Your family's favorite cheap meal?

[staceyfe]

Americans are the only people that prefer poultry white meat...get over the white meat thing, save money and enjoy some poultry w/ taste !!! Any dish calling for white meat can be made w/ dark meat...cheaper and better.

Huh? Ok, I'll give you that a whole chicken is cheaper and I'll even give you that it, in your opinion, tastes better. But "get over the white meat thing". Well, I better stop now.

 

[ladysoleil]

I do love white meat poultry. If you brine the chicken properly before cooking, and don't over cook, it's plenty tender and juicy.

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/images/document/otherdoc/ND01_ISBriningbasics.pdf

This link explains how and why brining works, and how to do it. Don't be afraid of the salt, unless you're really sodium sensitive. It really does make a difference in the juiciness of poultry and pork, in particular.

But, that said, a cheap and tasty meal is to throw a couple of pounds of chicken thighs in your crockpot with a couple of cans of tomato sauce, and some peppers and onions and chipotle sauce if you want spicy. The meat falls off the bone and is extremely flavorful. Serve over spaghetti for italian style, or shred the meat off the bones for a great burrito/taco filling.

 

[kehouse]

Jimmy Dean Sausage Balls

I can't take credit for this one, found it on the Jimmy Dean website. It not the cheapest thing, but not terribly expensive and goes over great.

2 pounds Jimmy Dean sausage (the ground up type)

1 cup bisquick

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

finely diced onion and celery

1 tsp garlic salt (more or less to taste)

mix all ingredients and bake on an ungreased cookied sheet 350 for about 20 minutes. Its important that the cookie sheet be ungreased, don't even spray Pam on it, or the meatballs will comes out "kissed" on the bottom.

They are great to make up in advance as they store well in the fridge, just heat up in the microwave. Great served with sour cream.

i love these, but i add a jar or apricot jam on top.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Tuna, Pasta, Peas

1 can of solid white tuna
1 lb. of your favorite pasta (not spagetti)
1 can of spring peas
3 table spoons of mayo

Mix and serve! Cost: $2.98 then divide by how many it will serve (6) $.50/serving.

 

[dis-happy]

I was able to save a lot of money by planning 3 meatless entrees a week---one pasta night, one egg night, one soup night. Then I had several recipes to choose from in each category, like quiche for the egg meal.

Anytime you plan you'll save money...it's that mad dash for dinner at the last minute that ruins your budget.

From a whole chicken, I could ususally get 3 meals: one with roasted chicken breast sliced, one with the rest of the chicken diced up and added to a cream sauce, one with soup made from the carcass.

Someone else already mentioned...baked potato night is cheap and filling too, especially if you add some brocolli and cheese.

Graet thread, y'all--thanks for the new ideas!

 

[BWVDenise]

This the the best chicken & dumplings I've ever had! DS9(picky) loves it and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO easy:

2 chicken breast--boneless/skinless ($1-2 on sale)
1 can cream chicken soup (Aldis-$.43)
2 T margarine
2 cans cheapest bisquits you can find ($.50)
1 soup can of water

Put the chicken breasts in a crockpot, top w/ soup, margarine, and water. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Then, shred the chicken w/ 2 forks and stir. 45 minutes before serving, add cut up bisquits (I use a pizza cutter and cut them into fourths) and let cook until done. Serve and enjoy!

I've taken this to church potluck twice and get rave reviews. I still can't believe how easy it is! I serve w/ mashed potatoes and peas or green beans. Total cost: approximately $4-4.50. Not super cheap but sure is good!

I'm going to try this but I have a question for you... do you mix the bisquits in, or just drop them on top?

 

[BWVDenise]

My mom made this when I was little, and now I'm making it for my family! We call it "Glop".
Brown and drain 1lb of hamburger and boil a cheap pack of small elbow macaroni. Mix them together in casserole dish with a can of baked beans (we like Bush's homestyle) and some shredded cheddar cheese. 350 for 1/2 hour--yum!!

I made up something similar recently and my kids go nuts over it! I season the ground beef with some soy sauce, onion powder, and Season-All. Add the Bush's homestyle, 6-10 slices of American cheese, heat it all up stove top, and serve it over white rice. I didn't know what to call it, so it became Mom's Special Surprise. Kind of dumb, but I can't believe how much they gobble it up.

 

[LauraR]

Here's something I think is quick, cheap and easy (also healthy):

Black Bean Soup

3 cans black beans (15 oz.)
1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz.)
1 med. to lg. onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 C. diced sundried tomatoes (I use the ones in a bag, not in oil)
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. cumin

Serve over cooked rice

can garnish with chopped cilantro, sour cream and/or lime wedges

Saute chopped onion in oil for 5 min (in large pot). Add garlic, saute 1 min. more. Add tomatoes, sundried tomatoes and seasonings and cook 5 min. more. Place in food processor and puree (you can leave some beans whole if you like the texture better).

This is very fast. You can usually get it on the table in 15 minutes, depending on how quickly your rice cooks! It can be even cheaper if you use dried beans. (Unfortunately I always forget to soak them ahead of time!) I estimate it costs less than $3 to make. Hope somebody can use it!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Great thread! I'm loving all of these ideas. To whoever asked what the cream of mushroom soup, burger and onion is called, we just call it "Creamed hamburger".

We, too, have breakfast for dinner as eggs are very cheap.

For a dessert, fry up some apples with cinnamon and a little butter. My kids love it, and it's healthy.

We make beef burritos a lot. Just brown burger, add taco seasoning or enchilada sauce or salsa (whatever I have around). Place a spoonful in a tortilla along with refried beans and cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. If you used enchilada sauce, I pour the rest of the can on top of the enchiladas before they cook so they don't get too dried out or too crispy. They really go a long ways. We get 2-3 meals out of a pan, and my husband eats a lot. I serve a tiny bit of sour cream on top.

Chicken Noodle soup with rolls goes a long way in my house too.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I do love white meat poultry. If you brine the chicken properly before cooking, and don't over cook, it's plenty tender and juicy.

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/images/document/otherdoc/ND01_ISBriningbasics.pdf

This link explains how and why brining works, and how to do it. Don't be afraid of the salt, unless you're really sodium sensitive. It really does make a difference in the juiciness of poultry and pork, in particular.

But, that said, a cheap and tasty meal is to throw a couple of pounds of chicken thighs in your crockpot with a couple of cans of tomato sauce, and some peppers and onions and chipotle sauce if you want spicy. The meat falls off the bone and is extremely flavorful. Serve over spaghetti for italian style, or shred the meat off the bones for a great burrito/taco filling.

Slightly more money, but amazing, is coq au vin. It's similar to your recipe --you use thighs, onions, and tomato.
I'm normally a mostly whie meat person myself. I just find white meat less of a hassle than dark mea, and often enough the breast is usually the most meaty, that's why I prefer it, but to each his own..But this recipe is a huge exception! Contrary to popular perceptions about French food, this is peasant food. The French peasants had to be pretty good at making lesser cuts of meat taste good. The translation of this dish is 'rooster in wine.' Trust me, old rooster is a lesser cut of meat.
Anyhow, coq au vin is very similar to your recipe, but you add about half a bottle of good red wine (preferably French, or at least of a variety that is grown in France). It helps to brown the chicken first in fat (can be lean pork fat, or not). Instead of peppers, add carrots and mushrooms (brown those too). The onions should be big chunks, or even use small, whole, boiler onions. and let it simmer. You can also add some spices in a bouquet garni. I just add the spices whole and pick them out (Sprigs of fresh thyme, parsley, celery) A great winter dish!
You can serve this with either boiled potato, or fresh baguette (or Italian bread), or both.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I made up something similar recently and my kids go nuts over it! I season the ground beef with some soy sauce, onion powder, and Season-All. Add the Bush's homestyle, 6-10 slices of American cheese, heat it all up stove top, and serve it over white rice. I didn't know what to call it, so it became Mom's Special Surprise. Kind of dumb, but I can't believe how much they gobble it up.

This sounds a little like a dish a BBQ place around here serves called redneck salsa...It's like meat chili mixed with cheese sauce. They serve it with something they call a soul roll - which is basically beef frisket and cheese fried in an egg roll wrapper. They are dynamyte! - both taste wise and calorie wise!


My MIL gave me a recipe for black bean soup that has a little OJ and shredded carrot added. It really brings out the flavor of the soup! She serves it with a mango/avocado salsa. Great with rice!

 

[staceyfe]

I'm going to try this but I have a question for you... do you mix the bisquits in, or just drop them on top?

Mix 'em in. You're gonna love it!

 

[Kimmielee]

My Mom's goulash (sp).... simple

Brown 1 lb. hamburg & 1 small onion together, drain.

Boil elbow macaroni until done, drain

Mix hamburg & onions, elbow macaroni, tomatoes and tomato juice (I use V-8 but it's more expensive), season with salt, pepper and garlic powder... simmer for about 15 minutes....

serve with homemade bread and butter ... oh my, it's for dinner here tonight!!!

Tastes even better on day 2....

Even without the hamburg... it is wonderful... we had the meatless version many nights too!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Soft taco bake:

Brown 1lb of hamburger (I used ground turkey tonight.), drain, add 1 pkg. of taco seasoning and 1 cup of water, and 1 can of kidney beans (rinsed). Let simmer for about 5 min.. Add 1/3 jar of cheese & salsa dip. Stir well, keep temp on low.

Preheat oven to 325. Place a tortilla on a cookie sheet. Spoon meat mixture on top. Repeat with another tortilla layering meat mixture. Top with about 1/3 jar of cheese & salsa dip. Heat for about 10 min..

While cooking, tear lettuce & dice a tomato. Once out of the oven let cool a bit and put lettuce and tomato on top. Add a couple of spoonfuls of sourcream.

It was a hit. Really tasty!

I actually saw the recipe on a soft taco bake Taco Bell box at the grocery store today. I was thinking about getting it, then I thought I have all of the ingredients at home. So I tried it. Made it without "the box" for a lot less. (Plus I added the kidney beans.)

 

[Free4Life11]

ground 1 lb hamburger meat with bell pepper and onion diced up (I buy the hamburger 5 pounds for 9.00in a family pack.. the pepper is .50 and onion costs about .50) then I buy a tube of walmart brand tube of croissant dough (about $1) each and after I cook the meat with pepper and onion then I unroll each croissant and spoon in some meat mixture, put a pinch full of grated cheddar cheese (1.96 for 8 oz.. I only use a little of it though) and then I close up the croissant and cook them.. Takes about 10-15 minutes to cook and we have dinner for around $5 and its really good!

Thanks! I made this tonight and it was SO good! Quick and easy...I used an entire tube (8 rolls) and ate them all they were so good!

 

[Kimmielee]

Gentle bump - these are awesome ideas! Keep them coming!!

 

[vhoffman]

Here's a favorite of my mom's--simple, cheap, easy!

Creamed Tuna Fish

1 can drained tuna fish

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can peas, with liquid

Combine all ingredients, heat, serve over toast. Also, you can make with canned chicken and cream of chicken soup, however, the canned chicken is much more expensive. This is also good the second day if you want to double the recipie.

 

[Danemom]

This the the best chicken & dumplings I've ever had! DS9(picky) loves it and it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO easy:

2 chicken breast--boneless/skinless ($1-2 on sale)
1 can cream chicken soup (Aldis-$.43)
2 T margarine
2 cans cheapest bisquits you can find ($.50)
1 soup can of water

Put the chicken breasts in a crockpot, top w/ soup, margarine, and water. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Then, shred the chicken w/ 2 forks and stir. 45 minutes before serving, add cut up bisquits (I use a pizza cutter and cut them into fourths) and let cook until done. Serve and enjoy!

I've taken this to church potluck twice and get rave reviews. I still can't believe how easy it is! I serve w/ mashed potatoes and peas or green beans. Total cost: approximately $4-4.50. Not super cheap but sure is good!

Thank you for posting this recipe. We had it for dinner last night and it was delicious! It tastes almost exactly like the chicken and dumplings we make "the hard way" and was sooo easy! Actually, DD12 made it entirely by herself.
I think I will cook the biscuits a little longer next time though because they were still a little doughy.

 

[Gerweniel]

My DS makes this and it is sooooo easy and surprisingly excellent!
It costs about $5.00 to make at the very most and about 5 minutes to mix up - 2 hours to chill.

1 8oz container whipped topping (like cool whip)
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lime juice (we use the juice from the plastic lime containers in the produce section)
1 graham cracker pie crust

Combine the whipped topping, condensed milk and lime juice - stir until very well blended. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 hours or overnight.
Garnish with lime slices and additional cream if desired.

Enjoy!

 

[Rella Bella]

We have breakfast for dinner. I make french toast, waffels or pancakes... from scratch not frozen out of the box like at breakfast... add eggs and whoalla!! Everyone's happy!