Cheap & Easy Recpies?

Question

What are some easy dinners that are cheap also. Things with pasta, veggies, chicken..ect? Open to any ideas other than Ramen. lol

We are a family of three (soon to be four!) and want to cut out "junk" budget to just cover meals.

Answer 1

One great ways to cut costs and junk out of your food budget is by using beans and lentils. Meat is expensive and you can still get the protein you need from this change. Here is a recipe for Lentil Chili that I got from hillbillyhousewife.com, she has many other recipes too and a $40 menu on how to feed an family of 4-6 for a week on which include breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack:
Lentil Chili
*1-1/4 cups dry lentils (half a pound)
* 4 cups tap water
* 2 tablespoons oil or bacon grease
* 1 to 2 tablespoons dry onions
* 3 beef bouillon cubes
* 15 oz can tomatoes
* 2 teaspoons chili powder
* Dash hot pepper flakes or tobasco sauce
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Place the lentils and the water in a large pot. Put the pot on the stove and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat so that the lentils are simmering gently. Cook for 30 minutes. Do not add the other ingredients until after the lentils have cooked. If the lentils begin to get dry, or if their water boils away then add more water. You want the lentils to remain juicy while they cook. When your 30 minutes are up, add all of the remaining ingredients. Simmer the chili for 15 to 20 minutes and serve with crackers or cornbread or over rice. Makes 4 servings.

This is a very good chili recipe. If you have ground beef or turkey, or some cooked chicken, you can add these to the chili too. About 1/2 a pound of ground meat or about 1 cup of cooked meat will be plenty. This recipe doesn't need meat to taste good though. It is excellent just the way it is.

Answer 2

Glad you are cutting out the junk.


Easy Hamburger Casserole

1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained, then chopped finely
1 can tomato soup (do not add water)
1-2 cans green beans, drained very well
Minced or chopped onion, as desired
Instant mashed potatoes, 6-8 servings (make and set aside)
Velveeta cheese

Directions:

Mix the first 4 ingredients well, then put in the bottom of a greased baking dish, 2-quart or larger. Top with mashed potatoes and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and add Velveeta cheese sliced thinly to the top and return to oven until cheese is melted and turning brown. Let cool, then eat! This one goes fast, if you have a large family you might need to make two!

Stir-Fry Chicken and Vegetables

1 package boneless chicken breasts, about 4 pieces (buy it only when on sale!)

1 family-size bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables, we like the pre-seasoned Chinese blend (the one with peapods and water chestnuts, and we even add a can of more water chestnuts)

1 T. vegetable oil

Rice, white or brown

Water, to cook the rice

Directions:

* Begin cooking rice, per package directions. If you use the regular long-grain kind it will be ready in about 20 minutes. (You can buy the huge bag of regular white rice, store-brand, when your budget is the tightest. But when it gets better, switch to brown rice, it's a lot healthier - and my kids barely notice the difference using it in this dish.)

* Rinse chicken and cut into bite-size pieces. Brown in a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat, until cooked well. (Adding any seasons desired, especially if the veggies come unseasoned. And depending on your pan, you may be able to cook the chicken without any added oil. But add some if you need it, or use cooking-spray.)

* Add cooked chicken into veggies and simmer 5 minutes to blend well, stirring occasionally.

* Remove chicken and veggies from pan and serve over warm rice.

Really good site for more recipes below.

Answer 3

have one that is simple and I LOVE. It's healthy too! My easy Tortilla Soup (It is pretty filling for a soup!) You will need: Water or vegetable broth 1 table spoon oil 1 onion 2 garlic cloves (I use 4, I love garlic!) 1 tomato 1/2 or 1/4 (depending how spicy you like it) chipotle chilli (I buy the canned ones) Make sure to take the seeds out! a few tortillas cut into strips cooked chicken (optional) I buy it cooked at the grocery store, it's easier this way. salt to taste avocado slices (optional) Cilantro for garnish 2 Limes Process: Blend tomato, onion, garlic and chipotle chile in the blender Then cook the mixture a bit in a pot with the olive oil about 10 minutes. Add the water or vegetable broth and boil. Add the salt to your taste. Once the mixture starts boiling bring the heat down and simmer. Add the chicken. Simmer for about 10-15 min. I sometimes add canned corn too! Cook the tortilla strips in some oil or you can bake them. Serve the soup garnished with cilantro and a couple of avocado slices. Add lime for taste! Top with tortilla strips.

Answer 4

yeah, ramen sucks, but it's not too bad if you just warm the noodles, sprinkle some parm chz on them, serve them as a side dish to steak & veggies...

basically anything you can make in a casserole dish, crock pot or stock pot will help you tremendously. you can bring up a ton of recipes online or pick up a crockpot cookbook. here are a couple other cheap, good, easy faves of mine...

chicken ole--crock pot, crm of chicken & crm of mushroom soups, sour cream, green chilis, a few tortillas in pieces, and chicken chunked or shredded... just toss it all in, cook on low all day, eat as is or add rice, veggies, whatever.... it's so yummy and will last a few meals.

also, I always make my own spaghetti sauce--crock pot, bulk hunts tomato sauce, 2 md can tomato paste, 1 lg can chunk tomatoes, 1 lg onion, 1 lg bell pepper, pepper, garlic powder, and (lots of) brown sugar to taste... this makes a great starter to make pasta & homemade garlic bread, lasagna!, chili w/beans & meat, goulache.... and you can freeze it for later...

something I love to is chicken casserole--casserole dish, precooked rice, shredded chicken or chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, even add mixed veggies if you like... serve w/a salad & a roll.

here's a major money saver... invest in a pizza pan set. pick up a lg boboli shell, spread on a lil spaghetti sauce, pick your fave toppings and sprinkle some cheese for an amazing pizza you don't have to wait 45 mins to have delivered.... actually, you can even get creative and make dessert/ breakfast pizzas.

good luck and congrats!

Answer 5

CHEAP CHILI
1 lb. extra lean chopped beef
1 can peeled tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 lg. yellow onions, chopped
1/2 sm. green pepper, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin

Brown the beef and onions in a 12 inch skillet and drain before adding all other ingredients. Simmer for 1-2 hours. Serves 3 with healthy appetites!
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CHEAP AND QUICK COOKIES

1 pkg. cake mix
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs

Note: You can use the following cake mixes - chocolate (use package of chocolate bits); white (use package coconuts); yellow (use package of peanut butter bits or butterscotch bits).
Beat 2 eggs and pour into bowl. Mix oil into the bowl. Pour cake mix of your choice into the bowl and mix until well mixed. (You may use your hands to mix well.) You can add the appropriate package of bits to the mixture after its well mixed. Drop onto greased cookie sheet with 2 spoons. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees

i hope that helps

Answer 6

This is a meal my grandmas family ate during the depression and now is our whole families favorite... Serve it with hot biscuits...

2 pound ground beef
2 cups elbo macaroni
1 can whole tomatoes (broken up)
1 can crushed tomatoes (lrg)
2 cans water (lrg)
1 medium onion
1 bag frozen corn
salt to taste
pepper to taste
saute onions until soft
brown ground beef until no longer pink
add tomatoes and water, salt and pepper. bring to a boil, add macaroni simmer for 10 minutes add frozen corn bring to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes.

Another of our family favorites

2 to 3 pound chicken thighs
1 cup flour
2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tablespoon butter
olive oil
1 large onion, diced onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 cup beer
1 large can crushed tomatoes + one can water
1 small can whole tomatoes broken up
2 pks zesty Italian salad dressing mix (dry)

Pre-heat oven to 325
Coat chicken in flour, garlic salt and pepper. In a pot, saute chicken in olive oil, until browned. Set chicken aside. To the pan add butter and melt; saute onion, add garlic and mushrooms until soft. Deglaze pan with beer. Add tomatoes and water, Italian seasoning and bring to a simmer. Add chicken, bring to a simmer. Salt and pepper to taste, put into 325 oven for 45 minutes. Serve with pasta or rice and garlic bread.

For week nights what our usual dinner is, a peice of meat (usually chicken breast) grilled with seasoning, a big salad (with all the trimmings) and brown rice or maybe a baked potato.

Answer 7

I like to make enchilladas the easy way...

1 box zatarains cheesy rice or spanish rice
1 small onion diced
1 small green pepper diced
1 small can picked diced jalepenos
1 small can of corn drained
1 16 oz. can of black beans drained....
1 jar enchillada sauce or jar salsa
1 lb pkg. mexican mix shredded cheese
1 pkg. burrito size tortillas

Cook rice according to pkg directions, add diced onions, peppers, corn and beans.... Heat through..

Heat tortillas in microwave 30sec-1min until soft and fill with rice mixture..Roll and place in greased 13x9 inch baking dish...

Pour sauce over enchilladas and heat in 350 degree oven 10-15 min top with cheese for last 5 minutes and wait till melted serve with refried beans....

You can also instead of beans use leftover chicken, taco meat or pork....Good luck

Answer 8

I love to get the bags of boneless/skinless chicken breast, found in the frozen food section. Very versatile.

Cube them up in some olive oil and garlic, add your pasta right to the pan, add in any veggies you so desire, yummo!!! You can even have a jar of Al Fredo sauce for those who like a bit of sauce on theirs. I love mine just with the oil and garlic.

You can dice them up and add in fajita seasoning mix and serve on warm tortillas with your favorite taco toppings or make quesidillas.

Of course you can grill them up or to save time just put them in a big skillet and as they get done add on your favorite BBQ sauce, serve with baked taters.

A pork shoulder or butt roast is cheap and easy to throw in the crock pot, after a couple of hours add a can of Coke and some brown sugar. After a couple more hours take it out of the pot and drain all the liquid, let roast cool, shred with two forks, put back in crock and add in your favorite BBQ sauce. Mix and heat back up, serve on buns or eat by itself. Yummy!!!

Answer 9

Look on the labels of Campbell's soup. They are easy and tasty.