Need cheap dinner ideas so i can go to disney again!

[Fantastic4]

I disagree with those saying you can't lower your budget by that much. We are a family of 4 and my budget is $300 a month. We do scrambled eggs with spinach about once a week for dinner. A cheap pasta (meatless) once a week and a new favorite is sliced turkey kielbasa with potatoes and broccoli baked on a cookie sheet with a little salt and pepper and shredded parm/asiago cheese.

 

[Lisa71]

Looked at budget bytes and great recipes !! DH is vegetarian and parents who are here often are vegan... Lots of recipes with meat and without!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[mrzrich]

HA! Yes, you sound like my hubby. But I love being a stay at home mom!

I'm scratching my head here, because I feel like you are splitting hairs. You'll work 4 days a month but not 5 or 6? How does working that extra day take you from SAHM to working mom? Especially considering that your children are school aged.

You'd rather slash you grocery budget by 40%?

I think school aged kids would be more traumatized by having ramen noodles, ground beef and peas for dinner than they would if their mom worked an one more day a month.

 

[wvjules]

My family of four can do three meals easy from a rotisserie chicken. Chicken on night one - something with the leftover meat (like chicken tacos, or chicken in a stirfry on day two, chicken soup on day three)

We do some polenta meals - polenta with sausage, peppers and mushrooms or spinich and leeks or frankly whatever looks good or is in the fridge. Ratatouille over polenta is wonderful - and a farmers market staple.

Rice is another staple.

If you don't bake bread, start. I don't do it anymore because I'm gluten free (or try to be) and fresh bread in the house is too tempting and then I'm crampy all the time - but you can bake good bread for far less than $1 a loaf. And its easy to do if you are home (its a pain to do if you are working because you need to be home to have it rise).

I'm always amazed at how many meals some get out of their rotisserie chickens. They must be HUGE chickens! My family of 2 (sometimes 3 depending if DD is home for dinner that night) can maybe get 2 meals out of them. The ones I buy must be small in comparison.

 

[mrzrich]

I'm always amazed at how many meals some get out of their rotisserie chickens. They must be HUGE chickens! My family of 2 (sometimes 3 depending if DD is home for dinner that night) can maybe get 2 meals out of them. The ones I buy must be small in comparison.

There are different sized chickens out there. The ones that Sam's Club sells for $5 are much bigger compared to the ones that Publix charges $7 for.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm always amazed at how many meals some get out of their rotisserie chickens. They must be HUGE chickens! My family of 2 (sometimes 3 depending if DD is home for dinner that night) can maybe get 2 meals out of them. The ones I buy must be small in comparison.

I make my own rotisserie chicken and I do get 3 meals out of one bird. The first meal is dinner, the second is chicken salad sandwiches for lunch and the third meal is chicken soup from the carcass and attached meat. That would be for 2 of us with a little leftover soup to freeze for one of the college kids.

 

[crisi]

I'm always amazed at how many meals some get out of their rotisserie chickens. They must be HUGE chickens! My family of 2 (sometimes 3 depending if DD is home for dinner that night) can maybe get 2 meals out of them. The ones I buy must be small in comparison.

You are probably having a lot more meat with each meal. When we do a rotisserie chicken, my two kids each get a drumstick and my husband and I split one breast. That leaves all the thigh meat, the other breast, the wings and all the other "bits" available for for a second - or even a third - meal. The carcass is the base for chicken stock, which usually doesn't have chicken meat in it - usually rice (white or wild or both) and vegetables. The second meal isn't meat centered - its something like tacos with refried beans and chicken. Or a pasta with chicken.

When I make a baked chicken, we can get three or four meals out in this fashion.

This is my favorite blog post on "rubber chicken" - note she is feeding two, so she stretches it farther. http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2009/02/1-chicken-17-healthy-meals-26-bucks-no.html. The only one I didn't like in there was the chicken curry - which was more disappointing than not good, but both the white chicken chili and the chicken picadillo became staples.

If you center your meals around the chicken - you really don't get too many meals from your chicken (or other meat). If you treat meat like a side dish - the meat goes further as does your grocery budget.

(Another favorite - cheap, but doesn't have anything to do with chicken - eggs poached in creamed spinach. Eggs and frozen spinach is CHEAP - even the organic kind. Add some half and half and a little butter and some nutmeg to cream it, and poach eggs in it. Serve with the bread that you make yourself because $4 for a loaf of good bread is highway robbery).

 

[java]

I find planning ahead saves money. Look at the supermarket circulars and see what is on sale. Like this week Ronzoni pasta is .59 in my store. So we are having something with pasta one day plus I bought extra to have for other weeks etc. I try to have all items to make 7 meals for a particular week. Then if I have enough leftovers and don't need the meal I carry it over to the following week. I find planning the meals out helps in not have to run to the store for last minute items that are not on sale or from ordering out.

I stocked up there on pasta as well (and will probably go back and buy more) I also bought the tutorossa tomatoes that were on sale a case of them for like $6.50

So box of pasta can of crushed tomatoes. Dinner for 6 for $1 (but I will add salad and bread)

I bought Ham last week. Roasted it first night for dinner, next day ham and cheese pasta, few days later made ham and cheese biscuits. Big stretch on a $10 ham

 

[kelconic]

First one that comes to mind is an easy, hamburgar-pasta dish. You can spice it up or down to fit your tastes.
1950s Easy Supper

1 pound ground beef
3 cups dry noodles ( I use whole wheat rotini)
3 cups tomato juice (I use Spicy Vegetable Juice)
2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
2 tsps. Celery salt
1 tsp. dried basil
1 clove garlic
1 onion chopped
1 jalapeno ( chopped fine) - optional
1 can corn (if desired)

1. In Dutch Oven or Pot (6-8 qt) Brown ground beef, add onion,jalapeno & garlic, cook till tender.
2. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes.
For our own personal taste (dh and i) I add one can of Ro Tel (we love spice).

I'll post some others in a couple of days. We've had a rough week and will be gone again for a day or two.
I love your thread because most of us can cut back in some area to make 'our dreams come true'.

I'm trying this one tonight. Thanks!!

 

[kelconic]

To everyone who has given recipes and meal/website ideas, thank you. Keep them coming!

 

[MEM]

I'm always amazed at how many meals some get out of their rotisserie chickens. They must be HUGE chickens! My family of 2 (sometimes 3 depending if DD is home for dinner that night) can maybe get 2 meals out of them. The ones I buy must be small in comparison.

We get the rotisserie chicken at Costco for $5.00 - its a decent size. DH, DD17 and I share one breast and a half. DS19 has both drumsticks. I serve two veg on the side, sometimes roasted potatoes too. The other half breast and the wings as well as random chunks stuck here and there are saved for chicken fried rice. I put the carcass in the crockpot overnight, chill it in the a.m. to congeal the fat and then make chicken soup, adding celery, carrots, onions, white beans, kale and possibly noodles or potatoes, sometimes a can of diced tomatoes. I'll admit I wasn't raised this way - 6 of us would eat 2 chickens!!! And Mum could not be bothered to make soup. We think of meat as a condiment rather than the main event.

 

[Minnesota!]

we are a family of 4 who budgets about $350/month on groceries. Some of these budgets on here blow me away!

We do taco salads, spaghetti, walnut noodles with broccoli, soup/stew, and a lot of fish.

A lot of my cooking is "carry over" cooking - the leftover taco stuff gets made into salads for lunches, the leftover roasts become hash or beef soup, etc. Nothing goes to waste.

we do brinner, we do egg mcmuffins and fruit, we do a lot of pork roasts - so versatile!!

 

[ArmchairDetective]

You can check out Utterly Scrummy's meal plan site. They have a weekly break down with meal plans for a family of four for under $100/wk.

We budget $300/mo for a family of three and usually do one big buy at Sam's buying meat and bulk items, one big buy at Aldi buying produce and staples, and the other rest is miscellaneous or one special dinner per month.

We make do with less by buying cheaper cuts of meat, like chicken thighs or flank steak, and then slow cooking them to tastiness. Marinades, crockpots, and dutch ovens are your friends! It can be done!

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I was just reading some of these to ,y husband and he was shocked. He is big on protein like fish, cjicken, steak ..for most meals. Even when we have pasta it has meat sauce, shrimp, chicken..in it. I wanted him to hear how other people do just fine with less food costs.

Needless to say ur budget is much higher than most of yours. We also do lots of fresh produce. zfrom berries, melons, apples to salads, broc, cauli,...

He is from a restaurant family ansd his mom, aunts, grandmas and such always cooked from scratch for the most part. He doesn't like any frozen meals. He even fusses at crock pot meals.

I am going to try a couple recipes here and from websites that were recommended. I would really like to trim our numbers down.

 

[worm761]

we are a family of 4 who budgets about $350/month on groceries. Some of these budgets on here blow me away!

We do taco salads, spaghetti, walnut noodles with broccoli, soup/stew, and a lot of fish.

A lot of my cooking is "carry over" cooking - the leftover taco stuff gets made into salads for lunches, the leftover roasts become hash or beef soup, etc. Nothing goes to waste.

we do brinner, we do egg mcmuffins and fruit, we do a lot of pork roasts - so versatile!!

Can you share what you do with pork roasts? My dad, God love him, went to the store today. He came home with a ton of meat. Not complaining! I swear. BUT I have not clue what to do with all these pork roasts. I have close to 10 or 12 pork roasts now sitting in my freezer. We broke them down because most were too big for just one meal. It will save my grocery budget but I only know a few things to do with them. Any help is appreciated!

I was just reading some of these to ,y husband and he was shocked. He is big on protein like fish, cjicken, steak ..for most meals. Even when we have pasta it has meat sauce, shrimp, chicken..in it. I wanted him to hear how other people do just fine with less food costs.

Needless to say ur budget is much higher than most of yours. We also do lots of fresh produce. zfrom berries, melons, apples to salads, broc, cauli,...

He is from a restaurant family ansd his mom, aunts, grandmas and such always cooked from scratch for the most part. He doesn't like any frozen meals. He even fusses at crock pot meals.

I am going to try a couple recipes here and from websites that were recommended. I would really like to trim our numbers down.

I have a bigger grocery budget than most here too I think. And I am with your husband. Freezer meals can be made at home cheaper and healthier. I am not a big fan of the crock pot. I own one but rarely use it because I just don't care for the way food tastes out of it. So he isn't the only one! Though I cook everything from scratch too! My most fantastical, best ever husband bought me a Kitchenaide AND the pasta attachment for Christmas. Ravioli, pastas, perogies...all so much easier now!

 

[mrzrich]

Can you share what you do with pork roasts?!

Pork Carnitas
(recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated)
4 pound boneless pork butt, fat trimmed and cut into 2 inch cubes
1 1/2 tsp salt


3/4 tsp pepper


1 tsp ground cumin
1 onion, peeled and halved
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried oregano
2 Tb fresh lime juice
2 C water
1 medium orange, juiced and keep the spent halves

1. Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and heat to 300 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in a large Dutch oven, including the spent orange halves and juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, uncovered. Once it simmers, cover pot and transfer it to the oven. Cook until the meat falls apart when prodded with a fork, about 2 hours.
2. Remove the pot from the oven and turn on the broiler. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat from the pan and place it on a large foil-lined jelly roll pan. Remove and discard everything from the pot except for the cooking liquid. Place pot over high heat on the stove and boil until thick and syrupy, about 20 minutes. You should have about 1 C of liquid remaining when it is finished.
3. While the liquid is reducing, use two forks to pull each cube of pork into three equal sized pieces. Once the liquid has become a syrup, gently fold in the pieces of pork into the pot. Try not to break up the pork any further. Taste and add additional salt and pepper.
4. Spread the pork back onto the foil lined pan and evenly spread the meat around so there is a single layer of meat. Place the jelly roll pan on the lower middle rack of the oven and broil until the top of the meat is well browned and edges are slightly crisp, about 5 to 8 minutes. Using a wide metal spatula, flip the pieces of meat and broil the other side until well browned and edges are slightly crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately in a tortilla with all your favorite toppings.

 

[minnie1012]

Can you share what you do with pork roasts? My dad, God love him, went to the store today. He came home with a ton of meat. Not complaining! I swear. BUT I have not clue what to do with all these pork roasts. I have close to 10 or 12 pork roasts now sitting in my freezer. We broke them down because most were too big for just one meal. It will save my grocery budget but I only know a few things to do with them. Any help is appreciated!


I like this one for pork: I don't cook it as long as it says because my crock pot cooks very high. It says pork tenderloin but I make it with pork roasts

http://www.food.com/recipe/tasty-pork-tenderloin-183694

 

[crisi]

I was just reading some of these to ,y husband and he was shocked. He is big on protein like fish, cjicken, steak ..for most meals. Even when we have pasta it has meat sauce, shrimp, chicken..in it. I wanted him to hear how other people do just fine with less food costs.

Needless to say ur budget is much higher than most of yours. We also do lots of fresh produce. zfrom berries, melons, apples to salads, broc, cauli,...

He is from a restaurant family ansd his mom, aunts, grandmas and such always cooked from scratch for the most part. He doesn't like any frozen meals. He even fusses at crock pot meals.

I am going to try a couple recipes here and from websites that were recommended. I would really like to trim our numbers down.

You want to make sure you get protein, but a serving is only about 3oz of meat. And alternative protein sources - like beans or eggs - stretch a budget.

 

[blanq]

My go to cheap dinner is Breakfast for dinner. Omletes and Bacon/Sausage or Pancakes and Bacon/Sausage.

Yes…breakfast for dinner! We do this often. I love to make a frittata for dinner. You can add any combination of veggies, meats and or cheese (I love sausage, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and goat cheese). I like to serve it with a side of fruit or hash browns. Also, I make homemade waffles, french toast and pancakes and all are cheap, cheap, cheap.

Stuffed baked potatoes make a fairly cheap meal, and you can stuff them with lots of different toppings like ham, cheese and broccoli; chili and cheese; or even top with Philly cheesesteak or pizza ingredients.

We like grilled cheese with tomato soup once in awhile. Actually most sandwich/soup combos are fairly inexpensive.

How about making a batch of homemade meatballs (when ground beef or ground turkey is on sale) and freezing them? You can drop them into spaghetti sauce, or make meatballs subs.

We also love souped up baked beans. I caramelize chopped onions, add canned baked beans, cooked ground hamburger (or diced ham or even sliced hot dogs), ketchup, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, and worcestershire. I then throw it into a casserole dish and bake at 350 until it is bubbly.

Finally, we LOVE lemon basil pasta. I really don't have a recipe. I just cook spaghetti noodles and add olive oil, lemon juice and zest, fresh basil, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and red chili flakes. Man, I could live on that stuff.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Some great cheap dinner ideas here! I like the breakfast for dinner. My mom taught me the egg and potato omelette. So good. Coat a frying pan with olive oil and throw in diced up (small pieces) of potatoes. Once softer and browned a bit, add your egg mixture like you would any omelette. Cook til done. We love them. French toast or pancakes is quick cheap and easy too.

Any pasta dish- penne vodka, baked ziti, lasagna. Make enough for leftovers to get 2 dinners out of.

Rice and bean quesadilla's, meat loaf.