shred it with 2 forks.

I put the toppings in bowls on lazy susan and let family make their own tacos. So tender and delicious! All 3 of my kids love this.

You can even serve with tortilla chips.

Trish

 

[gracie1]

I grill outside all year round so not sure I would use a George Foreman, it sounds messy?

I have a rice cooker so I can the rice thing!

Our biggest thing we will miss is Chinese on the weekends - it costs $50+ to order Chinese takeout...

If you start eating in all week, use the weekend as your treat weekend and order your chinese. You will be saving all week, and will be looking forward to that chinese meal!

 

[barbmouse]

I love this thread!! I do not really care to cook either mostly because of the planning, shopping and cleaning aspects along with working full time. I do enjoy crockpot cooking though and can't wait to try some of the recipes here.

I wanted to share a super easy recipe that I've been using since college. I don't make it very often but when I do it is a big hit here.

Soupy Meatballs

1 lb ground beef , 1 egg, 1 slice of bread cut into small pieces, salt, pepper, oregano Mix together to form meatballs.

Sauce
1 can Campbell's tomato soup( I sometimes use two cans if I want more sauce) and one can Campbell's Chicken and Rice soup.
Mix together over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook until the meatballs are done. Serve over rice. I serve broccoli and cheese as a side dish. This makes yummy leftovers too.

I cook this on the stove. I have not tried it in the crockpot.

 

[cdrn1]

This doesn't sound good. I don't really even like tuna. But it is CRAZY good.
Three 6 oz cans of tuna, 2 cans of mushroom soup, and a bag of potato chips.
Smash the chips. Layer tuna, chips, soup, tuna, chips, soup in a 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 about 45 minutes until brown.

 

[mnrose]

Just made something for dinner tonight that I think qualifies as easy and very delish. A friend suggested Alton Brown's stove top mac 'n cheese. OMG is it GOOD. Puts that kraft stuff all to shame. And, a single pot meal (with one bowl to mix up some of the ingredients. Aside from cooking the pasta (I used Rotini), it took less than 5 minutes. Yummo. Google the recipe, and it pops right up.

Not low cal, but at least it was made with fresh ingredients I could readily identify.

 

[zoemurr]

I grill outside all year round so not sure I would use a George Foreman, it sounds messy?

I have a rice cooker so I can the rice thing!

Our biggest thing we will miss is Chinese on the weekends - it costs $50+ to order Chinese takeout...

and do a search for "groovy chicken"
It's a chinese style dish that I make often. Not the easiest dish I make, but certainly not difficult as I hate to cook too.

 

[torinsmom]

One of our favorite easy meals is one we call "chicken things", LOL. The only ingredients are chicken(we use breasts), cream cheese and croissants. First you cook the chicken and then shred it well in a bowl. Then add cream cheese(I use 1 pkg to every pound or pound and a half of chicken) and throw it in the microwave for a minute or so to soften it. Then unroll croissants. You will keep two triangles together to make a square. Seal them together and roll them out to be bigger. Then put a big dollop of the chicken mixture onto each square and bring the corners of the dough together and pinch shut. 1 lb of chicken + 1 pkg of cream cheese usually fills 4 squares. It is really good!

DS also loves when I make tacos, spaghetti(ground beef and canned sauce), BBQ chicken, pork chops(broiled in the oven with cajun seasoning on them), and shrimp or beef strips stir fried with peppers and onions. We have pizza once a week, but it is 2.98 Tombstone pizza, not take out.

Is your $50 Chinese takeout for dinner? You could do lunch instead. Here the lunch special is $3.99, dinner is $7.99, big difference.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Chicken breast 3 cut in half
1 can of cream of mushroom - fat free
1 can of garlic cream of mushroom
1 1/2 c. milk.
salt and pepper to taste
Mix the two soups and milk together.
Lay chicken in cassarole dish and pour soup mixture oven and bake for 45 minitues. Serve with rice. or mash potatoes

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

this is what I like to make with my left over turkey.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1639,150162-253195,00.html

the recipe can be found on the back of Reams frozen noodle package.

 

[rynosmom]

this is my new easy meal that my family will actually eat.

1 pound Mild Sausage with the casings removed and cut into bite size pieces.
1 red onion Sliced
1 broccoli crown cut in pieces
2 table spoons olive oil
1 box of Penne or Rigatoni Pasta
2 Table spoons unsalted butter

Cook Pasta and save 1/2 cup of the water from the pasta and set aside
Combine sausage, onion, broccoli and olive oil and put on a cookie sheet with sides. cook at 300 for 20 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink. remove and toss with pasta, butter and the 1/2 cup of the water from the pasta. Serve with Shredded Parm Cheese and bread.

 

[MEM]

It is possible to make almost anything in a crock pot!!! Check out my favorite website:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

My favorite is her rotisserie chicken

I was going to recommend her too! Plus Stephanie has a section on making take-out style food using the crockpot - even Chinese food. OP, the menu possibilities are endless and I bet you can make a crockpot fan out of your DH in no time. The simplest recipe that I use is boneless skinless chicken breasts (frozen is fine) and a jar of your favorite salsa. That's it. Shred after 8 hours and serve over rice or in tortillas. You can add black beans (or not). Another super simple one is boneless, skinless chicken breasts with a 1/2 cup of Ken's italian salad dressing with balsamic vinegar poured over.

 

[MEM]

This doesn't sound good. I don't really even like tuna. But it is CRAZY good.
Three 6 oz cans of tuna, 2 cans of mushroom soup, and a bag of potato chips.
Smash the chips. Layer tuna, chips, soup, tuna, chips, soup in a 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 about 45 minutes until brown.

Try it with BBQ chips. I make something similar about once a year. I make the Kraft mac and cheese and then I combine tuna with Hellmann's mayo. Then I combine the mac cheese with the tuna mixture and top with crushed BBQ potato chips. Not at all healthy, but once a year we get a craving for it.

 

[kkwis2]

I haven't read all the posts yet, but I intend to! Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I also HATE cooking! Actually, I should say that when I have time, I don't mind it - I made chicken noodle soup yesterday which I love! But when I get home from work I have no interest in cooking. I hope I find some recipes here that will help expand our meal repertoire!

 

[ohlas]

I love to bake and cook, dont tell hubby lol .


Well i hate to cook everyday and the meal planing is a pain.

does anone know of a program out there that will let you type in your own recipes and make a meal plan and shopping list.

As far as the kids go they eat what i cook or eat pb, heres the secret i make their fav. desserts no eat my dinner no dessert.

did once a month cooking you will hate it, it is so much work for 2 days i didnt even want to reheat the leftover cooking meals and taste wasnt that good very bland, and did i mention i hate frozen meals except salsbury steak. yucky yucky

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sorry, I couldn't read all posts so I hope this isn't a repeat. I work FT and our fav home-cooked meal is pasta. I make a big pot of sauce on weekends, (from 6-7 big cans of puree, spiced to taste) and store in ziploc bags in freezer. My sauce beats anything from any Italian restaurant hands down. My kids & dh think I should market it.
So it's not the same ol sketties, sometimes I make baked ziti from it too. Not much more effort than boiling pasta.

If you've ever bought souvenir containers of popcorn from WDW, they are the perfect measuring device. We put the ziploc bag inside the empty popcorn container, then fill to near top and zip it closed. Each bag then is the perfect amount for our family of 4 for about 1.5 lbs of pasta. ymmv.
Keep repeating until the big pot is empty.
When dh gets home from work, he defrosts a bag in the sink full of hot water. Ready by the time I get home. Quick, easy, cheap and way better than take out.

 

[threecrazykids]

Sorry, I couldn't read all posts so I hope this isn't a repeat. I work FT and our fav home-cooked meal is pasta. I make a big pot of sauce on weekends, (from 6-7 big cans of puree, spiced to taste) and store in ziploc bags in freezer. My sauce beats anything from any Italian restaurant hands down. My kids & dh think I should market it.
So it's not the same ol sketties, sometimes I make baked ziti from it too. Not much more effort than boiling pasta.

If you've ever bought souvenir containers of popcorn from WDW, they are the perfect measuring device. We put the ziploc bag inside the empty popcorn container, then fill to near top and zip it closed. Each bag then is the perfect amount for our family of 4 for about 1.5 lbs of pasta. ymmv.
Keep repeating until the big pot is empty.
When dh gets home from work, he defrosts a bag in the sink full of hot water. Ready by the time I get home. Quick, easy, cheap and way better than take out.

Care to share that award winning sauce recipe?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Care to share that award winning sauce recipe?

Sure, it's easy but honestly I don't measure out spice amounts so you might adjust to taste.

Jar of crushed garlic (or fresh chopped fine)
Put a few tablespoons garlic in lg soup pot. Add a few tsp. olive oil & simmer 1 min.
Add 6 cans of tomato puree like this:
http://www.redgold.com/tuttorosso/products_details.asp?product_id=1100

Could also be crushed tomato but we don't like chunks.

Pour on top, almost covering the whole surface, with each of these:
-Salt
-Crushed black pepper
-Basil
-Oregano
-Parsley
-a few pinces of crushed red pepper
-grated parmesean cheese (from deli, not the nasty Kraft stuff that needs no refrigeration.)
-few tablespoons sugar (helps balance acid from tomatoes though some S. Philly girls use carrots chopped tiny.
Brown 1 lb. lean ground beef, drain grease and add to sauce.

Cook on very low about 1 hr. We try not to eat it the 1st night; it's not as good. Cool down to room temp and put whole pot in fridge overnight. Next day, stir well and divy up into ziploc bags.

Oh I forgot, my grandmom who taught me to make it, adds very finely chopped onions too. I like the flavor of onions but don't like chunks (yeah, I have issues) so I either use onion powder when I'm lazy or rub an onion on one of those 4-sided cheese graters so it basically is a paste.

Sounds long but whole process takes about 20 mins. Longest part is opening all the cans.

 

[mfp]

This is a very easy recipe for sloppy joes. I have kids all under the age of six, who are all picky and they like it.

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/hodies-sloppy-joes/Detail.aspx

 

[brymolmom]

My DH doesn't care for crock pot meals, however I do torture him infrequently. He will eat chili, which is pretty easy so thats on my list, however my kids won't eat it. (The story of my life.) Today I have a roast in the crock pot.

I like the chicken in the crock pot idea, don't know if anyone will eat it but me, but its worth a try. My problem comes when no one likes it, but I guess you have to try new things if you are ever going to find a winner!

Shake-n-bake pork chops are definitely one we can do, everyone likes it. I can also do a pasta although once again, the kids won't eat it.

I think part of the reason I hate to cook is that its so hard to find something that everyone will eat!

I would stop worrying so much about what everyone will eat/will like. I mean, if they're not TOO picky - certainly work in something that appeals to one or the other of them here and there, but at 19 and 15 (since the 7 year old is out of the equation), your kids are old enough to eat what's there and fill up on 'sides' (veggies, roll, fruit) if they don't really care for it. Obviously dh is old enough too!

A very easy thing to crockpot - is frozen turkey breast. Just throw it in the crockpot with a bit of water on the bottom. Let it cook on low for 8 hours and it's DONE! That with some Stove Top stuffing and you've got the easiest meal!