inexpensive meal ideas for family of 5!?

Question

I need some ideas for cheap meal ideas. I have 3 children ages 3, 7, and 9. My husband has been off work for 2 weeks so we are pretty broke for a couple of paychecks. We usually eat pasta, spaghetti o's and sandwiches, etc. I need some meals for fairly cheap. I am going shopping tomorrow. Thanks!

Answer 1

I hope these help and best of luck to you


EASY CHEAP CASSEROLE

1 (8 oz.) cheese whiz
1/2 c. milk
7 oz. spaghetti, break in thirds cook and drain
2 tbsp.butter
10 oz. cooked broccoli
1 c. chopped chicken or turkey
1 (4 oz.) can mushrooms, drained
2 tbsp. chopped pimento
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sage

Combine cheese and milk mix. Toss spaghetti with butter. Combine all ingredients Mix well. Spoon into 2 quart casserole. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Stir well before serving. This is easy cheap and good.

CHEAP BEEF STROGANOFF

2 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. diced onions
Garlic
2 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. salt
1 can sliced mushrooms
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 lb. ground beef
1 can consomme
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 bag egg noodles
1 pt. sour cream

In a heavy skillet over medium heat, melt butter, saute onion and garlic until soft. Sprinkle mixed flour, salt and pepper over meat. Add meat and mushrooms to skillet and cool. Stir often for 6 minutes.
Stir in consomme, vinegar, tomato paste. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir often, cook until desired consistency. Cook noodles for 14 minutes, drain in hot water, return to cooking pan after melting 2 tablespoons butter. Blend in sour cream just before serving and simmer 2 minutes to heat. Serve over noodles.

CHEAP MEAT BURGER

1 lb. hamburger meat
1 lg. onion
1 lg. green pepper
2 stalks celery
2 tbsp. vinegar
1/2 c. ketchup
1 tbsp. flour
1 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. water
2 tsp. brown sugar

Brown onion, pepper, celery, and hamburger. Add all ingredients, except chili powder and ketchup. Simmer 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cook slowly until done. Serves 6. Can be frozen.

Answer 2

I am with you and need to find things that are cheap. I have been thinking back to when I was a kid and what my mom did, I grew up poor. I was laid off about a year ago when the company I worked for was sold, I am to old for anyone to want to hire me. It is hard to go from a six figure salary to just a Small pension. I am raising a grandson, 15 years old. Something that your kids may like is hot dogs and pork and beans, you and your husband will probably hate it. My mom used to get a cheap chuck roast and make a pot roast, just add potato's, onions and carrots. When I was a kid growing we ate a lot of Spam, yes Spam. Make a potato casserole with Spam. You can buy canned veggies, not as good as fresh or frozen but cheaper.
I hope you hubby can find another job soon.

Answer 3

mayb u can try chinese food.get 3 cups of cooked rice.heat ur wok with oil then throw in some minced garlic and onion.add in some prawn mix vege(corn,green peas,carrot)then fried them.so now u can have fried rice with ur family. easy to cook and inexpensive.oh yes u can add eggs also.when u fried add some sugar and a little bit of salt also.

Answer 4

try tostadas...you will need to buy: one package of corn tortillas, 4 oz. of cheese (maybe cheddar or american), one large can of pinto beans, one tomato, one head of lettuce (you only need about one-quarter of the head). if you want to spend the extra dollar you can buy a small tub of sour cream. you will also need a small amount of vegetable oil.

first, very lightly brush tortillas with oil (they need very little), then put them in a 400 degree oven to crisp up...maybe 6 or 8 minutes. (they don't need to be super-hard, just crisp)
second, open can of pinto beans and put them over low heat. smash them, stirring occasionally, so they wont stick to bottom of pan.
third, "slice" lettuce so it is shredded, dice the tomato, and either thinly slice or shred the cheese.
fourth, assemble in this order...bottom-tortilla, then beans, then some cheese, then sour cream (if applicable), then lettuce and tomato.
it is really good...if you want to go "crazy" and kick it up a little for your husband (or any of the other members of your family) you could mash a ripe avocado and add salt and pepper for "guacamole" or you could just use salsa instead of tomatoes if you want a little spice...

as a side serve rice...

if you or your husband insist on meat products...just add taco meat on top of the bean layer...(follow directions for 1# of ground beef on the little envelope of taco seasonings)

Answer 5

Chicken breasts, rice (usually very cheap) and cream of mushroom soup. Bake the chicken in the soup and use it over rice. Fairly cheap and will fill up your family.

Answer 6

CHICKEN AND WAFFLES

5 leg quarters
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
2 eggs, separated
1/4 c. butter, melted
Flour for gravy

Roast leg quarters until meat is tender and will fall off the bone. While chicken is roasting, make waffles. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together in large bowl. Combine milk, beaten egg yolks and butter; mix well. Add to flour mixture; beat until well blended. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry; fold into batter. Bake in hot waffle iron until steam ceases.

Prior to making waffles make your gravy using drippings for chicken and water from mashed potatoes. After combined liquids come to a boil add combination of several tablespoons flour in 1/2 cup of cool water. Make sure the flour mixture is smooth, without lumps. Pour into liquid, stirring constantly. Add chicken met that has been taken from the bones to the gravy. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve the chicken gravy over the fresh hot waffles. Yields 6 servings


Sour Cream Pork Chops

6 pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 large onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then dredge in 1/2 cup flour. In a skillet over medium heat, lightly brown chops in a small amount of oil.

Place chops in slow cooker, and top with onion slices. Dissolve bouillon cubes in boiling water and pour over chops. Cover, and cook on Low 7 to 8 hours.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).

After the chops have cooked, transfer chops to the oven to keep warm. Be careful, the chops are so tender they will fall apart. In a small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons flour with the sour cream; mix into meat juices. Turn slow cooker to High for 15 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve sauce over pork chops.


QUICK TEXMEX GOULASH

1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
1 lb ground sirloin
1 small onion, finely diced
2 c. tomato juice
1 pkg. McCormick's Taco Seasoning
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can sweet corn, drained
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
sour cream
sliced black olives
chopped green onions

Prepare the macaroni according to the package instructions.
(Note: Do not rinse the noodles. The starch left on them helps bind the goulash so it doesn't get too runny.)

Sauté the sirloin and onion in a skillet until the meat is brown and the onions become translucent.

Drain the fat off. Add tomato juice and the taco seasoning to the meat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 10 min.

In a large pot, combine the noodles, meat mixture, corn, beans, and shredded cheese. Allow this to simmer for about 20 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is melted. You may need to add up to a cup more of the tomato juice if it's too dry.

To serve: place a helping of goulash on a plate then garnish with sour cream, black olives, and green onions. It's nice to set the garnishes on the table as when serving tacos. Don't be afraid to use whatever garnishes you'd use on a taco. Some like green peppers, jalapeños, salsa, fresh diced tomatoes, crushed tortilla chips, cheddar cheese. Get creative!