How To Save Money On Groceries without going crazy!
You can save money on groceries and lower your stress with our easy recipes and tips to save more and eat better!
Most people inadvertently waste a lot of money on food because they just don’t see where the money is going. Do you often find yourself so busy and stressed out that you grab fast food for the kids because it seems easier? Do you often find yourself ordering take out pizza because it just seems too difficult to plan meals when you’re tired?
Your family can only eat fast food and pizza so much before it becomes a stale habit and the cost really adds up! It can become a vicious circle where the stress saving convenience is actually causing your stress.
Why spend a fortune eating out when you can make healthier and delicious meals faster and a LOT cheaper than eating out?! If you don’t have a lot of experience cooking or if you’re not confident in your cooking skills, you will love our easy dinner recipes!
It’s easy to imagine making dinner to be a difficult chore, but it doesn’t have to be! Grandma knew how to make delicious meals everyone loved and how to make them easy. Our site is full of easy recipes you can use to save money on groceries. Not only that, you can reduce stress and eat better food.
Saving Money On Groceries is not just about recipes…
Yes, you will find a lot of great recipes here, but you’ll also find lots of easy tips to easily cut your grocery bill in half! There are so many ways you can save money on groceries that are super easy to implement. Many of them involve cutting costs you will never miss and reducing waste.
How long does food last in the freezer? Our handy freezer guide gives guidelines to how long food can be stored in the freezer.
Freezer Guide – How Long Does Food Last In The Freezer?
How long will groceries stay good in the freezer? Here is a brief freezer guide to help you know how long food lasts in the freezer. This is a guide to how long foods can reasonably be stored in the freezer under normal circumstances when packaged properly.
To ensure that your food lasts as long as possible in the freezer, make sure that it is sealed in airtight packaging and that you keep the freezer door closed as much as possible so the freezer temperature stays constant.
How Long Does Meat Last In The Freezer?
I generally freeze meat in the freezer in the original store packages because that is the easiest way to do it. Then, when I know I will need it, I defrost it on a plate with a couple of paper towels in the refrigerator. If you happen to buy a bulk package of meat for only one or two people you might want to repackage the meat in smaller portions so you only have to grab the amount you need to use.
If you have cooked meats, you can freeze them in portion sizes you expect to feed your family so you can easily grab them and warm them up. Here’s how long meat lasts in the freezer:
Beef – 12 months
Cooked Meats – 3 months
Ground Meats – 3 months
Lamb – 9 months
Liver – 2 months
Pork – 6 months
Chicken and other poultry, raw – 6 months
How Long Do Dairy Products Last In The Freezer?
Generally, I put these items in the freezer in their sealed store packaging.
Butter, pasteurized – 6 months
Cheese – 6 months
Cream Cheese – 4 months
Ice Cream – 4 months
Whipping Cream – 3 months
How Long Do Miscellaneous Food Items Last In The Freezer?
I usually throw bread in the freezer in the sealed store packaging. If you do, make sure there are no holes in the bread bags and they should be fine.
Cakes, Cookies and Breads – 3 to 4 months
Coconut – 12 months
Egg Whites, out of shell -12 months
Egg Yolks, out of shell – 3 months (Add 1/8 tsp. salt or 1/2 tsp. sugar for every 4 egg yolks)
Fruits and Juices – 12 months
Nuts – 12 months
Vegetables – 12 months
Foods That Don’t Freeze Well
Cooked egg whites
Mayonnaise Salad Dressings
Canned refrigerator biscuits, Danish rolls, cinnamon rolls, croissant dough (You can bake these and then freeze.)
Salad greens
Raw tomatoes (You can freeze raw tomatoes but they should only be used for cooking.)
Here are 10 quick and easy crockpot recipes you can make for under $8!Crockpot recipes are great because you can just toss the ingredients into the crockpot in the morning and then, when it’s dinner time, your meal will be done!
Cheap And Easy Crockpot Meals!
Summer is the perfect time to break out the crockpots because most of us are busy running around and it’s not only convenient, but won’t heat up the house!
There’s a reason crockpot recipes are so popular—they save time, save money and make busy days so much easier! On those mornings when life is hectic, there’s nothing better than spending just a few minutes tossing a handful of ingredients into the slow cooker and knowing dinner will be ready when everyone gets home.
One of the biggest secrets to keeping grocery costs down is using simple ingredients you can stock up on when they go on sale. We always recommend buying extra meat when you find a good price, freezing it, and then serving it with inexpensive pantry staples like beans, rice, pasta and canned tomatoes. A crockpot is perfect for stretching those ingredients into hearty meals that feed the whole family without stretching your budget.
These cheap easy crockpot recipes are some of our favorite “real life” dinners because they don’t require fancy ingredients or a lot of hands-on cooking. Whether you’re craving tacos, chili, stuffed peppers, barbecue beef stew or a comforting chicken dinner, you’ll find recipes here that are easy enough for weeknights and delicious enough that your family won’t complain.
Another bonus? Most of these meals make fantastic leftovers. Cook once and enjoy lunch the next day, or freeze extra portions for those evenings when you don’t have time to cook at all. That’s one of the easiest ways to save both time and money in the kitchen.
If you’re looking for simple, budget-friendly dinners that practically cook themselves, these cheap easy crockpot recipes are a great place to start. Pick one to try this week—you may find yourself reaching for your slow cooker a lot more often!
Tip: For the best prices, it’s all about shopping the sales and ONLY buying your meat on sale or on clearance. When meat is on sale, buy extra and freeze it so you don’t have to buy it when it is expensive. Then use what is in your freezer until the next sales comes along.
Shred the chicken and use in tacos, burritos, enchiladas or in a salad.
Notes
You can serve this chicken tacos recipe hot or cold, so the leftovers would be great to take in a lunch.
Rotel tomatoes are canned tomatoes with chopped green peppers or jalapeños. Any brand that is labeled “tomatoes and green chilies” should be OK. You can also just used canned tomatoes and add the kind of peppers that you like.
This quick and easy crockpot bean goulash recipe is tasty, will get you in and out of the kitchen fast and is ideal for when you’re having a rough day!
This crockpot bean goulash recipe is a super easy dump and go crockpot recipe. It makes a delicious, hearty one dish meal that everyone loves and it takes less than 5 minutes to prepare!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:8-10 servings
Ingredients
1/2 lb. ground beef 1/2 lb. bacon 1 stalk celery 1 small onion 1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans or 2 cups cooked beans 1 (15 oz.) can butter beans 1 (15 oz.) can pork and beans 1 Tbsp. vinegar 1/2 cup barbecue sauce or ketchup 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350° (unless you’re using a crockpot).
Brown the ground beef, bacon, celery and onion.
If using canned beans, drain them.
Mix the remaining ingredients together with the beef mixture.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or put in the crockpot on low for 1-2 hours.
6 large bell peppers 1/2 pound ground beef (cooked or uncooked – leftover works great) 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes 1 cup rice, cooked (any kind of rice will work) 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper 1/4 cup water shredded cheese
If you are a chili connoisseur this recipe may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this chili recipe may be be a life saver. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.
3 small cans tomato soup* 3 soup cans of water 1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger Chili powder, to taste Garlic powder and onion powder, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Put everything into a large pan.
Simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible.
I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions.
You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.
*I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!
This Potato Bacon Chowder Soup Recipe makes a hearty and delicious soup that is perfect for cool winter days!
Author:Jill Cooper
Yield:Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
8 slices bacon, cut 1 cup chopped onion 2 cups cubed potatoes 1 cup water 1 can cream of chicken soup (regular small can) 1 cup sour cream 1 3/4 cups milk 1/2 tsp. salt Dash pepper 2 Tbsp. parsley, optional
Instructions
In a kettle, fry bacon until crisp.
Add onion and sauté 2-3 minutes.
Drain.
Add potatoes and water.
Bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
Add soup and sour cream.
Gradually add milk.
Add salt, pepper and parsley.
Heat until warm. Do not boil.
Easy Baked Potatoes
Virtually everyone loves baked potatoes. With toppings, baked potatoes can be a meal all by themselves. Prepare your toppings the night or morning before and you can have a quick and easy dinner.
Check out these easy ways to bake potatoes:
When slowly cooked, baked potatoes have a much better flavor than when cooked quickly in the microwave.
Here’s a tip from one of our readers on perfect baked potatoes: Bake your potatoes in a crockpot. Scrub, pierce with a fork, rub some butter on the potatoes and cook on low all day. You will have perfectly baked potatoes when it’s time for dinner.
If you like the taste of oven baked potatoes but forgot to put them in the oven in time, nuke them in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Then finish them in the oven. The centers will be cooked and they won’t take nearly as long to bake in the oven.
To prevent a dry hard skin, rub your potato in butter or margarine, sprinkle with salt and wrap in foil.
It is usually best to prick a potato with a fork when cooking it in the microwave because at times potatoes have been known to explode. Big Mess. :)
This easy chicken salad recipe makes a cool and delicious summer meal! Especially good if you need something to make the day before and serve!
This Easy Chicken Salad Recipe is the ultimate make-ahead meal! Cool, refreshing, and packed with flavor, it’s perfect for summer gatherings, meal prep, or a fuss-free Sunday dinner. Just layer the ingredients, pour on the creamy dressing, and let it chill—no last-minute cooking required!
Plus, we’ve included a full meal plan featuring crispy Potato Nachos, tangy Freezer Pickles, and fresh fruit for a delicious, stress-free spread. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want a quick, satisfying meal, these easy recipes will save you time and money.
Don’t forget to check out our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks—filled with budget-friendly, time-saving recipes your family will love!
This Easy Chicken Salad Recipe is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for potlucks, meal prep, or a light yet satisfying meal. Crisp iceberg lettuce, crunchy water chestnuts, fresh pea pods, and tender chicken are layered together and topped with a creamy curry dressing that adds a hint of sweetness and spice. Chilled for several hours, the flavors meld beautifully, making every bite delicious. Garnished with cherry tomatoes for a pop of color, this easy make-ahead salad is sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
4–5 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded 1 medium cucumber, sliced 1 cup fresh bean sprouts 1 (8 oz.) can sliced water chestnuts, drained 1/2 cup green onions, sliced 1 lb. fresh pea pods, halved 4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed Cherry tomatoes
This Easy Potato Nachos Recipe is a delicious way to use up leftover boiled red potatoes! Serve it as a side dish or appetizer, and if you prefer a milder flavor, simply skip the jalapeños. The recipe makes a huge amount, but you can easily adjust the portions to fit your needs.
8 medium red potatoes, boiled with skins on 1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix 1 (12 oz.) sliced jalapeños (optional) 2 cups (8 oz.) cheddar cheese, grated 2 cups (8 oz.) Monterrey Jack cheese, grated 2 cups (16 oz.) sour cream 6-8 green onions, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Slice potatoes into 1/4 inch thick slices.
Arrange the slices in a single layer on three 15x10x1-inch baking sheets.
Sprinkle each slice with a pinch of ranch dressing mix, add a jalapeño slice (if using), and top with both cheeses.
Bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Remove from the oven and top with sour cream and chopped green onions.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Gardens will soon be in full swing, and if you find yourself with an abundance of cucumbers, this easy Freezer Pickles recipe is a perfect way to use them up—no canning required! If you have plenty of freezer space, this is a great alternative to traditional pickling. You can also try this recipe with other veggies like peppers or okra or you can mix them with the cucumbers for a fun twist.
Bonus Tip: The onions from this recipe make a delicious topping for hot dogs!
4 lbs. pickling cucumbers, sliced 8 cups thinly sliced onions 1/4 cup salt 3/4 cup water 4 cups sugar 2 cups apple cider vinegar (You can use white vinegar but the apple cider vinegar gives it a better flavor.)
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, onions, salt, and water. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
Add sugar and vinegar, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Pack into 1 pint containers, cover and freeze.
To serve, thaw at room temperature for about 4 hours.
Storage: Keeps well in the freezer for 6–8 weeks. Makes 10 pints.
Notes
Time-Saving Tip: If you’re busy, you can let the mixture sit and stir occasionally until the sugar fully dissolves.
More Quick Kitchen Tips!
If you are out of food coloring, try adding a spoonful of cherry or strawberry Jello to your frosting—it adds color and a fun flavor boost!
Easy frozen treat: If you get a great deal on bananas, and you need to do something with them quickly, roll them in strawberry jam. Then coat with nuts and granola ands freeze for a simple, delicious snack.
Here’s a delicious way to use leftover meatloaf: Place a slice of meatloaf and a slice of cheese between two slices of bread. Grill like a classic grilled cheese for a tasty twist!
This easy barbecue beef sandwiches recipe is the beginning of an easy meal plan, perfect for summer! You’ll also find a delicious cottage cheese potato salad recipe and an easy S’mores bars recipe for dessert.
The barbecue beef sandwiches recipe starts with leftover pot roast, but you can use any kind of leftover beef you may have on hand. If you don’t have any leftover pot roast on hand, you can also find our easy slow cooked pot roast recipe here! That post also includes lots of other easy leftover roast beef recipes.
If you want to make the pot roast first, you can start it the night before and let it slow cook overnight. Then you will be able to make several meals out of it over the next few days including today’s easy barbecue beef sandwiches recipe.
Tips:
Is my cantaloupe ripe? It is hard to tell when melons are ripe. Each person has his or her own special way. Here are two ways I have found that work for me:
Smell the end where the stem was. If it smells like a cantaloupe, it is ripe.
Gently shake the cantaloupe. If you hear the seeds sloshing around inside it is ripe. This is my favorite way to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe.
Tuna can sometimes be messy in a sandwich so, for a different summer lunch, put tuna in ice cream cones for the kids. The flavor of the cone and the tuna really tastes good together.
Need another way to use leftover mashed potatoes? Place leftover potatoes in a greased muffin tin and top with chopped onions, bacon or sausage, Parmesan cheese and a dab of butter. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.
This cottage cheese potato salad recipe is a creamy, cool and flavor-packed twist on classic potato salad that’s perfect for barbecues, picnics and family get-togethers! Loaded with hearty potatoes, crunchy fresh veggies and rich cottage cheese, this easy and delicious side dish is fancier and heartier than regular potato salad while coming together in no time!
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
1 cup cottage cheese 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tsp. salt (to taste) 1/4 tsp. pepper, to taste 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped 4 large potatoes, cooked and cubed 1 cup celery, diced 1/2 cup radishes, sliced 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced 1/2 cup green onions, diced 2 Tbsp. sliced black olives
Instructions
Mix the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Mix well.
If you’re making this recipe for a get together, you can make this go very quickly if you slice and dice the veggies and hard boil the eggs the day before.
This easy S’mores bars recipe is an easy and delicious dessert recipe you can throw together in just 5 minutes and bake. It’s a perfect dessert for summer picnics and it’s also a great snack for kids!
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
8–10 whole graham crackers 1 package brownie mix 2 cups mini marshmallows 1 cup chocolate chips 2/3 cup chopped peanuts
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Arrange graham crackers in a 13×9 inch pan.
Mix brownie batter according to the directions on the brownie mix package.
Pour brownie batter over graham crackers.
Bake 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips and peanuts.
Bake five minutes longer, until marshmallows are melted, puffy and golden. Cool before cutting.
This easy Swiss Steak recipe makes a tasty meal that your family will love! It’s easy to make in a skillet on the stovetop or in a crockpot! This post contains 2 Swiss steak recipes that can easily be cooked in the crockpot along with garlic green beans and coconut brownies!
If you’ve never tried Swiss steak, you’re in for a cozy, comforting classic that’s full of flavor and perfect for any night of the week! This easy Swiss steak recipe delivers tender beef simmered in a savory tomato-based sauce with hearty veggies—just the kind of satisfying meal that hits the spot after a long day. Whether you’re using the stovetop or letting it simmer all day in the crockpot, this dish is a true crowd-pleaser!
In this post, you’ll find two Swiss steak recipes that are both crockpot-friendly, so you can choose whichever method works best for your schedule. We’ve also included delicious side dishes to round out the meal—like tasty garlic green beans and delicious coconut brownies that make the perfect sweet finish.
Whether you’re cooking for family dinner, meal prepping, or just want a simple dish with old-fashioned flavor, this Swiss steak meal plan is just the thing!
All purpose flour Salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder 2-3 lbs. round steak 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
Mix the flour with seasonings.
Dredge the steak in the flour mixture.
Pour a small amount of oil into a frying pan.
Brown steak in the pan on both sides.
Add water, turn down heat and cover.
Simmer for about 2 1/2 hours.
Add sour cream just before serving.
Today’s delicious meal plan includes 2 Swiss steak recipes that can easily be cooked in the crockpot along with mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and super yummy coconut brownies!
Swiss Steak Meal Plan:
Swiss Steak* Mashed Potatoes Garlic Green Beans* Bread, Butter and Jam Coconut Brownies*
Place under the broiler (about 3 inches from the heat) to slightly brown the coconut.
Tips:
Add seedless jam to your frosting for color and flavor. This would be really good on angel food cakes, white cakes or spread on a slice of banana or other quick bread. Think to of chocolate cake or brownies frosted with raspberry jam frosting.
To use up leftover mashed potatoes, shape them around 3/4 inch cubes of Velveeta cheese then roll in crushed potato chips. Bake at 350 degrees until slightly brown.
When making gravies or sauces in creamed dishes, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to add a little zip to the taste. It isn’t strong enough to know what it is but just adds a little something.
Here are lots of easy homemade muffin recipes along with tips and add-ins to make your muffins extra yummy! You’ll find a basic muffin recipe, a bran muffin recipe, oatmeal muffins, fruit muffins and lots more! Homemade muffins are super easy to make and these muffin recipes will give you lots of easy options for an easy snack or a delicious addition to any meal!
Homemade Muffin Recipes And Muffin Ideas
Homemade muffin recipes are very easy to make. Mix the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and hand stir lightly. Usually, you only need to stir them about 12-15 times. The batter will be very lumpy but that is the way it should be. Homemade muffins are one thing you don’t want to over-mix. Pour them into greased muffin cups about 2/3 full. If you don’t have enough batter to fill all of the cups in the pan, you can fill the empty ones with water if you like. I do this sometimes but not always.
If you are adding nuts or fruit, mix them in with the dry ingredients before you add the liquids. This keeps them from all falling to the bottom of the muffin.
Your homemade muffins should come out with rounded tops and a light fluffy texture. If they don’t, there could be a couple of things you are doing wrong:
Flat heavy muffins with tunnels may mean your oven temperature is too low.
If the muffin has a lopsided or misshapen peak, the oven temperature could be too high.
Knobs and peaks on top and long tunnels can also be caused by over-mixing.
2 cups all-pourpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 egg, beaten 1 cup milk 1/4 cup oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°.
Mix ingredients together.
Spoon into greased muffin cups, 2/3 full.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Add these ingredients to a basic muffin recipe or mix to liven up your homemade muffins:
Bacon or Ham – Reduce sugar to 2 Tbsp. and add 1/2 cup chopped bacon or ham
Blueberries – 1 cup
Cherries or cranberries – 2/3 cup of cherries or cranberries, mixed with 2 Tbsp. of sugar first
Dried fruit – 1/2 cup apricots, currants, peaches, figs, prunes, raisins or dates
Nuts – 1/3 cup chopped
Cheese – 1/2 cup grated cheese and 1/8 tsp. paprika
Cornmeal – 1 cup cornmeal and 1 cup flour
Whole wheat – 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup flour. This is especially good with crumbled bacon.The sky is the limit with what you can add to a muffin mix if you have a hand full of many different things. For example, a little leftover corn would be good in a cornmeal muffin, a few chocolate chips would spruce up lots of different muffins, etc.
This cheddar muffin recipe is an easy muffin recipe great to throw together when you need an easy side dish! It goes with anything! Chicken, beef or pork! This is one of my husband Mike’s favorite dishes and I know your family will love it too!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:1 dozen muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups milk (if using mashed potatoes, omit milk) 3/4 cup mashed potato flakes or 2 cups mashed potatoes 1 egg 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 3 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. chives, cut into small pieces 1 Tbsp. parsley, dried 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°.
Bring the milk to a boil in a saucepan.
Remove from heat and stir in potato flakes. Let stand for 2 minutes.
Whip with a fork until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
Beat the egg, cheese and oil into the mashed potatoes.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl.
Stir into the potato mixture just until moistened.
Fill greased or lined muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Cool for 5 minutes.
Remove from pan.
This homemade bran muffins recipe is an easy muffin recipe that makes muffins so moist and delicious you won’t believe that they didn’t come right out of the Amish bakery. You can make the batter up for the week and just take out what you need each day to make fresh homemade muffins in a snap!
This easy homemade bran muffins recipe makes muffins that are so moist and delicious you won’t believe that they didn’t come right out of the Amish bakery!
Mix all of the ingredients together. The batter will be lumpy.
Fill muffin cups or tins 2/3 full of the batter.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Notes
This recipe keeps in the refrigerator a long time so it is great if you are short on time. The batter can be kept refrigerated for up to 6 weeks.
Because these muffins include cereal as an ingredient, you can buy cereal on sale, use coupons or buy generic brands to keep it inexpensive.
This easy muffin recipe is Mom’s best homemade sweet muffins recipe, which makes moist, sweet and delicious muffins! It is our most favorite muffins recipe! Our family loves them and your family and friends are sure to love them, too!
This best homemade sweet muffins recipe makes moist, sweet and delicious muffins! It is our most favorite muffins recipe! Our family loves them and your family and friends are sure to love them, too!
Author:Jill
Yield:1 dozen muffins
Ingredients
1 egg 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. soda 1 1/2 cups flour
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°.
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. The batter will be slightly lumpy.
Place batter 2/3 full into greased muffin tins or muffin tins lined with papers.
Bake 15-20 minutes.
This oatmeal muffins recipe is an easy muffin recipe that EVERYONE loves! You can add blueberries, cranberries, chocolate chips, raisins to the recipe to add some pizzaz!
This is a great muffin recipe to use to teach the kids to start helping out in kitchen! Let them choose what add-ins to put in and then they can take the muffins in lunches or for an after school snack!
This easy oatmeal muffins recipe is super easy to make and EVERYONE love them! You can easily add berries, chocolate chips, raisins to add extra pizzaz!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:1 dozen
Ingredients
1 cup quick cooking oatmeal 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. cinnamon (optional) 1 cup buttermilk 1 egg 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 cup raisins (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°.
Mix all ingredients in the order listed. The batter will be lumpy.
Spoon batter into greased muffin tins, 2/3 full.
Bake 15-20 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.
These oatmeal muffins can be frozen up to 6 months.
This applesauce muffin recipe makes incredibly delicious muffins that your family and friends will love! These muffins are super moist and they’re great for parties, get-togethers and kids snacks!
Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 egg 1 1/2 cups applesauce 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted 1/2 cup chopped apple (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°.
Stir all ingredients by hand until mixed. Don’t over mix.
Bake 20 minutes.
Applesauce Muffins Topping
While baking the applesauce muffins, combine:
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine.
While the muffin are still hot, dip them in butter and then in the sugar mix.
Set aside for a few minutes to cool and to let the topping harden.
Notes
You can add some blueberries or cranberries to these muffins to kick them up a notch.
Many of these easy homemade muffins recipes are from our Dining On A Dime Cookbook,Volume 1:
This easy sour cream blueberry muffin recipe makes moist and delicious blueberry muffins! This is a classic blueberry muffin recipe everyone will love!
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
2 cups biscuit mix 3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°.
Mix ingredients in order just until combined.
Fold in blueberries.
Pour into greased muffin tins 3/4 full.
Sprinkle with a little sugar on top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Notes
Take these muffins to the next level! When you first take them out of the oven, dip the tops into melted butter and then in a mix of cinnamon and sugar.
This quick and easy pecan pie muffins recipe is easy to make and tastes just like homemade pecan pie! It ‘s convenient and great for lunches and parties!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 eggs 1/2 cup (stick) butter or margarine, melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine the first 3 ingredients.
In a separate bowl beat the eggs until foamy.
Add butter.
Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients.
Blend until moistened. Don’t over-blend.
Pour into muffin tins with papers.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
This easy Homemade Butterscotch Muffins Recipe is an easy variation on homemade muffins that your family will love! It makes a delicious treat that’s great for breakfast or a snack! If you like homemade muffins, this is a recipe you’ll definitely want to try!
This easy butterscotch muffins recipe makes moist and tasty butterscotch flavored muffins with a crumbly cinnamon and sugar topping! They’re quick and simple to make and are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or anytime you need a cozy treat!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 (3.4 oz.) pkg. instant butterscotch pudding
1 (3.4 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla pudding
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup water
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup vegetable oil
Butterscotch Muffins Topping
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup nuts, ground (walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc.)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease well.
In a large bowl, combine all muffin ingredients, just until moistened. Try not to overmix.
Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full with batter.
In a small bowl, stir together the topping ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over each muffin.
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool slightly and enjoy warm—or let them cool completely and store in an airtight container.
This easy baking mix muffin recipe makes delicious muffins in just minutes with our homemade baking mix, Bisquick or your favorite baking mix recipe.
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:12-15 muffins
Ingredients
2 1/4 cupbaking mix 1/4 cup sugar 1 egg 3/4 cup water 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°.
Mix dry baking mix and sugar.
Add egg, water and vegetable oil to dry ingredients.
Mix only enough to moisten the flour. The batter will be lumpy.
Fill greased muffin tins two-thirds full.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Notes
For an added surprise fill each muffin cup halfway and then add a spoonful of jelly. Top with more batter.
Add raisins, cinnamon or nuts for gourmet muffins.
This homemade apple cinnamon muffin mix makes super yummy muffins which are great for all kinds of occasions and make great easy gifts in a jar! They’re great for breakfast, after school snacks, as an addition to a family meal and more! Our family loves them and you will, too!
This homemade apple cinnamon muffin mix makes super yummy muffins which are great for all kinds of occasions and make great easy gifts in a jar!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:12-15 muffins
Ingredients
Muffin Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup raisins and/or nuts
Topping Ingredients
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Instructions
In a bowl, mix together the first 5 ingredients.
Place in an airtight container. Package raisins and nuts separately.
Mix topping ingredients in a bowl. Package in a small cellophane bag.
To Make Into A Jar Mix:
Attach this note to the jar:
Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix
To prepare, preheat oven to 350°.
Mix together:
Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix raisins and/or nuts
1 cup apple juice
2 Tbsp. butter, oil or margarine, melted
1/2 cup applesauce
Stir just until combined. Spoon into lightly greased muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. While still warm, dip each muffin into the melted butter and then the topping. Makes 12-15 muffins.
This easy holiday muffins mix recipe makes tasty muffins with all the flavor of the holidays! You can make the entire recipe yourself or make the mix for a delightful gift in a jar for friends, family, teachers or anyone who might like a tasty edible gift! These are also great after school snacks for kids! You can find this recipe in our Dining On A Dime Cookbook Volume 1.
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:Makes 15-18 muffins
Ingredients
3 cups all purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup dry milk 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. cloves
Instructions
Combine all ingredients.
Place mix in a one quart jar.
Attach this note to the jar:
Holiday Muffins
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/4 cups water
1/4 cup oil
1 jar Holiday Muffin Mix
Preheat oven to 400°.
Grease muffin tins.
Pour Holiday Muffins Mix into a bowl.
Add other ingredients and stir until moistened. Do not overmix.
Fill muffin tins 1/2 full.
Bake 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
This Easy Pumpkin Muffin Recipe is a two ingredient recipe starting with cake mix that’s easy and yummy! It’s a quick and easy treat that’s a great way to use extra pumpkin or pumpkin that you got on sale!
Author:Sarah D.
Ingredients
1 cake mix (any flavor works, but chocolate is our hands down favorite!) 1 can pumpkin or 2 cups mashed cooked pumpkin 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Beat the ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth. (It will be really thick.)
Add 1 cup mini chocolate chips and stir.
Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups and spray with non-stick spray.
Use an ice cream scoop to put the batter into the muffin cups. (I can get 24 from one box of mix.)
Bake for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and frost if desired.
Notes
My family likes these muffins just as they are when they are hot from the oven.
Spice cake mix is great – add white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips.
I have made pumpkin muffins with white cake mix and yellow cake mix too. They have around 120 calories a piece with the mini chocolate chips and are virtually fat free. If you are on weight watchers they only count as 1 point.
This is a fabulous way to sneak some vitamin A rich veggies in on the kids. Just don’t let them see you put the pumpkin into the muffins and they will never know it is there. These are more moist than name brand very expensive double chocolate chip muffins.
This easy cinnamon muffins recipe is actually an un-muffins recipe because it is prepared in a cake pan. It is an easy recipe to modify box packaged muffins to make them seem more homemade! Homemade taste without the work!
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
1 pkg. muffin mix (banana, blueberry, apple etc.) 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon nuts, optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease an 8 or 9 inch square pan.
Mix muffin mix gently in the pan according to the package directions.
Mix sugar and cinnamon.
Sprinkle over the top of the muffin mixture along with the nuts.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until done. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when it is done.
This sour cream chili bake recipe makes a quick and easy tasty chili you can toss in the crockpot on busy days. The entire family loves it! You’ll also find a tasty ice cream dessert recipe in this post!
Sour Cream Chili Bake Recipe And Easy Meal
Tips:
Fruit Salad: Skip the sugar and instead add 1-2 Tbsp. vanilla pudding with your fruit for a delicious dressing. Let it set for a few hours or overnight to blend with the fruit juices.
Pies: When transporting pies to get togethers or picnics, place your pie in a large skillet with a handle. This can save the edges of the pie crust from getting as mangled and prevents spills in the car. You can also use the skillet lid on it to help the pie arrive warm if you need it to.
Carrots: When you bring carrots home from the farmers market or get them out of your garden be sure to cut the tops off of carrots before you store them. The tops tend to suck the moisture out of the carrots, causing them to become limp and dry.
Hamburgers: For juicier burgers this summer, try adding one stiffly beaten egg white to each pound of hamburger before you grill it.
Chili Bake Meal Plan:
Sour Cream Chili Bake Rice Corn Chips Veggie Tray Ice Cream in Tortillas
Brush butter on one side of each tortilla and sprinkle the same side with the sugar mix.
Press into a greased muffin cup with sugar side up.
Bake 6-8 minutes.
Cool and gently separate edges.
Place a scoop of ice cream in each tortilla.
*You can microwave the tortillas for a couple of seconds to make them more pliable if they are too stiff.
Eating out is expensive! You can make wholesome meals at home in minutes for the entire family for less than the cost of one person eating out! Learn more here!
This hearty Italian French Dip sandwich recipe makes delicious sandwiches loaded with savory Italian sausage, melty cheese, and sautéed onions—grilled to golden perfection and served with a zesty pizza-style tomato dipping sauce. A fun twist on the classic French Dip!
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce:
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, crushed
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
Sandwiches
1 lb bulk (ground) Italian or country sausage
1 med. onion, thinly sliced and separated
8 slices mozzarella cheese (or a similar amount of Parmesan)
8 pieces of French bread, sliced
Butter or margarine (for grilling)
Instructions
In a small saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients.
Simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Shape the sausage into 4 patties and fry until cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, sauté the onions in the sausage drippings.
Place a slice of cheese on each of 4 pieces of bread
Top each with a sausage patty, sautéed onions, and another slice of cheese.
Finish with the remaining bread slices to make 4 sandwiches.
Lightly butter the outsides of the sandwiches and grill in a skillet or sandwich press until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted.
Slice and serve with the warm dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
Save money by making smaller patties, using less meat, ot using just one slice of cheese per sandwich. Still delicious—just lighter on the wallet!
[dining]
Italian French Dip Sandwich Meal Plan
Here is an easy meal plan to go with the Italian French Dip Sandwiches Recipe, including recipes for Easy Potato Salad, Cinnamon Carrots and an Easy No Bake Cheesecake.
Italian French Dip Sandwiches* Easy Potato Salad* Cinnamon Carrots* Easy No Bake Cheesecake*
Open and drain the cans of potatoes. Rinse each can under cold water at least 3 times to remove the canning liquid. This helps improve the flavor and texture.
Chop the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Dice the onion, celery, pickles, and eggs.
In a large bowl, combine all of the chopped ingredients. Add mustard and Miracle Whip. Stir gently until everything is well coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least several hours or overnight. The flavor gets even better the longer it sits!
Notes
Using canned potatoes cuts prep time drastically—Aldi’s canned potatoes work great in this recipe.
Add a sprinkle of paprika or a little pickle juice for extra flavor, if desired.
These sweet and spiced cinnamon carrots are a warm, tasty side dish that’s perfect for holidays or everyday dinners. The combination of honey, cinnamon, and ginger gives them a cozy, slightly exotic flavor twist!
This easy no-bake cheesecake recipe is light, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet—all without sweetened condensed milk. With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a delicious dessert that’s perfect for summer, holidays, or anytime you need something quick and easy. No oven required!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 (8 oz.) container whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed 1 prepared graham cracker crust 1 can cherry, blueberry, or strawberry pie filling (optional)
Instructions
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
Gently fold in the whipped topping until fully combined.
Spoon the mixture into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
Top with pie filling, if desired.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the cheesecake to firm up.
Notes
Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened so the filling mixes up smooth without lumps.
If you prefer, serve the pie filling on the side so everyone can choose their favorite topping.
Leftovers will keep covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Tips:
Cutting your salads or veggies into different shapes can quickly turn a “Ho hum” salad into an “Oh yum” salad.
Try slicing carrots into coins or shredding them with a grater.
Cut peppers into thin strips for a fresh look and texture instead of dicing them.
Slice cucumbers into circles—or if you usually do that, switch things up and dice them!
If you normally tear your lettuce, try cutting it until it is finely shredded. I’ve found that more people love my very basic salads just because I chop the lettuce small. It’s easier to eat, which makes a big difference.
If your potato salad (or any mayo-based salad like coleslaw) tends to come out a little dry, mix 2–4 tablespoons of milk into the mayo before stirring it in. It helps create a creamier texture without changing the flavor. You can do this with coleslaw or any salad that uses mayonnaise.
Looking for simple ways to save money on meat without giving up hearty meals? This article shares practical tips to help you shop smarter, stretch your meat budget, and reduce waste—so you can lower your grocery bill while still making great meals for your family!
10 Ways To Save Money On Meat
Meat has always been one of the more expensive items on a grocery list—and with prices rising even more, it’s no surprise that many families are feeling the strain. If you’re wondering how to keep your grocery bill in check and still serve easy and delicious dinners, you’re not alone.
The good news is, you don’t have to give up meat to start saving. With a few smart strategies, you can stretch what you buy, waste less, and still keep your family full and happy.
How To Save On Meat At The Grocery Store (And get the best prices)
One of the best ways to save on meat is shopping sales and only buying meat when it’s marked down. The worst way to buy meat is to go to the store craving something like steak and pay whatever price it’s selling for that day. That’s how you end up paying the highest price possible.
Every time I mention how little I spend on meat, someone inevitably says, “Well, you must not live where I live—meat is so much more expensive here.”That is simply not true. I’ve found the same kinds of sales and prices all across the country. The real issue usually isn’t how much meat costs—it’s how you’re buying it.
The Secret To Spend Less At The Store
The secret? I only buy meat when it’s on sale. And once you learn to recognize sale prices in your area, you can do the same. Start by tracking meat prices at your store for a few weeks. You’ll quickly spot the pattern—one week the price is sky-high, the next it drops to a great deal. That’s when you buy extra and freeze it for later.
To make tracking these prices easier, you might be interested in our handy price book, designed to help you track prices so you always pay the lowest possible prices on the grocery items you buy most, including meat.
Once you know when your stores have the best deals on meat, and which stores have the best deal, you’ll know when to expect the sale prices. Then, when you find a great sale on meat, buy a lot of it at the sale price and freeze some for future meals. I even invested in a separate freezer years ago, so when I find a great deal, I can stock up and skip paying full price later. Doing this, I never pay full price for meat.
Once you’ve built up a little stockpile of meat in your freezer, it becomes much easier to wait for the next sale. On the weeks when prices are high, simply skip buying and cook from what you already have.
Now, if you’re picky about what kinds of meat you’ll eat—like only buying boneless skinless chicken breasts, 93% lean ground beef, or organic/free-range everything—you have to recognize that those preferences come at a price – you are choosing to pay more. It’s hard to save money if you’re locked into only the most expensive options.
The key is simple: learn your store’s sale cycles, stock up when prices are low, and be flexible where you can. And beyond just shopping smarter, there are even more ways to stretch your meat budget—like using less in recipes, choosing cheaper cuts, or cutting back on waste.
Here are 10 easy things you can do to stretch the meat you do buy so it lasts longer!
Stretch Meat with Casseroles, Soups, and Stews Instead of serving meat as a main dish every night, use it in casseroles, soups, or stews. If you serve two casseroles and two soups each week, that’s four meals where meat goes a lot farther. You can still serve your classic meat-and-potatoes meals the other three nights, but you’ll save money on meat the other nights.
Add Fillers Like Beans, Rice, or Pasta Beans are a great way to bulk up chili or tacos so you use less meat. You can also add rice, oats, or broken spaghetti noodles to stretch meat dishes. For burritos, try using refried beans instead of meat or use a combination of both so you don’t use as much meat.
Cut Meat Into Smaller Pieces In soups or casseroles, you don’t need big chunks of meat. Try cutting the meat into smaller pieces—maybe half the usual size—and you’ll be surprised how much farther it goes. Once your family adjusts, you can even go smaller if needed.
Use Less Than the Recipe Calls For Most people won’t notice if you use half a pound of meat instead of a full pound in lasagna, spaghetti, or casseroles. Try cutting back a little at a time—you might find your family doesn’t miss it at all.
Buy Cheaper Cuts of Meat and Cook Them Right Cheaper cuts of meat can be tender and delicious if you marinate them or slow cook them. And consider serving meats like turkey or chicken much more often than you serve roast or steak—especially if your husband isn’t picky about what kind of meat he eats.
Buy Whole Chickens or Bone-in Chicken and Cut Them Yourself Pre-cut chicken breasts are convenient but pricey. Buying whole chickens or bone-in chicken and cutting them up yourself can save money. But do the math! If you get a very good price, the boneless might end up just as cheap. You can also use chicken thighs or leg quarters instead of breasts—they’re usually cheaper and sometimes even more tasty.
Watch Portion Sizes Many families serve larger portions than they really need. Make your meat portions smaller, especially for children. Try cutting chicken breasts in half for kids and encourage everyone to fill up on potatoes, veggies and other sides. You’ll save money and reduce waste.
Stop Letting Food Go to Waste Use up what you buy, and make sure you use everything. Watch portions and adjust them to reduce the food left on plates. Be realistic about what your family will eat. If food is getting tossed after every meal, that’s money in the trash.
Cut Back on the Amount of Food You Cook. If you always have too much food left over, try cutting recipes in half. Some people make double or triple batches but never actually use the leftovers. I knew a woman who was always bemoaning her high grocery bill but she always cooked two or three times the amount of food that her family could eat. Instead of freezing it or otherwise saving it, she would simply throw it away.
You may say, “I cook double and then freeze the rest or send it in lunches.” She said that, too, but never got around to sending it in lunches and rarely used most of the things in her freezer. Freezing it only to throw it away later is still wasting it.
Find Another Meal or Food Item That You Can Cut Back On. If trying to cut back on meat at dinner isn’t as successful as you’d like, you might also see if your husband would be willing to give up something expensive he eats at breakfast like bacon in exchange for something less expensive like oatmeal. Small changes in other areas can free up money for the foods he loves most.
Look carefully at your food, eating habits and grocery shopping and see if there is anyplace where waste is happening. Every family is different, so pick the tips that work best for you. These small adjustments can add up to big savings over time.
This easy No Bake Fudge Cookies recipe is a great recipe to satisfy your kids on those hot summer days! These cookies are our kids most favorite recipe and older kids can easily make this recipe themselves! You can find this recipe in Volume 1 of our cookbook.
Here is my no bake fudge cookies recipe. It was always my kids’ favorite and is now my grandkids’ favorite recipe for summer or anytime!
These rich and delicious no-bake fudge cookies are perfect for summer because making them doesn’t heat up the house like baking cookies in the oven does. They are super simple to make in a saucepan and then place on a cookie sheet to set.
This is a good recipe to make with kids or grandkids when you’re trying to teach them to cook. This recipe is so easy that older kids can make it themselves.
This no bake fudge cookies recipe is rich and amazingly delicious! These fudge cookies are easy to make in just a few minutes and it’s so simple that older kids can make it themselves! If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, you can leave it out and they are just as wonderful!
Author:Jill
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup baking cocoa 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla 3 cups oatmeal 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
Instructions
Before you start, cut about a 20 inch piece of wax paper. Lay it on the counter. This serves as something to drop the cookies on.
In a saucepan, mix milk, sugar, cocoa, and butter.
Bring to a boil.
Boil 1 minute. (For high altitude, let them cook 30 seconds to a minute longer.)
Remove from heat.
Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and nuts.
Mix until peanut butter is mixed in.
Add oatmeal.
Drop by spoonfuls on the wax paper.
Let cool until set.
This process must be done a little quickly because the cookies start hardening pretty fast. If the humidity is high or you don’t boil them the right amount of time, they may not harden. Don’t panic! Just pour the mixture into a container and use as fudge sauce for ice cream. …Although my kids love eating these homemade no bake fudge cookies with spoons if they don’t get hard enough to eat as cookies!
This easy no bake fudge cookies recipe is from Volume 1 of our cookbook:
This delicious saucy Italian sausage recipe is an easy, dump-and-go crockpot meal that’s hearty, comforting, and perfect for busy nights! Just toss everything in and let your slow cooker do the work! Plus, we’ve included a fresh and tasty homemade Greek salad recipe to round out the meal.
Easy Saucy Italian Link Sausages Crockpot Recipe
These Saucy Italian Link Sausages are the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner! Loaded with tender Italian sausage links, colorful bell peppers, sweet onions, and bold garlic, everything simmers in a rich marinara sauce for hours in the slow cooker—no fuss, all flavor. Brown the sausage first to cut the grease, toss everything in the crockpot, and let it work its magic.
Serve these saucy sausages over pasta, piled on hoagie rolls, or spooned onto fluffy rice for a hearty, comforting meal. Want to kick it up a notch? Sauté the veggies beforehand or toss them in during the last hour if you like a little crunch. Don’t forget a sprinkle of Parmesan, Romano, or gooey Mozzarella on top before serving!
8 (4 oz.) links fresh Italian sausage 26 oz. Marinara sauce 1-2 green, red or yellow bell peppers, seeded and sliced into strips 1 onion, sliced 2 cloves of garlic
Instructions
Brown sausage to avoid a lot of grease in this dish.
Place everything in a crockpot; Stir to coat everything in sauce.
Cover, and cook on low for 6 hours.
Serve on pasta, hoagie rolls, or over rice.
To Serve: Sprinkle with Parmesan, Romano or Mozzarella cheese.
Notes
You can sauté the veggies in olive oil if you want. If you prefer the veggies more crisp, you can add them in the last hour of cooking.
This meal plan comes from our Easy Crockpot Recipes and Menus e-book. Make a little extra and you’ll get two meals in one! Serve it over rice or noodles one night, then pile the leftovers onto hoagie rolls or crusty Italian buns the next. For even faster prep, toss in frozen green and red peppers.
Meal Plan:
Saucy Italian Link Sausages Noodles/Pasta Greek Salad Orange Sherbet
This easy chicken fajita recipe is an easy $5 dinner recipe! It makes a tasty meal your family will love and is a great way to use leftover chicken, roast or steak. You can find this recipe in volume 1 of our Dining On A Dime Cookbook.
Fresh, hot beef or chicken fajitas are a wonderful Tex-Mex favorite, but they are so expensive to order at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Here is an easy chicken fajita recipe, which can also be used with beef so you can make tasty fajitas at home for a fraction of the price of eating out.
This easy fajita recipe is one of my family’s favorite recipes! My husband frequently requests it for special occasions and our kids love it. The younger kids are sometimes hesitant about eating the peppers and onions, so I might serve the smaller children mostly meat and cheese on a tortilla and then give them 1 or 2 pieces of onion or pepper to get them to try it. I wouldn’t force them to try it, but as they get older, they will usually get curious and test it out!
You can prepare this fajita recipe early in the day before dinner to give the meat time to marinate. You can prepare the meat, veggies in salsa in 5-10 minutes and then cook in a hot skillet just before serving.
We most often make this as a chicken fajita recipe, but you can also make it with round steak, skirt steak or roast. If you happen to have leftover chicken, roast or steak, you can use it to make this recipe. If you use leftover meat, only cook the meat long enough to get it warmed through so it doesn’t get tough.
Most restaurants serve fajitas with flour tortillas, and they are delicious this way, but you can also serve them with corn tortillas. Corn tortillas are great for a more authentic Mexican type flavor, but if you use corn tortillas, you will want to make sure they’re extra fresh so they don’t fall apart with the fajitas. If you’re very concerned about them falling apart, you can serve with 2 tortillas per fajita.
If you have to eat gluten-free, you can make this recipe gluten free by using corn tortillas.
For the richest flavor, and texture, I recommend making the fajitas with the optional onions and bell peppers. This gives them a more restaurant quality flavor, but it also can save you money on meat since the onions and peppers help bulk up the fajitas.
Recipes that go great with this easy chicken fajita recipe!
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, to taste (optional)
1–2 bell peppers, to taste (optional)
salt and pepper (to taste)
6 flour tortillas, warmed
1 tsp. vegetable oil
Salsa Ingredients
1 Tbsp. fresh cilantro
1 large tomato, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
Instructions
Cut meat crosswise into 1/2 inch thick strips.
Pound each piece to 1/4 inch thickness.
Combine lime juice, jalapeños and garlic.
Place meat in a plastic bag.
Add the lime juice mixture, turning to coat the meat.
Close the bag securely. Marinate in the refrigerator 4-6 hours, turning occasionally.
Combine the tomato, onion and cilantro for salsa.
Cover tightly and refrigerate.
If using onions and bell peppers, cut into strips just before cooking. (If you prefer, you can cut them earlier and store in the fridge in a baggie or container.)
Remove the meat from the marinade. Discard marinade.
Pat the meat dry with paper towels (to prevent spitting when you add to the oil).
Heat oil in a large skillet on high.
Cook the meat pieces in hot oil for 2-3 minutes, turning once. Add the onions and bell peppers, if desired, about half way through. If you prefer the veggies more crispy, add them closer to the end and if you prefer them softer, you can add them when you add the meat.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve the fajita meat and veggie mixture in warm tortillas with salsa.
Top with Cheddar or Mexican cheese if desired. If you like, you can also serve this fajitas recipe with sour cream, shredded lettuce and/or guacamole. Serves 6.
This easy chicken fajitas recipe is from volume 1 of our cookbook:
Here’s an easy hard boiled eggs recipe to make the perfect hard boiled eggs that are super easy to peel! For years I tried every method known to man. Then I found out the secret!
How To Make The Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs That You Can Actually Peel
If you’re planning to hard boil eggs for Easter this year, be sure to buy them early! For years, I tried every method under the sun to get perfectly peelable hard boiled eggs—and nothing worked. Then I learned the secret.
The kids and I lived in the country for a while with our own chickens (That was a hoot. We were all afraid to touch them!) But we managed to gather eggs from under the hens, and of course, one of the first things I tried was hard boiling them.
What a disaster! I could not get those shells off to save my life.
After weeks of fighting with egg shells, I mentioned it to an older woman, and she told me, “The fresher the egg is, the harder it is to peel.” Sure enough, she was right.
Since then, I’ve tested it again and again—boiling both fresh eggs and slightly older ones. Every single time, the older eggs peel easily while the fresh ones end up a crumbly mess, no matter what trick I try: cold start, hot start, ice bath, vinegar—you name it.
So make your life easier on Easter morning and buy your eggs now!
Place eggs in a saucepan; cover at least one inch over eggs with water. Bring to a boil.
Turn down the heat to a medium boil; Boil for 7 minutes.
Place in a bowl with ice water to cool quickly and help them peel easier.
Notes
Hard boiled eggs peel easier if you start with eggs that are 5-7 days old.
From: Terri
Hello! Love your site. I have a tip for making hard boiled eggs. After your eggs have come to a boil, wait five minutes. Then turn the burner off and put a lid on it. In 20 minutes, you will have perfectly boiled eggs. Works every time!
6 hard boiled eggs 1 tsp. vinegar (optional) 1/8 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. prepared mustard 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp. bacon grease (optional) Paprika Parsley, chopped
Instructions
Shell the hard boiled eggs.
Cut each one in half.
Remove yolks and mash.
Add remaining ingredients.
Mix until smooth.
Heap into egg white halves.
Sprinkle with paprika or chopped parsley.
For Garlic Deviled Eggs:
Add 1 clove pressed garlic to the deviled eggs.
Notes
You can sprinkle bits of bacon on top along with the parsley for extra color if you like!
This easy egg salad recipe is another tasty recipe to help use up all those colored hard boiled eggs after Easter. You can make up a big batch and have it for several lunches. You can add lettuce leaves or celery for extra crunch. This recipe can be found in our Dining On a Dime Cookbook, Volume 1.
6 hard boiled eggs, chopped 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 1 tsp. mustard (optional) 1 small stalk celery, chopped (optional) 1 small onion, chopped, or 1 tsp. onion powder (optional) 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper (optional)
Instructions
Mix all ingredients together.
Chill. This recipe is best if chilled for 1-2 hours.
This egg salad recipe makes enough for 4 egg salad sandwiches.
This golden morning sunshine recipe is a great recipe that you can use to make Easter morning or a few days after Easter. It’s a great way to use up all those colored eggs and have a tasty breakfast or dinner.
2 cups white sauce 4 eggs, hard boiled and chopped
Instructions
Make the white sauce.
Once the white sauce has thickened, add eggs.
Serve on toast.
(You can use more or less white sauce and eggs to taste.)
This homemade white sauce recipe is super easy to make and is useful for enhancing all kinds of meals. It is easily adaptable for various recipes. White sauce and white gravy are essentially the same thing, so you can use it for biscuits and gravy or as a sauce for many main dish and breakfast recipes.
Substitute cold chicken stock in place of the milk.
Cheese Sauce
Add ½ cup of processed cheese cubes (Velveeta) or shredded Cheddar cheese to the white sauce.
Heat over low heat, stirring until all the cheese is melted.
This hard boiled egg chicken supreme recipe makes a hearty casserole that is a great way to use leftover chicken or hard boiled eggs. It’s a nice variation that will please your family or guests!
2 cups chicken, cooked and diced 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 cup rice, cooked 1 (4 oz.) can mushrooms 1 cup celery, diced 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. onion, chopped 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1 cup white sauce 1 cup Ritz crackers or corn flakes, crumbled 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix everything but the cracker crumbs and butter.
Pour into a 2 quart greased baking dish.
Mix cracker crumbs and butter and sprinkle on top of casserole.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
More Tips for using Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs
You can use chopped up leftover hard boiled eggs and use them in so many ways:
Sprinkle chopped hard boiled eggs on salads (especially good on spinach salads).
Spread them on top of cream soups (like potato soup).
Use leftover hard boiled eggs in tuna salad, chicken salad or ham salad.
You can add almost anything to meatloaf too and that includes hard boiled eggs.
Leftover hard boiled eggs also make great breakfast burritos. I know we usually use scrambled eggs but once the eggs are mixed with everything else, no will know or care that the eggs are not scrambled.
Don’t freeze leftover hard boiled eggs. They can become very rubbery and taste nasty.
For more easy recipes for simple things like like how to make hard boiled eggs, check out our cookbooks:
If you’d like to serve a yummy St. Patrick’s Day themed meal, here are some traditional recipes to get you in the mood for the “wearin’ o’ the green”! This is a great week to stock up on corned beef, which you can really serve anytime so grab a couple of extras and put them in the freezer for later! Don’t forget to grab an extra cabbage to make cole slaw later in the week!
Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage with Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Recipes!
If you’d like to serve a fun and festive meal for St. Patrick’s Day, this simple Irish-inspired menu is a great way to celebrate the “wearin’ o’ the green” without spending a fortune! These classic recipes come together into a hearty, comforting meal that feels special but still uses basic ingredients you can easily find at the grocery store.
Grocery stores almost always put corned beef on sale for St. Patrick’s Day. Even if you only plan to cook one brisket now, it’s a smart idea to grab an extra while the price is low and toss it in the freezer. Corned beef freezes well and can be used later for soups, sandwiches, or another easy family dinner.
A traditional Irish-American St. Patrick’s Day meal usually centers around corned beef and cabbage, and for good reason. It’s hearty, delicious, and feeds a crowd. The brisket slowly simmers until tender, soaking up the seasoning while the vegetables cook right alongside it. Potatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbage make it a complete meal in one pot, which means fewer dishes and an easy dinner for busy families.
One helpful tip when serving corned beef is to slice it across the grain. This simple step makes the meat much more tender and easier to chew. Another great trick is to save the cooking juices after dinner. If you have leftovers, dice the remaining corned beef and use those flavorful juices to make a simple corned beef soup later in the week.
While you’re shopping for your corned beef dinner, consider grabbing an extra cabbage as well! Cabbage is inexpensive and versatile, and it’s perfect for making a quick batch of homemade coleslaw later in the week. Stocking up on seasonal sale items like this is an easy way to stretch your grocery budget.
To round out the meal, serve your corned beef and cabbage with homemade Irish soda bread. This classic bread has a slightly crisp crust and a soft, dense interior that pairs perfectly with hearty meals. It’s wonderful served warm with butter, and any leftovers are fantastic toasted the next morning. You can even use leftover soda bread to make French toast for a special breakfast.
And of course, no St. Patrick’s Day celebration is complete without a little something sweet! Blarney Stone cookies are a simple and festive treat made by adding green coloring to your favorite sugar cookie recipe. They’re fun for kids to help decorate and add the perfect finishing touch to your holiday meal.
Together, these recipes create an easy, budget-friendly St. Patrick’s Day menu your family will look forward to year after year. Sláinte! 🍀
[dining]
Corned Beef Tips:
Cut corned beef across the grain for more tender slices.
Save juices and reduce. Dice leftover corned beef and make corned beef soup with leftovers.
St Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Meal Plan:
Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage Irish Soda Bread Blarney Stone Cookies
1 (3 lb.) corned beef brisket, plus seasoning packet 1 large onion, peeled 10 small (red) potatoes 15 baby carrots 1 head of cabbage, cored and cut into wedges
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Place brisket, seasoning packet and onion in a large Dutch oven or pot.
Cover with water 6 inches above meat.
Bring to a boil and boil for 30 minutes.
Reduce to medium-low or to a gentle boil. Cover and cook for 3 1/2 hours.
Remove onions, cut into wedges and put back in the pot.
Add carrots, cabbage and then potatoes.
Cover and cook 30 more minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Remove vegetables, but keep the meat in the juices until you’re ready to slice it so it won’t dry out.
Side Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. horseradish
1/2-1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Mix all sauce ingredients together the night or day before and then serve on the side with your corned beef.
In a second bowl mix eggs, buttermilk and sour cream.
Add liquid ingredients to dry, adding enough until flour is moistened.
Knead 10-12 strokes. The dough will be very sticky.
Place in a 9 inch cake pan. Cut a 4″ X in the top. Brush top with milk.
Bake 65-75 minutes.
Notes
*Caraway seeds make it more authentic, but if you don’t like them or don’t have them, you can leave them out. You could also use 1 cup of raisins and one cup dried cranberries.
Blarney Stone Cookies
Add a couple of drops of green food coloring to the dough of your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Sprinkle with green sugar* or frost with green frosting.
*Make green sugar by placing sugar in a container with a couple of drops of green food coloring and shaking.
Use these cheap dinner ideas to make easy and cheap meals your entire family will love! I think a lot of people are under the impression that in order to have cheap meal plans you have to have just beans and rice. The fact is that’s just not true! By watching sales and shopping at discount stores you can eat very well for just $30-$50 a week!
Cheap Dinner Ideas – $30 for 1 Week of Family Dinners
Here is a week’s worth of cheap dinner ideas that can simplify your meal preparation, getting you out of the kitchen faster and saving you a lot of money on your family food budget. Each dinner idea includes a meal plan for the day and some of the recipes that go with each meal plan.
You don’t have to strictly stick to any one of these meal plans. You can easily modify any of these easy dinner ideas to suit our family’s own taste, so if you want to switch around the order of the meals or substitute a different main dish or side, don’t be afraid to adapt it for your own convenience.
You can feel free to modify these dinners.
We put these dinner plans together with the idea of saving time and money, so you can make the meal plans just as they are described here for the $30. If you’re not as concerned about having the lowest possible price, you can feel free to substitute any more expensive dinner items that you prefer.
These meal plans assume that each person eats one serving of the meal. Many people eat a lot more than the recommended number of servings per person. If you serve each family member more than one serving, you will naturally be paying more, so keep that in mind.
If you have optional food preferences, you are choosing to pay more. For example, if you eat all organic or only buy free-range chicken, you are choosing to pay more for the food. It’s fine to choose that if you can afford it, but don’t expect to pay the same low price that other people are paying who do not make that choice.
How to shop for the best prices
In order to get the best prices, especially on meats, you MUST shop smart! If you decide to make a meal today and go to the store today to buy the meat, you will probably pay too much. I made these menus and recipes based on prices I am able to get regularly by paying attention to prices and stocking up when the meat and other ingredients are cheap.
To get the best prices on meat:
Keep your eye out for sales whenever you’re at a store. If you notice that something is a much better price than usual, stock up while it’s cheap so you can have inexpensive leat to use to make these meals. For example, I never pay more than $1.99/lb. for boneless skinless chicken breasts because I buy a lot of them when they are on sale and do NOT buy them when the price is high.
Check the ads to see what each store is offering this week. When you see that a store is offering chicken, ground beef, pork chops or something else at an unusually good price, stock up and buy as much as you have room to store. Then wait to buy it again until you find another great deal.
Don’t shop at just one store. We often have people say that meat is so expensive at the store where they shop, but they refuse to shop at any other store or even check the prices at other stores. If you only ever are willing to shop at one store, you will pay a lot higher prices than you need to.
Cheap Dinner Ideas – Family Meal Plan Week 1 Total Cost = $30
4–5 pork chops 4-5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced (If you like the peels you don’t have to peel them.) 4 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon (to taste) 1/4 tsp. nutmeg Salt and pepper 2-3 Tbsp. butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°.
Grease a casserole dish or pan. I like to use bacon grease for this.
Place pork chops on the bottom of the pan.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Top with apples.
Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Sprinkle small chunks of butter over the top of everything.
Cover and bake for 45-60 minutes until pork chops are fully cooked.
This easy 3 ingredient parmesan chicken tenders recipe makes light and crispy fried chicken tenders perfect for families! This is a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe you can make fast. Our teenagers love this recipe and often request that I make it for dinner!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
Boneless, skinless chicken, cut into strips 1 egg, beaten Parmesan cheese (the stuff that is already grated in the green can) Oil for frying (I usually use canola or vegetable oil.)
Instructions
Cut boneless, skinless chicken into strips.
In a bowl, beat the egg.
Place the Parmesan cheese into a separate bowl.
Place about 2 Tbsp. oil into a frying pan.
Dip each strip of boneless, skinless chicken into the beaten egg. Turn to coat.
Then dip it into the Parmesan cheese and turn to coat the other side.
Make this warm and comforting soup with your chicken leftovers. The roasted chicken adds a little different and yummy flavor. Don’t be frightened by all the ingredients. You can chop a lot of it the day before you make it and just dump and add the rest.
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
1 cup onions, chopped 1 cup carrots, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tsp. olive oil or canola oil 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. oregano 1/4 tsp. thyme 8 cups chicken broth 4 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 tsp. salt (adjust to taste) 2 cups chicken, cooked and diced 2 cups wide egg noodles 1/2 cup evaporated milk
Instructions
Sauté* the first 4 ingredients in oil in a large Dutch oven (big pot or pan).
Stir in flour, oregano and thyme.
Gradually add chicken broth, potatoes and salt.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and cook for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
Add chicken and noodles and simmer 10 more minutes.
Reduce heat and add milk. Do not boil.
Notes
*Saute means to stir and cook until tender, usually about 3-5 minutes.
You can change this recipe to suit your taste:
Add other veggies like peas, corn or broccoli.
You can leave out the potatoes or substitute them with something like sweet potatoes or squash.
You can leave out the milk (but the milk makes a nice creamy soup) and/or add more or less broth.
You can also adjust the spices, for example you might add a little Tabasco sauce to give it a little kick.
This easy meatloaf recipe is a super delicious traditional meatloaf recipe that is easy to make with just 5 minutes’ prep time! This is an easy family dinner idea that everyone loves!
Yield:6 servings
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef 1 cup milk 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1/4 tsp. pepper 3/4 cup quick cooking oatmeal or 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 1 egg 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup ketchup or barbecue sauce
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix the ground beef and all other ingredients together except the ketchup.
1 onion, chopped 1/2 lb. Italian sausage 2 (16 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes, chopped, with juice 1 (8 oz.) can tomato paste salt to taste 1 clove garlic, pressed, or garlic powder (to taste) 1 bay leaf 2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
Instructions
Crumble sausage in a 2-quart saucepan.
Brown the sausage with the onion.
Drain off the fat.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Simmer for 1 hour. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Meal Plan Day 6
Spaghetti Pizza (using the leftover spaghetti from above) Confetti Salad Brownie Sundaes Total=$4.50
This easy spaghetti pizza recipe is a great way to use leftover spaghetti. It makes an easy spaghetti casserole using any pizza-type leftovers and other pizza ingredients you love!
Ingredients
1/2 lb. spaghetti noodles, cooked 1 egg, beaten with a fork 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1/2 jar (16 oz.) spaghetti sauce
Toppings
Seasonings like oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper Onions, chopped Cottage cheese Ground beef, cooked Pepperoni slices Mozzarella cheese Black Olives Bell Peppers, sliced Any other pizza toppings you love and have on hand
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix noodles, egg and cheese.
Place into a well greased 9 inch pie pan (You can double it and put it in 9×13 pan).
Pour spaghetti sauce on it and top with any of the toppings you like.
Bake for 30 minutes or until it is hot and the cheeses are melted.
Looking for a quick and easy salad recipe that is both delicious and visually appealing? Look no further than this confetti salad recipe! With its colorful blend of fresh vegetables and leafy greens, this salad is not only a feast for the eyes, but also a tasty addition to any meal. Serve it as a side dish or enjoy it on its own for a light and refreshing lunch or dinner option.
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:Makes 8-10 servings.
Ingredients
6 cups salad greens, cut into bites sized pieces 1 (2 1/4 oz.) can sliced ripe olives, drained 1 small red onion, sliced 1/2 cup red pepper, chopped 1/2 cup yellow pepper, chopped 1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated Italian or dressing of your choice
Instructions
Toss everything into a bowl.
Serve with dressing.
Day 7
Serve leftovers for whatever is left or if you go out for date night go ahead and go out and give the kids leftovers!
For more super easy and cheap dinner ideas, check out our easy cookbooks, filled with recipes your family will love!
Here are 20 cooking ideas that will help you save time and money! You’ll find easy tips for organizing your kitchen better, using leftovers and more.
20 Cooking Ideas To Save Time And Money!
Looking for simple ways to save time in the kitchen and cut your grocery bill at the same time? You’re not alone. With rising food prices and busy schedules, home cooks everywhere are searching for budget-friendly cooking tips, easy meal shortcuts, and smart ways to stretch leftovers without sacrificing flavor.
The good news? Saving money on groceries doesn’t require complicated meal plans or gourmet skills. Sometimes it’s the small, practical kitchen habits — like organizing spices for quicker access, repurposing leftovers into brand-new meals, or adding a few simple upgrades to frozen foods — that make the biggest difference.
Here are 20 simple ideas to help you save time, cut costs, and make everyday cooking easier:
Unsure what a Dutch oven is? It’s just a 6-8 quart saucepan or large pot.
Use a sharpie to mark the TOPS of your spice bottles so you can see at a glance which spice it is.
If you frequently bake, buy a pretty set of measuring spoons and hang them on the wall. Then you don’t have to dig around to find them all the time.
Use a small basket to store bottles of extracts and food colorings. Then you can just bring the entire basket down off the shelf without fumbling over a bunch of small bottles
Keep salt all over your kitchen. My kitchen is very tiny but I have salt on the table, salt in my baking cabinet, salt on the stove AND salt in with my spices. Then I’m not walking back and forth each time I need to salt something.
Having leftovers again? Serve them by candlelight with tablecloths or place mats. A tablecloth and candles make even plain meals look special.
This is an unexpected canape and a handy little finger food. Take your favorite cream cheese dip and roll about 1 teaspoon full into a ball. Press it between two walnut halves. Lay on a platter to serve.
Save dry cereal odds and ends to add to your Chex mix when you make it.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting it in the fridge. It will keep much longer.
When you have one hot dog, hamburger, sausage patty, or slice of ham left over, throw it in a container in the freezer. Use these leftovers to make a meat lovers pizza or to add a little more zip to a regular frozen pizza.
Don’t forget to add a few of your favorite spices to a frozen pizza or add extra cheese and toppings.
Mix and match any of these:
Bread and honey butter. This is an old fashioned easy stand by. Place some soft, fresh bread on a plate and honey butter in a bowl for something that is good and couldn’t be easier. (Make honey butter by mixing a little bit of honey into regular butter.)
Sliced fruit of any kind. Cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, kiwi and others work well.
Sliced veggies of any kind. Try tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots or celery.
Sandwiches of every kind. You aren’t committing a sin by serving your family easy sandwiches on a hot summer day. Combine them with fresh fruits or veggies and you’ve got a meal.
Salads – Jello, fruit, veggie, pasta or potato salads make great summer fare.
Desserts – Ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream. Make it into floats, banana splits, brownie sundaes or regular sundaes, milk shakes, ice cream pie or ice cream sandwiches.
If you have leftover brownies or cake, add a few pieces to the bottom of a dish and then top with pudding and whipped cream.
Keep a bag or container in your freezer to store that 1 or 2 pieces of coffee cake, donuts or other baked goods that are sometimes left over (which doesn’t happen often in my house ;-). Then when you get enough for your favorite bread pudding recipe (hopefully one that is in Dining on a Dime ;-), use them instead of bread.
This cheeseburger soup recipe is a hearty soup and a classic American favorite that your family is sure to love! Perfect for families with picky eaters and hearty appetites, your family will not go away hungry!
You’ll also find an alternative easy cheeseburger soup recipe along with a tasty spice cake for and caramel frosting for dessert!
6 medium potatoes, peeled, cubed and cooked
1/2lb. ground beef, cooked
2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tsp. onion powder, to taste
4cupsmilk8oz. American cheese1/4cupsour cream
Instructions
Cook the potatoes in a Dutch oven and drain.
Add the rest of the ingredients, except the sour cream, and cook just until heated through. Make sure the bouillon cubes are dissolved and the cheese is melted. Do Not boil.
Remove from the heat and add sour cream.
Notes
Whenever I cook bacon, I always fry an extra piece or two. Then I keep it in the freezer in a Ziploc bag so it is handy to use in recipes like this one.
Indulge in the rich, buttery delight of homemade caramel frosting with this easy-to-follow recipe. Perfect for cakes, cupcakes, or any sweet treat, this frosting combines the deep, luscious flavor of caramel with a creamy, smooth texture.
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:Frosts one 9×13 inch cake.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup milk 2 cups powdered sugar
Reduce heat to low and boil 2 minutes longer, still stirring.
Stir in milk and heat to boiling.
Remove from heat and cool.
Slowly stir in the powdered sugar.
Place the saucepan of frosting in a bowl of very cold water and beat until smooth. If the frosting is too stiff, add an additional 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until the frosting is smooth.
This easy cheeseburger soup recipe is from volume 2 of our cookbook:
[dining]
If your family likes this cheeseburger soup recipe, you might also try these recipes:
These easy 3 ingredient dinner recipes will make it easy for you to make cheap and delicious meals your family will love without spending a lot of time in the kitchen!
This post is dedicated to my friend and neighbor Katie. She came over and we were talking and she said “I need some super easy 3 ingredient or less recipes for dinner“.
As I was telling her about a couple of these recipes she had no idea these recipes could be made, and so easily too! She grew up with a mom who never cooked so she never learned how to cook. She was telling me how she would like to learn now.
If you are new to cooking at home try some of these recipes to get you started and get a good cookbook to help you along the way. Even if you are an old pro try some for those days when you just need something quick and easy!
This easy 3 ingredient salsa chicken recipe is a super easy and delicious crockpot recipe perfect for families. Just 2 minutes’ prep and then toss it in the crockpot!
Ingredients
Units
6 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless OR 6-8 chicken pieces 2cups salsa 1cup shredded cheese (Cheddar or Mexican Blend)
Instructions
Place the chicken in a crockpot.
Pour the salsa on top.
Cook for 1 1/2 – 2 hours on high.
Place cheese on top and let it melt during the last 10-15 minutes.
This easy 3 ingredient sweet pork chops recipe makes tangy and delicious pork chops your family will love! It’s also great as a tangy ribs recipe for fall off the bone ribs! Just 5 minutes prep time and the crockpot does the rest!
Ingredients
4 pork chops (They can still be frozen.) OR 2-3 lbs. pork ribs 12 oz. bottle chili sauce 1 cup grape jelly
Instructions
Grease a crockpot with oil or cooking spray.
Place the pork chops in the crockpot.
In a bowl, mix the chili sauce and grape jelly.
Pour the mixture on the pork chops.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours (8 hours if frozen).
These pork chops or ribs will fall of the bone! Super Yummy!
This 3 ingredient Ritz chicken is a super easy baked chicken recipe you can make with less than 5 minutes’ work! Crispy and oh, so delicious! Your family will love it!
Ingredients
1 lb. chicken (boneless skinless), cut into strips 1/2 bottle of ranch dressing 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers, crushed (generic is fine) salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Place the ranch dressing and the Ritz crackers in separate bowls.
Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
Salt and pepper the chicken.
Dip the chicken in the ranch dressing and then dip in the crackers.
This easy 3 ingredient creamy chicken tacos recipe makes creamy and delicious chicken tacos, perfect for families! Just dump everything into the crockpot in the morning and dinner will be waiting!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
1 can Rotel tomatoes OR 1 cup salsa 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1/2 bar( 4 oz.) cream cheese
Instructions
Place the chicken into a greased crockpot.
Pour the Rotel or salsa over the top
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
30 minutes before serving, place the cream cheese on top. There is no need to stir. The heat will melt it.
Continue cooking for 30 more minutes.
When ready to serve, stir and break up the chicken.
This easy 3 ingredient Chicken Cacciatore recipe makes a delicious Italian style chicken dinner your family will love! With just 5 minutes prep time, it’s a perfect meal for busy families!
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 4–8 chicken pieces 1 bottle spaghetti sauce 2-3 cups vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms and onions
Instructions
Grease the crockpot.
Add the chicken.
Pour spaghetti sauce over the top.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
One hour before serving, add vegetables and continue cooking.
This easy 3 ingredient beef tacos recipe makes tasty classic style ground beef tacos that every family loves! Just dump everything into the crockpot in the morning and at dinner time, serve on taco shells with your favorite taco toppings!
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef 1 pkg. taco seasoning (or homemade taco seasoning) 1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilis
Instructions
Place everything into a greased crockpot.
Cook 5-7 hours on low. Stir every few hours to break up the beef. (You can do this beforehand if you will be gone all day).
Serve on taco shells.
If desired, garnish with taco toppings like lettuce, cheese and tomatoes.
This easy 3 ingredient barbecue meatballs makes an easy and delicious crockpot meal! It’s quick and easy for you and the kids and family will love it!
Ingredients
25 frozen fully cooked meatballs (half of a 32 oz. bag) 1 cup grape jelly 1 cup barbecue sauce
Instructions
Pour the sauces into a crockpot.
Stir until combined.
Add the meatballs.
Stir until they are coated with the sauce.
Cook on high for 3 hours.
Serve over rice.
Notes
You might also like to make our BEST Homemade Barbecue Meatballs Recipe, which is one of our readers’ most favorite easy recipes. It has more than 3 ingredients but is super easy and oh, so delicious!
This easy 3 ingredient sausage biscuits and gravy is a tasty crockpot recipe that is quick and easy to make. Biscuits and gravy are not just for breakfast – It makes a great dinner, too!
This easy 3 ingredient dr. pepper pulled pork recipe is a simple way to make tender pulled pork in the crockpot. With just 5 minutes of preparation time, it’s a quick and easy meal your family will love!
Ingredients
1 can Dr. Pepper 1 packet onion soup mix (or homemade onion soup) 1 (2–3 lb.) pork roast
Instructions
Grease crockpot.
Place the pork roast into the crockpot.
Sprinkle pork with onion soup mix.
Pour the Dr. Pepper over the pork until it is almost covered in the crockpot.
Here is a sample meal plan and shopping list showing how to feed a family of 4 for just $200 per month without using coupons and without shopping at Aldi, since there is no Aldi near me. I used actual store prices from current store ads when preparing this plan.
Feed A Family Of 4 For $200 A Month Without Aldi Or Coupons!
Here is a meal plan for 4 people. These are the basic items and I would say it is a good plan for 2 adults and 2 kids, not teens. If you want more food for teens, then add several more batches of homemade oatmeal muffins and a few more chicken thighs for meat servings.
This is the VERY frugal meal plan if you need to keep your prices very low.
While it is possible to keep your budget down to $200 per month, you may be OK with a spending slightly higher amount. The main point is that most people can save a lot on groceries by re-thinking how they buy food. While you don’t have to follow this plan exactly, I hope it’ll give you some good ideas with specific examples of what we eat and how much I paid for the food.
In 2025, if you don’t need to be super frugal, I estimate that a reasonable amount to spend per month for food is about $100 per month per adult, which is easily doable.
I shopped at my local Kroger store (King Soopers), Walmart, Sprouts and Lucky’s Market. This meal plan reflects prices for buying “regular” food at Walmart or a grocery store like Kroger. If you have certain preferences, like organic, vegan, etc, you will need to expect the prices to be higher.
This meal plan assumes that you already have some things on hand like spices, condiments and basic baking ingredients like flour, sugar and baking powder. You will note that the total amount of my shopping list items adds up to UNDER $200. That is because I am assuming you will need to fill in with a few things as the month goes on, so this allows for you to get the extra items you need.
If you don’t have a freezer to freeze some things, like the chicken or bread, just buy those items on the week that you need them.
This meal plan reflects prices for buying “regular” food at a typical grocery store
This easy honey garlic chicken recipe is a super yummy and easy to make Chinese chicken dinner recipe you can make in 10-15 minutes!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Ingredients
2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil 1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into small pieces (about 1/2 inch) salt and pepper (to taste)
Sauce Ingredients
3 Tbsp. honey 3 Tbsp. soy sauce 3 cloves garlic, minced or 1 Tbsp. minced garlic 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Add the chicken to the skillet and brown on one side, about 3-4 minutes. While the chicken is browning, make the sauce.
Whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, in a small bowl until well combined.
Add the sauce to the pan and toss to coat the chicken pieces.
Cook until chicken is cooked through, 4-5 more minutes.
Serve with steamed rice and top with green onions, sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime juice, if desired.
Serve this honey garlic chicken with your choice of these optional items:
This easy fried rice recipe makes delicious Chinese fried rice perfect served alongside any Chinese food dish. Simple to make and customize to your taste, it’s an ideal way to use leftover rice, vegetables, and more.
Heat through. For the best flavor, cook until it is heated through and the rice is browned.
Notes
The basic fried rice recipe is super versatile and easy to customize you your own taste. While the recipe only calls for rice, eggs and bell peppers, you can add any kind of vegetables and proteins that sound good. This recipe is a great way to use leftover rice, vegetables, chicken and more.
Here are some other things you might want to add to the easy fried rice recipe to make it a little more fancy:
Mixed vegetables, like peas and carrots or a vegetable blend
Onions, chopped and sautéed (You can sauté them as they are cooking in the fried rice.)
Cooked meat, like chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or fish.
Fried tofu
Your favorite Asian sauce
Any of the variations in our list above or anything that sounds good to you.
If you don’t like eggs or if you can’t eat them, you can leave them out of the recipe.
This recipe is a perfect way to use leftovers, so if you have any kind of leftover vegetables or cooked meat, add them to this fried rice recipe to use them without calling them leftovers.
This easy honey garlic chicken recipe is from volume 2 of our cookbook:
Meat is one of the biggest expenses in most Americans’ grocery budget. Try these simple ways to save money on meat without depriving your family!
Let’s face it: Meat is one of the biggest expenses in most Americans’ grocery budget. Try these simple ways to slash the meat portion of your bill without depriving your family!
16 Ways to Save Money On Meat
Try using 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 the amount of meat in your dishes. Most of the time it doesn’t change the taste and you save money on meat.
Cook twice as much meat for dinner. Freeze half and then when you need a quick meal just remove from the freezer and use.
Stock up on meat when it is on sale. If you don’t have enough money to stock up, try making a double batch (like lasagna) when you cook the next meal, then freeze it for later. Use that frozen meal for a quick dinner instead of eating out when you’re too tired to cook. Take the $30.00 savings and stock up on meat the next time it is on sale.
Buy Meat on clearance. The clearance stickers on meat in the store don’t mean the meat is bad. It means the meat needs to be SOLD by that date. Then you still have 3-4 days the meat is good after that date to cook it at home. You can just put it straight in the freezer and cook laster.
Add beans or lentils to meat to help stretch. This works especially well with recipes like tacos.
Check your prices. A lot of time you will get the tip to buy 1/2 or 1/4 of a cow and then freeze. In some places this “might” be cheaper but in many places it’s luxury and it is MUCH more expensive than buying it from the store.
To store your meat long term in the freezer, vacuum seal it.
Make recipes like chili that have the “feeling” of a lot of meat but don’t use a lot. You can use 1/2 pound of hamburger for chili for 6-8 people and no one will know if you bulk it up with beans, onions and peppers.
When cutting meat for recipes like stew, make the pieces small so they will go further.
Buy meat after major holidays. I can usually find marked down meat for a great deal like hamburger and ribs after Memorial Day or Labor Day. Turkeys on clearance after Thanksgiving. All meat on sale the day after Christmas.
Some butchers will cut turkeys in half. Then just cook like a chicken but for 1/4 of the price!
Use liquid smoke in place of bacon grease or salt pork in recipes. The liquid smoke saves time and money if you don’t have any bacon grease on hand.
Save the plastic liner bags from empty cereal boxes. Next time you need to pound steak, chicken breasts, nuts or crackers, pop them inside to eliminate the mess. Also, use plastic liner bags to shake coatings such as flour or bread crumbs on meats. Just throw away after using it. Store in a file folder.
Use leftover gravy in soups. It adds great flavor!
When making meatloaf, mix the ingredients and fill a muffin tin with the meat. Each mini loaf is one serving. Also very easy to freeze!
Here are some cheap meal ideas and recipes you can use to save money on groceries! If you want to cut your food bill, using just a few of these ideas and recipes can cut your food bill a lot!
Cheap Meal Ideas And Recipes – How We Ate For $7 A Week
In this post, I will share some of the cheap meal ideas and recipes Mom used to keep our grocery budget so low.
This was our food budget out of necessity because of our extremely tight financial situation. You may not want to limit your food to just these things but, at the time, things were desperate for us and Mom was trying to figure out how to feed us within the very tight budget we had.
Don’t get stuck in these numbers. If you find yourself saying, “I could never do that…” or “That is impossible these days…”, you are sabotaging yourself and you will never reach your goals. You will need to decide if you would rather convince yourself there’s nothing you can do so you can lament your financial condition or if you want to take action to empower yourself to make your situation better.
Even if you don’t get your grocery budget this low, you can likely save money from what you are spending now. Most people can save a LOT. I’m sharing these cheap meal ideas so you can think about what your goals are for saving on your food bill and consider how you might be able to reduce your spending.
Look it over and then figure out what you might want to implement in your family budget. If you can take a couple of these cheap meal ideas and recipes and lower your grocery bill even by 10%, you will be saving money over what you are spending now. Then keep checking out our other ideas and figuring out what else best works for your family situation.
For more ideas how to save money and reduce your stress, check out:
Most people could save a lot more money on these things than on their grocery bills, so if you want to save the most you can, be sure to check out the above posts!
Cheap Meal Ideas And Recipes – Basic Meal Ideas
Here are some cheap meal ideas and recipes for each meal of the day and a couple of dessert recipes. Implementing these recipes into your meals at least a few times a week will help you save more.
Cheap Meal Ideas And Recipes – Breakfast
Here are the most common easy recipes my mom served for breakfast because they are inexpensive and a little bit goes a long way. When you’re looking for cheap meal ideas and recipes, it’s also good to remember to keep your serving sizes reasonable. Many of us eat too much food and then try hard to work it all off, especially here in America. You can reduce the waste by making just enough for your family and also by preparing their plates and serving them at the table so they’re not tempted to eat too much.
This easy homemade pancakes recipe takes about 15 minutes to make and everyone loves them! These pancakes are a staple at our house and your family will love them too! If you need cheap meal ideas and recipes, this recipe is a great breakfast basic!
This easy homemade pancakes recipe takes about 15 minutes to make and everyone loves them! These pancakes are a staple at our house and your family will love them too!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:15-18 medium pancakes
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. sugar 2 cups flour, all-purpose or wheat 5 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups milk
Instructions
In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients just enough to moisten the dry ingredients. The mixture will be thick and lumpy.
Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium heat and lightly grease.
Pour or spoon the batter onto the griddle to form pancakes.
Cook the pancakes on a hot greased griddle.
Flip when bubbles break on the surface and the edges begin to dry.
Notes
If you like, you can add chocolate chips or candies to the batter for a special treat.
If you would like to make special patterns for the kids, you can add chocolate chips or candy while the pancakes are cooking. I like to make smiley faces and other patterns in the pancakes for special occasions. For Valentine’s day, I have made heart shapes in pink sprinkles, for Christmas, I have made Christmas designs, etc.
This quick and easy scrambled eggs recipe should be a staple in every home! It’s a perfect recipe for cheap meals because virtually everyone loves scrambled eggs, but also because they are hearty and provide a lot of protein! You can serve them just as is if your budget is really tight. If you want to spice them up a bit, you can also add things like salsa, green peppers, onions or cheese!
This easy scrambled eggs recipe makes delicious scrambled eggs in just 5 minutes. Scrambled eggs are a great breakfast food, but also a tasty source of protein that is quick to make and that you can eat anytime!
Author:Jill Cooper
Yield:4 servings
Ingredients
8 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 4 Tbsp. milk or water (optional) 4 tsp. butter, margarine or bacon drippings
Instructions
Stir all of the ingredients except butter in a bowl until well blended.
Heat a skillet on medium heat.
Add the butter, margarine or bacon grease.
Pour the egg mixture into the skillet.
Stir constantly for about 4 minutes until eggs are fluffy and set.
Notes
To test eggs for freshness: Place an egg in a glass of cold water; if it floats, do not use it.
Using bacon grease in this easy scrambled eggs recipe will give your scrambled eggs a richer, more delicous flavor! I highly recommend it!
In place of butter, margarine or bacon grease, you can also use 1 Tbsp. cooking oil. I would not use olive oil as the flavor or the olive oil will impact the flavor of the eggs.
This easy muffins recipe is a perfect recipe for a quick breakfast or snack. My mom used to make these often. They are delicious just as they are. If you’re looking for cheap meal ideas to cut your budget the most, you would save more money serving them plain, but you can also add things like nuts, fruit or chocolate chips for a little extra variety.
Here are some perfect cheap meal ideas and recipes for lunches. We mostly ate sandwiches for lunches because they’re cheap, tasty and filling. You can also make the fillings ahead of time and spread them on the bread just before lunch. If you send them in packed lunches, lightly buttering the inside with butter, margarine or vegetable spread will keep them from getting soggy.
This easy chicken salad recipe is one of our cheap meal ideas that you can whip up in just a couple minutes that makes delicious sandwiches, perfect for lunches at home or packed lunches. It’s a perfect way to use leftover chicken or to stretch a little bit of chicken into another meal!
1 1/2 cups chopped, cooked chicken or turkey 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 1 small stalk celery, chopped 1 small onion, chopped, or 1 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Mix all ingredients. Best if chilled for 1 or 2 hours.
This easy egg salad recipe is another tasty recipe to help use up all those colored eggs after Easter. You can make up a big batch and have it for several lunches. You can add lettuce leaves or celery for extra crunch.
6 hard boiled eggs, chopped 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 1 tsp. mustard (optional) 1 small stalk celery, chopped (optional) 1 small onion, chopped, or 1 tsp. onion powder (optional) 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper (optional)
Instructions
Mix all ingredients together.
Chill. This recipe is best if chilled for 1-2 hours.
This egg salad recipe makes enough for 4 egg salad sandwiches.
This easy chicken salad recipe is a tasty recipe you can whip up in just a couple minutes that makes delicious sandwiches, perfect for lunches at home or packed lunches. It’s a perfect way to use leftover chicken or to stretch a little bit of chicken into another meal!
3–4 (5 oz.) cans tuna, drained 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 1 small stalk celery, chopped 1 small onion, chopped, or 1 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Mix all ingredients. Best if chilled for 1 or 2 hours.
Cheap Meal Ideas And Recipes – Dinner
This easy chicken and dumplings recipe is an easy way to make chicken and dumplings like mom and grandma used to make! It’s a perfect comfort food recipe that is quick and easy to make!
This easy chicken and dumplings recipe is an easy way to make chicken and dumplings like mom and grandma used to make! It’s a perfect comfort food!
Author:Tawra Kellam
Yield:4 servings
Ingredients
Units
4 cups chicken broth 1/2–1 1/2cupschicken or turkey, cooked 1/2cupcelery, sliced 1/2cupcarrots, sliced 1 bay leaf 1 tsp. parsley flakes
Dumplings
2 cups baking mix
1/4 tsp. thyme, dried
1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
2/3 cup milk
Instructions
In a Dutch oven, combine broth, chicken, celery, carrots, bay leaf and parsley.
Bring to a boil.
In a bowl, combine baking mix, thyme, and parsley.
Stir in milk, just until moistened.
Drop by tablespoonfuls into the boiling broth.
Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Then cover and cook an additional 10 minutes. DO NOT PEEK or your dumplings will be soggy.
Remove dumplings with a slotted spoon and serve in bowls.
Remove bay leaf and spoon broth over the top of the dumplings.
This quick and easy beef stew is my mom’s beef stew recipe and it is the best beef stew you will ever eat! It is probably my favorite of all of the cheap meal ideas. Every time I make it, everyone raves about how great it is. It’s so great we hardly ever have leftovers! If you need a quick and easy meal to put in the crockpot or on the stove to simmer, this is the recipe for you!!
This recipe is a tasty, tummy warming recipe for cool winter days and you can easily use leftovers in places of some of the ingredients. This is a very low cost recipe and is very tasty as written, but you can feel free to modify it to your liking. If you prefer, you can add or take away veggies and if you don’t mind the extra cost, you can add more meat.
This easy beef stew recipe makes a delicious hearty beef stew in the crockpot or on the stovetop. It’s a home cooked recipe just like grandma used to make and your family is sure to love it. This stew recipe is a great way to use leftover round steak, pot roast or other meat.
Author:Jill Cooper
Ingredients
1/2 lb. round steak, cubed or leftover beef 6 cups water 1 bay leaf 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. garlic salt, (or to taste) 1 tsp. onion salt, (or to taste) or 1 onion, chopped 1/4 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. lemon juice 2 carrots, peeled and sliced 6 potatoes, peeled and diced 1 Tbsp. cornstarch or flour 2 Tbsp. water
Instructions
Brown the meat in a large saucepan.
Add all of the other ingredients except the vegetables, cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water.
Simmer for 1-2 hours until the meat is tender.
Add the vegetables.
Cook for 15-20 minutes, until tender.
Mix the cornstarch into 2 Tbsp. water.
Add to the boiling stew.
Simmer 15 minutes, until thickened. Makes 2 quarts.
To Make This Beef Stew In A Crockpot
Brown the meat in a pan. It does not need to be cooked through, just browned.
Put everything in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
In the last 1/2 hour of cooking, mix the cornstarch into 2 Tbsp. water and add to the crockpot to thicken.
Notes
This recipes calls for round steak, but you can also use other kinds of beef or steak.
This recipe is an easy way to use leftovers. Leftover Pot Roast is delicious in this recipe.
You can also throw in leftover potatoes or vegetables.
This Quick and Easy Chili Recipe will get you in and out of the kitchen fast! It’s a homemade chili recipe that even kids will love!
This quick and easy chili recipe is another of my favorite cheap meal ideas! If you are a chili connoisseur, it may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this recipe is perfect. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.
3 small cans tomato soup* 3 soup cans of water 1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger Chili powder, to taste Garlic powder and onion powder, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Put everything into a large pan.
Simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible.
I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions.
You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.
*I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!
This easy cornbread recipe is so delicious, sweet and moist you can eat it with nothing on it! It is the best cornbread ever! Serve with stews, chili, soups and more!
I loved drowning my cornbread in syrup until I discovered this easy cornbread recipe. This cornbread is so delicious I can eat it with nothing on it! It is sweet and moist, easy to make and has the best flavor! It’s great to use to make dressing (stuffing) or to serve with stews, soups or chili. It is so good, it will probably become a staple in your home!
2 cupsbaking mix (Bisquick) 1/2 cup cornmeal 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 tsp. baking powder 2 eggs 1 cup milk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Stir all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into a greased 8×8 inch baking pan.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Notes
I like to bake my cornbread in a cast iron frying pan. I grease it with bacon grease and heat the pan in the oven while it is preheating. As soon as it is hot (about 5 minutes of so or the amount of time it takes to mix the batter) I pour the cornbread batter into the pan and bake it.
You can also easily make this easy cornbread recipe into corn muffins by pouring the batter into muffin tins.
Cheap Meal Ideas And Recipes – Desserts
When people think of cheap meal ideas and recipes, desserts don’t often come to mind, but it’s nice to have a little sweet treat, especially for the kids. Here are our favorite cheap and tasty dessert recipes my mom made for us. They make great playtime or after school snacks!
This is the best homemade sugar cookies recipe! Sugar cookies are a great treat for holidays or for kids’ snacks. These are so light and fluffy, you’re sure to love them! My mom made these for us and now my kids love Nan’s sugar cookies just as much!
This homemade sugar cookies recipe makes the best light and fluffy sugar cookies! These sugar cookies are perfect for Christmas, Valentine’s Day or a tasty snack anytime!
Cream together the sugar, shortening, eggs and vanilla.
Add buttermilk. Stir well.
Add the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
Roll into balls and drop about 3 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet or silpat.
Wet the tips of your fingers, smash down each cookie and sprinkle with sugar or colored sugar. If you prefer, you can roll out the cookies.
Chill for 2 hours.
When ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°.
Roll out the dough. The dough will be very sticky.
Cut with a cookie cutter and place on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 5-10 minutes, just until golden.
Notes
This recipe can be easily halved.
When you make this recipe, make sure to use shortening and not butter. The shortening is what makes the cookies light and fluffy. If you substitute butter, the sugar cookies will turn out flat and crunchy instead of light and fluffy, which is not what you want in a sugar cookie.
This easy no bake fudge cookies recipe is a wonderfully chocolatey recipe to satisfy your kids on those hot summer days! These cookies are our kids most favorite recipe and older kids can easily make this recipe themselves!
This no bake fudge cookies recipe is rich and amazingly delicious! These fudge cookies are easy to make in just a few minutes and it’s so simple that older kids can make it themselves! If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, you can leave it out and they are just as wonderful!
Author:Jill
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup baking cocoa 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla 3 cups oatmeal 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
Instructions
Before you start, cut about a 20 inch piece of wax paper. Lay it on the counter. This serves as something to drop the cookies on.
In a saucepan, mix milk, sugar, cocoa, and butter.
Bring to a boil.
Boil 1 minute. (For high altitude, let them cook 30 seconds to a minute longer.)
Remove from heat.
Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and nuts.
Mix until peanut butter is mixed in.
Add oatmeal.
Drop by spoonfuls on the wax paper.
Let cool until set.
This process must be done a little quickly because the cookies start hardening pretty fast. If the humidity is high or you don’t boil them the right amount of time, they may not harden. Don’t panic! Just pour the mixture into a container and use as fudge sauce for ice cream. …Although my kids love eating these homemade no bake fudge cookies with spoons if they don’t get hard enough to eat as cookies!
These cheap meal ideas and recipes are from volume 1 of our cookbook:
This easy chicken tenders recipe makes chicken tenders that are so easy and taste so good your whole family will love them! Why spend too much on institutional or restaurant chicken tenders when these are easy, taste great and cost a lot less!
Our entire family loves this easy chicken tenders recipe and it has also been popular with guests! With just 4 ingredients and a few seasonings, you can easily make these chicken tenders with 5 minutes prep time and then about 15 minutes to fry them.
Chicken Tenders Recipe And Quick and Easy Meal Plan!
Tips:
Cool weather is on its way, which means yummy soups and stews. If your children’s soup is too hot for them, add a few frozen vegetables to it. As the veggies cook, it cools down the soup.
For a quick dessert that’s a little different, top a brownie with ice cream. Then top it with chocolate syrup mixed with chunky peanut butter. You can add as little or as much as you want.
Chicken Tenders Meal Plan:
Potato Flake Chicken Tenders Recipe* Easy Vegetables* French Fries Soda Cracker Pie*
Broccoli florets Cauliflower florets Green beans, with the ends trimmed Red pepper, cut into strips Italian dressing Parmesan cheese, shredded
Instructions
Drop any amount of first three vegetables you want into boiling water and cook for 2 minutes or until they are bright in color and still crisp. Do not overcook them.
Drain immediately and rinse in cold water. Drain well.
Add pepper strips, cover and chill. Before serving toss with dressing and cheese.
You can serve this pie with just whipped cream or you could leave out the nuts and top with lemon, blueberry, cherry or any other pie filling. You can also use Ritz, graham or saltine crackers in place of soda crackers or add chocolate chips. Someone suggested spreading it with jam and sprinkling with brown sugar.
Ingredients
3 egg whites 1 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. baking powder 20 soda crackers, finely crushed 2 tsp. vanilla 1 cup pecans or nuts, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°.
Beat egg whites to stiff peaks.
Fold in all the rest of ingredients.
Spoon into a greased 9-inch pie pan
Bake 25-30 minutes.
Cool.
For more easy recipes like this chicken tenders recipe, check out our cookbooks:
Sometimes, it can be a challenge to get kids to eat, but here are 50 breakfast and snack ideas that are sure to give plenty of options for picky eaters!
Breakfast and Snack Ideas for Picky Eaters
Many of our readers ask, “How do I get my kids to eat? They are so picky and I’ve run out of ideas…”
It’s in a kid’s nature to be picky. It’s funny that kids will frown upon anything new. Our children will eat the same thing almost every day and then one day say, “I don’t like sloppy Joe’s”. Our oldest son eats pizza but does not like sausage pizza. One day recently, he tried the sausage and loved it. He said that he loved the little meatballs. When Mike told him it was good to see him eat sausage, he suddenly wouldn’t eat it. Later, we decided it was better to let him call them meatballs if that’s what it took to get him to eat it! Let this be a lesson to you – If you give the kids zucchini bread, just tell them that it is “bread”! ;-)
Kids’ eating habits could send a family to the poor house!Between pop-tarts, fruit chews, juices boxes and containers of cool applesauce it would be easy to spend the entire month’s grocery budget in one week. Here are some tips to help you find something they will eat while hanging on to some of that cash in your pocket.
Breakfast:
Are you being squeezed? – The USDA recommends two 8 oz. (1 cup) glasses of milk per day for a child. If you give your kids more than two cups a day, everything over the 2 cups is just calories, and expensive calories at that. The same is true of juice. The USDA recommends 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day for kids.
Did you know that for children under age five, 3/4 cup of juice is one serving of fruit? How often do you fill a glass to the top with juice for your child only to find that the child doesn’t drink most of it? Limit the amount of juice served to one or two small glasses a day and serve the rest of their fruit and vegetables in whole form. Whole fruits are more healthy for them than juice.
French Toast Sticks – After cooking french toast, cut each piece into 4 strips. Kids love to dip these in syrup.
Present oatmeal in a fancy glass such as a sundae dish. Place some homemade granola, fruit, honey, brown sugar or nuts on top.
Stir any of the following into oatmeal:
sugar
cinnamon and sugar
brown sugar
butter or margarine
molasses
maple syrup
applesauce
chopped apples
dried apples
raisins
berries
bananas
chopped peaches
jam or jelly
plain or fruit yogurt
wheat germ
dark brown sugar and 1 drop of maple extract make oatmeal taste just like the store bought instant oatmeal
Snack Ideas:
Have a snack sitting at the kitchen table for the kids when they come home from school. This way they won’t be grouchy in the afternoon from being hungry. This will also prevent them from digging though the kitchen cabinets looking for something themselves and messing up your neat, well-organized pantry. It is also the perfect time for you to sit and visit with them about their day at school.
To discourage bad snack habits, don’t buy unhealthy snacks or keep them in the house.
Present your snacks with a plate, placemat, napkin and maybe a flower from the garden. This way your snacks always look inviting.
Have jars sitting on the counter with sunflower seeds, raisins, granola, prunes or peanuts for the children. If they see healthy snacks they’re more likely to want them.
Apples, quartered and cored with 1 tsp. peanut butter on each quarter
Bananas sliced in half and spread with peanut butter
Bread or toast cut into quarters and spread with jelly, jam, peanut butter, spiced honey or honey butter
Crackers spread with peanut butter and jelly or jam
Place some peanut butter and honey on a pancake and roll up for a snack. This is great for leftover pancakes.
Quick and Easy Snack Mix
If you need a really fast snack or treat for company or a party, go to your dollar store and buy a couple of boxes of caramel corn. Add things like candy corn, raisins,dried fruit, nuts, pretzels or any other candies and things you would like.
Be sure to hit after Halloween or Christmas sales to find candy to use to make this snack mix.
Hello. I just thought I’d share a tip I learned recently about oatmeal (after seeing your post of breakfast tips). We find re-heated oatmeal unappealing to serve again as a cereal. But the thrifty in me hates to throw it out. I learned recently to put it in pancake batter.
Just mix your batter normally and add in the oatmeal to the finished product. You may need to add just a touch of milk, but I rarely do. This actually makes the pancakes heartier as well as using up something that may otherwise go to waste. The same gal that told me of this trick also adds it to bread dough. I haven’t tried it yet, but look forward to doing so soon!
