looking for quick meals to make that is budget friendly

Sarah - posted on 02/15/2010

hi, fried rice is great cause if you find yourself a little short you can add more rice, plus you use stuff you have laying around. Also pasta, chicken and bacon in a white sauce with an assortment of vegetables spreads easily and tastes yummy, same as spaghettit bolonaise :) Home made pizza on flat bread too

Carla - posted on 02/14/2010

Also, as a ps: cook double the amount, such as two meatloaves instead of one, double the mac and cheese, etc., freeze half, then when you have super busy days, you can throw it in the microwave and have dinner in minutes. When my children were all at home, we shopped for the month, with a menu for the month already made out. One day we would have, say turkey, the next day hot turkey sandwiches, the third day it was soup. Very inexpensive. Ham one day, scallopped potatoes with ham the next day, ham sandwiches and soup the next, and bean soup the next (in the crock pot). Good luck, honey!

Carla - posted on 02/14/2010

Go to allrecipe.com, type on meals on a budget. They have budget-friendly meals, also tips on buying in bulk, pre-planning, etc. I understand your frustration--I keep looking for a new kind of meat other than beef, pork, poultry, fish. After almost 50 years of cooking, cooking sometimes get to be a four-letter word! However, it can also bring out the creative side of you. I am learning to cook a lot of Mexican, which can be stretched out to feed even ravenous teenagers! Also oriental is a budget-stretcher, but you have to have a few basic spices, so starting it may be a little expensive, but once you've got like Chinese 5 spice, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, you're in business. Also, as an add-on to Ruth's meatball soup, I make sometime similar: instead of the Mexican ingredients in the meatballs, just throw the ground beef in the pot, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, mushrooms, cabbage, whatever you have, and use V-8 as the liquid, and add a little Worchestershire sauce. Grate some cheese on top and a dollop of sour cream. It's healthy (except for the cheese/sour cream-thing ;)) and yummy.

Peniey - posted on 02/11/2010

I have gotten Rave reviews about the following (and you can do whatever you want to change it without killing your budget!): Brown rice (cook as instructed), - any of the following to "hold together" - cheese sauce, cream of.....soup, butter, meat of your choice cooked and added, veggies of your choice.

I tend to use ground turkey, mixed veggies without potatoes, cream of chicken and cream of mushroom, and the rice. It reheats really well, tastes great and only takes 30 minutes to total to cook. 20 minutes to cook the rice and meat (in a seperate skillet). Once the rice has cooked out the water and is done, add the soup, meat and veggies, heat for 10 - 15 minutes and serve. Yum!! Even my picky four year old loves the variations of this dish.

Ashley - posted on 02/08/2010

My family likes this simple Chicken casserole. Its Healthy and best of all FAST!



Prepare box of Stove Top in the Micorwave according to directions on the box. (i leave out the butter)



Meanwhile...Mix together in a bowl.

2-5oz. cans of all white chicken breast

1-can of cream of mushroom soup

1-cup of light sour cream

1-cup of milk

Add into a casserole dish and top with stove top and cover with foil.



Bake for 30-40 mins in 400 degree oven to heat through.



Throw some steam in a bag veggies in the microwave (i can usually buy the store brand for around $1.20 a bag) and you have a great meal!

Ebony - posted on 01/24/2010

turkey tacos, 3 diffrent type of wings bake potatoes and viggie, salmon, garlic mush and string beans,

Lisa - posted on 01/24/2010

we used e-mealz check it out at www.e-mealz.com they do all the menus for you each week and the grocery list it is $5 a month and my kids like the food! they do give sample menus on the website it is so convenient and easy as the recipes and everything is done for you!
good luck and God bless!!

Renee - posted on 01/24/2010

Hi Tysa,
I usually do the crock pot thing. I pick up roast put in the crock pot in the am, add all my ingredients, and get home to a wonderful cooked roast, you can add carrots and potatoes if you like, or just make your roast adding what ever you like then you have one dinner and left overs can be made in to burritos, roast sandwiches, also, you can make mini pizzas with english muffins, adding your favorite cheeses, can or jar sauce, even something as simple as tomato sauce or paste add oregano pop in the oven and voile, mini pizzas a real treat for the kids. But like I mentioned the crock pot is great you can put everything together in the AM, and come home to the aroma of dinner all ready.
Those are just a couple of my ideas. Hope they help.

God Bless and keep your home abundantly blessed with peace and harmony.

Renee

Bonnie - posted on 01/23/2010

I can come up with a few easy ones to try!
Hot dog casserole
graded cheese
baked beans
hotdogs
tortillas

take the tortillas and cut them in half. Wrap a hotdog with tortilla and line in a 9x13 pan cover with baked beans and cheese. Bake in oven at 375 for about 20 minutes or until cheese is golden and beans are boiling my girls love it!

Beef enchiladas
Tomato sauce
canned tomatos
hamburger meat
enchilada seasoning
cheese
corn tortillas

brown hamburger in skillet when done add tomato sauce(1 16 oz) and canned tomatos ( I use diced) and enchilada seasoning bring to a boil then turn off. In pan put a little sauce in bottom hen a layer of corn tortillas then a layer of sauce then cheese so on and so forth until pan is full. Put in oven for 20 min to cook all together and serve. I like fried eggs on top of mine and serve with rice and/or corn.

Ruth - posted on 01/23/2010

Abondigas(mexican meatball soup) IT IS REALLY SIMPLE CHEAP AND GOOD,I THINK MY INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE WRITTEN COMPLICATED THOUGH!!! LOL this is something I make withought using real measurements so here will be the best closest i can judge! First have a Soup pot with water boiling, 2lbs ground beef 1/2 cup uncooked rice(soaked in water previously or u could probably just use an instant) 1 egg 1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs(plain or seasoned) garlic powder,salt,pepper to taste.(I also use a pack of sazon a latin seasoning in small packets) mix together like u would for meatloaf/meatballs. Once mixed roll meat mix into small balls and drop into boiling water as you go,once rolled let boil for about 20 minutes or so till meatballs are done continue boiling but add about 2-4 potatoes (diced medium) and 3-4 carrots chopped medium,(if u like you can also add a can of crushed tomatoes to make a "red soup broth") . Season with garlic,salt,pepper,(another pack of sazon if available) ,(oregano if u like)TO TASTE, continue cooking till potatoes and carrots are done!! enjoy! if u can handle spice u can also boil whole jalepeños and then whoever wants spice can add one to there bowl and mash it in there bowl for spice.

Dessie - posted on 01/23/2010

try Mac-n-Cheese and Kelbasa. Try that one it quick and easy.All yu have to do is cook ur kelbasa in a skillet in hunks.After you cook them cut them up make sure u get 8 pieces out of them.Then make your mac n cheese.as directed.mix the 2 up and watch ur family try it.

Doris - posted on 01/22/2010

This is a site where you can cut 35-75 % from your grocery bill. No perishables.

Doris - posted on 01/22/2010

Please check out this site myharvestamerica.com/doris you will probably have to type it in the address line.

Anna - posted on 01/22/2010

Campbell's.com and bhg.com are good for more easy, budget friendly meals. I recently became unable to eat beef and pork, we have found that cutting those out of our grocery bill makes a tremendous impact!!! We create and stick to a weekly meal plan with a list. Doing so, we don't over-buy, and see less waste. Good Luck!!!!

Kendra - posted on 01/22/2010

e-Mealz.com It is a subscription for $5/mo and they plan the meals for the week, have a shopping list, and even how much it will cost for the week.

Andrea - posted on 01/22/2010

go to kraft.com they have buedget friendly meals... check it out...

Nadine - posted on 01/22/2010

Try www.recipezaar.com It is a fantastic site with thousands of cheap and quick and easy meals! Half my monthly menu comes from recipes I found there!

Ana - posted on 01/21/2010

I spend my time teaching people how to make family, time and budget friendly meals. I would be happy to share but it's too much for me to put in here. I have lots of recipes that are 20 minutes or less and around $2 per serving (and I have 4 children between 11-16 and 3 of them are boys=eaters!) Email me personally at tpcana@austin.rr.com I would be happy to share for free!!

Lynn - posted on 01/20/2010

I lb ground turkey or diced chicken, 5 cans of assorted beans (pinto, kidney, chick peas, navy beans, black beans), 1/2 chopped onion (optional) 1 chopped green or red bell pepper, 1 clove garlic, crushed (optional), 2 ribs chopped celery, 1-2 tablespoons of chili powder, salt and pepper to taste, 1/4 cup honey.
Brown the meat, sprinkle with part of chili powder. Drain off any extra fat. Add chopped onion, celery, garlic, peppers, and brown. Add beans and bring to boil. Add chili powder, salt or pepper to taste. Simmer 15 minutes and add honey. stir and serve with grated cheddar or mac and cheese (prepackaged) or crackers.

Rebecca - posted on 01/20/2010

I agree with Chili.. You can make a huge pot then split it into 3 meals. Chili, Chili mac (my teenage boys love that), and Chili dogs.If you don't want it all in one week Chili freezes well.

Mandy - posted on 01/18/2010

chilli cheese dogs, our favorite. its cheap, easy and quick.