Looking for good MEATLESS recipes

[RN01]

I know meat is the most expensive part of your meal so I'm looking for some new meatless meals to make to save a little money. I have a corn and black bean quesadillas that are great. Anyone have any other really good recipes?

 

[vicki_c]

http://eatathomecooks.com/

She just had a vegetarian menu posted on the blog on Monday, just scroll down the page a bit past the ham entry.

 

[si-am]

I don't cook much meat at home but I am kind of in a rut of Mexican, Italian, and soup.

Quesadillas/nachos/burritos are all really easy to make without meat.

So is pasta, obviously. (Simple pasta with good sauce and a salad or stuffed shells, eggplant parmesan, etc.)

I also like meals of different veggies with mac n' cheese. (Mac n' cheese, black eyed peas, and fried okra, for example. Not healthy though!)

Honestly a lot of recipes I've found that are healthy are even more expensive than meat because of all the fresh veggies and herbs.

 

[Marionnette]

I know meat is the most expensive part of your meal so I'm looking for some new meatless meals to make to save a little money. I have a corn and black bean quesadillas that are great. Anyone have any other really good recipes?

I've made this recipe a couple of times (saw it posted on the disboards a few years ago). It's definitely meatless (uses lentils) but I wouldn't go so far as to label it "budget". The cherry tomatoes and other fresh veggies in it are cheaper in summer which is not exactly a time when you want to turn the oven on.

Veronica's Veggie Meatloaf with Checca Sauce
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...-meatloaf-with-checca-sauce-recipe/index.html

 

[TiffanyK]

http://eatathomecooks.com/

She just had a vegetarian menu posted on the blog on Monday, just scroll down the page a bit past the ham entry.

Thanks for sharing my blog Here's the link to my vegetarian category. And here's the direct link to the vegetarian menu + grocery list I posted Monday.

 

[PartyFromSaturn]

I hope you like mushrooms! I have found that eating lots of those helps us go meatless.

We make vegetable pizza, black bean nachos, salads, and Chinese food. I don't have any recipes though, I just make it all up with whatever we have on hand.

Good luck! DH and I were just discussion how this has saved us quite a bit of money! We will use it to eat a huge meal at Disney!

 

[Mrs. Sojourner]

One of our cheap and easy meals adapted from an old WW recipe:
Ramen Noodles cooked and drained.
Use 1/2 seasoning packet(s) and soy sauce to taste.
Saute whatever veggies you like to go with it.
(Our personal faves are onions, mushrooms, peppers, and zuchinni.)

 

[happymommy]

Preface: I studied to be a dietician, but after another degree, quit to become a stay at home mom. But I do recall in one nutritian class, discussing reasons to be a vegetarian. Our instructor did point out (which of course applied to me in undergrad) that meat is relatively inexpensive in the US. It's more of a religious, moral, or health concern that many go meatless.

I find ground beef, roasts, and chicken thighs are relatively inexpensive. Also, around the holidays, you can get deals on whole frozen turkeys for pennies (I've gotten nice large birds for less than $10, and roasted they made one meal, then afterwards I made tetrazzini, sandwiches, AND soups so it made a few meals). So you can do meat as an inexpensive protein.

If you are looking for meatless, I like quinoa pilaf. I was so excited that our Costco sells quinoa now in large bags - I cook it in chicken or vegetable broth (make it a bit on the dry side, so for one can of broth, use about a cup and a half of quinoa rinsed). I then saute some onion, celery, and carrot in olive oil with some garlic salt (I actually use Adobo seasoning). Mix it all up with some frozen peas, and it's got complete protein. It's a nice side dish too.

Eggs are cheap - a "breakfast for dinner" with some hearty cheese omlettes and some potatoes is a nice meal. Or quiche - I do crustless too.

Falafel? I make it into patties for sandwiches. I buy the mix - it's so easy. Yum.

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks for sharing my blog Here's the link to my vegetarian category. And here's the direct link to the vegetarian menu + grocery list I posted Monday.

Yes and I'm sorry Tiffany, I blanked on your name while I was writing it!

 

[sydneysmom]

Thanks for sharing my blog Here's the link to my vegetarian category. And here's the direct link to the vegetarian menu + grocery list I posted Monday.

I just subscribed for emails.... your site is fantastic !! I can't wait to try some of your recipes!!

 

[DisneyMOM09]

I like the idea of going meatless. I have decided to do one meal a week as meatless, not just to save money, but also to help my family eat healthier (and to help with my weight loss). This week we had baked spagetti, which is something I would usually put ground beef in. It's super simple and easy to make. Instead of meat I added extra tomatoes, onions and bell peppers (also summer squash cut into small peices if we have it).
I just use a jar sauce and add extra veggies, saute vegggies and then add sauce and warm, cook my noodles, once the noodles are done I drain them and them stir my sauce into the noodles, place in a casserole dish and top with part skim mozzarella, bake in oven until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
I didn't tell my husband ahead of time and honestly he didn't even realize that the meat was missing. He's a meat eater and feels like you can't have a meal if meat isn't involved so I have to make meatless meals that really are hearty.

 

[tlbwriter]

I like to use eggplant in my spaghetti sauce instead of meat sometimes. Saute the heck out of it in olive oil, then proceed with your usual sauce.

 

[sydneysmom]

I like to use eggplant in my spaghetti sauce instead of meat sometimes. Saute the heck out of it in olive oil, then proceed with your usual sauce.

I do this only w/ mushrooms and spinach. I chop up the mushrooms and sautee them w/ onions and spinach & garlic then add to the sauce. it's awesome!!

 

[rumrunnergirl]

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

One of our cheap and easy meals adapted from an old WW recipe:
Ramen Noodles cooked and drained.
Use 1/2 seasoning packet(s) and soy sauce to taste.

This meal must be extremely high in sodium - not healthy.

Check out the Cooking Light website. They have lots of great meatless/low calorie meals. Examples which I have made and are delicious:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/easy-meatless-manicotti-10000001054851/

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/ma-po-tofu-10000001011234/
(I omit the pork)

 

[Swimalie]

I know meat is the most expensive part of your meal so I'm looking for some new meatless meals to make to save a little money. I have a corn and black bean quesadillas that are great. Anyone have any other really good recipes?

My son loves quesadillas. Could you post the recipe?

I have several meatless ones that I cook on a regular basis (most are pasta). Angel hair pasta in a lemons parsley sauce, baked ziti, mac and cheese (and it's low fat!), etc.

 

[princessnoelly]

We do lentils and lots of chick pea's. My DD6 is allergic to dairy and eggs so when we don't cook with meat I can't use cheese (and I Love cheese!).

What about beans? Rice? Pot stickers? We do a fish night once a week- sometimes it is just a few shrimp with some stir fry or thrown into a soup.

 

[scrapquitler]

Don't forget that great budget standby: Eggs. You can use them to make a bunch of different kinds of meals, and you can add lots of veggies (great for whatever leftovers are in your fridge) or just tiny amounts of meat for a bit 'extra' Try frittatas, omelettes, quiches of different varieties.

Other meatless meals I make mostly involve pasta (macaroni and cheese, raviolis, pasta with various sauces, cheese lasagna). Again, most of those are easy to add little bits of meat if your family is objecting to the lack of meat.

I also like to make lots of soups (again, those leftovers in the bottom of the produce drawer, toss them in a rubbermaid container in the freezer until you have a bunch and a good variety). Stir fry or things like spring rolls/egg rolls are another good way to make filling meals without meat and they aren't hard to do.

My family also loves fried dough (not the healthiest, but a good treat a few times a year), waffles or french toast for dinner, bagel pizzas,

 

[RN01]

My son loves quesadillas. Could you post the recipe?

QUOTE]

I'll try to remember it. I'm at work and the recipe is at home.

Take 1 cup of frozen corn and cook it on a skillit for a 2-3 min. Remove and add small amount of chopped red onion and garlic and cook. Then add 1 can of rinsed black beans and tablespoon of chili powder and cook untill hot. Mix corn and bean mixture together in a bowl and add a few tablespoons of lime juice. Make the quesidellas on the same skillit adding the bean mixture along with cheese. My hubby adds hot peppers to his and I add sour cream. Hope this wasn't too confusing since I was doing it from memory but this is making me hungry!

 

[starwood]

Portabella Mushroom Stroganoff

This is a rich and meaty-tasting vegetarian stroganoff made with portobello mushrooms, and served over egg noodles. It is quick to make, and tastes delicious.

-= Ingredients =-
3 tablespoons Butter
1 large Onion ; chopped
3/4 pound Portabella Mushrooms ; sliced
1 1/2 cups Vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups Sour cream
3 tablespoons Flour
1/4 cup Parsley ; chopped
8 ounces Egg Noodles

-= Instructions =-
1.) Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles, and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside.
2.) At the same time, melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring until softened. Turn the heat up to medium-high, and add sliced mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are limp and browned. Remove to a bowl, and set aside.
3.) In the same skillet, stir in vegetable broth, being sure to stir in any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil, and cook until the mixture has reduced by 1/3. Reduce heat to low, and return the mushrooms and onion to the skillet.
4.) Remove the pan from the heat, stir together the sour cream and flour; then blend into the mushrooms. Return the skillet to the burner, and continue cooking over low heat, just until the sauce thickens. Stir in the parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
5.) Serve over cooked egg noodles.