Your family's favorite cheap meal?

[CherCrazy]

Here is something really simple: Brown a pound of hamburger, drain, and add 1 can of cream of mushroom soup. Serve it on a hambruger bun. If someone else has made this, please tell me what you call it. We use "hamburger goop." Doesn't that name make you hungry?

Yummy!!

 

[staceyfe]

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.

I think my crock pot (newer) cooks a little hotter. I have an older one too and it seems like it takes longer to cook things than the newer. I really prefer the older one 'cause the newer one will overcook 6-8 hours recipes while I'm at work.

edited to add: Here's a key I forgot in the original recipe--turn the crockpot to "high" if you orginally cooked on "low" when you add the bisquits.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Ground/chicken and Turkey Meatball Subs

I buy ground turkey and ground chicken (perdue or whatever brand is on sale, a lot of times they are buy one, get one free in our grocery store), mix together in large bowl, a couple of eggs, 1 and 1/2 cups romano cheese, garlic powder and onion powder, parsley and oregano flakes, 1/2 cup of raw onions and mushrooms diced really small.

make into SMALL balls and fry in olive oil.

Add to 3 large cans of sauce (one puree and 2 kitchen ready, any brand that's on sale) Let balls cook in crockpot on high for 3 hours and then turn to low until your ready to put them in sub rolls.

This makes a Ton of meatball subs, it's about $10 to make,and my family loves them!

I make these too, but I bake them. I add a little olive oil directly to the raw meatballs when I prepare them. Another favorite of ours is to add fresh cilantro to them (or fresh parsley). Then I make a simple tomato/basil sauce, and mix the two. Fresh basil really adds a LOT to this dish. (and fresh tomato is amazing) Also, if you aren't doing so, try using real imported parmigiano cheese on top! In the Summer, we practically live off of these (or variations on this theme)!

 

[Mom B]

Sorry, I didn't have time to read this whole thread so I don't know if these were mentioned before...could work for any meal but these are popular in my house (from my husband's side of the family, they were foreign to me until I was married!):

Scrambled SPAM and eggs - I think this is pretty good myself

SOS (chopped up hard boiled eggs in white sauce over toast) - some of them request it specially on weekends but I don't eat the stuff!

 

[Danemom]

edited to add: Here's a key I forgot in the original recipe--turn the crockpot to "high" if you orginally cooked on "low" when you add the bisquits.

I will do that next time. I cooked mine on "Autoshift" where it alternates between low and high by itself so I don't really know if I cooked them on high or low.
Thanks again for the recipe - it's really a good one!

 

[ElaineHN]

Sausage & Cabbage

1 head green cabbage
1 smoked sausage or keilbasa

Cut sausage into 6 or 8 wedges ... leave stem to hold each wedge together. Cut sausage either into rounds or cut in half and slice lengthwise. Put everything in large pot, cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook just untill the cabbage is tender but not mushy.

Before you crinkle your nose at this one ... my entire family *LOVES* it ... the sausage flavors the cabbage so you don't need additional seasonings, but you can add salt & pepper to taste ... and my son usually spritzes his cabbage with spray butter. This is almost a meal all by itself or with a little bread on the side. But I usually also make mac 'n cheese or some other side dish to go with it.

My 14 year old son can make this himself ... and my 8 year old daughter requests it occasionally!

 

[ElaineHN]

Super easy roast chicken ]

Whatever chicken is on sale - whole, cut up, breasts, thighs, legs, etc.
1 bottle of italian salad dressing (bought practically for free when on sale B1G1 free & 50 cent coupon doubled at Publix or Kroger)

Rinse Chicken & remove skin if you prefer. Place in crock pot or in roasting pan. Pour dressing over chicken. Use about 1/2 bottle for enough chicken for 4 servings ... or a whole bottle for more chicken.

Cook in crock pot on low for approx. 6 hours (till done but not 'over done'. Over done chicken becomes dry and 'gritty' in the crock pot.) Or roast in oven on 375 for about an hour.

The salad dressing keeps the chicken super moist and gives it just the right amount of seasoning. This is great served with rice & a green veggie.

 

[Kellydelly]

real easy if I can make it

1 package of boneless breast of chicken
1 package of stovetop (chicken flavor)
2 cans of cream of chicken soup

boil chicken ( I try to boil the chicken a day or 2 before, I never have enough time to do it all in one night), when its done, shred or dice the the chicken, put it in a baking dish. (that will be the first layer) cover the chicken with the cream of chicken soup (that would be 2nd layer). Make stovetop, when its done layer the stovetop over the soup.(that would be third layer)
preheat oven to 350, cook meal un-covered at 350 for about 30-45 min.

DH loves it, it's really easy, I don't think its expensive, (I use generic soup and stuffing) and I get two meals out of it.

Hope it helps alittle

I make this casserole but add sauteed mushrooms and french cut green beans too! Delish!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

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!

I made this yesterday. It's very easy & so good. Unfortunately, it's gone already. I'll have to make another one soon. Thanks for the recipe.

 

[ElaineHN]

Roast Beef & Easy Beef Stroganoff

Make one beef roast serve two meals! Cook the roast in the crockpot the first day ... just put the roast with a can of french onion soup, or a pack of dry onion soup mix & a cup of water, or a half cup steak sauce & a cup of water, or about a cup or so of italian salad dressing ... cook on low all day. Serve with potatoes, veggies, etc.

Save the broth and any left over meat (I try to buy a roast that looks like it will be about 1 serving of meat more than what we'd need for one meal. I set this portion aside or else my hubby or son will eat it all in the first meal.) Remove any bones and big pieces of fat, refrigerate left over roast & broth. The next day skim off any fat that has risen to the top, heat broth, roast, and 1 can cream of mushroom soup. When hot, reduce heat to a simmer and stir in 1 cup sour cream (light is fine)... allow to heat thoroughly but to not return to high heat. Serve over egg noodles.

You can add a can of mushrooms, or fresh mushrooms, and/or frozen peas or brocolli. I prefer the veggies on the side, but my hubby likes them mixed in. So do it whichever way you prefer.

If you don't have left over broth/roast, you can make this with browned ground beef/turkey as well. Just brown the meat with some onions and add a can of beef broth, or chicken broth, or water. (to substitute for the roast & broth.) Then proceed with the rest of the recipe. My family likes it this way just about as well as with roast, but to me it seems too much like hamburger helper ... but they say it's better.

 

[leight]

anybody have a crockpot recipe for sweet n sour chicken? I want to try it w/ a can cranberry sauce and some soy sauce/or terriyake sauce- pinneapple (& juice) and carrots. Anyone recognize a recipe like this or am I creating this out of the air?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I was just reading an interesting book last night...about really healthy foods to eat. One of the best foods listed is beans - cheap, humble beans are really good for you, and you can make simple cheap dishes (or side dishes) like beans and rice (brown rice is best), lentils (or peas) and barley, chick peas and cous cous, refired beans and tortillas. They are a carb, but a whole carb. Some other great foods to eat are spinach, broccoli, oats, blueberries (any berries), pumpkin (orange veggies), and nuts.

If you are looking for a quick snakc, nuts (and sunflower seeds) are really good to eat.

 

[allaboutmm]

Great recipes! Can't wait to try some!

Here is a quick meal if you have any left over chicken
Caeser salad bag ( the kits come w/ dressing & parm. chez.)
Pita pockets ( wheat ones are low-carb for diabetics)
Black olives
Mix chicken, salad and olives, put in pita pockets, quick, easy and yummy!

This recipe is going to sound pathetic, but when I was pregnant and really had to monitor my sugar levels, this got me through my Big Mac cravings.

Big chez. burger ( no bun)
Salad w/ pickels & onions
Thousand Island dressing
Mix all together, it so hit the spot.

Time to go eat supper, I am so hungry now!!!

 

[jacksmom]

Creamed Tuna on Toast: Make a basic white sauce and add a can of well drained tuna and serve over toast! It may not sound very good, but it really is!

 

[ceecee]

Here is something really simple: Brown a pound of hamburger, drain, and add 1 can of cream of mushroom soup. Serve it on a hambruger bun. If someone else has made this, please tell me what you call it. We use "hamburger goop." Doesn't that name make you hungry?

We make hamburger, mushroom soup, pack of frozen peas and a cup of rice for hamburger casserole.........no bun.

 

[twinscandc]

Here's one....I'm not sure the exact cost, but it's delicious!! In fact, if this tells you anything...my DH hates left overs (something about getting bored eating the same thing two days in a row), but will eat this all gone....

Cream Cheese Chicken:

3 or 4 Chicken Breast
1 pkg of Italian dressing dry mix (Good Seasoning)
1 stick of butter

1 block of cream cheese
1 can of cream of chicken soup

Place chicken breast, dry mix and butter in crock pot, cook on low 6-8 hrs, high 4 hours. Shred the chicken and then add the cream cheese and soup. Let melt for about 30 min. and then serve over Egg Noddles or Rice.

Yummy, Yummy!!!



Once more.....(we love chicken, BTW)

3 or 4 chicken breasts
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 soup can full of milk
2 cups of cheese
1 can of cresent rolls

Cut up the (raw) chicken breasts and mix with 1/2 cup of cheese. Roll several pieces of the chicken mixture in each of the Cresent rolls and place them in a greased dish (you'll have left over chicken pieces, just stick them around the rolls in the dish). In a small sauce pan, mix the soup, milk and 1/2 cup of cheese. When the cheese is melted, pour over the rolls. Top with the remainder of the cheese and bake (covered) for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Also, yummy!!

 

[pamlet]

My husband and kids love ANYTHING with a Tex-Mex flavor.. (I personally get sick of it.. but oh well)

2 favorites

Brown hamburger meat, add a small handful of taco seasoning (I buy the HUGE jar/bottle at Costco).. add some water and cook it down. Sometimes I use canned or cooked chicken instead of hamburger.

While hamburger is cooking make some rice (depending on how many are eating I use either 1 or 2 cups dry)

Once this is cooked I add either 2 cans black beans or 1 can black beans and one can corn... throw it all together in a bowl.. throw in a handful of shredded cheese.

At this point we either make HUGE burritos with large tortillas - or I add a can of cream of mushroom and a splash of milk to the bowl and bake it all in a 9x13 pan until it's bubbling..

2nd is the EASIEST and very cheap.... bean and cheese tacos... I like to add a little finely chopped onion to mine and stick 'em in the microwave..

We alway use the no-fat refried beans... lot's less "fattening" .. also when we're SERIOUS about weight loss use whole wheat tortillas and low fat cheese.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Great recipes! Can't wait to try some!



This recipe is going to sound pathetic, but when I was pregnant and really had to monitor my sugar levels, this got me through my Big Mac cravings.

Big chez. burger ( no bun)
Salad w/ pickels & onions
Thousand Island dressing
Mix all together, it so hit the spot.

Time to go eat supper, I am so hungry now!!!

Ok I just have to comment on this!

What a prego meal! I can't imagine dreaming it up unless pregnant! Too funny, even has pickles in it. Too funn!

Oh on a side note I am trying the chicken and dumplings tonight. I was able to find cream of chicken soup that is dairy free (soy based) and refrigerater biscuts dairy free too! Hope it is good.

 

[eamgio]

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!

I have made this many times; it is very inexpensive and a little goes a long way. There are always leftovers that I freeze in individual portions to use for a quick meal.

The only difference is that I use a bag of dried black beans because they are much cheaper than cans, a can of seasoned tomatos, a chopped onion and add a packet of taco seasoning.

The beans say they need to be soaked, but that takes too long so I just rinse them off and cover with water and boil them checking and adding water as they cook and soften. Once they start to soften I add everything else and let it cook.

 

[DisneyPhD]

anybody have a crockpot recipe for sweet n sour chicken? I want to try it w/ a can cranberry sauce and some soy sauce/or terriyake sauce- pinneapple (& juice) and carrots. Anyone recognize a recipe like this or am I creating this out of the air?

It might be out of the air, but it sounds good. Let me know how it is.