Search Results for: cheap meals

Feast for Less: 8 Satisfying Meals to Make for Under $10

October 1, 2024 By Latrice Perez Leave a Comment

Feeding your family on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or nutrition. With some creativity, you can whip up delicious meals that are filling, well-balanced, and affordable. From hearty casseroles to flavorful stir-fries, there are plenty of options to keep your family happy and your wallet full. Below are eight cheap family meals under $10 that are sure to satisfy.

Budget-Friendly Pasta Dishes for Family Dinners

Pasta is a great base for affordable meals, especially when paired with inexpensive ingredients like canned tomatoes or vegetables. A simple spaghetti with marinara sauce is always a crowd-pleaser and can be made for just a few dollars. For a little more variety, try making a pasta primavera by tossing in some seasonal vegetables. Add a sprinkle of cheese, and you’ve got a filling meal that’s easy on the budget.

Affordable Stir-Fry Meals for Less

Stir-fries are another excellent option when you’re looking for cheap family meals under $10. Use a combination of fresh or frozen vegetables, some rice, and a little soy sauce to create a dish that’s not only tasty but also packed with nutrients. By keeping portions of protein small, such as adding a handful of chicken or tofu, you can easily keep the cost low. Customize your stir-fry with different sauces and spices to keep things interesting throughout the week.

Low-Cost Soup Ideas for Family Meals

Soup is a versatile and affordable meal that can be stretched to feed a crowd. A simple vegetable soup using a mix of fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables can be made for just a few dollars. Throw in some lentils or beans for added protein and heartiness. Soups also store well, so you can make a big batch and enjoy leftovers for a few days, making it an efficient and budget-conscious choice.

Frugal Casserole Options

Casseroles are the ultimate comfort food, and they can also be incredibly budget-friendly. Use ingredients like pasta, rice, or potatoes as a base, and mix them with vegetables, cheese, or a can of soup for a filling meal. One great option is a chicken and rice casserole, which can be made with leftover or canned chicken. These meals are easy to prep, bake, and serve, making them a perfect choice for busy families looking to save money.

Low-Cost Tacos and Burritos

Tacos and burritos are always a hit and can be made for just a few dollars per serving. Use ground beef or turkey, or even beans, as a base for a protein-packed filling. Add toppings like lettuce, cheese, and salsa to create a customizable meal that the whole family will love. Tacos are also perfect for using up leftovers, helping you reduce waste while keeping your meals affordable.

Simple Pizza Alternatives

Homemade pizza is another great option when looking for cheap family meals under $10. Start with a store-bought pizza dough or make your own for an even more affordable option. Top with a can of tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and any leftover veggies or proteins you have on hand. Baking your own pizza not only saves money but also allows you to control the ingredients and make it as healthy or indulgent as you like.

Quick and Easy Egg-Based Meals

Eggs are a versatile and inexpensive protein that can be used to make a variety of meals. From omelets to frittatas, you can mix in whatever vegetables or cheeses you have on hand to create a meal that’s both satisfying and cheap. A simple egg and vegetable scramble paired with toast makes for a quick, nutritious dinner that won’t break the bank. Eggs are also great for making quiches, which can serve as a hearty meal for the whole family.

Filling Sandwich Creations

Sandwiches may sound simple, but with the right ingredients, they can be a hearty and satisfying meal. Use leftover chicken, ham, or turkey, and pair it with fresh veggies and condiments for a filling option. Grilled cheese sandwiches with a side of tomato soup are another budget-friendly classic that always hits the spot. You can also experiment with different types of bread, like baguettes or pita, to switch things up without spending much more.

Satisfy Your Family Without Breaking the Bank

Feeding your family with delicious meals doesn’t have to come at a high cost. By using simple ingredients and stretching them in creative ways, you can enjoy hearty, flavorful dinners that keep everyone full and happy. Whether you’re making soups, casseroles, or homemade pizza, these cheap family meals under $10 will help you stay on budget without sacrificing taste.

4 Meals from the Pantry to Save Money

March 20, 2023 By MelissaB 2 Comments

If you’re like me, you may find it harder and harder to stay within the grocery budget as food costs skyrocket due to inflation. So I try to find nutritious recipes that aren’t expensive. In addition, to save money, I try to have one week where I don’t make a complete grocery shopping trip and instead only buy some fresh fruits and vegetables and make my meals from the pantry to save money. Doing this allows me to use up what I have and stretch my grocery dollars.

Our Favorite Meals from the Pantry to Save Money

These are the pantry meals we make during the weeks I skip grocery shopping:

Spaghetti

My kids don’t mind a pantry meal when the meal is spaghetti. So I buy pasta and pasta sauce when they’re on sale, and I purchase canned mushrooms at Costco. I mix them together for a quick, cheap meal.

We recently upped our spaghetti game by making Pizza in a Bowl (I left out the creamed soup and only used half the cheese.) I was amazed at how this meal stretched—we had it for two meals!

Breakfast for Dinner

Another favorite is breakfast for dinner. We might have omelets with green peppers and cheese and a piece of toast. Or, if we have many bread heels in the freezer, we make French toast and eggs. Sometimes we make a breakfast sandwich with ham, egg, and cheese on toast or an English muffin. Another economical recipe is Ham, Broccoli & Cheddar Frittata. (If money is tight, I leave out the ham, and it still tastes good.)

Broccoli, Potato, & Soup

I recently found this delicious recipe for Broccoli, Cheddar & Potato Soup. I like it because I can use frozen broccoli. (This recipe and the broccoli frittata recipe are the only ways I enjoy eating frozen broccoli.) Like Pizza in a Bowl, this recipe stretches and easily feeds the four of us for two meals. Oh, and while I am talking about soup, another good recipe for meatball soup is here.

Fried Rice

Another frugal yet filling meal is Chicken Fried Rice. We use a rotisserie chicken from Costco and save the bones to make homemade chicken stock. Since rotisserie chicken at Costco is only $4.99, the meat is cheap, and we add rice, frozen vegetables, a few eggs, and seasoning.

How We’re Able to Keep Our Meals Frugal

For years, I’ve stocked up on items when they’re on sale, so I pay the lowest price for groceries. We have a pantry in our basement, two deep freezers, and two refrigerators so we can keep a full supply.

When ground beef is on sale, I may buy 20 or 25 pounds. We have food intolerances and can’t eat dairy, so when our favorite vegan cheese, Daiya, goes on sale, I may buy 20 bags. Then I won’t buy any more until it’s on sale again. If we run out before it goes on sale, we do without until the next sale.

Shopping this way makes having a pantry cooking week easy.

Final Thoughts

Keeping within our allotted grocery budget is getting more challenging every month. One way we rein in expenses is by making meals from the pantry to forego a weekly shopping trip once a month.

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Cheap Foods to Buy When Broke

November 30, 2020 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Whether it’s nearly the end of the month and you’re out of cash, or you’ve just lost your job or you had a large expense this month, we all have times when we have to nourish our bodies for as little money as possible. Luckily, there are many cheap foods to buy when you’re broke that are also nutrient power houses.

Cheap Foods to Buy When Broke

To get the most nutrition from limited money, you’ll want to first focus on fruits and vegetables.

Vegetables

There are many basic vegetables to choose from:

Carrots

Carrots are so versatile! You can eat them raw or use them in soups and stir frys.

Cabbage

One head of cabbage can stretch, and stretch, and stretch and be used many ways. Just recently, our family of five had a head of cabbage to use. The first night, we made cabbage beef soup; it fed us all, plus there were leftovers. The second night, we had skillet kielbasa and cabbage, and again, there were leftovers.

You’ll find plenty of recipes for cabbage. Consider looking for recipes from other countries, too, as cabbage is a staple in the cuisine of many countries.

Fruits

While fruits like grapes, blueberries, and strawberries are delicious, they’re not affordable when they’re not in season. Instead, focus on fruits that are affordable in any season.

Bananas

Bananas are quite filling and cheap. You can eat them plain, or blend them up and use them as mock ice cream.

Apples

Cheap Foods to Buy When Broke — Photo by Sarah Gualtieri on Unsplash

Apples are in season for quite a long time and can often be found for less than $1 a pound. I like these because of their nutritional value and because they can be eaten as a fruit, or used in a meal, or baked for a dessert.

Starches

When you’re on a budget, you need foods that are filling. After fruits and vegetables, your next priority should be starches.

Potatoes

Potatoes are almost always a reasonably priced food. Add them to meals to bulk up the content. (One of our favorite breakfasts is diced, cooked potatoes mixed with a little cheese and scrambled eggs.)

Oatmeal

Oatmeal makes a great, filling breakfast for just pennies. Stir in some protein powder or jam for a little extra flavor.

Oatmeal can also be used in muffins and ground up in a food processor and used as a substitute or supplement to flour in baked goods.

Flour

The price of flour can’t be beat per pound. Use it to make homemade breads, rolls, desserts, etc. You can also use flour as a thickener to homemade sauces and gravies.

Rice

Rice is also versatile and can be used for a side dish, dessert, or breakfast. When rice is combined with beans, it is the ultimate frugal meal.

Protein

Protein will help satiate you longer, stretching the length of time you feel full, so hopefully you’ll need fewer in between snacks.

Dry Beans

A pound of dry beans costs between $1 and $2 per pound and can likely be used for several meals. Use beans in soups, casseroles, and dips like hummus. You can even use beans in desserts like black bean brownies. (Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. They’re delicious!)

Chicken

Chicken is a great animal protein that can be frugal if you buy it on sale or on the bone. We usually try to use our animal protein as a supplement to a meal, not the main focus of the meal. Try dishes like fried rice with some shredded chicken or chicken pot pie to complement all of the vegetables in the meal.

Don’t forget to take the bones and turn them into a homemade broth to use for future meals. (We freeze our broth in ice cube trays for future use.)

Final Thoughts

If you’re on a tight grocery budget, remember that if you choose the most frugal food options, you can still eat healthy, nutritious, and filling foods.

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