~$5 Meal Ideas~

[stopka7224]

Super simple tuna Casserole

2 boxes of premium macaroni (the kind this the sauce not powder) $3
Cook as normal use only 1 cheese sauce pack.1/2 cup of shreded parmesan cheese (optional)
Add 2 cans of tuna. $1
1 can of peas. .50
I serve with a crusty bread (or crackers) and fresh fruit. Feeds 4-6 adults.

[cgs189]

Here's one of our favorites-we dont eat very much meat-and actually this is dinner tonight.

Tomato and Feta Pasta

olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cans petite diced tomatoes (1.00)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or 4 tsp dried
2 tablespoons lemon juice
8-12 ounces angel hair-I use 12oz since thats what size the box is (1.00)
4-6oz crumbled feta cheese-I use the basil and tomato flavor (1.89)
salt n pepper to taste
Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
Add oregano and garlic, and saute 30 seconds.
Add tomato, parsley, and lemon juice; cook 2 minutes or until heated.
Cook pasta.
Combine tomato mixture, pasta, and feta cheese, toss gently.

If you have some sliced chicken cooked on hand you could add that to it.

[cgs189]

5 or 6 Can soup

1 can diced tomatoes (.50)
1 can corn (.50)
1 can minestrone soup (ready to serve), I use Progresso brand (1.69)
1 can mixed vegetables (.75)
1 can black beans, rinsed (.50)
1 can of vegetable or chicken broth or 1.5 cups of homemade broth(.50)

Dump everything into pot, except black beans need to be drained. Heat thru. Ill sometimes add some garlic too. I usually serve this with PB& J's.
This is actually on the menu for this wk.

[wbkt8]

i thought of another couple inexpensive ones we fix frequently

Mexican Pasta

Brown 1/2-1lb ground beef
Add in one jar of salsa
Once it's heated through, add in 1-2TB of lime juice.
Mix with cooked pasta and top with grated cheedar

Tomato, Broccoli, & Feta Saute

Chopped fresh/frozen broccoli. Saute w/ a small amount of olive oil, minced garlic, and a couple shakes of red pepper flakes. Cook until desired level of doneness. Add in a couple of chopped, seeded roma tomatos. Cook just to warm through. Mix in some crumbled feta to taste and serve over cooked rice. We sometimes add in extra sliced chicken breast as well.

[cgs189]

EAsy Ramen Noodle Casserole- if you like ramen noodles, I know my kiddos do!

1 lb ground beef (if not on sale, 2.99)
3 pks of ramen noodles (I use beef flavor) (.30)
1 can of mixed veggies do not drain (.75)

Cook beef until done and drain. Cook noodles for 3 minutes and drain. Add noodles and veggies to beef with seasoning packets. Cook until all heated. I serve mine sprinkled with some parm cheese.

[Namaste]

American Chop Suey - Boston style

1/2 lb of elbow macaroni
1 lb of ground beef
one onion diced
one green pepper diced
28 oz tomato sauce
1 large beef bouillon

Cook the peppers and onion til tender. Add the beef (or turkey) and bouillon cube. Add tomato sauce and simmer. Add cooked pasta. It is awesome! Whenever I make it, I make enough for two nights because it is even better the next day.

[stopka7224]

Taco Ring

This is a pampered chef recipe that I love! It looks pretty and is super easy to make.

2 can of refridgerated cresent rolls $3
1/2 lb of ground beef. $1-$2
Taco seasoning .50
1/2 can of refried beans .50
1/2-1 cup shreded cheddar cheese .50

Prepare ground beef with taco seasoning.
Arrange flat crescents in a cirular shape alternating one point to the outside and one to the inside. (looks kinda like a funky star)
Spread refried beans over the crescents.
Place about a tsp of beef on top of each. Sprinle with cheese.
Fold the tops of the cresent rolls over and tuck.
Bake until golden brown.

Serve with lettuce and sourcream and salsa!! Maybe a little over $5 but it is SOOOO good!!

[milniks7]

My mother always made this and my kids love it..

Chicken Fricasee

1 bag baby carrots
rice as needed(we use the 5 minute rice!)
whole chicken( we usually only pay about 70 cents a lb and get a whole one for about 3 dollars or so
corn starch

Put chicken in large pot , cover with water, add salt and an onion. bring to boil and then simmer all day..like 4 or 5 hrs, add water if needed. when ready to eat, make rice, remove chicken from broth, skim fat off top and add carrots, bring to boi again to cook carrots while you pull the meat from the chicken and kinda shred it..I just pull it off in pieces as it is really soft after cooking all day. when carrots are soft, add some corn starch(mixed in a bit of water) to thicken and pour over chicken in a big bowl. my kids ladle it over their rice and eat it all mixed..really simple clean up as well!


Nikki
mom to 7 great kids

[GrowingUpMad]

I am certain we have several as the grocery bill is always the first to get edited when money is tight.

We have veggie stir fry:
1# chicken breasts ($2)
1 bag frozen stir fry veggies ($1.09)
1 box of stir fry flavored rice ($1.29)

I am sure you can figure out the directions here

We also love BBQ cups:
3/4# hamburger ($1.25)
1/2 jar BBQ sauce (or 1/2 can sloppy Joe sauce) ($1)
1 can of biscuts ($1)
1/2 chunck shredded cheese ($1)
1 can corn ($.50)

Cook hamburger meat, add BBQ sauce OR Sloppy Joe sauce
Line muffin tin cups with biscuits
Add hamburger mixture to biscuit cups
Top with cheese
Cook at 350 for about 15 minutes or so
Serve with corn on the side

Both of those recipes serve 2 adults, 1 tween and 1 chld w/ leftover for dh's lunch

[1bigfamily]

For large cheaper meals you can check out the Duggar family website.
http://www.duggarfamily.com/