Cheap Meal Ideas

[APB513]

I'm getting hungry reading all of these great recipes!

 

[Cindi0511]

Oh, man, it's almost midnight and now I'm starving!

 

[mommyluvsmickey]

anyone have an recipes for Chinese dishes or asian or stir fry I love this stuff but need to stop eating out! plus need to eat healthier. Thank you

 

[mommyluvsmickey]

Cheap meals for us......Chicken Casserole 2 chicken breasts 1 can of cream of chicken soup 1 can of mushroom soup 2 boxes of stuffing mix. Beef stew small roast or beef tips whichever cheaper large can of Veg all 1 can of corn 1 can green beans 4small potatoes 1 large can of tomatoe juice This can feed us family of 4 about 3 days.

 

[Betty X]

This is awesome. You have to try it!

Hashbrown Potato Casserole

1 can Cream of chicken soup
500 mls Sour cream
1 cup (or more) Old cheese
1 small finely chopped onion
1 kg frozen hashbrowns
1 tbsp melted butter
salt and pepper (I use seasoning salt)

Bake in 450 F oven for 1.5 - 2 hrs. I can exist on this alone for the rest of my life!

 

[lyeag]

Does anyone on this board cook without salt and fat laden canned soup?

I think the same thing whenever I read threads like this.


Here is a good cheap meal for chicken soup

1 pack of chicken thighs (Or, if you have made a roast chicken, boil down the leftover)

8 cups of water

approx 1/4 cup chopped onion
several diced carrots and celery stalks

1/4 of a bag of egg noodles

3 bay leaves


1 Simmer chicken, onion, carrots,celery and bay leaves in about 8 cups of water for approx 45 minutes.

2 Take out chicken and set it aside to cool.

3. Add in the noodles. Pull apart the chicken meat and add as much as you want back into the soup. I usually don't use it all and make chicken salad out of the extra meat for sandwiches.

You can add salt and pepper to taste and some people will add a bullion cube or two for extra flavor.

This will make a pot of soup that will easily feed a family of five for dinner. I make a salad or sandwiches to go with it. We usually have enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.

 

[momx2]

I think the same thing whenever I read threads like this.


Here is a good cheap meal for chicken soup

1 pack of chicken thighs (Or, if you have made a roast chicken, boil down the leftover)

8 cups of water

approx 1/4 cup chopped onion
several diced carrots and celery stalks

1/4 of a bag of egg noodles

3 bay leaves


1 Simmer chicken, onion, carrots,celery and bay leaves in about 8 cups of water for approx 45 minutes.

2 Take out chicken and set it aside to cool.

3. Add in the noodles. Pull apart the chicken meat and add as much as you want back into the soup. I usually don't use it all and make chicken salad out of the extra meat for sandwiches.

You can add salt and pepper to taste and some people will add a bullion cube or two for extra flavor.

This will make a pot of soup that will easily feed a family of five for dinner. I make a salad or sandwiches to go with it. We usually have enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.

That sounds good! But to address the salt and fat laden soup. I don't use salt when cooking anything, but mashed potatoes. I also use 98% fat free cream of _______ soups and I use alot of reciepes that call for both things, but just omit the salt and use the ff soups and its fine and only pennies more expensive.

 

[hallie615]

Just wanted to thank the person or people with the salsa chicken crockpot idea. I made it last weekend and it was great!!

 

[lillygator]

any more great recipes?

 

[cinderellamom]

 

[lillygator]

tonight I made meatball subs with cucumber salad and put chili in the crock pot for tomorrow....plan on reusing the chili Thursday for chili dogs or chili fries/potato!!

 

[DJT]

My DH was just told he needs to be on a low fat diet. Does anyone have any good recipes for low fat/no fat cooking? Thanks!

Donna

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Someone was asking about chicken dumplings. Well they aren't 'real' dumplings but they sure are good...my mom always used the cheap packs of refrigerator biscuits and tore each biscuit into 3-4 pieces and threw them into the boiling chicken soup. Cook around 10 minutes, yummy. I also like to add some egg noodles but I am a carb freak!

 

[LauraR]

My DH was just told he needs to be on a low fat diet. Does anyone have any good recipes for low fat/no fat cooking? Thanks!

Donna

Here's one that has no fat:

Lentil-Vegetable Soup

1 C. lentils
8 C. water
1 C. chopped onions
1 C. chopped carrots
2-3 stalks celery, sliced
3-4 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp. each thyme, basil and cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
2 bay leaves
3 med. potatoes, in 1/2 inch dice
1 tsp. salt (and pepper to taste)
1 TB soy sauce or tamari

Bring lentils and water to a boil then reduce heat a little to a light boil. After 20 minutes add bay leaves, then celery, carrots, garlic and onions and seasonings (except salt and soy sauce). After another 10 minutes add potatoes and cook for a final 15 minutes. (45 minutes total cook time)
Remove from heat and add salt and soy sauce (or tamari)
We usually eat this served over basmati rice and sprinkled with cheddar cheese (but you can skip the cheese to keep it totally non-fat) It's very tasty and very healthy, hope you like it!

 

[Chickysmom]

**bump**

just bringing this to the front again...and hoping for some more really great ideas too!

 

[lillygator]

I am going to try this one tonight - found it on Kraft Foods
Chili Beef Stuffing Bake
1 box Stovetop Cornbread Stuffing Mix
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 can kidney beans
1 can tomato sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup shredded cheddar

Preheat oven to 375.
Add 1 2/3 cup water to stuffing mix until moistened, set aside.
Brown ground beef, drain. Add beans, tomato sauce and chili powder. Spoon into dish. Sprinkle with cheese and top with stuffing. Bake 30 min.

Sounds yummy!

 

[paslea_pooh]

1 pound lean ground beef
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans
1 can (11 to 15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes
1 sm can chopped chile peppers (4 ounces)
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing


Brown the ground beef; drain well. Add remaining ingredients and stir. simmer in slow cooker on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. serve with tortilla chips or Mexican cornbread.

You could also make this in a dutch oven on top of the stove.

 

[Reese]

My DH was just told he needs to be on a low fat diet. Does anyone have any good recipes for low fat/no fat cooking? Thanks!

Donna

You can replace margerine/butter in your baking recipes with applesauce. This keeps everything nice and moist and has no fat.

 

[ameraumi]

These have been great!

I always save my left over pot roast for beef & noodles. I cheat a little and use the following:

*Left over pot roast
*3 envelopes brown gravy mix
*egg noodles
*3-4 cups water

I bring water, gravy mix and pot roast to a boil. Add in egg noodles and reduce heat to low. Cover and stir occasionally.

I know this has been one thing my picky eater DH loves and asks for a lot.

 

[Chickysmom]

1 pound lean ground beef
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans
1 can (11 to 15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes
1 sm can chopped chile peppers (4 ounces)
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing


Brown the ground beef; drain well. Add remaining ingredients and stir. simmer in slow cooker on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. serve with tortilla chips or Mexican cornbread.

You could also make this in a dutch oven on top of the stove.

Next grocery trip I'm picking up the extras I need for this one! Sounds yummy! Anyone else have more idea for tasty cheap meals for families? I'm collecting as many as I can get my hands on of the "tried and true"...