Really cheap recipes?

Question

I have about 20-25 dollars that needs to be able to feed 2 people for one week. I know we are really pushing it but can anyone give me recipes for really cheap meals?

Answer 1

Cook with Campbells soups. Most cans have 1-2 recipes right on them.
My favorite is salisbury steaks
1# ground beef
a can of cream of mushroom soup
mushrooms, fresh or canned work
bread crumbs
1/4 cup onion
1 egg

Mix beef with 1/4 can of soup, bread crums, egg and onion. Fry until brown.
Pour rest of soup and mushrooms on top, simmer until cooked through.

Answer 2

OK, buy a 5# log of ground beef. That's about $10. It's good for so many things. And don't use a whole pound when a recipe calls for it. Use about 8-12 oz. to make it last longer. Pasta is cheap. When I'm penny-pinching I make spaghetti one night, and the leftovers go into a baking dish, covered in cheese and black olives and baked the next day. That's 3 days of food right there. A bagged salad is only about $3. Another favorite is Zatarains box mixes. One box of their black beans and rice, or dirty rice (with the burger) lasts us another 2 days. Buy canned stuff on sale, which may or may not be store brands. And when all else fails, get a box of Hamburger Helper. That lasts us 2 days too. Good luck, we pinch pennies right about when the rent is due.

Answer 3

Of course you can. The key is to make your protein go really far. Generally Americans eat too much anyway, a serving of protein is only about the size of a deck of cards.

It might get a little monotonous, but you will definitely make it through the week. Buy a family pack of bone in thighs and legs. You should be able to get a mixed pack, if not you will probably have to pick one. I can generally get one for less than $5. This will be plenty of protein for your dinners. My family packs generally have 6 legs and 6 thighs. I prefer thighs, but the kids like the legs. This will make you at least 4 cheap meals for about $10. First, just bake four pieces. Season it with whatever you have in the house. Bake at 350. Serve with some veggies and buttered egg noodles. A whole large bag of egg noodles is less than a dollar. Don't buy a whole bag. One large baking potato diced up and sauteed or roasted will be fine for you. Also, buy a bag of veggies instead of just a box. Once you have eaten the chicken boil the bones in salted water. Start with one gallon of water and try to end with about 1 quart. Season with at least salt and pepper, but again, if you have garlic, thyme, onions, carrots, etc, it will give you more flavor. Add the veggies last so they don't turn to mush, For lunch the next day add the any extra chicken you have and some egg noodles to the stock and eat a big bowl of soup.

Another easy chicken dish is do take the skin off the chicken brown with salt and pepper and add 1 can of diced tomatoes. Serve over pasta. Again, if you have any other appropriate seasonings it would be good. Adding onions and peppers would be delish. You can serve this over egg noodles, or elbows that you can use later in the week : )

Also bbq chicken. Get the cheapest bbq sauce you can, my store brand is fine and less than $1. I sautee the salt and peppered chicken just until brown then add equal parts of bbq sauce and water. Cover and let simmer about 1/2 hour. It's really tender and good. Again, I pull the skin off. Serve with veggies and oven fries. Just toss some 1 large potato in some oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 400 for about 1/2 hour.

Alright, you're probably tired of chicken by now, depending on how much you all eat, you might have some leftovers.

Now well fill in the other nights with your other $10. First get a can of tuna. And just make a tuna salad with mayo, onions, peppers, relish, a hard boiled egg, whatever you have. Top with a chopped up tomatoe for a little more brightness. Use 3/4 of the can with 1/2 a box of macaroni. The other half of the can use for a tuna sandwich the next day.

Grocery list:
Family pack of chicken $5
Egg noodles $1
Can of tomatoes $1
Potato $1
Can of tuna $1
Tomato $1
Bbq Sauce $1
Eggs $2
Bread $1
Bag of Frozen Veggies $2
1 each onion and pepper $2
Elbow noodles $1

You have 3 more dollars to keep you about 20 to pick up extra things. For example you might need mayo. Make egg salad for lunch, eggs on bread for breakfast, eat all your leftovers. You might even want to throw a pack of hotdogs in there and an extra potatoes for that type of night. I don't want hot dogs all the time, but when the time needs, I do it. Also, if you like get a small container of rice crispys. You can have breakfast and splurge on a small container or marshmellows for some rice crispy treats. I still think you are under $25.

Happy eating.

Answer 4

I'll give you the ideas, you can look up the recipes, if needed. Hotdogs browned, then simmered in baked beans, serve with pickles and chips. A tuna or chicken noodle casserole, Canned Spam, browned and served with sauteed cabbage and potato. Hamburger gravy and mashed potatoes, canned green beans or peas. Eggs, bacon, grilled tomato slices, toast. Stirfry of any meat you have with a can of chow mein veggies on rice. Soups & salads!

Answer 5

tuna pasta bake is so cheap, cook pasta shells, toss in a can of chopped tomatos, oregano or other herbs, salt pepper, a tin of tuna and a tin of sweetcorn, put in a oven dish top with grated cheese and bake

macaroni cheese with salad or garlic bread is a cheap dish

make some homemade vegetable stew that will be really cheap, use onions, mushrooms, carrots and any other veg you want, veggie stock, seasoning, tomato pure and some vegi mite or worcester sauce

Answer 6

Oatmeal w/peanut butter
Ramen noddles w/frozen mixed veg. & hamburger
Tuna w/rice & cream of mushroom (or chicken) soup
Jello w/mixed fruit
Pot pies are cheap
Hot dogs & bread

For $20 to deal with for a week, you won't get a lot of variety, but mix & match the above & you'll survive.

Answer 7

Browse @ http://www.cooks.com/

Good Luck

Answer 8

This is a great source for cheap recipes:

http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes1.htm

http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes2.htm

Good luck!

Answer 9

Check this site out.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm