Cheap Meal Ideas

[HeavenEssence]

Sorry if this has been posted before..but I am trying to cut my grocery bill down..so we are looking for some CHEAP meal ideas..anyone have any good ones?

 

[luvmygirls]

I made 3 meals out of the following, total cost was probably around $10-$15.00 (I think that's a pretty good budget?)

I bought 1 package of skinless/boneless chix thighs (cheaper than breasts) $4.54
1 package of egg noodles (around $1.00)
1 jar of Wal-Mart brand Alfredo Sauce ($?? no more than $2.00)
1 package of generic brand frozen veggies (med sized package, not more than $2.00)

On hand at home: rice, canned spaghetti sauce, parmesean cheese, canned green beans..

First step: I boiled the chicken & diced up..
Second step: followed the package directions on the egg noodles & boiled 3/4 of the package.
Third Step: Cooked frozen veggies..
Forth Step: Cooked Rice

In Casserole Dishes:
#1 - Mixed the Alfredo Sauce with Green Beans, 1/2 noodles & 1/3 of chicken (CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH GREEN BEANS)
#2 - Mixed Spaghetti Sauce (3/4 quart) with other 1/2 noodles & 1/3 of chicken, sprinkle parmesean cheese over top.
(CHICKEN PARMEASAN HOT DISH)
#3 - Added remaining 1/3 of chicken to the cooked veggies & topped over rice. (CHICKEN STIR FRY)

DISHES #1 & 2 - I put in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes, just to get everything heated up & settled together..

Now I have meals done for the next 3 nights ...

Can add a mixed green salad to make the meals go farther & make some homemade garlic bread (just make this like grilled cheese, sprinkle garlic salt on top of buttered bread - both sides & cook in fry pan to brown on both sides).

HTH, you have to like Chicken though for these (DH will probably complain after the 2nd night of a "Chicken" Dish, so I may have to make him something else by the 3rd night & I have 3 girls who are LIGHT eaters, so they only eat about 1/2 cup of each of these dishes, making it easy to cook/go farther for a family of 5!

Shelly

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Good Idea luvmygirls...we are big Velveeta Mac and Cheese eaters. lol we will find different variations of that for a few days out of the week..you can check most of those recipes out on the box or at kraft.com



To Luvmygirls..do you cook these dishes all at once and fridge them for the week or do you leave them uncooked and cook that night for dinner??

 

[goodeats]

Red Beans and Rice
Pasta
Breakfast for dinner (like pancakes or waffles)
Huevos Rancheros

Also, anything can be cheap if you buy the ingredients on sale!

 

[luvmygirls]

ThreeMous....I cook everything at once (get the mess out of the way) and then put them in casserole dishes & refrigerate..I've kept them up to 5 days in the fridge & they have always tasted fine, I would imagine you coud freeze the two hotdishes??


Shelly




To Luvmygirls..do you cook these dishes all at once and fridge them for the week or do you leave them uncooked and cook that night for dinner??[/QUOTE]

 

[HeatherC]

Not really a recipe, but my new favorite thing is at BJ's. They sell Individually Frozen 4 lb bags of boneless chicken tenders and/or boneless chicken breasts for $10. They are made by Tyson. You only need to use the amount and you want and reseal the bag. Each bag is like 4 or 5 nights dinner for us.

Tonight I used the tenders to make "Hawaiian Chicken" - kids like the name of it. I basically buy the 79 cent sweet and sour spice envelope, mix everything with some fresh or frozen veggies and open a can of pineapple chunks up. I serve it over white rice and everyone loves it. Cheap and easy.

HeatherC

 

[Lady Cluck]

Ham / Potato casserole
1/2 bag of tater tots or crowns, 1 cup chopped left over ham or ham slice, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 can cream of celery soup, salt / pepper to taste.

In small casserole dish mix tots, ham, cheese, stir in soup, add enough milk to thin to gravy consistency, sprinkle with salt / pepper (also like to use Sylvia's Secret Seasoning ) . Bake 375º until browned, about 45 minutes.

steam or saute fresh green beans or snap peas as a side.

====================
Calzones
Mix in pepperoni, black olives, mushrooms, or preferred pizza toppings into a jar of pizza sauce. Unroll and lightly stretch crescent dough, seal diagonal perfs, separate into rectangles. Spoon 2 - 3 tablespoons sauce mix onto each rectangle, fold edges to seal, bake 350º until done, top with mozzerella. Serve with green salad

=======================
Kielbasa stew

3 slices bacon, chopped
4 green onions chopped
15 oz can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
15 oz can tomatoes, drained
12oz - 16oz Kielbasa or polish sausage, sliced
3 cups water & 3 chicken bouillon cubes OR 3 cups chicken broth
1 cup uncooked small elbow macaroni

cook bacon until transluscent, add onions, continue cooking until the onions are transluscent and bacon is crisp. Add broth or water and cubes, macaroni and sausage. Bring to boil, simmer 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and beans. Cook an additional 5 minutes. Serve with biscuits or corn bread.

=================================

Stuffed Green Peppers
Core and rinse 3 large green bell peppers, place in large pot, cover with water, bring to boil, simmer 15-20 minutes, drain, being careful to not break the peppers.

Meanwhile, saute 1# ground beef, drain. Stir in 1 can undiluted tomato soup, 1 cup uncooked minute rice. Spoon filling into peppers, top with tablespoon of tomato sauce. Add 1/2" water to bottom of baking dish to prevent scorching. Bake 350º 45-60 minutes.

===========================

You can do a lot with a package of hot dogs:

Pigs in a blanket
Slit jumbo turkey or beef franks, insert small slice of favorite cheese. Wrap in Crescent or biscuit dough, bake 350º 15-20 min.

Chili / Cheese dogs

Sauerkraut & wieners

Beany Weenie - mix chopped hot dogs into can of baked beans (I think Jay Bush is cute , and he makes terrific baked beans.)

 

[mom2alix]

A big budget meal for us is chili. This is especially cheap if you cook the beans from dried beans, although I get canned beans on sale pretty cheap too. Add a little gound beef (or turkey), chili seasoning, and tomatoes and you've got a full crock pot. It's a great way to make 1 lb of meat feed a family for 3 nights.

Egg dishes are also a good, cheap meal. Omelets, quiches, stratas. I can get a dozen on sale for $.77 and they're a great source of protein. Plus, my kids will eat them!

 

[hsmamato2]

I second the chili...also what's cheaper than pasta and a huge pot of sauce? I usually start with some olive oil, get big pan hot, add some crushed garlic, brown for a couple minutes, then add 1 jar cheapo plain sauce, 1 28 oz. can of puree(no spices added) then add a little cheap red wine, salt,pepper, dried basil and oregano, let it simmer for an hour or so, and yum- that's enough for many nights! Pizza, etc.. for other nights, or can freeze...
And... Buy a chicken? to use it many ways, I...
put in the pot whole, boil with an onion cut in half, and assorted spices to taste-boil for an hour or two- When it's close to dinnertime, pull chicken out, put in roasting pan, and bake at 375 for about 1/2 hour.MMM! tender chicken for a main dish!
After dinner, strain broth you made, put into containers, and refrig. and use, or freeze for the next time the kids get a cold
Pick that chicken clean- use meat for sandwiches, ch. salad, or save some for that chicken soup you're having the next night! I use a 4 lb. chicken for at least 4 meals for my fam of 4-
Then there's stir frying...lots of little pieces all cut up, and tossed over rice, that's economical-

 

[kandeebunny]

just subscribing...keep those ideas coming!!!

 

[ButterflyJen]

Two that we make and freeze throughout the winter are Mexican lasagna and Spaghetti pie. Both make way more than the two of us can eat (DD isn't old enough to eat them quite yet, but soon) so it's nice to have something in the freezer for a quick lunch, or better yet, a dinner when the budget's tight. Of course, you can always stretch these with salad or bread.

Mexican Lasagna (this was from Weight Watchers, so bonus there!)

1 lb ground beef (we use ground turkey)
1 can refried beans (fat free work fine)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder (I've added fresh garlic to the meat and that's good too)
16 oz jar salsa
2 cups water
9 lasagna noodles (we've used whole-wheat and they work fine)

Brown ground meat. Drain; add refried beans and spices and heat through.

Spray a 9x13 dish. Layer three lasagna noodles; top with half of the meat mixture. Continue layering, noodles-meat-noodles.

Combine salsa and water; pour over noodles. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 60-70minutes.

Top with sour cream, shredded cheese, and a sliced black olive (or whatever you want!). Makes 9 servings.


Kraft Spaghetti Pie (a little costlier, but freezing the leftovers helps!)
8 oz spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained (again, we use ground turkey)
2 cups spaghetti sauce
8 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese

TOSS: cooked spaghetti, Parmesan, and egg. Place in 9" pie plate. Press along sides and bottom to form crust.

MIX: Cooked meat and spaghetti sauce. Spread meat mixture over spaghetti crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

BAKE: at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into slices.

 

[ButterflyJen]

Another good casserole that's inexpensive is this one:

Kraft Mac & Cheese Casserole

1 box Kraft Mac & Cheese
1 can tuna, drained
1 can green beans or peas, drained (this depends on what your family will eat)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (cream of chicken works too)
Parmesan cheese

Prepare Macaroni and Cheese according to package directions. Place in casserole dish. Add tuna, veggies, undiluted soup, and cheese; stir together. Bake covered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Try the grocery game! www.thegrocerygame.com

 

[Danemom]

Here's what we do when we're trying to have a small grocery bill!

A big pot of chili and a large pot roast will feed our family for a week and a half. We have chili for a couple nights, chili dogs one night, then put up the leftovers.

Pot roast with potatoes and carrots for a 2-3 nights, then we make vegetable soup from those leftovers (just adding canned green beans, frozen corn, and tomato sauce) and that's a couple nights too. Then it's time to break out the chili for a couple more days!

I know it's not much variety but it's very inexpensive and so great for when you're busy because you really only cook 3 times and none of the cooking takes much time at all. Add green salads or fruit salads to the chili and it's reasonably healthy too.

We also buy big bags of chicken breast. I buy the flavored pasta or rice mixes. We cook 1 or 2 chicken breasts and mix it with 2 pkgs of the mixes. We like the chicken or alfredo pasta and the cheesy broccoli rice the most. We have a green vegetable with it. Very cheap. You get a lot of meals from a bag of chicken that way!

DH's favorite cheap meal is Zataran's jambalaya rice mix with smoked sausage. Not very healthy but we like it!

 

[digskat]

1 container of cottage cheese
1 egg
lasagna noodles
potatoes (mashed)
shredded cheese 1 cup
bacon slightly cooked and drained cut into bits

boil potatoes and drain set aside
cook lasagna noodles
one layer of noodles in 9x13 pan
beat egg in cottage cheese and spread mix over noodles
layer noodles over mix
mash potatoes add 1/2 of the shredded cheese into the potatoes
spread potatoes over noodles
top with rest of shredded cheese and bacon
cook in oven at 350 for about 30min
serve with sour cream and salad


Stovies (my scottish Gramps specialty and DH favourite)
Brown and drain 1lb hamburger
chop up potatoes and carrots into small pieces
1 pkg of beef bouillon
onion
combine above in crock pot, mix bouillon in enough water to cover the mix 1/2 way.

 

[klj27]

Two that we make and freeze throughout the winter are Mexican lasagna and Spaghetti pie. Both make way more than the two of us can eat (DD isn't old enough to eat them quite yet, but soon) so it's nice to have something in the freezer for a quick lunch, or better yet, a dinner when the budget's tight. Of course, you can always stretch these with salad or bread.

Mexican Lasagna (this was from Weight Watchers, so bonus there!)

1 lb ground beef (we use ground turkey)
1 can refried beans (fat free work fine)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder (I've added fresh garlic to the meat and that's good too)
16 oz jar salsa
2 cups water
9 lasagna noodles (we've used whole-wheat and they work fine)

Brown ground meat. Drain; add refried beans and spices and heat through.

Spray a 9x13 dish. Layer three lasagna noodles; top with half of the meat mixture. Continue layering, noodles-meat-noodles.

Combine salsa and water; pour over noodles. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 60-70minutes.

Top with sour cream, shredded cheese, and a sliced black olive (or whatever you want!). Makes 9 servings.


Kraft Spaghetti Pie (a little costlier, but freezing the leftovers helps!)
8 oz spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained (again, we use ground turkey)
2 cups spaghetti sauce
8 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese

TOSS: cooked spaghetti, Parmesan, and egg. Place in 9" pie plate. Press along sides and bottom to form crust.

MIX: Cooked meat and spaghetti sauce. Spread meat mixture over spaghetti crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

BAKE: at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into slices.

How many points is the mexican lasagna? It sounds yummy!

 

[raammartin]

~Santa Fe Enchiladas~

1½ lbs. ground beef
10 flour tortillas, warmed
1 medium onion, chopped
1-8oz. jar processed cheese sauce
1-12oz. can tomato paste
1-4oz. can chopped green chilies, drained
1 cup water
1 envelope taco seasoning

Crumble beef into a large microwave-safe bowl; stir in onion. Cover and microwave on high for 6 to 7½ minutes or until meat is no longer pink, stirring every 1½ minutes; drain.
Stir in tomato paste, water, and taco seasoning. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through, stirring once.
Spoon about ⅓ cup meat mixture down the center of each tortilla; roll up tightly. Set remaining meat mixture aside. Place tortillas, seam side down, in a greased shallow 3 quart 9x13 dish.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine cheese sauce and drained chilies. Cover and cook on high for 1 minute; stir. Pour over tortillas.
Spoon remaining meat mixture down the center of tortillas. Cover and cook on high for 5 to 6 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.


If you don’t have room in your microwave for the 9x13 dish this recipe works equally well in the oven.

 

[icebaby]

Every time I have any left over veggies from dinner (even if it's just a
spoonful I save it in a ziploc bag. After about 2 weeks I have a ziploc bag of frozen veggies, add 1 can of chicken or a left over chopped chicken breast and a can of cream of chicken soup. Either serve over egg noodles or pour in between 2 frozen pie shells.

 

[deadhedjen]

Halushki (noodles and cabbage)

One bag no-yolks noodles (big fat kind)
one half head of cabbage
stick of margarine (you don't even need the whole thing...maybe half)
salt/pepper


Dice up the cabbage and then fry in a pan with some margarine and salt/pepper to taste. cabbage is done when it looks kind of clear and browns just a bit.
while you're doing that, start boiling up the noodles (and obviously drain them when they are done)

when they're both done, stir them both together and that's it.

This is such an inepensive and yummy meal to make....and your kids will love it. The cabbage is soooooo sweet and tasty. My kids gobble it up!

A bag of noodles is about $1 (cheaper if you have a coupon), the margarine maybe .25, and the cabbage .75 or so.

Jennifer.

 

[THE HAT]

these are just super....always nice to get a spin on others budgets meals!!!