Looking for cheap dinner suggestions

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well, as I posted, my hubs got a great job. but we’re having to re-adjust our budget a bit. i’m looking for some cheap dinner ideas, and new quick recipes if anyone has. we’re already on the spaghetti, taco, soups, sandwiches, leftovers, beef/noodles, etc track. just thinking outside the box a bit. would appreciate any ideas!
 
One of my fall backs,

Crazy Suasage and Rice.

1 box Rice a Roni (beef flavor) aprox .99 cents
Smoked Sausage ( about 2) aprox . 2.99
Slice and cook Sausage
Cook Rice a Roni according to pkg instuctions.
Before you come to the simmer part add sliced cooked sausage.
Simmer according to Rice a Roni instructions.
Serves 4 easy.
Add a salad or other vegetable is you like as a side.
 
Well, this isn’t really a recipe but it is a great way to expand on your ground beef while adding vegetables. Whenever you are using ground beef, mince up a bunch of mushrooms and cook it with the ground beef. It extends your ground beef and mushrooms hide really well in the beef. It is a great way to add vegetables to food without anyone noticing.
 
Not a recipe, but while you are looking for recipes try things with rice or beans. These are two really cheap staples.

As such stirfry with rice is delicious.
 
We use our grill a lot and watch for good meat prices. I’m always able to get good deals on meats at Costco. For example, I purchase a really big pork loin, cut it into several pork chops and freeze in dinner-sized portions. I can stretch our budget a lot doing that!
 
potatoe soup is easy and cheap. You can throw any leftover ham in the freezer for it, or just make it without!

Goulash- elbow noodles, can of tomato soup, hamburger.

THis is great: myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-pepper-kebabs-50400000120604/
We buy the big bag of frozen chicken tender things, and I’ll thaw some, chop them similar size, and we’ll make that. Use whatever veggies you all would like with it. Eat over rice.

Similar, we will use ONE shoulder steak (3-$4). Slice it so thin it almost rips apart. Marinate in terriyaki sauce overnight. Cook in a fry pan (dump it all in, med.) until sauce is very reduced; add broccoli and water (just so nothing burns). We also julienne carrots sometimes! Not a cheap meal, but under 5 bucks. Eat on rice.

Rice, black beans, sausage, and cajun seasoning! That’s always good 🙂

pancake night or grilled cheese and soup are usually good savers.
 
Any can of soup can be poured over a bowl of cooked veggies and topped with some green onion. One of my favorites is pea soup on top of mostly potatoes and other veggies.

A can of black beans can be opened, rinsed, and packaged into smaller portions to throw into soups. Same with lentils. Really nice added to tomato based soups but can be added to anything.

Kidney beans and brown rice combined are a meat substitute.
 
Tuna Casserole makes an easy Friday suppoer-A can of tuna, a can of cream of mushroom soup milk to thin properly and macaroni are the basics. (I like to add onion and other recipes sometimes have celery or peas) Cook the noodles, add the rest, bake in oven grate a bit of cheddar over the top if you like (or not) and you’re ready to eat.

Thinking of recipes that require soup, reminds me of my mom’s ham and scalloped potatoes.
1 can cram of mushroom soup, 3/4-1 C. milk, pepper, 1 small onion (or less) a bit of butter, paprika ham slices, potato slices.
this is a great way to stretch leftovers.
Blend soup, milk and pepper alternate layersof potatos, hame oniln and sauce in 1/12 qt casserole top layer should be potatos. Dot top w/ butter and sprinkle w/ paprika
Bake @ 375 for 1 hr. Uncover and bake 15 min more.

Then there’s mom’s beef stew-cheapest if you buy a roast on sale and cut your own stew meat. (works well with deer also.)
Heat bacon fat in pan to lightly smoking point. Add well trimmed beef. Brown 1 minute Turning meat every 10 seconds or so. Too much time and meat will be tough. (Salt and pepper thoroughly while browning. Add chopped onion (by now you know I’m an onion fan and I go for a big one) and cover meat with water. Simmer 2 1/4 hours (low bubble to help tenderize meat. Add carrots (you can addother vegetables as well if you wish) and cook 15 minutes more. Thicken with flour water and add a couple of shakes of allspice and 1 shake of cloves. Add a bit of kitchen bouquet fro browning and you’re good to go.

(If you let your bacon fat cool in a metal measureing cup and then store it in the fridge in tupperware, you’ll have a great way to boost flavor when browning meat for soups and stews (it’s great in waffles as well!)

Spanish rice
3/4 c. uncooked rice, washed.
1 c chopped onion
1 lb hamburger
31/2 C canned tomatoes
11/2 tsp salt
3 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
3 tsp sugar
4 T. green pepper
Cook rice inn 2 1/2 quarts salted boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender. Stir occasionally w/ fork to prevent sticking. Meanwhile brown hamburger and drain off fat. Add onilns and cook until transparent. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Add rice. Bake at 375 in covered casserole for 30 minutes (do not eat cloves or bay leaf)
My folks fed a stack and a half of kids on one income and we didn’t notice anything missing-mom had a gift for stretching dad’s paycheck till it squeaked.
Good luck!
 
ooh…very nice recipes and ideas so far. thanks! we are actually looking forward to the challange of budget stretching especially when it comes to food. we’ve taken our food budget for granted for way to long, and always have had a sizeable ‘eating out’ allowance each week. now we’re looking at pizza every friday and maybe one other meal out during the week. that’s it. a good and healthy change for us. i told hubs the good news is that we’ll probably lose weight just from eating in more!
 
Ya, my hubby and I eat out maybe once every two months and it saves a ton of money. Also drinking water (and occasionally juice) and no soda pops helps a bunch.
 
How about a couple of chicken recipes? The one below won first prize in a contest in Montana many years ago and always gets good reviews:
Sunshine Chicken
!/2 tsp basil
1/4 c soy sauce1/4 c katsup1/8 c honey
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1 T olive oil (as fatty as chickens are these days, you can cut the olive oil)
(I make a double recipe of the sauce because it is awesome over rice 9cooked spinach on the side)
Shake ingredients together in glass jar and pour over cut up chicken. Bake in 350 degree oven 1 hr basting every 15 min and turning pieces over after 30 min.
(you could put aside the breasts for turning into a one meal salad another day after cooking if you wish- or just buy thighs or drumstick packages which are often more affordable (and the best meat).

Back to soup based recipes
Chicken and rice
1 can each: cream of chicken, cream of celery and cream of mushroom soup.
1 soup can full of water.
11/4 c Uncle Bens converted rice.
A cut up chicken or assorted chicken pieces.
Mix soups water and uncooked rice in a 9/13 cake pan. Add chicken pieces skin skde up and sprinkle with paprika
cook 11/2 hours at 350.

A quick note: any recipe that calls for a campbells soup base is likely to be high sodium.
do not add salt-people can adjust at table if necessary.

Homemade mac and cheese is a good Friday meal
homemade white sauce (flour pepper salt butter and milk ) plus extra milk plus cheese and cooked macaroni baked for about 1/2 hour with a breadcrumb and butter crust. Add a bit of dried mustard to the flour when making the white sauce for a bit of bite.
 
For the stew recipe in post 8 you’ll want to tase and adjust salt and pepper as necessary before serving. 👍
 
If you want to try something different, go for some Eastern European dishes. They are filling and inexpensive: stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes, savory crepes, halushki, pirogi, etc. They may be more labor intensive, but worth it. 😉
 
3 words…

Tater Tot Casserole!!

Everyone loves it and it is really ‘cheap’ and easy.

Ground beef / onion
Cream-o-mushroom soup
Frozen mixed veggies
Bag-o-cheese
Tater tots on top
 
The cheapest recipe that I have is vegetarian chili. All you need is stewed tomatoes, black or kidney beans, an onion, and a bell pepper or two. (And of course chili powder, garlic, etc.). You can eat off of it for several days and the whole pot easily comes in at under $5. (I buy dry beans to save money. Cans are more expensive and too oily.)
 
Oh! If you guys are bean eaters (we are!), try the following. We eat refried beans 3-4 nights a week, black beans all the time, or as a chip topping, etc.

Buy the cheap bags 'o beans.

Rinse them well.

Sit in crock pot. Cover with water for 24 hrs.

Cook on low in crock for 5-7 hrs- until soft and done.

Let cool so you don’t burn yourself 😛

Freeze in containers or zip lock in serving sizes for your family. A 1.50 bag of pinto beans will make side dish for 6-7 meals for us!
 
Homemade pizza is even cheaper than takeout, and easy to make.

You might be able to cut your spending by adjusting your shopping. Make a list of things you enjoy and/or buy regularly. Visit several stores in your area to compare prices. Write down the brand, size & price for these items & keep them in a notebook so you can compare from time to time. Visit warehouse stores like Costco (often they’ll have a one-day pass you can use) and compare unit prices there. Remember some Walmarts, Targets & dollar stores have grocery sections, so get prices there too. And if you’ve never visited an Aldi store, now’s the time!

Your price book will help you save $ by purchasing what you want at the lowest price.

Meats, fish & dairy will be the most expensive items (especially humanely-raised, organic products). Consider cutting back here - use smaller, luncheon sized plates and stick to a 3-oz serving (about the size of a deck of cards) for your proteins. Choose vegetarian meals a couple nights a week. Learn to use dry beans, lentils & grains in your cooking - choose a new ingredient every few weeks and try a sampling of recipes. You can purchase rice, beans, wheat, oats & more in bulk and really save $, but you have to commit to learning to use them, and incorporating them into your meals regularly. If you really like meat, consider purchasing in bulk (a side of beef, for example) and storing in the freezer and canning some of it.

Vegetables & fruits are cheaper in season. There are websites that explain store sale patterns (like frozen foods being on sale during certain times of the year) which will help you plan long-term shopping as well. Visit farmers markets & farm stands for fresh produce - many offer ‘seconds’ at a reduced price.

Consider what you can make yourself, vs. purchasing. Homemade bread is actually pretty easy to make, and MUCH cheaper than store bought baked goods. Pack lunches on homemade deli rolls. Mine take 5 minutes to mix in the mixer, then another 5 minutes to shape after the first rise…that’s the total of my hands-on time for absolutely fabulous, whole wheat, to-die-for sandwich rolls that have never failed me, ever.

Consider stocking your pantry with longer-term storage items in bulk. A 3-6 month supply of food means that if you have money/job trouble down the road, you’ll still eat very well for a while. All those dry beans, rice, legumes, wheat, oats…those will keep for decades if stored properly. Visit some of the LDS “Food Storage” blogs - the Mormon sisters offer phenomenal resources for storing & using food economically (no matter what your opinion of the religious side). If there is a LDS Home Storage Center near you, ask if their bishop allows non-members to purchase there. Right now 25lb of wheat is $11.45, 25lb of pinto beans is $18, 25lb of rolled oats is $15.35, if I’m remembering correctly. In all the years we’ve been visiting our local storage center, we’ve never been approached about religion in ANY way. The LDS members have been gracious, helpful and supportive of our purchasing. I recommend it very highly for persons of any/all beliefs.

Learning to can food will expand your pantry as well. If there’s a huge, ridiculously awesome sale on something, you can purchase a LOT and can it. Make your own jam easily from fresh strawberries while they’re on sale. Buy several bulk packages of ground beef and can it in pint jars - when you need ground beef for a recipe, just open a jar & pour! Also great for power outages & storms - home cooked food that can be eaten cold or heated simply in minutes, things like chilis, soups, stews, meat sauces & more! It puts you in control of your food as well as your money.
 
A lot of good replies! Some of my favorites are here (beans and rice, chili, etc). Spaghetti is pretty cheap of course.

One of my favorite “rib sticking” cheap dishes is potatoes and eggs.

I just fry up sliced potatoes in a little olive oil (or you could use butter or another type of oil) and then add eggs. Usually, for myself, it’s one potato and 3 eggs for a dinner. You can also add other veggies too like diced onion or diced tomatoes or diced bell pepper, etc. Just mix it all up in a pan. Add salt and pepper too if you like that. Sometimes I put ketchup on top.
 
to one of the above posters- i would LOVE that recipe for homemade rolls! i do already make my own bread but not regularly…i would love to do rolls as well!

we do chili, i often do fried potatoes with sausage, goulash, and soups. these suggestions are awesome. thanks to all!
 
Well, I am amazed at how cheap tofu is considering the protein and all. You can save a lot by putting it into a stir fry instead of chicken. The only problem is that pressing it is a pain, and you have to marinate it. But they’re not expensive, just annoying. 🙂 (Note: I’m sure there are uses for tofu that is not “Extra Firm” but I don’t know what they are yet. 🙂 )

Also, ham and bean soup is pretty cheap. Here is my recipe (note: I like herbs. You don’t have to use them all if you don’t want to):

Ingredients:
  • 24 oz Legumes (dry) (some combination of Navy beans, Black beans, Black-eyed Peas, Green or yellow split peas, etc.–I usually use 8 oz each Navy Beans, Black Beans, and split peas, but it’s all down to personal preference)
  • 1-2 lb Ham slice(s) with bone(s)
  • 9-11 c Water
  • 5-8 Carrots
  • 4-6 Celery Stalks
  • 1 c Finely chopped onion
  • 3 Tbl Cooking oil
  • 1 Tbl Chopped Garlic
  • 1 Tbl Epazote
  • 2 tsp Savory
  • 2 tsp Basil
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Pepper
  • 1-2 Tbl Penzey’s Ham soup base (optional—if not used, increase salt by 1 tsp.)
  • 2-3 Bay Leaves
Special Equipment: Large (6-qt.) crock pot (optional)

Time: Beans soak overnight.
1 hour preparing ingredients
2-3 hours in regular pan OR
4-5 hours in crock pot (or more)

Process:
  1. Soak legumes according to package directions in separate containers. (If you soak them all together, the black beans turn the other beans purple.)
  2. Drain and rinse the legumes.
  3. Put the beans and 8 cups of water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Simmer gently for 45 minutes, skimming most of the foam from the top. Continue to other steps while this is happening.
  4. Cut the ham, carrots, and celery into small bite-sized pieces.
  5. Fry ham briefly over high heat.
  6. In a smallish saucepan, fry the onions in the cooking oil over medium-low heat. When they are clear-ish and a little brown, add the garlic and cook a minute or two.
  7. Add a cup of water to the onions and garlic, and then add the epazote, savory, basil, salt, pepper, and soup base. Cook together for a few minutes until well combined.
  8. Normal pot: After the beans have finished their pre-cooking, add all of the other ingredients (including two cups of water), reduce heat, and simmer for a couple of hours.
    Crock pot: After the beans have finished their pre-cooking, pour beans (including water) into the crock pot, add all of the other ingredients and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until beans and vegetables are cooked.
  9. When cooking is finished, don’t forget to fish out any ham bones and bay leaves.
It makes a LOT and is VERY filling. Be careful not to oversalt. If you find foods saltier than lots of people (I’m probably abut average), leave out all the salt until the end and taste it first. I accidentally put too much salt in once (I used some home-canned tomatoes that I had gotten somewhere), and it was basically inedible.

–Jen
 
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