need some cheap meal ideas?

Question

We always spend WAY to much money eating out...
this week we have done $275.00-$300.00 on eating out including tips...
I think I need to buy groceries...lol...
can anyone suggest some cheap meals,we need to do some belt tightening...and all I can think of is tuna...thanks

Answer 1

OMG. We are a family of 7 and don't spend that in two weeks!! Try experimenting. My kids favorite is an egg and sausage casserole. I fix a package of Ore Ida potatoes with peppers, two pounds of sausage (brown first) and two dozen eggs...like I said there are seven of us, so you may not need that much! Mix it all together, put in a 9x13" baking dish, bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. We also put cheese on top the last few minutes. YUM! Pasta bakes, crock pot stuff is a God-send! Good Luck!

Answer 2

There are tons of ground beef recipes.

I have kids and they like simple foods which is great for the budget whether or not you need to watch it.

Try this:
Cook ground beef and season according to taste.
Place in bottom of rectangular pan.
You can then put a layer of vegies like corn or peas or no vegies at all
Make either instant mashed potatoes or take the long route and peel potatoes etc.
Layer the mashed potatoes on top and bake until brown.

Shepherds pie

Egg Noodles with seasoned ground beef, throw brown gravy over it and add sour crem if you want for quick stroganoff

Mac & cheese with ground beef in it

Phyllo dough layered with ground beef and spinich in between cut into squares afterward

There are tons of things you can do.

If you have a local butcher get your ground beef there and buy it in bulk. I can usually get 30 lbs in 2 lb incrents for about 40 dollars. If you don't then I am sure you will manage.

Answer 3

I have a large family and no time! I have started taking an afternoon or evening every few weeks and putting together casseroles and toher items for my freezer. Then I take something out the night before and either I or some ffmaily member throws it in the oven for supper the next day. We have slashed our food bill by hundreds!!! So what if the pizza delivery guy won't speak to us anymore! Anyway, there are some good groups out there to get you started. Just do a search for freezer groups or Once a month cooking (OAMC) Yahoo has a good one. Friendly Freezer Group

Answer 4

Take the $300.00 you are going to spend in restaurants next week and buy some chicken breasts, thighs, pork, gr beef, meat, whatever in bulk. Divide those packages up into smaller portions and put them in freezer bags and stick them in the freezer. Thaw out only what you need for that evening's meal. Left overs make a good lunch for the next day.

Answer 5

When you go to to grocery store, they usually have a meat package that consist of different types of meat like chicken, steak, ground beef, turkey parts, etc. they usually range between $30-$60. That usually the best way to go as far as meats. Sometimes they may come with a dozen of eggs or hot dogs. Now as far as cheap meal ideas. Here are a few.

Spagetti and meatballs

Beef stew

Boneless chicken breast, macaroni and cheese, and string beans.

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes/with gravy, and collard greens.

Steak, baked potatoes, and a tossed salad.

Baked turkey wings, cheddar broccoli rice-a-roni, and broccoli.

Answer 6

Sloppy Joes- Ground Beef, Manwich in a can, Bread
Then fix a veggie and a salad.

Nachos- Make up some taco meat, Ground Beef and some taco seasoning. Buy Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Black Olives, Salsa, and Sour Cream. Then buy some chips, either plain tortilla chips or doritos, then layer it up!

Hashbrown Casserole- One Bag of Frozen Hashbrowns, 16 oz of Sour Cream, One can of cream of chicken or cream of mushroom, one 8 oz bag of cheddar cheese, one onion, a stick of butter, and two small (personal) boxes of corn flakes. Get a cake pan and put all the hashbrowns on the bottom, cut up the onion and layer that on top (as much or as little as you want), in a separate bowl mix the sour cream, cream of chicken or mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, a pinch of salt and some pepper, spread this on top of the onions, then crunch up the cornflakes and cover the top, then melt the stick of butter in the microwave and pour all over the top. Throw it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 375 degrees. It is soooo good. You can add some ham chunks in if you want too.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs- Buy a bag of the pre-packaged ORIGINAL meatballs, not Italian, can of pineapple, one bell pepper, one small onion, a bag of carrots, some white rice, and 2 bottles of sweet and sour sauce (I forget the name brand I use but it looks hawaiian, they make lots of different marinades). Put the meatballs in a big pan, along with the pineapple and juice (not syrup), cut up the onion, green bell pepper, and some carrots. Pour in the sweet and sour sauce. Let this cook slowly til the veggies get tender. Then serve over white rice.

Answer 7

That would feed a family of 4 for a month. Make a large batch of hamburger goulash, keep macaroni separate. Turn it into spaghetti sauce then turn what's left into chili.
Take a roasting chicken cut wings off place wings in freezer bag with water freeze when you have 8-10 bags make BBQ chicken wings,
Roast chicken use left over chicken for chicken veg soup thicken left over soup for chicken pot pie. Buy hamburger in bulk brown with onions place in freezer bags freeze than when you need a quick meal thaw add a sauce.

Answer 8

You do not always have to go boxed and bland to have a nice cheap meal. For days when I am pinched I like to make chicken breasts (or thighs to make it cheaper) seasoned and browned in olive oil. I transfer them to a baking dish to finish the cooking in the oven. I also saute some bell pepper and onion in olive oil to top the chicken with. Make any pasta of your choice or even cous cous. You can add any veggies you like to jazz it up. If you do not add a veggie to ur pasta just serve with whatever one you like. Some butter bread and that is it. Its cheap and it is better than mac and cheese.

Answer 9

Wow, we barely spend that in one month on groceries. (2 of us)

First, buy the Betty Crocker cookbook. (Seriously, it taught me how to cook after my parents passed away and I was only 19 and in college!)
Next, stock up on your dry goods. Things like canned goods, flour, dried beans, bags of rice. Watch for sales at the store and get their member card if they have one.
Next, try to stay away from a lot of box mixes. Too much sodium and preservatives.

Once you have a stocked pantry, then all you have to do is buy your milk, cream, eggs, cheese, and veggies!

(Oooh, and don't buy those pre-shredded cheeses. I buy a block and shred it myself.)

Answer 10

Hamburger helper is good and it isn't too expensive.
Spaghetti with a canned or jar sauce
Pizza on sale
macaroni and cheese
Salads
Cereal
Eggs -- make an omelet, scrambled, egg salad sandwiches

All these are good, and most you can find on sale