Favorite frugal meals? About This Page:

[korki-rad]

So we are nearing our 100-days-til-Disney mark and my New Year's resolution is to be as economical as possible, so we can save as much $$$$ as possible to spend at "the World."

I've never been a great cook and generally have to work off recipes. (I'm not one of those people who can look at the fridge and pantry and figure out ten meals I can make with just what's there.) And it always seems like I spend a fortune for even simple meals. So, my goal is to try to cut costs when making meals.

On this note, what are your favorite budget meals? I am on the lookout for things that are still somewhat healthy, but don't cost an arm and a leg to make. We live in the middle of cattle country -- getting beef and chicken is cheap and easy; seafood, not so much. DD won't touch pasta (not even mac and cheese). Any suggestions????

TIA!

[duck addict]

Cook a small ham... (really great when holiday specials on like Christmas and Easter)

Next day, take off the good slices for sandwiches or to dice in an omelet

The rest of the hard to get meat and bone goes in a big pot to make either
Red Beans and Rice
or
Bean Soup (with the ham bits in it)

[mrsmac2001]

Chili maybe? You can make a large pot of it and use it several different ways.
Chili dogs
Chili mac (yes I know one doesn't eat pasta but it's a thought)
Tamales with chili and cheese

Tacos/Mexican food can be fairly inexpensive to prepare

I clip coupons out of the Sunday paper and shop at places like Kroger where not only can I get double the value of the coupon (up to $ .50 but I use my Kroger card for in store discounts.

I average 40-50% savings per shopping trip.

[graygables]

Chicken Stir Fry:
4 cubed boneless, skinless chicken breast, stir fried until done
add 1 cup each, cut up carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower and stir fry until just tender
add 1/2 c miracle whip, 1/2 cup mayo, 2 T soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon ginger powder. Stir through and serve over rice.

This makes a LOT, so you could probably halve it.

We also do chop suey (beef cubes, chicken broth, bean sprouts, celery...I'll have to find the recipe) that picky hubby/ DD likes and is cheap.

Quarter a couple of onions and lay them in the bottom of the crockpot. Throw a chicken in on top, sprinkled liberally with seasoned salt and it comes out almost like rotisserie from the store.

I also put in a roast (pork or beef) a can of cream of mushroom along with a can-measure of wine, salt, pepper, then put potatoes around the perimeter and dump a bag of baby carrots on top.

[lukeandbrookesmom]

I'm a huge crockpot/slow cooker fan. I'm not a good, or creative, cook either. I'll buy a whole chicken, pot roast or pork roast and cook it on Sunday. The huge amount of meat is generally enough for the 4 of us for at least 4 more days. After the first meal I have to get somewhat creative. I'll make potatoes and veggies one night, mix it with a pasta (regular sauce or alfredo) on another, etc. If you make chili like someone else suggested it also goes a long way, as does a hearty soup and both are great winter foods. The trick is to buy and cook one thing and turn it into other meals. I'm pretty lucky that DH didn't marry me for my cooking abilities and he'll eat pretty much anything. None of us mind eating similar foods several nights in a row either.

[EeyoreNeedsLoveToo]

soup in any shape or form!

creamed chicken over biscuits
chicken pot pie
chili --
pancakes /sausage
grilled cheese/tomato soup
eggs/omelets
homemade pizza

making anything in bulk and freezing portions to have quick meals later (and thus avoiding convenience or fast food and saving money!) i do this with
soup
taco meat
sloppy joes

[jenlovesmickey]

At our house, breakfast for dinner is always quick, cheap and easy. Scrambled eggs, sausage and toast and everyone is happy-for about $5!

[mcc0313]

I am a big time food budgeter and really work hard at finding stuff on sale and making it last...we do a lot of cooking one thing and using the leftovers the next day. For example a london broil makes a great stir-fry or fajitas the next day, a roasted chicken makes a salad or pasta / rice with chicken and vegtables.

We eat a lot of rice...buy a 20lb. bag and it lasts and lasts, also I try to buy large family sized meats and I break it up into little meals. A family size chop meat makes meatballs one night, leftover meatballs make meat sauce the following day with leftover pasta, my kids also love barbecued meatballs with mashed potatos (for you son who does not like pasta), a meatloaf and another potion I save for empanadas with the kids love...

[Teresa]

with baked or grilled chicken - I make a chicken salad - just chunk up the chicken, and add some veggies chopped very small - celery, onion, carrot. Add a little dill pickle relish, and enough mayo or miracle whip to make it all stick together.

Buy a huge amount of ground beef when it's on sale. fry it up right then - so it looks like taco meat. Divide it into however many portions there were pounds. That means - 5 pounds raw = 5 portions, 10 pounds = 10 portions, etc. Put each portion into a ziploc and freeze. Quick and easy meals are right there - meat for spaghetti sauce, meat for tacos, enchiladas, chili, etc., and you can use it to make a soup.
I also buy good cuts of steak, and grill them. then, I use the steaks that are left over to make a soup the next day. Chop potatoes, carrots, onions, celery in small chunks, too into pot, add a crushed garlic clove, cut the steak into cubes, and toss in with some beef broth or water - no more than 6 cups, and some canned tomatoes, slightly crushed.

And like some said - breakfast for dinner! Pancakes, sausage, and fruit are wonderful at night. And, if you make the pancakes yourself, cheap!

[KathyL]

The Campbell Soup website (Campbell's Welcome - Home) has lots of ideas for recipies that are relatively inexpensive and easy to make. DH and I usually buy chicken breasts when they are on sale and cook them up and then package up the chicken (either cubed or left whole) and keep it in the freezer. That way, if we have no idea what to make for dinner, we can always make some sort of chicken casserole. Happy Cooking!

[debe]

I hate to say it as many are probably tired of turkey right now, but around here the turkeys are going pretty cheap and you can get a few meals out of one

Turkey dinner
Turkey salad
Hot turkey sandwiches
Turkey noodle soup
Turkey Chili

Leftover Turkey Recipes

I just picked up a 13 lb turkey for $6. (Wanted to put it in the new slow cooker but it was a hair too big) Cooked it up yesterday and now we have several meals worth of turkey .

[Lemap760]

Beans and hot dogs are always good for an inexpensive and easy meal. In the spring start a garden and grow your own fruits and veggies. This saves a ton of money.

[jjj6689]

The Bisquick web site has some good ideas too. I just made the Sloppy Joe casserole (but I just used brown sugar and catsup for the sauce - not canned sloppy joe sauce) and my boys loved it.

[ilovedisney247]

If you are really on a budget beans are your best friend. When I was a high school teacher I lived on beans done various ways. For awhile I was working on a cookbook called "Living on a Shoestring" I got busy at work (now a corporate bartender) and stopped working on it. One of my favorite really inexpensive recipes is :
1 can black beans
1 can Rotel or diced tomatoes with chilis
1 can corn
1 handful cheddar cheese
Strain and rinse the beans and corn--don't need the extra salt . . . throw everything else in the pot and simmer for 10-15 minutes
Serve over rice.
Serves 2 ppl!
I have a ton more bean and really inexpensive recipes PM if you would like some more!

[MAria R]

What a great thread. My reasons for being frugal right now have more to do with the fact that I am a teacher and have to wait 6 weeks for another pay check ( a wonderful thing the county I work for does this time of year ). So I thank everyone for all of these great ideas.