What is something easy, cheap, and healthy that I can make for dinner tonight?

Question

My husband is always complaining that we ALWAYS eat the same thing over and over so I am looking for a few meal ideas. I'm not looking for anything fancy especially since I have two year old little boy. If you have a recipe for your suggestion please include that as well.

Please no recipes with mushrooms since my husband is very allergic. The same goes for peaches and apricots, which are what my son is allergic too.

Thanks in advance!

I can't wait to read all the great suggestions.

Also, my husband doesn't think it is a real meal unless it includes meat.

Sorry, I should have listed some of the things my husband THINKS we always have: Spaghettii, Tacos, chicken & rice.

Answer 1

My family likes all of these

INGREDIENTS
8 slices bacon, fat removed and meat finely chopped
2 onion, thinly sliced
4 carrots, diced
5 cups chicken stock
2 cups barley
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 bay leaf, crushed
2 garlic cloves
ground black pepper to taste
2 green bell pepper, chopped
8 dark meat chicken pieces


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large skillet, fry bacon until browned. Reserve bacon fat for sauteeing chicken later. Add onions and carrots to skillet and saute 2 minutes. Add garlic, stock, barley, thyme, marjoram, parsley, bay leaf and pepper to taste. Mix all together and spread mixture in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add green bell pepper on top and stir to settle.
Heat reserved bacon fat in skillet and brown chicken. Place browned chicken on top of barley mixture, cover baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Chicken biscuit potpie

INGREDIENTS
1 2/3 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup biscuit/baking mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg


DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine vegetables, chicken, soup and thyme. Pour into an ungreased deep-dish 9-in. pie plate. Combine biscuit mix, milk and egg; pour over chicken mixture. Bake at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Chicken enchilada casserole

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and diced
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 onion, chopped
1 pinch garlic powder
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon chili powder
16 ounces processed cheese spread
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a 5 quart pot combine the chicken, cream of celery soup, cream of chicken soup, enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes and green chiles, onion, garlic, chicken broth, chili powder and cheese. Heat over medium high until the cheese is melted and all of the ingredients are mixed together well.
In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer the mixture and the tortillas like you would lasagna. Make sure to put a thin layer of the mixture on the bottom of the baking dish to prevent sticking. After layering, place dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cheese starts to brown and bubble. Let stand and cool for at least 10 minutes before serving!

Beef florentine---yummy

INGREDIENTS
2-2/3 cups medium egg noodles
2 pounds ground beef
2-3/4 cloves garlic, chopped
1-1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2-3/4 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
2/3 cup water
1-1/3 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1-1/3 (8 ounce) containers cottage cheese
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
11 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese


DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until evenly brown; drain excess fat. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Stir in tomato sauce and water. Remove from heat, and stir in cooked noodles.
In a medium bowl, combine spinach, cottage cheese, onion, and Parmesan cheese. Spread half of noodle mixture in a large casserole dish. Layer with all of spinach mixture, then cover with remaining noodle mixture.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Cover with mozzarella, and continue cooking 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Rice dish----very good!!

INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground beef
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cups cooked long-grain rice
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon butter, melted


DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the rice, tomatoes, corn, olives, bacon, chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Bring to a boil; remove from the heat. Add 1 cup of cheese; stir until melted.
Transfer to a greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Toss bread crumbs with butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Cheesy italian tortellini----Great

INGREDIENTS
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (16 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated or fresh cheese tortellini
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese


DIRECTIONS
Crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain.
Combine the ground meats, marinara sauce, and tomatoes in a slow cooker. Cover, and cook on LOW heat for 7 to 8 hours.
Stir in the tortellini, and sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes on LOW, or until the tortellini is tender.

Stroganoff soup----my little ones fav.

INGREDIENTS
1 (16 ounce) package dry egg noodles
1 1/2 pounds round steak, cut into small pieces
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of celery soup
2 2/3 cups water
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 teaspoon steak sauce


DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain and rinse under hot water.
In a slow cooker, combine the soup, 2 2/3 cup (or 2 soup cans) of water, sour cream and steak sauce. Mix until smooth. Add cooked steak pieces, onions and cooked noodles. Cook on low for 2 hours, or to desired taste and consistency.
In a large skillet, brown the round steak pieces with the onion to desired doneness.

Answer 2

When my kids were little, and cooking was a major challenge with two little boys under 4 right in the kitchen too, I use to make some not too complicated, easy meals that I knew they would eat, my husband, with a "little more sophisticated taste would like, .and that were not too expensive to put together. Many included pasta of one kind or another. One I still use is to make boxed Macaroni and cheese (1-2 depending how many servings I needed), add frozen mixed vegetables(8-16 oz) that I cooked up in the microwave while making the package(s) of macaroni and cheese to it, and some chicken (usually canned, but I've also used the deli sections baked chickens cut up). I put that in a baking dish add some shredded cheddar or mixed shredded cheese over the top and bake it for about 20 minutes to just melt the cheese and slightly brown it. I then served this with a side salad, or sliced tomatoes or other vegetables that were in season and could be easily cut up and did not require any cooking. It was one of the boys favorite meals, and still is -even though they are adults now with families of their own. They even prepare it themselves for their families.

Answer 3

Make a pot roast, season and brown the meat in some butter on top of the stove, add onion and some water, cover it with a lid and put it in the oven on 350, let it bake for about an 1 1/2 hours. Add carrots to the pot and put back into the oven baking until meat is tender, if needed add a little more water.

Make some mashed potatoes and dinner rolls to go along with it, its a great meal and not hard ot make.

Answer 4

Chicken Parma
pan fry 1kg crumbed boneless chicken breasts
crush and mix 4 cloves of garlic into a bottle of tomato puree
pour a little tomato to cover base of casserole dish
layer chicken, tomato puree, sliced onion and mozzerella cheese, should make about 3 layers, finish off with parmesan on the top.
side salad
with a baked potato or crusty bread
This recipe is always a hit with everyone that has tasted it.

Claypot Chicken
1kg chicken
3 carrots
1 good sized onion
supermarket serve of bok choy
4 cloves of garlic
a teaspoon of fresh ginger
a dollop of oyster sauce
a generous sloosh of soy sauce
it's supposed to have chilli too but you can leave that out for little non chilli eaters
cook chicken first
add everything else except the bok choy and add a cup of water
simmer for half an hour with the lid on, stirring occasionally
add bok choy lid on, 5 minutes later add 750-1kg gram pack of fresh egg noodles lid on, two minutes later the noodles should have separated enough to stir through the sauce.

These two recipes make a lot, I can feed a family of 4 adults easily

Fruit pancakes with icecream
A summer recipe we all like (apart from the man who says "wheres the meat")
make a really thick pancake batter and add 1/4 cup of coconut to it.
stew 2 apples
slice strawberries, kiwi fruit, banana
make the pancakes, shove the fruit on, drizzle with honey, top with icecream, because the pancake turns out so thick, just one fills you right up

MTsBabydoll - Chicken and jam! never even thought of cooking something like that, gonna have to try that one - thanks :)

Answer 5

Make Over 200 Juicy, Mouth-Watering Paleo Recipes You've NEVER Seen or Tasted Before?

Answer 6

ridiculously easy, and sooo good, even for your little one.

Strawberry Chicken:
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
12 tablespoons strawberry jam
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
1 cup hot tap water
Pepper and cinnamon and onion powder both sides of chicken, pressing spices firmly on with back of spoon.
Gently spread 3 tablespoons of jame on each chicken breast, one side only. Make sure you spread as closely to the edge as possible, layer should be fairly thick.
Place in 8x8 baking dish, jam side up.
Dissolve remaining jam in hot water (I pepper the water too).
Pour water in bottom of pan.
Bake 350F for 45 mins
Do NOT baste, do NOT flip.
Jam will lose some of it's moisture and become more like a glaze when done. So Good!

I make rice a roni, or Mediterranean Cous Cous with it (cous cous takes only a few minutes)
Broccoli too. :)

Answer 7

My favorite is honey mustard chicken and it's easy to make. You just mix a cup of honey and a cup of mustard together and then add salt, pepper and maybe a mixed spice if you have some. Then just bake it in the oven at 375 degrees till you can stab it with a fork and the juices are clear.

Answer 8

It's hard to answer when you don't say what you usually have-we could just be giving you the same stuff he's complaining about.
That said-pasta, salads with meat like cobb and chef, soup like chicken noodle and beef barley, chili, pot roast, tacos,burritos, enchiladas, herb roasted chicken, tuna casserole,

Answer 9

Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans along with coleslaw or other salad is always a good meal. Chili with cornbread or stew (beef or chicken) with dumplings or a pork or beef roast always make good meals also. Stir fries with your choice of "meat" (shrimp, beef, pork or chicken) and julienned vegetables served with white or fried rice is quick and delicious.

Answer 10

Stir fry is always good. You can put practically whatever you want in it. My personal fave is celery, bellpeppers, carrots, shrimp, and mushrooms. All you need to do is put the stuff in a skillet, and toss it with some oyster sauce. Pour it over rice and it's ooooh so good and healthy for you. What ever you have around your kitchen works.

Answer 11

Shepards Pie, one of my faves. brown some hamburger and put into a casserole dish, and mix in green beans and a can of tomato soup (do not add water). Next, make mashed potatoes and layer them on top of the mixture in the casserole dish. finally, shred some sharp cheddar on top and bake in oven till the cheese is melted.