What's your favorite super cheap meal?

[glaserjm]

Crock-pot chicken and dumplings:
1 lb. chicken breast or thigh (we buy a whole one and DH butchers it...much cheaper)
one small onion
One (or two depending on your tastes) can cream of chicken soup
One can of water
one package of refrigerated biscuit dough

Combine everything except the biscuits in the crockpot on low for 8 hours; tear up biscuits and drop them in for 1/2 hour.

Crockpot ropa vieja
one lb. lean stew meat
one can diced tomato and chilies
one onion
one Serrano or poblano pepper
1/4 cup vinegar (white or red)
one apple (cored and grated)
garlic, pepper, cumin, paprika to taste

Combine in crockpot for 8 hours on low, serve over rice or couscous

 

[barkley]

I agree with those who say look to what you have on hand and build on that.

mom and dad were depression era so much of what we ate came from the habits they acquired then-

chili-make a smaller batch and put it on top of a baked potato (same can be done with a small batch of homemade country sausage gravy).

stew-cut way back on the meat and supplement w/ less expensive veggies. we serve with bread or biscuits.

beans-do them from dry. serve them w/cornbread.


on buying meats-look to what the best sale price is. if you want strips (stroganoff/fajitas) or stew/soup meat check if roasts are on sale. the price difference can be huge-then just ask the butcher to cut it into the kind of meat you want (they look at me like I'm crazy when I have them grind up a beautiful roast into ground meat, but when I can save over 1.50 per pound AND the fat content is much lower it saves me $$$). when pork is on sale we buy it and cut it into chops, or grind it (or have butcher do it) and package it. with the ground we just add the seasonings to make country, Italian or Andouille sausage at a fraction of the price.

after superbowl sunday check the stores for unadvertised sales on items. I've gotten tremendous deals on chicken wings, ribs and such that the store stocked up on for the game and is now trying to unload at great bargains.

 

[pixiewings71]

One more I just thought of.. I just bought two pork roasts from our local Aldi for 1.49/lb. They were about 2 1/2 lbs each. This recipe is awesome, but you need to find some smoked salt. I bought a jar of it at Home Goods for a couple of dollars and it has lasted me for a few years.

Slow-Cooker Kalua Pork

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 lb boneless pork shoulder roast
1 Tablespoon smoked salt

Rub salt into roast. Place in slow cooker and cook on low 8-10 hours or until meat shreds easily with a fork. That's it!

You can eat this on a sandwich like pulled pork, or use it in fajitas. Have it plain with mashed potatoes or macaroni salad. When I make it it usually feeds us for three meals. (Four of us - two kids are away at school.)

Seriously??? It's THAT Easy???? I love Kalua Pork and have a roast in my freezer, I could get about 3 meals out of it! LOL

Crock-pot chicken and dumplings:
1 lb. chicken breast or thigh (we buy a whole one and DH butchers it...much cheaper)
one small onion
One (or two depending on your tastes) can cream of chicken soup
One can of water
one package of refrigerated biscuit dough

Combine everything except the biscuits in the crockpot on low for 8 hours; tear up biscuits and drop them in for 1/2 hour.

Crockpot ropa vieja
one lb. lean stew meat
one can diced tomato and chilies
one onion
one Serrano or poblano pepper
1/4 cup vinegar (white or red)
one apple (cored and grated)
garlic, pepper, cumin, paprika to taste

Combine in crockpot for 8 hours on low, serve over rice or couscous

Those sound amazing! Thank You!!


OP one of our favorite meals is called Fiesta, you cook rice and chili (not together lol), put the rice on a plate, add the chili on top, then add things like cheese, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, hot sauce, guac (whatever you like on tacos), serve it with Fritos (my family crushes them up and puts them under the rice, I prefer it with Scoops and I use them to scoop and eat the mixture) and that's it. Super cheap, super easy.

 

[huggiebear23]

We love chili and it freezes so well, tacos are really good too..

I also go to Costco and buy there already made chickens. I pull the meat, make pot pies, fajitas, empanadas, and you can take the carcass to make stock or soup.

I also do a big sauce day. I buy can tomatoes when on sale use about 6 big cans, make meatballs sausage and I portion it out to make about 10 meals for my family. Also freeze some of the sauce for pizza bagels, homemade pizza. I tend to buy the more expensive stuff when it's on sale and freeze it..

This is a great thread..

I also buy a pork shoulder season salt pepper, oregano oil and vinegar. Bake for 6-7 hours and shred it. You can basically season it and use it for whatever recipe.

 

[tink2dw]

Chili Dogs

Can of Hunt Chili beans
Pack of hot dogs
package of Hot Dog Buns

cook hot dogs, microwave chili, then place hot dog bun on plate add hot dogs,add chili evenly over dogs. Enjoy!! It not another Ramen Noodle, although I love Ramen Noodles!!

 

[marmalade]

Couscous is inexpensive and goes a long way. 1 cup of coucous can feed my family of 4 with left-overs. Tonight I made it will broccoli, mushrooms, black beans and artichoke hearts and instead of water I use vegetable stock. It filled up a 3qt cast iron skillet.

The best part about couscous is you can pretty much add anything to it. Left over taco fixings? Make taco couscous. Left over ham? Make ham and broccoli couscous. You can add any vegetables to it for a meatless meal.

One of my families favorites in the summer is coucous with diced tomatoes and cucumbers and feta cheese with just enough italian dressing to coat everything.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Thanks everyone! Still recording everything.

FYI ground beef (the fattiest) is $3.99 - $4.99 here. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are often on sale for $1.99, but typically are around $2.99.

 

[garnetandblack]

You can always find boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.99lb - we eat A LOT of chicken, lol!

You can get chicken leg quarters for as low as $0.59lb and they are great under the broiler with BBQ sauce (we use the broiler since propane can be so expensive).

You can buy whole pork loins for $1.99lb and the butcher will slice them into boneless pork chops for free.

Pulled pork/chicken with BBQ sauce in the crockpot served on a bun with fresh slaw is a favorite and super cheap.

Crock pot chicken and dumplings

Spaghetti and salad

Chili and cornbread

Black beans and rice served with cheese, sour cream and salsa

We mostly just grill/broil a meat and serve it with a salad or vegetables and brown rice. Most meals cost under $2 per person and a lot of them are around $1.25. I also cook larger portions and we have it for lunch the next day.

 

[garnetandblack]

I forgot another fall/winter favorite...

Chicken leg quarters cooked over potatoes, carrots and onions with chicken broth. I just use salt and pepper to season and it is sooo good. You could also use split chicken breast but make sure you use bone in or the chicken will be dry.

 

[garnetandblack]

One more post, lol!

I always use ground turkey instead of ground beef because it's cheaper. I also always add a lot of beans to my chili - it really stretches the meat out. I always buy my beans dry - cheaper and a lot healthier. I shop at Aldi a lot for fresh produce - if you have one I highly suggest going there.

Also, portion control! 1 chicken breast feeds all 3 of us (DS is almost 4) - I slice the chicken and it makes it appear like we are eating more. I just serve it with a large portion of veggies! Brown rice (or white) is also super cheap and filling!

Another great side is roasted red potatoes. A 5lb bag is always under $2 - I cut them up (leave the skin on), add some spices, olive oil and a little butter. Bake covered on 350 for 45 minutes and uncovered for 15. SOOO good. Great with the BBQ chicken leg quarters and corn on the cob!

I always cook from scratch. I don't touch the boxed stuff (hamburger helper) and never use spice packets. It's a lot cheaper and healthier to use your own spices for chili, tacos, etc.

 

[hsmamato2]

Puerto Rican rice and beans (got recipe from a family friend)

 

[hsmamato2]

Thanks everyone! Still recording everything.

FYI ground beef (the fattiest) is $3.99 - $4.99 here. Boneless skinless chicken breasts are often on sale for $1.99, but typically are around $2.99.

when meats go on sale,buy in bulk- then repackage and freeze at home for instance buy a large beef roast on sale, I bring home and divide into meal size portions for 4 of us- then freeze. Keep a list written on your freezer to plan meals with what you have stocked.(I just brought home 2 large packs of Ch. breast from a sale,divided,and also sliced it into thin pieces,then froze-2 large packs created 6 smaller freezer packs) you don't need a ton of room for this

 

[njmom47]

To use up leftover chicken or turkey, I make Divan.
One can of "cream of soup" mixed with milk (or a can of evaporated milk), a bag of frozen broccoli (or fresh if it's on sale), a bag of shredded cheddar (or shred your own). Can be done for $5 or less if you use leftover meat.

 

[Minnesota!]

Couscous is inexpensive and goes a long way. 1 cup of coucous can feed my family of 4 with left-overs. Tonight I made it will broccoli, mushrooms, black beans and artichoke hearts and instead of water I use vegetable stock. It filled up a 3qt cast iron skillet.

The best part about couscous is you can pretty much add anything to it. Left over taco fixings? Make taco couscous. Left over ham? Make ham and broccoli couscous. You can add any vegetables to it for a meatless meal.

One of my families favorites in the summer is coucous with diced tomatoes and cucumbers and feta cheese with just enough italian dressing to coat everything.

This is how we are with quinoa and farro. Both are so versatile. You could eat it every day and it feel like a new meal. A cup of quinoa is a few meals for my family. Add in beans, veggies, meat, seasoning. YUM!

 

[worm761]

Can't remember if anyone posted this but quesadillas! You can put anything in them. I know. My teen son could live on them and puts just about anything into one!

We had turkey and balsamic onion quesadillas tonight.
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/turkey_balsamic_onion_quesadillas.html

The only thing I do different is use leftover turkey or chicken instead of deli meat (I avoid deli meat for health reasons).

 

[crazelion]

Do forget buy whole turkey and ham have leftovers for a lot meals.

My kids favorite is ham and turkey eggs together. LOL I think gross. But they love it.

 

[pixiewings71]

One more post, lol!

I always use ground turkey instead of ground beef because it's cheaper. I also always add a lot of beans to my chili - it really stretches the meat out. I always buy my beans dry - cheaper and a lot healthier. I shop at Aldi a lot for fresh produce - if you have one I highly suggest going there.

Also, portion control! 1 chicken breast feeds all 3 of us (DS is almost 4) - I slice the chicken and it makes it appear like we are eating more. I just serve it with a large portion of veggies! Brown rice (or white) is also super cheap and filling!

Another great side is roasted red potatoes. A 5lb bag is always under $2 - I cut them up (leave the skin on), add some spices, olive oil and a little butter. Bake covered on 350 for 45 minutes and uncovered for 15. SOOO good. Great with the BBQ chicken leg quarters and corn on the cob!

I always cook from scratch. I don't touch the boxed stuff (hamburger helper) and never use spice packets. It's a lot cheaper and healthier to use your own spices for chili, tacos, etc.

Here ground turkey and ground chicken are more than hamburger, I can get a lb of hamburger for $2.50 (for the good stuff) but turkey and chicken are $3.99 each (per lb). :/ Wish I could get turkey for a better price. I do 2 chicken breasts for our family of 4, I slice it up too and serve with a big salad and some kind of bread, rice or potatoes on the side. I made fried rice last night, that will go well with some chicken!

when meats go on sale,buy in bulk- then repackage and freeze at home for instance buy a large beef roast on sale, I bring home and divide into meal size portions for 4 of us- then freeze. Keep a list written on your freezer to plan meals with what you have stocked.(I just brought home 2 large packs of Ch. breast from a sale,divided,and also sliced it into thin pieces,then froze-2 large packs created 6 smaller freezer packs) you don't need a ton of room for this

I always buy in bulk when I can, I got some hamburger yesterday, 2 3 lb packages for $9 each. So $3 per lb. slightly higher grade then I normally get so I couldn't pass it up.

 

[dpswift]

Homemade chicken soup. Can be as plain or fancy as you like. The kids and I like it with just onions and noodles, DH likes vegetables in his. You can take out some of the meat for fried rice or jambalaya.

A pork shoulder in a crockpot goes along way.

Also when making hamburger helper we use half the meat called for.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I don't think any one said this yet....

A great way to keep the grocery bill down is to ONLY buy what is on sale. You have to use the weekly flyers to make your meal plan for the week. You also have to have a small amount of grocery money held in reserve for the times that something your family eats a lot is deeply discounted so that you can stock up.

Use coupons.....there are plenty to be found online.

I have a friend that spends $200/week on groceries....they are a family of 2 adults and 2 kids age 2 and 7. My family only spends $60-$80 per week on groceries...we are a family of 4 adults. The difference? I only buy what is on sale.


BTW...I envy all of you that say you can get chicken breast for $2/lb. Where I live it's $6-7/lb and the rare occasion that it goes on sale it's $4/lb. Also, milk....here it's between $4 and $7 for the equivalent of a gallon.

 

[kymom99]

I second the suggestion to find and Aldis and shop there. Yesterday I bought a container of pulled pork BBQ for $3.99. It was EXCELLENT! The label said 4 servings, but the 3 of us finished it off. I know you could maybe make it cheaper, but it is great for a fast meal. It suggested microwave heating. I got buns for $.89. I also bought sandwich skinnies and they are really good too. 90calories each. Aldis has the best price on milk and eggs around here. They also have huge pizzas for a great price and they are really good.

My mom would make garlic toasted buns out of left over hamburger buns, and I stole this idea from her. A little butter and garlic salt and 5-10 minutes in the oven.

I am not a big home cooking girl, but I try now and then. Sometimes opening a package or can is sufficient for us. My men like cheese coneys so I get a pack of buns, a can of skyline chili, and some shredded cheese and make them myself. I always have hot dogs in the freezer. $5 at the most and some leftovers too.